How Lowriders Work

Lowrider prices vary widely and depend on the car's condition, the expertise that went into the modifications, the type of modifications and the type of car that was modified. Some lowriders cost as little as $2,000 to $3,000, while especially desirable models with top-notch technology cost as much as $20,000. It's rare, however, to find a lowrider that costs much more than that since typical lowrider modifications don't do much to increase the collectability of a car. But because collectability is dependent upon market trends, the more popular lowriders become, the more collectable (and more valuable) they become.

Building your own lowrider is a popular car hobby. Some people think it's cheaper than buying a ready-made model. Others want specific modifications. And some simply enjoy doing the work themselves. The last two reasons are the best reasons to build your own lowrider, as the investment of parts, labor and time may end up costing more than the car is actually worth. Builders can spend thousands of dollars finding a car to modify, buying the parts and performing the work, only to end up with a car that won't sell for what they spent. Building a lowrider is best for people who do it as a hobby -- not an investment.

Though lowriders can be insured by regular car insurance companies, they're likely to be insured for the value of the car before any modifications. Regular insurance companies won't take the collectability of the car into account when insuring a lowrider. Collector car insurance is offered by a few small companies. While these companies deal mainly with classic cars, they can also insure a lowrider, and take the full value of the car into account when dealing with claims.

But a lowrider is much more than just a car with a lowered suspension. What are some other changes that make a modified car look the part? We'll take a look at lowrider exteriors and interiors in the next section.