Insurance - mods.
Discussion
When does a modification, become a notifiable modification in regards to insurance? for example, fitting upgraded brake hoses, grippier tyres, vented disks? or even a PH sticker?
I have heard of some insurance companies that charge more for adding a stripe on the bonnet, yet others that don't charge for masses of modifications.
What is reasonable? surely better brakes and tyres are
a safety feature.. or do they "make" you go faster?
Why do we feel we have to be ripped off for minor additions or changes we make? seems as if the driver is a bigger risk than the vehicle - if you are the type who takes chances, then that is reflected in your accident record, so why charge more for trivial accessories? and don't tell me that new brakes or stickers make a car more stealable...
Is there a company that doesn't actually treat us like naughty kids for enjoying "fast cars" ?
rgds.
I have heard of some insurance companies that charge more for adding a stripe on the bonnet, yet others that don't charge for masses of modifications.
What is reasonable? surely better brakes and tyres are
a safety feature.. or do they "make" you go faster?
Why do we feel we have to be ripped off for minor additions or changes we make? seems as if the driver is a bigger risk than the vehicle - if you are the type who takes chances, then that is reflected in your accident record, so why charge more for trivial accessories? and don't tell me that new brakes or stickers make a car more stealable...
Is there a company that doesn't actually treat us like naughty kids for enjoying "fast cars" ?
rgds.
I find its best to contact the insurance company and ask them. Did that with a tyre profile change, next story in mind, and they were OK about it.
I have heard about a Festa that had XR wheels fitted. The car hit a wall and the insurance company claimed that cover was no longer valid as the car had been made more nickable because of the wheels. Nothing to do with hitting a wall. Theiving sods.
I have heard about a Festa that had XR wheels fitted. The car hit a wall and the insurance company claimed that cover was no longer valid as the car had been made more nickable because of the wheels. Nothing to do with hitting a wall. Theiving sods.
The car could have been nicked just to take the wheels and tyres though - so I can see their point.
Bigger brakes make cars faster, so its fair enough for the insurance company to requote. I don't think they can complain about grippier tyres since there's no 'standard' for a road tyre in the first place - unless you've fitted grooved slicks or something....
The safest thing is to tell them everything - just to be sure.
Bigger brakes make cars faster, so its fair enough for the insurance company to requote. I don't think they can complain about grippier tyres since there's no 'standard' for a road tyre in the first place - unless you've fitted grooved slicks or something....
The safest thing is to tell them everything - just to be sure.
In insurance companies eyes - anything that was not fitted to the car as standard is an extra - and therefore you are obliged to get a re-quote.
Whether this means you need a re-quote if you order larger wheels or not from the factory, I don't know...
With premiums rising, and ambulance chasers pushing them higher, insurance companies are looking for reasons to refuse claims... IMHO it isn't worth the risk, but each to their own.
Whether this means you need a re-quote if you order larger wheels or not from the factory, I don't know...
With premiums rising, and ambulance chasers pushing them higher, insurance companies are looking for reasons to refuse claims... IMHO it isn't worth the risk, but each to their own.
A bit off topic.........
But what happens if you buy a used car that has had some modifications / additions that you are not aware of.
I.E. you buy a car that you belive is standard, but has had some tweaks added by previous owner, then unfortunately you have an accident, the insurance company investigate and find the mods which they don't like and declare your insurance void.
Where would the owner stand?
But what happens if you buy a used car that has had some modifications / additions that you are not aware of.
I.E. you buy a car that you belive is standard, but has had some tweaks added by previous owner, then unfortunately you have an accident, the insurance company investigate and find the mods which they don't like and declare your insurance void.
Where would the owner stand?
quote:
A bit off topic.........
But what happens if you buy a used car that has had some modifications / additions that you are not aware of.
I.E. you buy a car that you belive is standard, but has had some tweaks added by previous owner, then unfortunately you have an accident, the insurance company investigate and find the mods which they don't like and declare your insurance void.
Where would the owner stand?
Take them to court and sue their ass - they have to PROVE that you made the mods. Innocent til proven guilty in this country IIRC
quote:
[Take them to court and sue their ass - they have to PROVE that you made the mods. Innocent til proven guilty in this country IIRC
Why do they have to prove YOU made the mods? They'll probably argue its your responsibility to know what you're driving. AND they'll be able to afford a better solicitor than you too.
RDS will wriggle out of any liability without execption if you give them half a chance!Apart from visible mods (big bore exhaust, large rear wing, washer jet LEDs) that may make the car more appealing to thieves, many insurance companies base their quotes on the gain in power and the added value of the car.
If you put a full AP Racing brake set on your car, costing a couple of grand, then regardless of the fact that you've made your car safer by improving it's braking peformance, your premium will go up. Same with chips, air filters and the like. I would imagine that the same goes for replacement turbos as well.
Having said that, sticking a chip under the bonnet to give you an extra 15 bhp wouldn't make that much difference to the performance, nor change the look of the car, so insurers should be sensible.
However, honesty is the most important thing to remember. Your contract with insurers is very specific and relates to a certain car, under certain conditions. If you change that car in any way, without letting them know, they can avoid your policy...
If you put a full AP Racing brake set on your car, costing a couple of grand, then regardless of the fact that you've made your car safer by improving it's braking peformance, your premium will go up. Same with chips, air filters and the like. I would imagine that the same goes for replacement turbos as well.
Having said that, sticking a chip under the bonnet to give you an extra 15 bhp wouldn't make that much difference to the performance, nor change the look of the car, so insurers should be sensible.
However, honesty is the most important thing to remember. Your contract with insurers is very specific and relates to a certain car, under certain conditions. If you change that car in any way, without letting them know, they can avoid your policy...
This isn't particularly relevant, but it's got right on my tits:
Phoned my insurer about half na hour ago to ask what difference it would make to my premium on the 106 if I fitted a "performance" air filter, the inverted commas being because these things make very little difference other than a very nice noise.
I was told they wouldn't even cover me and that if I had already had said item fitted, my cover would cease forthwith.
I believe they are, quite literally, having a laugh. Arseholes.
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
That's better. Time for the blue pill now.
Phoned my insurer about half na hour ago to ask what difference it would make to my premium on the 106 if I fitted a "performance" air filter, the inverted commas being because these things make very little difference other than a very nice noise.
I was told they wouldn't even cover me and that if I had already had said item fitted, my cover would cease forthwith.
I believe they are, quite literally, having a laugh. Arseholes.
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
That's better. Time for the blue pill now.
I've been with the same insurance co for 38 years. I have informed them of every modification I've made, including larger turbos, chipping et al. They have noted it on my policy but have never made any additional charge.
I did discuss a proposal to drop a 2 litre turbo twink into an Uno. They said they would want an engineers report and would have to negotiate a group, excesses etc, we mutually decided not to proceed with that one.
Other people with the same company have not been so generously dealt with, the broker explained that based upon the cars I had previously insured with them I was either naturally lucky or very skilled (the former I assure you), they were prepared to keep faith with me untill I proved otherwise.
So far I have not had to test their claims performance...reach for wood to touch!
>> Edited by gnomesmith on Wednesday 10th July 18:42
I did discuss a proposal to drop a 2 litre turbo twink into an Uno. They said they would want an engineers report and would have to negotiate a group, excesses etc, we mutually decided not to proceed with that one.
Other people with the same company have not been so generously dealt with, the broker explained that based upon the cars I had previously insured with them I was either naturally lucky or very skilled (the former I assure you), they were prepared to keep faith with me untill I proved otherwise.
So far I have not had to test their claims performance...reach for wood to touch!
>> Edited by gnomesmith on Wednesday 10th July 18:42
It will depend on the insurance company. Some won't touch anything seen as a go-faster mod, stripes and LEDs, spoilers and wheels make them think you will drive faster, show off more and therefore crash.
I have found that when insuring a new car for the first time, they are not too bothered about factory options (unless performance upgrades), ie my Defender was an ex-demo and had just about every thing off the options list - insurance still only £240
.
As to the point about mods you're not aware of, I guess bodykits and big brake upgrades etc you could reasonably be expected to know about, but if the ECU had been chipped would you know?
I've been open about any mods on my cars and not been hit with an increased premium yet.
Cheers,
JSG
I have found that when insuring a new car for the first time, they are not too bothered about factory options (unless performance upgrades), ie my Defender was an ex-demo and had just about every thing off the options list - insurance still only £240
. As to the point about mods you're not aware of, I guess bodykits and big brake upgrades etc you could reasonably be expected to know about, but if the ECU had been chipped would you know?
I've been open about any mods on my cars and not been hit with an increased premium yet.
Cheers,
JSG
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