Insure Your Ride

by Vanessa Loy (BPRW)

Today’s car is not your father’s Oldsmobile, to quote the old television commercial. Rims, grills, hydraulics and other customized features have allowed the younger generation of drivers to make their cars almost as personalized as their own living rooms. The MTV series “Pimp My Ride” features rapper Xzibit as the host of a vehicle makeover program. In each episode, a vehicle in poor condition is not only improved but customized, or “pimped,” according to the owner’s personal style and interests. The makeovers aren’t limited to paint jobs or hi-risers either; a bowling ball washer was installed in one vehicle while a dryer was installed in another.

Before you jump on the “Pimp My Ride” bandwagon, realize that vehicle modification is not without its price and safety risks. For example, altering a vehicle’s normal center of gravity by raising it up higher increases the risk of rollover during a collision. Automobile insurance agencies are also aware of these risks and may charge more to cover customized vehicles, if they cover them at all.

Insurance.com, an independent insurance agency, urges consulting with your insurance agent before doing any customizing. The website also gives information about the different policy options you may be faced with. First, find out if your insurance agency covers customized parts. If they do, find out what the new cost of your policy will be. If they don’t cover it, you may need to add an endorsement – an extension of your comprehensive and collision coverage – to your current policy, or upgrade your plan. If the revised policy is too expensive or your insurance agency refuses customization coverage, you should look for an agency that specializes in customized cars.

You must honestly disclose every single modification you have done or plan to do with your insurance agent. You will need documentation of all previous work performed on your vehicle, which company performed it, and what specifications were used. This is the only way your agent can create a policy that prices your coverage accurately, protects your vehicle in case it is ever stolen or in an accident, and verifies that your vehicle is safe to drive. Once you have gotten all the facts, you can ride in style and in security.