View Full Version : Just havin my bilstein kit fitted BUT....... My insurance company wont insure me HELP
surcalation
06-02-2003, 09:36
Pls Help :worry:
Just took my car into the garage this morning to get the Suspension kit and lowering springs put on. So as a good little citizen I came home and phoned the insurance company and told them I was changing from standard to non-standard suspension. They went erm... nope as ur under 21. But then I said but you insured me for Alloys when u said you couldnt. Still nope after spkin wiv manager. So they said they would cancel my insurance for nothing and refund any difference. I am 4mths into my 2nd yr and I already have 1yrs no claims.
WTF do I do :dunno:
Might have to pay in gold bullion seen as I am 19, got 3pts, had 1 accident, have alloys, suspension kit, and drive a 1.4 beeza it so annoys me :grump:
Chris :)
Jimmyboy
06-02-2003, 09:40
Insurance companies, dont you just love 'em!!
Looks like you have 2 options.
Park your car up for 2 years until you're 21
or get your car insured elsewhere and forfeit 4 months worth of no claims. You can definitely take the years worth with you and I dont see any reason why the 4 months shouldnt stay as well. After being with another company for 8 months you technically have 2 years no claims, so if they ask you to prove that you can.
:cheers:
If it's not obvious to see don't tell them, that's my policy. I told them about alloys and suspension on mine due to it's obvious appearance. On my last two cars I only declared the alloys as the suspension change didn't look that different. If you have an older car you could keep quiet and if ever asked just say the parts were changed by a garage due to being worn and that's what was fitted. Seat use VAG use Bilstein as OEM parts so I can't see a major problem, especially if you don't bend it and claim.
I know in hindsight this sounds a little preachy.
But it always makes sense to look into insurance before going ahead and fitting any parts.
Trouble is we all know the suspension will make your car safer, not only will it handle better, but it'll help it to stop better too.
But insurance companies dont see it like that, your 19 and driving a modified car, now dont take it personally, but your seen as very high risk to them, even if you personally are a good driver and safe.
Suspension modifications are one of the things they seem to dislike the most, that and body kits.
Suspension seems to make them think your using it for competition, and making the car safer or better handling doesn't come into it.
Alloy wheels are so common place now, most insurance companies take it as gospal that cars come with them, and its catered for in most policies now .
I think considering, the insurance company have fairly appraised the situation, and though they have voided your insurance now, at least you've not been charged for the admin involverd in canceling it.
Now you'll have to start ringing around to see if you can find an alternative source for your insurance.
Pain in the arse i know. Good Luck hope you get a good rate with somewhere, someone on here may have a good insurer they know of, especially someone of a similar age.
surcalation
06-02-2003, 09:53
Insurance hasnt been voided yet. Do I lose 4mths if I do?
And does anyone on here no of a good insurance company/CHEAP???
Chris :)
You can try saying that your original suspension collapsed and this was better and cheaper than OEM and you could get this new kit quickly whereas main dealer would be a few weeks - perhaps?
Jimmyboy
06-02-2003, 11:05
Originally posted by surcalation
Insurance hasnt been voided yet. Do I lose 4mths if I do?
And does anyone on here no of a good insurance company/CHEAP???
Chris :)
Try www.elephant.co.uk always been good for me and well recommended by lots of people.
cordobabrendy
06-02-2003, 11:10
elephant are £800 cheaper than my current policy for next year, tho they do require cash up front and any mods cant be declared over the net, you have to phone them.
Dormouse
06-02-2003, 12:37
If it's not obvious to see don't tell them, that's my policy.
1. Advocating Illegal Activities eh Wayne? Naughty Boy :D :D
2. Presumably (additionally) the idea of insuring mods is so that they can be replaced full cost if you have an accident? ie you'de be hard pushed to replace a set of billies in a claim when the car was insured as having std suspention.
3. Three is the number of the holy hand grenade! sorry...
Dor.
Originally posted by cordobabrendy
elephant are £800 cheaper than my current policy for next year, tho they do require cash up front and any mods cant be declared over the net, you have to phone them.
elephant do mods on the net, i was looking last night just tick the nonstanderd box then a list of mods come up just pick what you got.
:cheers:
cordobabrendy
06-02-2003, 13:26
my mistake , its cream cheese,
sorry mate last time i looked into the modded bit it was a telephone number.
Originally posted by Dormouse
1. Advocating Illegal Activities eh Wayne? Naughty Boy :D :D
Dor.
Just trying to limit the legal form of robbery they inflict. I'd guess full standard suspension parts from a dealer would be dearer than aftermarket stuff, look how much Seat charge for their suspension kit (over£500) compaired to similar elswhere.
Dormouse
06-02-2003, 14:40
Know what you mean.
Law isn't meant to be moral apparently...me wonders what it is meant to be...apart from a mechanism for lawyers prinitng money.
Dor.
chambo21
06-02-2003, 14:45
Try admiral because they beat my quote for my 97 2.0 8v by £600 odd quid
Grant
Originally posted by Dormouse
Know what you mean.
Law isn't meant to be moral ...
Having studied the history and philosophy of law, that statement is partially true.
Dormouse
06-02-2003, 14:55
No doubt partially untrue in the same context then.
Tell me, is my cup of tea half empty or half full?
Dor.
Law is based on morality or ethics etc but not wholly and whose exactly is anybody's guess.
Dormouse
06-02-2003, 15:01
<tucking book under arm and donning a powdery wig> I put it to you sir that speed camera's do not represent the interest of the driver on a moral or ethical level, but on a level of self-financing for government and local authorities (unmoral to the road-user)
Thankyou m'lord
Dor.
Originally posted by Dormouse
<tucking book under arm and donning a powdery wig> I put it to you sir that speed camera's do not represent the interest of the driver on a moral or ethical level, but on a level of self-financing for government and local authorities (unmoral to the road-user)
Thankyou m'lord
Dor.
True, but cameras are there to enforce law and are not per se law themselves; so your statement fails at the first instance ;) The relevant law would relate to speeding and the associated legislation.
Anyway, this has nothing to do with the thread so apologies.
Dormouse
06-02-2003, 15:40
HEHE.
Hmm...we all know they are there for coffer filling though don't we!
Back to thread....
Dor.
haven't read the whole thread thru, but CIS Insurance will allow u to do absolutley anything to the car and won't charge u any extra as long as it doesn't add any extra to the power of the engine.
Originally posted by Adam K
haven't read the whole thread thru, but CIS Insurance will allow u to do absolutley anything to the car and won't charge u any extra as long as it doesn't add any extra to the power of the engine.
May be so but from experience a few years ago with them, you struggle to get them to cough up for the extras when you claim.
a lot of companies use the policy that u can add aftermarket items to your policy, but when it comes to paying out they will only replace them with standard items.
When I was with CIS they said they'd cover the car as is and replace like for like. When it was nicked and the wheels taken and car damaged, I had alot of trouble getting them to replace the body kit bits and ended up with a chaeper set of Ronal rims instead of the original fitted BBS RS split rims. In all it cost me about £250 out of my pocket (back in 1991)