Revo and insurance implications

[svartalf]

Hi all  - first time poster so bear with me.

I've had my 150bhp gti for a year now and am thinking of going for a Revo upgrade to get some more juice out of it.  My mate with his tdi was gobsmacked after getting his done and has sold me on the idea. However, I am concerned about what my nice (!) insurance company will say.

He hasn't told his insurance company though (naughty boy) as he reckons it is undetectable (but he has a switch to put it back to stock firmware if required).

Being a law abiding kind of guy I was wondering what the insurance hit is likely to be.

Also, is it true that it is undetectable? Presumably Revo can tell what you're running so why can't the main dealers and insurance assessors?

Much obliged for any help.

Rich

[red16v]

It's very easy to detect whether any VW Golf is running the factory fitted software or not. Your mate assumes that if he is involved in an accident he is going to quietly go round to the front of his car, lift the bonnet and flick a switch to turn off the Revo software - I wonder how he's going to do that from a hospital bed ? and when he comes round he'll find he had no insurance and may have damaged himself, other people and other vehicles.

I wonder, when reading the pages of this forum, why people go to the expense of spending money on a 'power enhancing upgrade' for their car but spend no money on a matching 'stopping power upgrade' and then top it off by not informing their insurance companies what they've done - they actually spend money on insurance for nothing.

As you guessed a 'favourite' topic of mine, and I assume I'll get jumped on for it. But I'm right really aren't I? Don't lie to your insurance company or don't do the upgrade. Regards, yt.

[S11EPS]

^ Wise words. A lot of people on here complain about how much their insurance costs, then go and mod their car without telling anyone. This invalidates the insurance, so they're paying all that money for f*ck all!

An insurance company will use whatever they can do get out of paying a claim, so if you're running an uprated backbox and,  you're involved in an accident, chances are they won't pay if you haven' told them.

Svartalf, speak to tophuh, his 150bhp 1.8t is booked in on moday for a revo tune and exhaust. He should be able to give you the lowdown.

[jv]

It's a tricky one for sure. VW themselves are getting hot on checking for ECU changes if you want warranty work done. Fair enough as well, they sold it to you with 150bhp and you break something when it has 197!

Some changes you just think, I can't be bothered to tell the insurance. I mean swapping my mk2 arches for G60 ones, only Golf geek's are ever going to notice.

I think with a big change in performance like the Revo, APR etc achieve you need to be honest. Find a good insurer and I don't think you will get too stung. You will still be smiling from the 30% power hike for 400 quid anyway!!!

[svartalf]

Thanks for the advice -  it's kind of what I suspected. I only wondered as the Revo FAQ states the following which didn't really make sense to me;

=========================
Can the insurance company see that the car is modified?
Insurance companies, like dealers, use different methods of discovery when it comes to chipping. Some use dealer computers to inspect the ECU while others physically open the ECU to inspect the soldering on the chip.
In either event the software would be completely invisible.
=========================


I'm out of warrenty and use a local independent garage anyway so I'm not too concerned about VW's opinion. I just didn't know whether it was standard practice for insurance assessors to hook their laptop up if you have a prang.

I'll have a word with tophuh.

cheers,

rich

[GaryM]

I have 4 Bar Revo with CAI, Full milltek exhaust, 18" RS4's and various bodykit. Im insured through Liverpool Victoria for ?860.00 fully comp with protected NCB.
They seem very mod friendly and could be a good option for a lot of people but don't chip/remap without telling your insurance company as Mk4 GTI's are renouned (sp?) for chips/remaps and it will be one of the first things an insurance assessor will check for.

[red16v]

So Revo are saying

 "... In either event the software would be completely invisible..."

Speaking as a professional electronics engineer of 30 years standing, I've never heard such nonsense in all my life. If you know what's supposed to be in a chip you can tell very quickly if something else is in the chip whether it is instead of or in addition to the proper contents. Regards, yt.

[GaryM]

It may be invisible to VW's diagnostic equipment but don't think for one minute it will be invisible to an Insurance assessors equipment who are looking for such things.

[red16v]

Spot on GaryM. Regards, yt.

[kniterider]

i agree tell your insurers EVERYTHING!!!!, i had to tell em the other week id cahnged me no plates to provate reg and they banged me ?15 admin cost!!, but they know already that i have non standard alloys, badging and suspension, it aint worth the risk when your running ?7k car+!!!!, on me mk2 the wifey insures it and theyve been told its got none tsandard alloys, lowered suspension and up rated exhaunst etc, all for ?5 extra per month!, so it aint worht the risk! tell em all!!