Kit Car Insurance

Are you the proud owner of a kit car? Let Lancaster Insurance Services find you specialist kit car cover to protect your cherished vehicle.

There’s nothing that beats the pride and satisfaction that comes with building your own kit car. Once all the hard work is done, you’ll be eager to take it for a spin – but you’ll need insurance first.

For such a unique classic vehicle, standard car insurance won’t be enough. You may even struggle to find standard insurers that will take on the risk.

But with over 25 years’ experience in kit car insurance, we can find you the cover you need. Our panel of insurers can provide quotes for a range of models including:

• Westfield
• Caterham
• Tiger
• Robin Hood
• Dutton
• Fisher
• GTM
• Marlin

To get a quote and protect your kit car, contact the Lancaster Insurance Services team today.

What is kit car insurance?

Kit car insurance is specifically designed for vehicles you build yourself. Standard car insurance isn’t enough to protect these unique vehicles – that’s why it pays to come to a specialist.

Kit car insurance covers your vehicle against accidental damage, fire, and theft as standard, but you can also add several other benefits to make your cover unique.

What’s covered with a kit car insurance policy?

Whether you invested in a kit car as an on-going hobby or a one-off project, we understand the specific needs replica owners have when it comes to insurance.

Benefits of cover through Lancaster Insurance Services can include:

• Limited mileage discounts
• Classic car club member discounts
• Track day and rally cover
• EU protection up to 90 days
• Laid-up cover
• 24-hour claims hotline
• UK-based call centre
• 2 year agreed valuation (from £18)

Our flexible Lancaster kit car insurance can include additional benefits to the standard cover.

Simply talk to the team about adding accidental damage cover or breakdown recovery to your policy.

How much does kit car insurance cost?

Just like with all types of vehicle insurance, kit car policies vary greatly in price as each one is so unique.

Your quotes will be based on:

• Your age
• Your driving history
• Where you live
• Value of your vehicle
• Make and model
• Body type
• Engine specifications
• Annual mileage
• Where you leave your car overnight
• Optional extras

You’ll also need to let the insurer know about any modifications you’ve made to your kit car, which can affect your premiums. Failing to notify your provider could mean your policy is invalid and you won’t be able to make a claim.

Your insurer will also need to know how you plan on using your kit car - on the road or on the track.

To get a quick quote for your kit car, call the Lancaster Insurance Services team on 01480 484826 and we can call you back when it’s convenient for you.

How long does it take to build a kit car?

There’s no simple answer to this question. It depends entirely on the type of kit car, how many hours you can dedicate to it and how confident you are in building a kit from scratch.

You might also choose to make modifications to the kit, which may add time to the build.

Westfield, for example, says it takes around 120 hours to build a kit with no specialist knowledge but, depending on the points above, it could take a lot longer than that.

How much does it cost to build a kit vehicle?

Prices can vary greatly when it comes to kit cars. Let’s look at a couple of examples:

If you’re on a budget, the MEV-Exocet kit currently starts at around £3,995 excluding VAT.

At the other end of the scale, a Caterham Seven 170 starts at around £28,990.

On top of the price of the vehicle, you also need to factor in your time for the build.

What qualifies as a kit car?

You can use the term ‘kit’ to describe your vehicle if you’ve built it from scratch using new parts supplied by a sole manufacturer.

Your classic car could also be a kit conversion if you use kit parts to add onto an existing vehicle to alter its appearance.

How can I get my kit car on the road?

So, you’ve finished building your dream kit car - congratulations!

There are a few important things you need to do before you can drive it legally on the UK’s roads.

First, you’ll need to get Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) from the DVLA, and if your kit passes, you’ll then have to register it.

For kit and replica cars, you’ll need to show the IVA along with:

• Official receipts of any parts used
• A V627/1 form
• Plans of the build
• Evidence that any recondition parts you used are to an ‘as new’ standard

Once you’re registered, you’ll get a number plate, which means you can tax your vehicle and get a kit car insurance policy sorted.

Then it’s time to hit the road!

If you need to take your kit car off the road for restoration or simply because you won’t be driving it for a while, you can get laid-up insurance.

Insurance of this kind protects your investment in case of accidental damage or theft while in storage.

Contact the Lancaster Insurance Services team for more details.

Can I add drivers to my kit car policy?

Yes, of course. You can add a driver to your kit or replica car insurance policy at any time with Lancaster Insurance Services.

Simply give our team a call and check how it will affect your premiums. 

Can I drive my kit car overseas?

Yes, if you have cover for your vintage kit vehicle, you can drive it abroad.

When you insure your kit car through Lancaster Insurance Services, you can get up to 90 days’ EU protection included in your policy.

You may also want to consider breakdown cover if you’re taking your kit car abroad.

Where to find insurance for kit cars

Finding the cover your kit car deserves is easy with Lancaster Insurance Services.

Simply fill in our online form, call 01480 484826, or ask us to call you back when it suits you.

To get a quick quote, make sure you have your details to hand, including:

• Personal details
• Contact details
• Employment status
• Driving licence information
• Driving history (claims, convictions, or no claims discount)
• Vehicle details

We’ll also need to know about any modifications you’ve made to your kit car, so we can come up with a competitive quote based on your individual circumstances.

Is it easy to make a claim on kit car insurance?

Need to make a claim? It’s quick and easy with Lancaster Insurance Services. The first thing to do is call our 24-hour claims team on 01480 484802.

In the event of a fire, we will send out a surveyor to assess the damage to your car to see whether you’re eligible to claim on your policy.

If your vehicle was stolen, we will need your unique crime reference number to start the claims process, which you can get from the police.

Our helpful team will guide you through the process and be available around the clock if you have any further questions about your claim.

Why insure your kit car with Lancaster Insurance Services?

At Lancaster Insurance Services, we love kit cars just as much as you do, and know how much time and effort goes into building your dream motor. That’s why we do everything possible to find a policy to fit your specific requirements.

Our insurance policies provide the protection your kit car deserves, covering it in case of accidental damage, fire, and theft.

We understand that every kit car is unique and send our expert valuation team out to agree your vehicle’s worth when you take out a policy with us.

Need to insure another classic vehicle? Get in touch with our team to get a quote for a range of policies, including:

• 4x4 insurance
• Modified car cover
• Quad bike policies
• Limited mileage cover
• Campervan and motorhome insurance
• Military vehicle protection
• Wedding car plans
• Electric car cover

By insuring your vintage vehicle through Lancaster Insurance Services, you can call our 24/7 claims helpline in an emergency to get your kit car back on the road in no time.

Classic car club member discounts for kit car insurance

The team at Lancaster Insurance Services is more than an insurance provider – we are just as passionate about classic cars and kit cars as you are.

We’ve enjoyed almost three decades of working with classic car clubs across the UK to arrange specialist discounted cover for members.

Some of the classic car clubs we support include:

• British Mini Club
• Capri Club International
• Citroen 2CVGB Club
• Classic Corvette Club UK
• Club Lotus
• Discovery Owners Club
• Jaguar Drivers Club
• MG Owners' Club
• MK1 Golf Owners Club
• MK2 Golf Owners Club
• MX-5 Owners Club
• Mercedes Benz Club
• Morris Register
• Sporting Bears Motor Club
• TR Drivers Club Ltd
• Triumph Sports Six Club
• Volvo Enthusiasts Club
• XR Owners Club

If you belong to a classic car club and want to insure your kit car through us, speak to our helpful team about member discounts.

Insure your kit car with the specialists today

As vintage vehicle enthusiasts, we want to protect all classic cars and keep the industry thriving as it should – that means covering your kit car with the right policy at the right price.

With decades of experience insuring kit cars, we’re the experts in arranging cover to suit your needs for all types of vehicles.

To find a policy to suit you and your kit car, get in touch with Lancaster Insurance Services today.

Available Benefits at a Glance:

• Laid-Up Cover
• Limited mileage discounts available
• Owner’s club discounts
• Track Day/Rally Cover
• Free EU cover up to 90 days
• 24 Hour Claims Helpline
• UK Based Call Centre
• 2 Year Agreed Valuation available, from £18