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Agreed Value for a Modified or Imported Classic: What Will the Insurer Ask For?

Published 3 October 2026 · 5 min read

Photographs, receipts for the work done and, for a higher or unusual figure, an independent valuation. Insurers do not all ask for the same things, but those are the three that come up most. A modified or imported classic is where the evidence matters most, because there is no standard price for it.

Agreed value fixes the payout in writing when the policy starts, as our guide to agreed value against market value explains. The catch is that the insurer has to accept the figure first. For a standard car that is quick. For a car with changes to the body, suspension or brakes, or one brought in from abroad, it usually needs more behind it.

Need a documented figure for an agreed value application? Get a price for your agreed value valuation.

What do insurers ask for to agree a value?

The pattern is the same across the specialist classic insurers that publish it. Here is what four of them say.

Evidence	What the insurers say
Photographs	Heritage Car Insurance lists the front, back, each side, the interior and the engine bay. Goodwood Insurance adds any modifications.
Receipts and records	Goodwood Insurance asks for bills of recent or existing work, with receipts showing the labour and the parts. Confused.com lists service records and restoration work.
Independent valuation	Heritage Car Insurance accepts valuations from approved professionals or car clubs. Hagerty says you are sometimes asked for an independent valuation report to confirm the car's history and condition.

Sources: Heritage Car Insurance, "What is agreed value and why does it matter?" (25 November 2019); Goodwood Insurance, agreed value; Confused.com, classic car agreed value (updated 11 September 2026); Hagerty, "Do I need agreed value?" (27 January 2026).

What changes when the car is modified?

Confused.com describes modifications as anything from cosmetic changes like paint or alloy wheels to changes to the bodywork, suspension or brakes. Goodwood Insurance says its evidence requirement exists to make the figure accurate against modified parts or model type that add value to the car, and that the changes should be captured on the agreed value certificate to avoid gaps in cover.

In practice that means the receipts matter more than the photographs. A photo shows that the car has uprated brakes. An invoice shows what they cost and when they were fitted. If a change is not documented, an insurer has little to go on when deciding whether it adds value.

What about an imported car?

Confused.com names imported cars, alongside modified ones, among those that benefit most from agreed value, because repairs can be complex and parts hard to source. The insurers above do not publish a separate list of documents for imports, so the same evidence applies: photographs, records of work and, where the figure is not easy to support from the market, an independent valuation.

Hagerty says it reaches a figure from the price of comparable vehicles, how much you have spent on the car and its overall condition. Whatever the car, the more of that you can show on paper, the less there is to argue about.

How often should you update the figure?

Confused.com advises updating an agreed value every 1 to 2 years, or whenever you make significant modifications, and warns that a figure left alone will not reflect a rise in the car's value. Hagerty says you can review the valuation at renewal. If you have made changes since the figure was agreed, tell your insurer and ask what it needs to support the new number.

Does a valuation guarantee the insurer will accept the figure?

No. Insurance is a private agreement between you and the insurer, and each decides what evidence it accepts and what value it agrees. Ask yours what it needs before you order anything. What an independent valuation gives you is a documented figure: comparable vehicles on the market, adjusted for your car's condition, mileage and specification, with the reasoning written down. That is a stronger starting point than a number you chose yourself. This guide is general information, not insurance advice.

Frequently asked questions

What evidence do insurers ask for to agree a value on a classic car?

Insurers commonly ask for photographs of the car (outside, inside and engine bay), receipts and records for work done, and sometimes an independent valuation. Hagerty says you may be asked for documentation and photographs and sometimes an independent valuation report. What is accepted differs between insurers, so check with yours.

Do I need an independent valuation for a modified classic?

Not always. Some insurers agree a value from your own figure and photos, and ask for an independent valuation when the figure is high or unusual, or when they do not agree with it. Several list an independent valuation among the evidence they accept.

How often should I update the agreed value on a classic?

Confused.com advises updating it every 1 to 2 years, or when you make significant modifications. Hagerty says you can review the valuation when you renew. A figure that is not updated will not reflect any rise in the car's value.

Does a valuation report guarantee the insurer will accept my figure?

No. Each insurer decides what evidence it accepts and what value it agrees. A report gives you a documented figure, with the comparable cars and adjustments set out, to put in front of them.