Car Auto Insurance

In this new age of customizing and modifying cars with expensive, unique, and sometimes high tech additions, the question is raised as to whether or nor the insurance companies cover the modifications. Another item to consider if is the cost of your premium will go up as a result of your vehicle enhancements. The most common customization of old was a nice shiny paint job, but those days are long gone. Now the most common enhancement would have to be rims. The rims I am referring to are not hubcaps, they are the complete wheel, usually made of chrome, and the more shiny the better. Because some rims are so large, the owner of the car may have to buy thinner tires. The modification does not stop at the rims and tires; owners also add custom grills, exhaust pipes, TV screens and LCD monitors, DVD players, GPS systems, mega stereo systems and even video game consoles. Now before you go spend your paycheck on the hottest new add-ons for your car, you need to check on one thing, your auto insurance policy.

Since the car modification trend has only recently blown up, insurance companies and the coverages they offer may not include the newer, more extreme changes being made to cars. The best thing you can do is visit your insurance agent or get a quote from a new company before making any changes to your car or better yet, before you even buy anything that you want to add to your car. It would be a shame if you did not plan ahead and spent a lot of money on items that would not be protected by your insurance policy. Most insurers have a classification known as “substantial customization” that your customized car may fit into. If so, you do not have to buy a special policy. You can still have your comprehensive coverage but in order to protect your added items an endorsement must be added.

An endorsement is basically a change to your policy, in this case a change to provide coverage for your custom parts. When adding the endorsement, fully understand the amount of coverage because it’s no use if your items are worth more than the coverage available to you. Insurance companies only insure what each individual part is worth, not the cost of replacement. Now that you have researched your coverage options, you are ready to get your hands dirty and start adding the items you desire, or are you?

When dealing with expensive items, especially electronics, my best advice is to have everything installed professionally. Sorry do-it-yourselfers, but this should be done to ensure everything is installed safely and properly. It may sound incorrect, but the professional installation will save you money in the long run. With your insurance policy in hand, your car add-ons and a professional installer, you are now ready to “pimp” your ride!

By: Tod F.