Popular TV show “Pimp My Ride” has created a buzzing trend when it comes to customizing your car. This has meant that many people are increasingly interested in personalised cars.

A ‘pimped out ride’  generally means that the car is complete with accessories ranging from simple paint jobs and fuzzy dice to chrome rims and grills, customized murals, spinners, pipes, LCD monitors, DVD players, expensive stereo systems, ground effects, and hydraulics. However, what many of these drivers do not realise that their ‘Pimped Rides’ may not be offered car insurance cover because of their often expensive added features.

As a result of the growing trend, many drivers are keen to see their cars stand out from the crowd, and to express their personality and style. But market sources are warning such car owners that they may have a hard time trying to convince their car insurance company to accommodate the added enhancements in their existing policies.

Industry sources insist that car owners should consider talking to their insurance provider before venturing on an expensive car improvement exercise.

Consulting the insurance company is the best course of action to take for anyone thinking of personalising their car because it will help you find out what your auto insurance company does and doesn’t cover. Additionally, it is the best opportunity to find out whether the insurer is willing to insure your new car while bearing in mind the total cost of keeping your customized vehicle covered.

According to reports, many insurance companies will ask if your car has “substantial customisation” that you would like to insure at an additional cost. Should that be the case, you can be allowed to add an endorsement to your comprehensive and collision coverage for custom parts and equipment. In this case, an endorsement would mean a change to your auto insurance policy with cover that can be extended to include your modifications.

Car owners are also advised to check the amount covered under the endorsement because it varies with different companies. Where new parts cost more than the covered cost, vehicle owners may want to consider shopping around to explore your coverage options. At the same time it helps to remember that standard insurance companies insure the actual value of the parts, meaning that they will pay you what the parts are worth and not what it costs to replace them.

As a safety precaution, vehicle owners are warned that they must always ensure that any auto parts are installed safely by a professional expert. Drivers should also avoid the temptation to do the work themselves because this could result in parts being incorrectly installed.

Any vehicle modification carried out by a professional could ensure safety measure are observed and in the long term save the driver a lot of money. At the same time, many of the drivers with custom vehicles are likely to get cover if they shop around however, industry experts say that they must remember to select “Yes” for the question about substantial customization.