IMO you just do NOT take chances with insurance of any kind. If you can't afford to insure a car, then you simply can't afford the car. The same goes for modifications, if you can't afford to insure them then you can't afford to make them. There are many grey areas, varying from one policy to the next, with regard to what modifications will be charged for, but you have a responsibility (both legal and moral) to declare to your insurance company anything that to your knowledge differs from the manufacturer's specification. Sure, insurance companies mostly won't care about small things, but you should never assume that its the case. Many policies allow a simple catch-all 'cosmetic mods' clause which saves on endless detail about your smoothed relocated shortened japanese spec inner wing grommet. Edited by: jbmg40
This thread isn't about whether i should have acted or not.. I have not personally attacked you.. you seem to think i have..?? The same thing WOULD NOT have happened if he was in a 1.2 because the insurance would have been valid and the compensation etc that would be due would have been available. Yes, the accident may still have happened, but circumstances after may have been a lot different. If you read the thread maybe you will realsie i have not wished death on you, just people that run invalid insurance and ruin life for those of us driving modified/performance cars with valid insurance. If you are getting so defensive over attacks against the effectivley un-insured, maybe you ARE one of the idiots??? I think you will find i have posted much more factual information, and personal experiece backing up strong opinions... that makes your post complete crap. Thanks.. Have a nice life.. however long it is.... Yours sincerely, God.
Believe it or not but direct line were funny about my mates mk4 because it had a factory fitted Winter Pack. They classed this as a modification.
Ok.. heres this for a CRAZY idea... Why not declare EVRTYTHING you have done to your car and then let them decide which ones matter or not?? At least that way you know you are covered... thats what i've done on mine.
my rallye was covered for all mods and engine bhp up to 200 so as long as i stayed inside that i was coevered
heard about a few of the insurance companies who have quoted some of you decent prices (liverpool victoria, HIC, admiral..) anyone reccommend any other insurance companies that have quoted/offered you a good price? (particulary those who don't charge excessive amounts with modifications made) thanks
Yes mate, Brentacre!! I'm with them and as long as I dont up the engine BHP i'm covered!! And I can do as many 'cosmetic' (Wheels, trim, bumpers, suspension etc) mods as I like, "just dont touch the engine" as John put it!! Phone em on 01792 650933, normal office hours and ask for John!!
Brentacre for me too, just sorted out my policy today. They gave me a BHP limit, basically I can do anything I like as long as I a) tell them and b) stay under 180bhp, although to bump it up to the next limit (210bhp) should only cost another 60 or so Interestingly HIC basically laughed me off the phone, which I thought was odd considering how many other people on here with modded cars are with them I'd not even class myself as a high risk (25, 7 years NCB and a clean licence). There you go, that's insurance companies for you. One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is that lying to obtain insurance is fraud. If an insurance company has to pay out on your behalf and you've lied to them, they're going to try and get their money back off you, with a fair chance of success...
HIC halved any other quote i got... everything declared track cover agreed value blah... blah... blah....
HIC were saying in excess of 800, my car is nowhere near as modded as Tubs and i'm supposedly a lower risk driver. It's not as if I live in Moss Side either... Brentacre TPFT for 480, more than I had hoped but there you go.
I work for an insurance broker and it's amazing what insurance companies want you to refer to them to check if it's going to affect a premium, for example I had to check if someone who debadged their car was acceptable!!! They allow this 'modification' after I haggled with them but it has been noted on the policy! and yes, if they can get out of paying they will. A modification is classed as anything that is different to spec as the car rolled out of the factory.
Surely there's a gap in the market for a company offering pessimistic roller readouts? "Ah damn it, my 2.0 20-valve turbo only made 60 bhp peak... Well, it looks like you'd better reduce my premium!"
