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Sports car insurance

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What is sports car insurance?

Sports car insurance works in the same way as regular car insurance but with specialist added cover.

While sports cars stand out from the pack with their sleek designs and high performance speeds, they can usually still be covered by standard insurers.

Designed to give the extra protection sports cars need, these policies cover cars like the Audi TT and Porsche 911, which are built for speed and exhilarating driving.

However, their powerful engines and high value can increase the risk of collisions, vandalism and theft. So you’ll be charged more to insure one.

What is sports car insurance?

Do I need specialist insurance?

You won’t usually need a policy from a specialist insurer, but this will depend on the car and whether it’s had any modifications.

For example, if you drive a unique or imported car, or your car’s had modifications to change how it looks or drives, you might need to take out specialist cover.

And if your car’s an exceptionally high-performance model or a supercar, it’s a good idea to include and compare specialist insurers in your search.

What is considered a sports car by insurance providers?

As sports cars come in all shapes and sizes, there isn’t a set definition, so many insurers use their own to classify the car.

Insurers generally view sports cars as being:

  • Designed for high performance, like GTs and coupes
  • Lighter, faster and often smaller than standard cars
  • Easily manoeuvrable at high speeds
  • Models that are lower to the ground
  • Built with bigger engines and advanced technology

What insurance groups do sports cars come under?

Car insurance groups range from one to 50 and vehicles are categorised to help insurers decide the premium you’ll pay.

The more powerful and valuable the car, the higher the insurance group it’s in and the more expensive your premium will be.

Most sports cars fall into group 30 or more and some, like certain versions of the Jaguar F-type, will be in the priciest group 50 band.

What type of cover can I get?

There are three main levels of cover you can choose from when you take out sports car insurance:

Third party only

This is the legal minimum level of cover required on UK roads. It covers any damage you cause to other drivers’ vehicles or property, as well as any injuries you cause to other people. But your car won’t be covered for damage if you’re the cause of the accident

Third party, fire and theft

As well as third party cover, this also provides added protection against fire damage and will cover your vehicle if it's stolen or damaged in an attempted theft

Comprehensive

This is the highest level of insurance available, but it doesn’t always cost the most. It provides third party, fire and theft cover, and also covers you and your car for an accident that was your fault

What does sports car insurance cover?

As well as the standard protection that’s provided with the level of cover you choose, a sports car policy can also include:

Sunroof damage

This can cover your car’s soft top convertible roof if it’s damaged by vandals

Modifications

If you customise or modify your sports car, this can cover any damage provided you’ve previously declared the modifications to your insurer

Malicious damage or vandalism

Sports cars can be more of a target for vandals, so this extra protection could cover the cost of repairs

Overseas

If you want to enjoy using your sports car on holiday you can be insured for driving it abroad

Track days

Many sports car policies provide specialist cover if you want to race your vehicle around a track

Enhanced personal accident cover

If your policy already includes personal accident cover, this can provide extra financial protection for any injuries you may suffer

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If you need to claim, we’ll pay £250 towards your excess^. Just another reason to make your life choices on Go.Compare.

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^Up to £250 refunded after claim settled. Car insurance purchases only. Excludes breakdown, windscreen and glass repair/replacement. Full T&Cs apply.

^^Based on Go.Compare analysis of successful claims, August 2019 - June 2022.

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How much does sports car insurance cost?

Even though prices will vary depending on the policy, insuring a sports car is generally more expensive than standard car insurance.

Their luxury design and powerful performance make them more expensive to repair and replace, and more appealing to thieves and vandals.

Plus, the high speeds they can reach increase the chance of an accident. These reasons all contribute to the higher insurance cost.

Insurers will also consider personal circumstances like your age, address, claims history and driving experience when they provide a quote, so it’s always best to shop around.

Sports car insurance for young drivers

While sports cars are typically more expensive to insure, this cost goes up even further if you’re a young driver.

In fact, it’s not uncommon for insurers to have an age limit for sports car insurance, which often starts at around 25 years old.

This is because younger drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident. Government statistics show that 18% of casualties in road traffic accidents were aged 17-24.

If you’re under 25, you may find specialist insurers that will cover you although it’s likely to cost a lot more. So it may be worth driving a car that’s in a lower insurance group until you’re a bit older and have more driving experience.

How to get cheaper sports car insurance

There are things you can do to help reduce the cost:

  1. Improve your driving skills

    Taking an approved advanced driving course can help lower your premiums

  2. Limit your mileage

    Reduce how much you drive annually and give an accurate estimated mileage to get cheaper cover

  3. Build up your no-claims bonus

    Build up your no-claims history by driving safely and pay for small repairs yourself to receive a discount at renewal time

  4. Improve your security

    Fitting an immobiliser in your car and parking in a secure location can lower premiums

  5. Pay a higher voluntary excess

    The more you agree to pay towards a claim, the lower your premium will be. Just make sure that it’s affordable

  6. Limit modifications

    Modifications that improve the look or performance of your car can bump up the cost of your car insurance

  7. Join a car club

    If you join a car club associated with your vehicle’s brand and model you can often get a discount on your premium

  8. Shop around

    One of the best ways to find deals is to shop around and compare quotes from different providers

Frequently asked questions

A high performance car is one that provides an exceptional driving experience and is designed for speed and manoeuvrability.

Sports cars usually fall into this category. However, cars designed to deliver maximum performance also count. These are vehicles with a lot of power compared to their weight.

This means certain models with up to five seats can also be considered as performance cars, as they can have four-wheel drive and still achieve impressive speeds.

Find out more about insurance for high performance cars.

There isn’t a definitive answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors including the make and model of the sports car.

In some cases, older models are more expensive to insure as they won’t have the same security and safety features as newer models.

But, on the other hand, you may actually find it cheaper to insure. For example, insurance for classic cars can be cheaper as they’re typically driven less often.

Installing security modifications, like an immobiliser and dashcam, can make your premium cheaper.

But any modifications that enhance the look or performance of your sports car are likely to increase the cost of your insurance.

And if your car does have modifications, it’s important to tell your insurer to make sure they’re covered.

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Page last reviewed: 24 January 2023

Page reviewed by: Jasmine Hembury