Mods and insurance what is relevant?

[Chris Ho]

Hi everyone, just working up to getting the car insurance in anticipation of taking delivery of my new Noble but was wondering what modification should be declared. I know this topic has been discussed many times but the insurance market seems to be constantly changing.

I mean should I declare silicone hoses which have replaced the original hoses? What about hard pipes? My engine cover has also been painted - do you think that is important?

I have a larger intercooler and fuel pump and the car has a 50bhp increase in power which I would consider worthy of mentioning but would you declare the items above (or carbon door handles / spoiler end plates / alloy foot plate in drivers well and so on)?

Finally what about wheels if they are a different manufacturer but the same size (Compomotive in my case).

I would be really interested in other peoples experience / decisions in this regard. Especially those of you who have done so many improvements that it would read like a novel (mentioning no names tuxman andygtt!).

Many thanks in advance for any advice tended,

Chris.

[stevegto3]

Im insured with Admiral (£273!!)

I declared my Protechs, carbon endplates and new steering wheel. Personally insurers would find any excuse to wriggle out of paying for a vehicle. However, a Noble isnt a standard car, so would a crash insurance inspector know the difference between a stock oil breather and intercooler Vs Pro alloy? or internal components etc - probably not.

The only reason I declared my bits is that they are quite clearly not stock. It only cost an extra £17 and its peace of mind. I know Jed has a fairly tooled up car and he has declared his mods, mainly due to value of them.

Hope that helps

Steve

[TuxMan]

Hi Chris ,as you know mine is very heavily modified but I founds Mannings very very good , unlimited track day cover and for all the mods including assured value and 625bhp . cost this year was £560 all in .

you should declare the intercooler , wheels , bodywork mods and any power increase .

[Chris Ho]

Thanks Guys - this is really useful.

[Adrian W]

The rules are simple, every nut and bolt, if you don't tell them, you may find out that you are not insured, the car value isn't necessarily the most important issue, if you are involved in a serious accident you could become personally liable.

[Chris Ho]

Hi Adrian W - Is that possible? I mean whilst I can work out some of it (and that's only with the help of people on here who have looked at the photos), I don't think for a moment I would be able to tell if everything was just as it left the factory or not?

I hope there is a bit of flexibility in this regard, especially as I believe some original parts are no longer available?

[951]

Like Tux and Adrian, my car is highly modified both in terms of power and cosmetics.

I told them everything - even down to the carbon window winders

Mods that affect power, therefore potential speed/damage/risk etc are the obvious ones, but if other mods add value to a claim or make a repair more expensive, or make the car more attractive to a thief/joyrider then the insurer may use those as a way to avoid paying out in some way.

Best way is just to list everything that you are aware of imo.

[Chris Ho]

Thanks 951 - can I ask with whom you insure your car? Chris.

[Adrian W]

Chris Ho said:

Hi Adrian W - Is that possible? I mean whilst I can work out some of it (and that's only with the help of people on here who have looked at the photos), I don't think for a moment I would be able to tell if everything was just as it left the factory or not?

I hope there is a bit of flexibility in this regard, especially as I believe some original parts are no longer available?

It is "non disclosure of a material fact" basically if you don't tell them, you are lieing. there is absolutely no flexibility.

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/PUBLICATIONS...

[LazyRoss18]

In the event of an accident, you will likely end up paying the additional premium you would have paid if you had declared the mods in the first place as opposed to the insurer refusing to pay out.

[Adrian W]

LazyRoss18 said:

In the event of an accident, you will likely end up paying the additional premium you would have paid if you had declared the mods in the first place as opposed to the insurer refusing to pay out.

what evidence have you got to support that, a link would be good? the statement also presupposes that the insurer would have taken on the risk in the first place had they known about all of the modifications.

[LazyRoss18]

Adrian W said:

what evidence have you got to support that, a link would be good? the statement also presupposes that the insurer would have taken on the risk in the first place had they known about all of the modifications.

I am a price testing analyst for a FTSE 100 insurance company Obviously it doesn't apply to all cases but its not as clear cut as simply saying they wont pay out.

[Adrian W]

LazyRoss18 said:

I am a price testing analyst for a FTSE 100 insurance company Obviously it doesn't apply to all cases but its not as clear cut as simply saying they wont pay out.

Green light Insurance pulled a policy of mine because the mot tester entered the wrong mileage (effectively went down by 1000)he wrote to them saying that he had made a mistake, the ombudsman supported them.

[LazyRoss18]

Adrian W said:

Green light Insurance pulled a policy of mine because the mot tester entered the wrong mileage (effectively went down by 1000)he wrote to them saying that he had made a mistake, the ombudsman supported them.

I am not saying it doesn't happen, it clearly does. I know of cases where cars have been written off with undeclared modifications and the policyholder is asked to pay the additional premium before they are paid out. Always safe to declare what you know of

[Chris Ho]

Blimey, Adrian W, that seems incredibly harsh. I am not sure what another 1000 miles on the clock makes in the scale of things. Lazyross18, thanks for your input, moreso having worked in the industry so to speak. If the insurance company revert back to a premium to reflect the mods they become aware of I think that would be very generous (as you could run for years on lesser premiums only to pay a full premium if and when you had a claim). What I was hoping for was some sort of middle ground!

PS Which insurance companies do you use if its okay to ask?

[951]

Chris Ho said:

Thanks 951 - can I ask with whom you insure your car? Chris.

CCI

[SwankBaton]

I just dont get why anyone would not declare anything that isnt stock, Its hardly going to add 000's to your premium, I mean its a Noble not a Corsa! Why run the risk?

[andygtt]

Competition car insurance work on a power rating with my car which I find strange... I've declared my mods, explained the ramifications of them (i.e. only I can make the replacement parts) and all they want to know is the power output.... the premium is based on the max valuation Im allowed with then company along with it being 'above' their 400bhp threshold.
Ive made a large claim while being insured with them which was very smooth and I have a protected NCB.

For some reason 'upgraded intercooler' is a significant mod that some companies simply won't insure you if you have done it but will insure remaps, larger turbos etc etc... strange!

[2.5bluenob]

TuxMan said:

Hi Chris ,as you know mine is very heavily modified but I founds Mannings very very good , unlimited track day cover and for all the mods including assured value and 625bhp . cost this year was £560 all in .

Must be your age Simon lol . They wont insure mine for less than £1,300 (33 year old, 6 years ncb, 6 years of getting my nob out without any incidents,and only on a measly 600bhp). CCI have insured me for 6 years now and i cant fault them.

[TuxMan]

2.5bluenob said:

Must be your age Simon lol . They wont insure mine for less than £1,300 (33 year old, 6 years ncb, 6 years of getting my nob out without any incidents,and only on a measly 600bhp). CCI have insured me for 6 years now and i cant fault them.

Lol one advantage of being a old git ,