Author Topic: Need Modified Vehicle Insurance? READ THIS FIRST!!!!  (Read 34563 times)

Offline MrBounce

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Recently there have been a fair few posters on here saying they've been on comparison websites and/or to "normal" insurers about insuring their modified vehicle and saying they either can't get cover or the price is ridiculous. Before posting and whingeing about it, stop, and think about what you're doing.

Large insurance companies and price comparison websites are NOT set up to deal with modifications. Sure, the companies may be able to cope with a simple remap or a set of alloys, but much more and the systems they have simply can't cope. 99.99% of their business comes from standard vehicles and non-enthusiasts so it is simply not cost effective for them to make the necessary changes to accommodate us lot. Most of the staff they employ have no idea what an ECU is let alone what a set of Borbet wheels might be worth. I know this. I worked in Commercial Fleet insurance for 7 years and some of the staff there struggled with identifying a Renault Espace...

So, if you have a small modification, you could try the regular insurers first - you may be pleasantly surprised about the price but expect to be put on hold whilst they talk to "The Underwriter" before making a decision, which will usually result in a largely unfair price increase and a higher excess.

If, however, you, like the majority of the posters on here, have a fairly heavily modified vehicle, you need a specialist insurer. You wouldn't buy an expensive antique and try to insure it under a standard home insurance policy - you'd want agreed value on your item in case it was stolen. So why don't we do the same with our cars? It's your pride and joy and you would be devastated if something happened and it wasn't covered. What's it worth? Saving £50 and taking a big risk of 6 points and a non-repaired car or having peace of mind that all is covered and legal? Modifications need to be disclosed to the insurance company as your policy could be void without letting them know. If you're involved in an accident and your insurer finds out and won't honour the claim you will not be insured and that's a criminal offence - say hello to 6 points minimum. And good luck trying to get insurance once you've had it cancelled - most companies won't touch you.
 
You will find that a lot of the modified specialists are car enthusiasts like yourselves, and will be able to cater for most if not all modifications and many offer agreed valuations too. Give them the chance of your business. Our site is sponsored by some specialist insurers. There are others available of course, some of which are listed below. Please feel free to add to the list!

HIC

Adrian Flux

Sky Insurance

Performance Direct

Brentacre

Greenlight

Chris Knott Insurance

Cheers!

Mr Bounce
  :smiley:
« Last Edit: 19 July 2012, 16:23 by jv »


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Offline martinb

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Re: Need Modified Vehicle Insurance? READ THIS FIRST!!!!
« Reply #1 on: 13 August 2010, 11:20 »
well said, could not agree more  :smiley:

Offline robz

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Re: Need Modified Vehicle Insurance? READ THIS FIRST!!!!
« Reply #2 on: 13 August 2010, 12:12 »
+2
this should be read by everyone before silly threads appear!
good write up bounce!!


Believe me its a dead ringer for you! Even says something stupid!

Offline Rhyso

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Re: Need Modified Vehicle Insurance? READ THIS FIRST!!!!
« Reply #3 on: 13 August 2010, 12:33 »
Top write up :afro:

Lets hope people actually bother to read it.......

Offline Ben Lessani

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Re: Need Modified Vehicle Insurance? READ THIS FIRST!!!!
« Reply #4 on: 13 August 2010, 13:07 »
Read it, wish it was true :|

Bell do my insurance over £400 cheaper per year than HIC and Flux could, with all mods declared.

Offline MrBounce

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Re: Need Modified Vehicle Insurance? READ THIS FIRST!!!!
« Reply #5 on: 13 August 2010, 15:21 »
Read it, wish it was true :|

Bell do my insurance over £400 cheaper per year than HIC and Flux could, with all mods declared.

Not sure what you're saying here as Bell, although part of the Admiral group, are more of a specialist as they deal with more unusual situations:

"Bell is a car insurance provider that specialises in providing cheap car insurance for all kinds of situations.

Our car insurance quotes are especially good for younger drivers, motorists who have been involved in accidents that were not their fault and people who have previously been named drivers on their partner's or a friend's policy, and have recently started their own car insurance policy. We could also offer you a competitive car insurance quote if you live in London, Scotland or the South East."

This is not a standard insurer. However, we can now add Bell to the list above  :cool:
« Last Edit: 13 August 2010, 17:01 by MrBounce »


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Offline xkaty_h

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Re: Need Modified Vehicle Insurance? READ THIS FIRST!!!!
« Reply #6 on: 01 November 2010, 22:16 »
Read it, wish it was true :|

Bell do my insurance over £400 cheaper per year than HIC and Flux could, with all mods declared.

+1
Specialists were more, in fact extortionately more, expensive than my current insurer.

Offline jimmyb

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Re: Need Modified Vehicle Insurance? READ THIS FIRST!!!!
« Reply #7 on: 01 November 2010, 22:22 »
if you plan on modding your car your best of asking if they do cover modified cars when you take your policy out,because i know of someone that phoned up his insurance to tell them about his new suspension only to be told they would not cover him,
this isnt pointed at anyone im just saying.

Offline mk2 helper

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Re: Need Modified Vehicle Insurance? READ THIS FIRST!!!!
« Reply #8 on: 09 October 2011, 02:51 »
o;d topic i no but i'll be definately checking this out when my insurance is up for renewal as not declaring mods is silly as ur not properly insured and its not worth the points especially if ur my age and only have 6 available points on your license but are these companies any good for young drivers with relitavely high powered vehicles wich are highly modified as the prices of insurance is the main thing that stops people of my age declaring mods


if in doubt go flat out

Offline legg360

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Re: Need Modified Vehicle Insurance? READ THIS FIRST!!!!
« Reply #9 on: 04 November 2013, 02:01 »
After reading this just jumped onto the comparison sites as I may have my current insurance as 'no mods', only have different alloys and carbon wrap roof this put my insurance from £650 to £810, as I planned to do some more added air box, ECU and exhaust system only increased price to £835. As a 22 year old male with 2 crashes in last 3 years on a 2010 GTI I don't think that's a bad price tbh!

As my insurance is up end of the month its worth the tiny bit extra to be covered properly I think, both those prices are from go compare and with elephant.
Golf GTI MK6 5dr Manual - Candy White with Jacara Cloth, Vancouver 18" Alloys, RNS 510, Cruise Control, Carbon Vinyl Wrap Roof, Milltek 3" Race Cat Back.