If you are building a kit car, a self-build classic, or assembling a replica from the ground up, you are investing a significant amount of time, money, and expertise into something genuinely special. But one question that often catches builders off guard is whether the vehicle can be insured before it is finished and before it has even been registered.
The answer is yes, in most cases. But the type of cover you need during a build is quite different from standard car insurance, and the route to getting on the road involves a few steps that are worth understanding from the outset.
At Heritage, our Managing Director Mark Wilkinson and the team have been helping classic and specialist vehicle owners protect their vehicles for over 60 years. Self-builds and kit cars represent some of the most rewarding projects our customers undertake, and some of the most important to protect correctly from day one.
What Type of Insurance Do You Need While Building a Kit Car?
A vehicle being built from scratch, whether it is a kit car, a Cobra replica, a Caterham-style seven, or a wholly bespoke self-build, is not a registered road vehicle during the build phase. This means standard car insurance does not apply.
What it needs is build-up cover. This type of specialist policy protects the vehicle, its components, and any fitted parts against fire, theft, and accidental damage while the build is in progress. It typically applies while the vehicle is kept in a locked garage or secure building at your home address.
Without it, the considerable value tied up in your build, including the rolling chassis, engine, bodywork, and specialist components, would be entirely unprotected.
What Does Build-Up Cover Include?
Build-up cover for a kit car or self-build typically protects:
- The vehicle itself including the chassis, body, and any components already fitted
- Spare parts and accessories stored alongside the build that are yet to be fitted
- Fire damage including damage caused by fire or explosion in the garage or workshop
- Theft of the vehicle or its parts, including damage caused by an attempted theft
- Accidental damage caused during the build process itself
It is important to note that build-up cover does not allow you to drive the vehicle on a public road. That requires separate road insurance, which can only be arranged once the vehicle is registered and, where required, has passed an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection.
What Is an IVA and Why Does It Matter?
Before a self-build or kit car can be registered with the DVLA and driven on UK public roads, it will typically need to pass an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection. This is a government assessment that confirms the vehicle meets UK safety and emissions standards.
The IVA process is relevant to insurance for two reasons.
Proof of Insurance Before Registration
In some circumstances, the DVLA may require proof of insurance before completing your vehicle registration. This can create a situation where you need insurance in place before you have a registration number. This is where specialist insurers who can cover vehicles on a chassis number become particularly important.
Value Changes as the Build Progresses
The value of a self-build can increase significantly as the project moves forward. A part-built vehicle is worth considerably less than a completed, IVA-passed car ready for the road. It is important to keep your insurer informed as the build progresses so that the level of cover reflects the current value of the vehicle at every stage.
Can You Insure a Kit Car That Has No Registration Number?
Yes. Specialist insurers are able to cover self-build and kit car projects on the basis of the vehicle’s chassis number rather than a registration plate. This is particularly relevant for builders who need insurance in place to satisfy DVLA requirements before registration can be completed.
Standard insurers are not set up to handle this scenario, which is one of the key reasons working with a specialist broker experienced in kit and self-build vehicles is so important.
