Car insurance for Q-plate registrations

Whether you’ve built your own car, imported one or radically modified a vehicle so that it’s unrecognisable, you might need to apply for a Q-plate. And that means you’ll also need to hunt out Q-plate car insurance.

What is a Q-plate registration?

Standard registration plates can help identify a car’s history, including its age, date of manufacture and where it was first registered.

However, in some cases, the age or identity of a vehicle will be unknown, and it might not even have a vehicle identification number (VIN). In these circumstances, the vehicle will be given a Q-plate registration. This is simply a registration plate that starts with the letter “Q”.

What types of vehicles need Q-plates?

Vehicles that might need Q-plates include the following:

• Self-built “kit” cars
• Self-imported vehicles, where there might be gaps in the car’s document history
• Radically modified vehicles
• Reconstructed classic vehicles
• Ex-military vehicles, whose history cannot be released as they are classified
• Cars without a VIN

How are Q-plates issued?

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) issues Q-plates to vehicles where it is difficult to determine their age or identity. Any original registration that may have been associated with the car will then become invalid and you must not display it again.

To request a Q-plate, you will need to use the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) scheme. You must apply for vehicle approval if you have done the following:

• Built a vehicle
• Rebuilt a vehicle
• Radically altered a vehicle
• Reconstructed a classic vehicle
• Imported a vehicle

Is it difficult to insure a Q-plate car?

Yes, it can be much harder to get car insurance for a Q-plate vehicle. This is simply because car insurers find it more difficult to calculate the risk the vehicle imposes if they don’t know anything about the vehicle’s history.

Where can I find car insurance for a Q-plate car?

You will usually need to approach a specialist insurer or a car insurance broker to find Q-plate car insurance. Mainstream car insurance providers don’t tend to offer insurance for Q-plate vehicles.

When comparing options, you will usually need to provide detailed information about every aspect of the vehicle, including performance information and a breakdown of the parts used, so the insurer can fully assess the risk involved. You will also need to agree on a value for the car.

Are Q-plate cars more expensive to insure?

Usually, yes. Again, this is down to the fact that mainstream car insurance providers don’t usually offer car insurance for Q-plate vehicles, which means you’ll need to use a specialist provider. What’s more, because the level of risk is harder to determine, your premiums are likely to be higher.

How to compare car insurance for Q-plate registered cars

To compare car insurance for Q-plate registered cars, you’ll need to do an online search and look for specialist insurance providers or car insurance brokers.

Because of the level of detail involved, it can be difficult to run online quotes to get an idea of cost, as you can with standard car insurance. This means you’ll usually need to give the insurer a ring to talk through the details and specifics of your car and cover required.

You may also have to send the insurer some photos of the car and get a professional to carry out an independent valuation.

As with any type of insurance, make sure you don’t base your decision on cost alone. It’s important to check that you’ll have the right level of cover too.

What makes Q-plate registered cars unique?

Q-plate registered cars are unique because they tend to be self-built or radically modified so that the original parts can’t be identified. For this reason, they are unlike any other car on the road, which means they need a specific registration and tailored car insurance.

Do they require any extra cover?

As with any type of car insurance policy, you’ll need to check what is included as standard and what you might need to pay extra for. Q-plate car insurance might, for example, offer cover for left-hand drive vehicles and cover for specialist parts.

But you might also be able to add on cover for track days or rallies, cover if you plan to display your car at shows and cover for driving abroad.

Do I need to tell the DVLA that I need a Q-plate?

Yes, you do. You will need to make an Individual Approval Vehicle application and your vehicle will need to pass an IVA test by the DVLA before you can get a Q-plate. Test centres can be found across the UK.

Bottom line

If you have a kit car, you’ve imported a car or your vehicle has been reconstructed or radically modified, you’ll need a Q-plate.

Having a Q-plate can make it trickier to get car insurance, but the good news is there are a number of specialist providers and brokers that can help you find the right level of cover tailored to your particular vehicle.

Frequently asked questions

• Is it safe to buy Q-plate cars?

  If the car has passed the IVA test by the DVLA, this means it meets certain safety requirements so you can rest assured the car is safe and road-legal.

• Does it cost more to insure a Q-plate?

  Yes, it can because it is harder for insurers to assess the level of risk associated with the vehicle as its age or identity is in doubt.

• Can you get a Q-plate removed?

  No. Once you’ve been given a Q-plate, your vehicle will keep that registration for as long as it’s on the road.

• Can you put a private plate on a Q-plate?

  No, you can’t. Once you have your Q-plate, you cannot swap it for a private or personalised plate.

• Can Q-plates be tax exempt?

  That depends. If your vehicle was built before 1 January 1981, you can stop paying vehicle tax.

• Do Q-plates qualify for MOT exemption?

  Your vehicle won’t need an MOT if it is more than 40 years old, is taxed as a historic vehicle, has not been modified over the past 30 years and meets one or more of the following criteria:

  • Has a Q-plate
  • Is a kit car
  • Is a reconstructed classic vehicle
  • Is a kit conversion.

Finder survey: How many Brits have ever had car insurance?

Response	Male	Female
Yes	80.43%	68.83%
No	19.57%	31.17%

Source: Finder survey by Censuswide of 1032 Brits, December 2023

The offers compared on this page are chosen from a range of products we can track; we don't cover every product on the market...yet. Unless we've indicated otherwise, products are shown in no particular order or ranking. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations), aren't product ratings, although we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it; this is subject to our terms of use. When making a big financial decision, it's wise to consider getting independent financial advice, and always consider your own financial circumstances when comparing products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.

*Based on data provided by Consumer Intelligence Ltd, www.consumerintelligence.com (Mar ’24). 51% of car insurance customers could save £524.68

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Rachel Wait

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Rachel Wait is a freelance journalist and has been writing about personal finance for more than a decade, covering everything from insurance to mortgages. She has written for a range of personal finance websites and national newspapers, including The Observer, The Mail on Sunday, The Sun and the Evening Standard. Rachel is a keen baker in her spare time.

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