Insurance with pedal box

[SRGTD]

Ye tell your insurance company about your pedal boxes  

Why wouldn't you? Whilst it's not something that gives more power, I have absolutely no doubt that if the insurance assessor clocked it whilst looking the car over, he'd have it noted as an "undisclosed modification" which I'm sure they'd try to use as a way of getting out of paying any claim.

Whilst it doesn't add any more power, it could be seen as something that does make the car faster due to a quicker throttle response, therefore they would maybe either increase the premium or (if they won't insure modifications etc.) not quote for it. It's not just about the insurability of the car, it's about the perceived risk of the driver - if you want to make the car feel faster, they might assume that you're the sort of driver who drives faster?

Either way, I wouldn't give them any excuse whatsoever to attempt to wriggle out of a claim. In the eyes of the law, without declaring it, you're simply driving round without insurance.

Whilst (many years ago) I've had undeclared cosmetic mods on cars (through ignorance of the way insurers work) I wouldn't miss out anything nowadays - simply not worth the risk.

100% agree with this.

Also bear in mind that anyone not declaring mods is technically committing insurance fraud, which is a criminal offence. This type of information tends to be shared by insurers, so an insurance fraud conviction could affect ability to get insurance in the future, and the level of premium charged.

[Watts]

Agree with the above. Anyway, just had a really good quote from A-Plan with all mods covered including my precious pedalbox, £160 less than DL and a lower excess. The insurer is very mod-friendly (and by that I don't mean they have a copy of Quadrophenia) so I may look at a few other treats for my car

[Carbon VW]

Well I personally disagree 100%. Maybe in the UK that’s how things work but I like to think in Ireland they aren’t so sinister trying to catch you out. Through no fault of my own I have had to use my insurance on my GTi. Mapped and pedal box. This was never disclosed to the insurance company and was never an issue for either claims. (Though the map and pedal box was noticed both times) each to their own tho. I just see it as been a massive waste of money for already excessive premiums 

[Watts]

Well I personally disagree 100%. Maybe in the UK that’s how things work but I like to think in Ireland they aren’t so sinister trying to catch you out. Through no fault of my own I have had to use my insurance on my GTi. Mapped and pedal box. This was never disclosed to the insurance company and was never an issue for either claims. (Though the map and pedal box was noticed both times) each to their own tho. I just see it as been a massive waste of money for already excessive premiums 

Perhaps things are different there but when I get a quote I'm told to declare all modifications as failure to do so could invalidate the policy. In practise your scenario could be what happens however it's a gamble and one that could come back to bite right when you need your insurance.

[sjw]

Well I personally disagree 100%. Maybe in the UK that’s how things work but I like to think in Ireland they aren’t so sinister trying to catch you out. Through no fault of my own I have had to use my insurance on my GTi. Mapped and pedal box. This was never disclosed to the insurance company and was never an issue for either claims. (Though the map and pedal box was noticed both times) each to their own tho. I just see it as been a massive waste of money for already excessive premiums 

FWIW, Brentacre and probably other companies only charge for mods that increase the engine power. You declare everything, but if it's just cosmetic, then they just go "yeah, ok" and add it to the policy. You might wonder what the point is - it is so they can correctly restore your car if you make a claim.

E.g. If you have aftermarket alloys, some companies will give you stock alloys back if you are in an accident and they get ruined. Brentacre, if you've declared them, will replace your aftermarket wheels like-for-like

[fredgroves]

I think much like warranty claims its got to relevant to the case.

You have tinted the rear windows and you are claiming for someone hitting you in a car park... not relevant.

You have fitted a bigger turbo and ended up stuffed through a hedge.... maybe relevant.

I did read of someone who had their claim rejected (accident damage) for having modified their car... by installing an aftermarket stereo. The insurance ombudsman over ruled the insurance company in that claim.

[seanaodh]

Well I personally disagree 100%. Maybe in the UK that’s how things work but I like to think in Ireland they aren’t so sinister trying to catch you out. Through no fault of my own I have had to use my insurance on my GTi. Mapped and pedal box. This was never disclosed to the insurance company and was never an issue for either claims. (Though the map and pedal box was noticed both times) each to their own tho. I just see it as been a massive waste of money for already excessive premiums 

You had a claim in Ireland and they noticed your map? How did that happen? That's really interesting, I hadn't heard of insurance companies scanning ECUs for maps in the case of a claim.

Very interested in hearing the story behind this as I'm also in Ireland. Feel free to PM if you'd rather not post more details publicly.

[Carbon VW]

You had a claim in Ireland and they noticed your map? How did that happen? That's really interesting, I hadn't heard of insurance companies scanning ECUs for maps in the case of a claim.

Very interested in hearing the story behind this as I'm also in Ireland. Feel free to PM if you'd rather not post more details publicly.
[/quote]

Hi there. No problem with sharing with all. When the car went into the nearest VW garage for assessment they noticed the map and the pedal box and informed me they would have to disclose this to the insurance company. (AVIVA). The insurance couldn’t have cared less. Note that I have never used that particular VW main dealer before for service etc.