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Find the performance car insurer that suits you
Get a detailed insight into the top performance car insurance providers or cast your net wider by viewing all car insurance companies.
Admiral
AA
Churchill
Hastings Direct
Quotemehappy
RAC
Tesco Insurance
AXAWhat is performance car insurance?
Performance car insurance is a specialised policy for luxury, high-powered, or modified vehicles that typically fall into higher insurance categories (30-50).
This type of insurance differs from standard car insurance, as policies take their high value into consideration, mitigating the higher risk.
Like standard car insurance, there are three types of cover available:
Comprehensive
Covers damage, fire, theft, and third-party liability, often with higher coverage limits suited for expensive vehicles.
Third-party fire and theft
Costs to repair or replace your car if it's stolen or damaged by fire (including arson).
Third-party only
Damages to another person’s vehicle or property if you're at fault, plus compensation for their injuries.
What is a performance car?
A performance car is a car that incorporates into its design some of the performance characteristics of a racing car.
Racing cars are designed for speed, so a performance car will have quicker acceleration, a fast top speed and more responsive brakes and steering. These are features that mean the car is statistically more likely to be involved in an accident than a car without them. Performance cars are also attractive to thieves.
Some features of a performance car include:
- High horsepower or performance engines
- Lightweight or aerodynamic design
- Two-door or coupe body style
- Premium or luxury brand models
- Modified or turbocharged vehicles
They generally fall into high insurance groups (30-50), with larger engines, higher repair costs, and increased theft risk.
What does performance car insurance cover?
Depending on your insurance provider, performance car insurance typically covers the following:
- Damage to your high-performance vehicle
This covers accidental damage to your car, such as after a collision or impact. Often includes the use of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts and specialist repairers.
- Theft, vandalism, and fire protection
This covers loss or damage if your car is stolen, vandalised, or damaged by fire, such as a break-in or arson. May include a courtesy car, depending on the policy.
- Third-party injury and property damage
This covers costs if you injure someone else or damage their property, such as another vehicle or a wall. This is the legal minimum requirement to drive.
- Track/event day cover
Provides cover for taking your car on a track or organised club event, such as a driving experience day. Not all policies will include this as standard.
- Cover for modified or enhanced parts
This can provide protection for aftermarket or upgraded parts, such as alloy wheels or performance exhausts, if declared and accepted.
- Private registration plate cover
This covers loss, theft or damage to your personalised number plate, for example if it is stolen or becomes unreadable after a car accident.
- Breakdown assistance
Breakdown cover provides help if your vehicle breaks down, including roadside support or recovery to a garage. Often available as an optional extra.
Does performance car insurance cover modifications?
You must declare any and all car modifications on your performance car; otherwise, your insurance could be invalidated.
The types of modifications could include:
- Performance-enhancing modifications: These increase the vehicle’s performance, such as engine tuning and upgraded exhaust systems, to improve speed and power.
- Aesthetic modifications: These enhance the vehicle’s appearance, such as alloy wheels, car wrapping, and tinted windows.
Car modifications impact the policy and the cost of your premium. Mods like engine remaps and cosmetic changes, like new wheels or body kits, usually increase premiums.
While most modifications increase premiums, some safety or security upgrades might not affect cost, and specialised insurers may offer better, more tailored rates.
Agreed value is also an important type of insurance to consider. Agreed value for performance vehicles is a specialised policy that guarantees a specific, predetermined payout if the car is stolen or written off, rather than paying the depreciated 'market value' at the time of the claim.
"Declaring modifications is important for performance car owners. Even cosmetic upgrades like alloy wheels or body kits can affect a policy, and failing to disclose them could risk invalidating cover altogether."
How to get cheap performance car insurance
The best way to get cheap performance car insurance is to use Uswitch's dedicated comparison tool.
To get cheap car insurance, you can also:
- Enter accurate annual mileage
- Add an experienced named driver
- Increase your voluntary excess
- Install a tracker or immobiliser
- Pay annually instead of monthly
- Keep your car in a locked garage
- Compare quotes 3 weeks before renewal
- Check for cashback deals
- Join owners’ clubs for discounts
- Build your no-claims bonus
Car insurance for performance cars FAQs
Do I need separate performance car insurance?
You don't need a separate policy if standard insurance covers your car, but you almost certainly need a specialized performance car insurance policy.
Specialist insurers offer tailored coverage that suit the needs of your vehicle when standard insurance doesn't. They may offer access to specialist repairers, rather than standard garages that may not be equipped for high-performance cars.
Why is performance car insurance more expensive?
Performance car insurance is more costly because they pose a higher risk to insurers. They're often more expensive to repair and more prone to theft due to their higher value. Powerful engines and higher speeds can also increase the likelihood of accidents.
How do I find the best performance car insurance?
Comparing insurers is the best way to find a policy that's cost effective and meets your individual needs.
Good strategies for finding the best performance car insurance include joining owners' clubs (up to 15% discount), restricting annual mileage, garaging the car, using security devices, and utilising advanced driving qualifications.
What are the cheapest performance cars to insure?
The cheapest performance cars to insure are often agile, smaller-engined hot hatches and lightweight sports cars with manageable horsepower.
Top choices include the Volkswagen Up GTI, Mazda MX-5 (2015+), Ford Fiesta ST, and Abarth 124 Spider. These cars often fall into lower insurance groups compared to high-horsepower options.
