Insuring your DIY EV in the UK

[FFMan]

So now my build is just about ready to hit the road, i'm getting some push back on insurance.

Keith Michaels said they couldn't insure because the value of the car in the Glass guide was too low. It is after all a £500 BMW before I added the parts which so far add up to £1500, but when i add more batteries will be £2500.

Brent Acre, recommended on here, say they can't insure any electric vehicles, sounds like they have changed their mind on this one.

Any further comments/recommendations ?

[snelly]

i use Andra flux with my ev about 150 pounds a year
they be doing modified car for yearsss

[snelly]

Adrian flux

[Bigpie]

That's strange with Keith Michaels, mines a £300 car with about £2000 of parts. A lot seem to say no until you can get through the initial call centre bod.

[FFMan]

That's strange with Keith Michaels, mines a £300 car with about £2000 of parts. A lot seem to say no until you can get through the initial call centre bod.

i tried again with a different contact, and added the value of the conversion parts on. Waiting for a response.

[Ev8]

So it’s insurance time for me again just had my renewal quote from Adrian flux through at over £700! Gone up nearly £200 thought I’d call Keith Mitchell as recommended above only to be told they are too busy to give me a quote, and to call back next week, to be fair I wanted to sort this this week while I’m on holiday so I asked if they were not looking to take on new customers be told well it is what it is.. very strange conversation

[catphish]

So it’s insurance time for me again just had my renewal quote from Adrian flux through at over £700! Gone up nearly £200 thought I’d call Keith Mitchell as recommended above only to be told they are too busy to give me a quote, and to call back next week, to be fair I wanted to sort this this week while I’m on holiday so I asked if they were not looking to take on new customers be told well it is what it is.. very strange conversation

Keith Michaels seem to vary a lot in their ability and willingness to help. I've had good recommendations for them, so definitely worth asking, but with my car they just said they couldn't help, without any particular explanation as to why.

[andybpowell]

My insurance with adrian flux actually went down £100 this year to £265

[Bigpie]

My insurance is due next month. Been with Keith Michaels for 2 years, hopefully I won't have issues renewing.

[catphish]

My insurance with adrian flux actually went down £100 this year to £265

Mine went up from about £550 to about £600. Not too unreasonable.

[Ev8]

So in the end I did renew with flux, ended up talking them down to £650 and also added some additional non standard parts

[andybpowell]

So in the end I did renew with flux, ended up talking them down to £650 and also added some additional non standard parts

I've been modifying cars for 40 yrs and nearly all of my modified cars have been insured with them and I think the most I've ever paid was about £500 I think I've only been with another modified insurer twice and the only time they weren't happy to insure one of my cars was my Mr2 GT Turbo with nitros then again nobody liked insuring that

[Alibro]

I'm just off the phone with Keith Michael's and got a flat NO. They are refusing to insure Land Rovers or Range Rovers because they are stolen so often.
I tried to argue nobody would be daft enough to steal a 2004 Freelander but computer said no.
Best quote so far is £780 from Adrian Flux but as I don't have any no claims on this car maybe it's not too bad.

[andybpowell]

I'm just off the phone with Keith Michael's and got a flat NO. They are refusing to insure Land Rovers or Range Rovers because they are stolen so often.
I tried to argue nobody would be daft enough to steal a 2004 Freelander but computer said no.
Best quote so far is £780 from Adrian Flux but as I don't have any no claims on this car maybe it's not too bad.

Ouch

[Alibro]

Any other insurance company was quoting over £1k plus required a detailed engineers report.

[LRBen]

Got outright refused by the NFU for the MG, because of the age of the vehicle and the modifications. Strangely they were quite happy to quote for the 50 year old tractor with the same modifications.

Ended up going with Adrian Flux at £636, annoyingly £40 more than the renewal quote back in June. I did manage to talk them down £40 from the original quote they gave though.

[rstevens81]

can you go with cat1 alarm or insurance approved tracker? wouldn't save you enough this year but would pay for itself and not being trapped by a single insurer. (ask the question before spending obs).
Stealing a 2004 freelander wtf... that's sounds like stealing the alloy wheels off my auris ... if someone does it they got to be pritty damn desperate for cash and society has probably completely crumbled.

[Alibro]

Stealing a 2004 freelander wtf... that's sounds like stealing the alloy wheels off my auris ... if someone does it they got to be pritty damn desperate for cash and society has probably completely crumbled.

I said the exact same thing but computer said NO!

[dadiowe]

I have just been checking out prices for my BMW Z4 with GS450h if I decide to keep it. There are not many companies willing to quote.

Adrian Flux is one consistent broker who finds underwriters for EV cars.

On a value of £12000 they gave me a quote of £847.17 annually or deposit of £127.08 and 9 payments £94.65 which equals £978.93, Ouch!!

I managed to find another broker who quoted £544.44 annually on a value of £10,000 and putting my wife on the policy as a named driver, she does not want to drive it but apparently it can reduce the premium for some reason according to the broker. I can't remember the monthly cost as I was gobsmacked by the quote.

Give Callum Frost of Howden Group a call on 0161 341 2133 to see if he can help you.