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Author: Subject: What counts as a kit car for insurance purposes?
smart51

posted on 1/10/15 at 01:15 PM Reply With Quote
What counts as a kit car for insurance purposes?

Perhaps an odd question, but stick with me. Cars are expensive to insure. Performance cars more so and modified performance cars even more than that. But kit cars are cheap. So, how far do you need to go before a car can be counted as a kit car?

A typical kit uses an original design of chassis, probably with some fibreglass, to which bits of donor car are added.
Porsche Speedster replicas are basically a beetle with the roof and sides cut off with a new body and interior.
There are MX5 based cars where they unbolt the wings, bonets and bumperskirts and add new.
Then there's the Tallon 100R which is a metro with a big engine and some suspension changes.

How much of a car would you have to change for it to be thought of as a kit, rather than just modified?

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nick205

posted on 1/10/15 at 01:18 PM Reply With Quote
Best to get it in writing from the DVLA I reckon






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40inches

posted on 1/10/15 at 01:18 PM Reply With Quote
My thoughts are that if it needs an IVA it is a kit, if it doesn't it isn't
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smart51

posted on 1/10/15 at 01:40 PM Reply With Quote
I believe if you weld something to the chassis (that's not a repair) then you need an IVA. So a Cinquecento, for example, with a bit of welded in chassis stiffening would need an IVA, so would be a kit car? Personally, I'd say it was just modified.
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cliftyhanger

posted on 1/10/15 at 02:16 PM Reply With Quote
Best ask the insurer........

I drive a spitfire (Triumph, not Supermarine before anybody gets clever) fitted with a zetec/T9 and extensively modified rear suspension (but still uses the original spring, and uprights)
Insured as a modified classic. However, I know that some with such cars have insured them as kits. I suppose the insurer or underwriter decides what they will insure.
Seems some of the classic insurers are stopping modified cars, but Adrian Flux and other specialists seem to be stepping in. Guess it is becoming a "hobby car" type market.

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steve m

posted on 1/10/15 at 05:38 PM Reply With Quote
"My thoughts are that if it needs an IVA it is a kit, if it doesn't it isn't "

Not correct, sorry, as pre June ish 1999, all that was required was an engineers letter to confirm that the car was a self build, or not a mainstream manufactured car

IVA/SVA had not come into force at this time

steve





Thats was probably spelt wrong, or had some grammer, that the "grammer police have to have a moan at




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morcus

posted on 1/10/15 at 09:49 PM Reply With Quote
I work with a guy who had a V8 capri which he claimed was insured as a kit car (And possibly had an IVA) as it had structural changes.

On a similar note could you do it for Tax to avoid the top rate emissions test?





In a White Room, With Black Curtains, By the Station.

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Angel Acevedo

posted on 2/10/15 at 12:51 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by cliftyhanger
Best ask the insurer........

I drive a spitfire (Triumph, not Supermarine before anybody gets clever) fitted with a zetec/T9 and extensively modified rear suspension (but still uses the original spring, and uprights)
Insured as a modified classic. However, I know that some with such cars have insured them as kits. I suppose the insurer or underwriter decides what they will insure.
Seems some of the classic insurers are stopping modified cars, but Adrian Flux and other specialists seem to be stepping in. Guess it is becoming a "hobby car" type market.


Maybe Dan @ Adrian flux may provide his point of view on this...





Beware of what you wish.. for it may come true....

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DAN@ADRIAN FLUX

posted on 3/10/15 at 11:01 AM Reply With Quote
Hi,
We don't as such have a definitive definition for a kit car to be honest. We can cater for complete one off vehicles or replica vehicle where they just use bolt on panels. Vehicle don't necessarily have to be subject to an IVA to qualify for our schemes.
Regards,
Dan.

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