Insurance and modifications

[macafee2]

Currently insured with Adrian Flux but just rang Aviva for a quote.
Not only did I crash and burn on the 160 remap as mine is a CDT but the number of modifications, 16.
I am sure with some modifications to lighting this could be pushed to about 20.

Only 1 is a performance mod.

Whilst I understand performance mods being an issue, does anyone else have issues getting insurance with the number of mods on their car?

My Renewal, £240.80 apparently same as last year.

macafee2

[Number 6]

Originally Posted by macafee2

Currently insured with Adrian Flux but just rang Aviva for a quote.
Not only did I crash and burn on the 160 remap as mine is a CDT but the number of modifications, 16.
I am sure with some modifications to lighting this could be pushed to about 20.

Only 1 is a performance mod.

Whilst I understand performance mods being an issue, does anyone else have issues getting insurance with the number of mods on their car?

My Renewal, £240.80 apparently same as last year.

macafee2

So how much did Aviva quote you ?? And what, other than the 160 mod did you declare?

[macafee2]

Originally Posted by Number 6

So how much did Aviva quote you ?? And what, other than the 160 mod did you declare?

They would not quote, to save lots of waffle and wasted time I asked upfront about the 160 remap, they checked and said no then went on to say only 2 mods allowed. We never progressed far enough for a quote

mods are
electric rear sun blind
Towbar
Full size spare wheel
FBH
Front fog lights
electric seats
Self diming mirror
Walnut dash, was light oak
Replaced the speedo cluster and indicator stalk so I can access the digital stuff
Puddle lights
Lit kick trims
Remap
Red door lights at edge of door card
Aux socket
Torch
Cruise control
rear parking sensors, for got this one so just added 5th March





macafee2

[Ian G]

Originally Posted by macafee2

They would not quote, to save lots of waffle and wasted time I asked upfront about the 160 remap, they checked and said no then went on to say only 2 mods allowed. We never progressed far enough for a quote

mods are
electric rear sun blind
Towbar
Full size spare wheel
FBH
Front fog lights
electric seats
Self diming mirror
Walnut dash, was light oak
Replaced the speedo cluster and indicator stalk so I can access the digital stuff
Puddle lights
Lit kick trims
Remap
Red door lights at edge of door card
Aux socket
Torch
Cruise control





macafee2

Other than the remap and a couple of others surely all are factory options and unless you have the original sales invoice how would anyone know when they were fitted.

[bikerdude666]

Originally Posted by Ian G

Other than the remap and a couple of others surely all are factory options and unless you have the original sales invoice how would anyone know when they were fitted.

I was thinking the same, aside from the Remap, tow bar and the few extra lights, the rest couldn't be proven to not have been fitted when built, and wouldn't class a full size spare as a mod. Otherwise every time you put something in the boot it's a 'mod'.

[VVC-Geeza]

As above re most of those changes. Adrian Flux are known to be a specialist performance mod insurer along with Chris Knott.

[macafee2]

Originally Posted by bikerdude666

I was thinking the same, aside from the Remap, tow bar and the few extra lights, the rest couldn't be proven to not have been fitted when built, and wouldn't class a full size spare as a mod. Otherwise every time you put something in the boot it's a 'mod'.

The car came with a space saver, so a full size spare is a change, a mod.
Adrian flux have not seemed bothered by some of the modifications and so they do not add to the premium. If I declare all mods I never have to worry.


macafee2

[Rick-sta]

Originally Posted by macafee2

They would not quote, to save lots of waffle and wasted time I asked upfront about the 160 remap, they checked and said no then went on to say only 2 mods allowed. We never progressed far enough for a quote

mods are
electric rear sun blind
Towbar
Full size spare wheel
FBH
Front fog lights
electric seats
Self diming mirror
Walnut dash, was light oak
Replaced the speedo cluster and indicator stalk so I can access the digital stuff
Puddle lights
Lit kick trims
Remap
Red door lights at edge of door card
Aux socket
Torch
Cruise control





macafee2

Absolutely no need to declare any if those items apart from the tow bar and remap, you're just making things difficult and potentially more expensive for yourself declaring the rest.

Anything that's a factory option that you've retrofitted on your car does not need declaring. As others have said there's no way of them knowing what was on the car when it came out the factory. And even if they went through the trouble of finding out what the factory spec was, how do they prove you didn't buy it like that or was aware of the changes? If you sold the car to someone else without informing them of all the retrofitted parts such as the highline cluster, cruise etc then the next owner would have no idea and wouldn't declare it on their insurance.

I bought my typhoon with hairpins fitted, for all I know it may have left the factory with different factory wheels fitted.

The led trims are a cosmetic interior change and doesn't need to be declared. Similarly to head unit/ radio changes. Interior changes generally don't need declaring except for serious changes such as fitting racing seats, roll cage etc.

Remap should be declared, but as already mentioned that's a whole another argument regarding how would the insurance ever know. Again its common sense, if you have a focus ST all modified it would be likely its been remapped too. But a 15 year + old 75 that looks standard, they're not going to suspect its been remapped and will not go through the cost of having it check if the claim is low value. Our cars fall into that low value bracket. They didn't even come out to look at my typhoon when it was rear ended. Just went off a few pics I sent via email.

It just comes down to common sense. Obvious stuff like a blatant aftermarket/stainless exhaust, aftermarket wheels and other changes that are obviously not factory should be declared. Anything else doesn't need to be declared such as changing from 11 spokes to apexs, retrofitting cruise, changing to a highline cluster etc.

[wraymond]

Surely every car coming off the line has copious 'build notes'. In fact, I retain all my earlier 'notes' from the several P6's I had. Those extras cost significantly more than the standard build and therefore the price and value? Having been on the 'inside' I can assure that these add-ons are taken into account when assessing market values as far as some insurance underwriters are concerned.

[macafee2]

but none of the 16 were on the car when I got it and so they are modifications to the car from when it rolled off the production line as I doubt any have been removed.
As I have said, Adrian Flux don't seem interested in a lot of them but I declare them there is no argument in the event of a claim. I did all these mods knowing there may be a cost on insurance and I accepted that.


If any of you have modified your car and not declared the mods and at the end of the insurance year there is no claim and no issue then your decision was "right". It may be regarded as harsh if I were to be T boned and none or only some of the 16 were declared and they refused to pay out but the policy is clear.

I am not going to fail to declare just to save a few quid.
My advice is o declare and let the insurance company decide what they want to know about


macafee2