Insurance and mods..... adrian flux

[probee]

I have had many cars in the past and not many have escaped being modified. Ive always told my insurance company about the mods and they have always been very good.

I normally start with an air filter and as normal when you ring them, they ask if it adds bhp to the car.... i normally say yes but in nearly all the tests i have seen of induction vs paper panel filter its normally a draw.... The only advantage you seem to get is the horsepower from an induction kit is more consistant for longer because of the make up of the filter itself.

Obviously there are gains to be had from remapping the car and having an induction kit but on a standard ecu i'm fairly sure we should be able to say no to the dreaded question.

also if you just bought a cat back stainless exhaust thats not really any different from buying an exhaust from any boggo exhaust fitter like kwik fit.... you wouldnt get normal people ringing their insurance company to say they had just bought a quick fit exhaust..... this applies to aftermarket brakes too and i suppose many other parts.

i was wondering what people thought on this.... would be handy if someone from Adrian Flux read it

 

[RobM]

I know the point you're trying to make, but unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. If it changes the standard spec of the car, it's a modification.

Look at it from an insurance companies point of view for each part you mention....

Induction kit is classed as a performance mod. Plus it looks nicer and makes the car sound different.

Cat back exhaust... if you buy one from Seat, or Mr.Exhaust, or Kwik Fit, you're getting something that looks the same, sounds the same and performs the same as the standard item. It's a like-for-like change. The standard spec of the car (how it looks, sounds and goes) hasn't changed.
Fit an aftermarket cat back exhaust and it looks different - so is more desirable - sounds different - more desirable and attracts more attention - and may increase performance. Three good reasons for insurance companies to charge extra.

What you need to do is realise the difference between a service item and a modification.

Straight swap exhaust from Kwik Fit = Looks, sounds, performs the same = Service item
Stainless cat back exhaust from Milltek = Looks nicer, sounds nicer, goes faster = Modification

Panel filter = straight swap, little gains = service item
Induction kit = sounds different, flows different = modifcation

You can apply this to anything. If it makes the car look, sound or drive differently.... it's a modification and your insurance company will put the price up to cover this increased risk.

 

[probee]

I see what your saying Rob but when they ask does it add bhp...the real answer without a remap is probably... NO

 

[olaf]

Its not all about adding bhp though!

Alloys dont add bhp - still need to be declared though.

 

[ChrisUK]

What ?? You have mods?? ;-)

 

[probee]

i know Olaf and thats another matter... im just sure that im not lying to my insurance company if they ask me if it adds bhp because it probably dont.......

sorry im repeating myself now

 

[traumapat]

they wanted to know about the tints im getting. how much extra bhp? none but im hoping for more torque

but as robs says .. my car will stand out more ect. so its an insurance issue even so.

just to say adrian flux were the only company that understood the modifications when told and actually suggested the car was a better risk than most because of the extra modifcations. they couldnt see me trashing it after the money id spent! nor can i! the other half would kill me

 

[probee]

they wanted to know about the tints im getting. how much extra bhp? none but im hoping for more torque

but as robs says .. my car will stand out more ect. so its an insurance issue even so.

just to say adrian flux were the only company that understood the modifications when told and actually suggested the car was a better risk than most because of the extra modifcations. they couldnt see me trashing it after the money id spent! nor can i! the other half would kill me

i absolutely understand what everybody says about adding value and being more stealable and i would never have my car under insured but nobody has answered my actual post....

it probably doesnt add bhp so the real answer to the question is no

 

[traumapat]

i absolutely understand what everybody says about adding value and being more stealable and i would never have my car under insured but nobody has answered my actual post....

it probably doesnt add bhp so the real answer to the question is no

maybe




you might get 1-2bhp subject to dyno lottery? i guess if you answered yes or no you could sleep at night. but insurance its somthing youve got to pay for so make sure you always declare everything so the little buggers cant worm there way out of paying out.

i wonder if most people wanting insurance even know what bhp is? seems a grey question really

 

[probee]

definately grey traumapat!!!!

i think it would be declared but just wouldnt cost me anymore if it didnt add bhp..... i never know what to say. im sure it doesnt though (although we all hope it does)

 

[traumapat]

get more bhp painting your wheels black proberly

 

[probee]

get more bhp painting your wheels black proberly

or polishing the bonnet!!

 

[AdamRoutley]

Slightly off topic


i phoned up my company to ask what their aspect on mods were...as my 1st mod is going to be tints..and they said

anything exterior that increases performance, and desirability is a no-no until im 25...

so i asked about tints...and they double checked, and aparently they allow that even though (imo) it makes a car look a whole lot better...insurance companies suck...but as already stated, make sure everything is declared because they will try and try to get out of paying up

 

[RobM]

You did the right thing though, by phoning them to ask. As you say yourself, they will do all they can to get out of paying so it's just not worth trying to save a few quid by lying about things

 

[olaf]

I wonder what my current insurance company will say when I ring up to ask about tints.

Tempted to ask them about a remap, but I doubt they will know what I'm on about

 

[AdamRoutley]

well im with virgin...as they gave the best quote altogether

 

[ChrisUK]

Well isn't a remap just to save on fuel, it doesn't add performance does it??

 

[traumapat]

yep we all do it for economy

 

[Cowie]

Have just been speaking to my insurance (kwik-fit) about possible mods to the car and what premium increase it would entail,and basically anything that is other than manufacturers OEM parts can be classed as a mod - this though is talking about the major stuff,ie, i quoted for new TB exhaust,a re-map and new alloys,so for the cost of a call its well worth finding out exactly what each insurance company class as 'mods'

 

[probee]

ive been extremely lazy and only just told my insurance after having my filter fitted for a week.. i also added my exhaust tht is going on tomorrow... they didnt charge me any extra..... i love adrian flux sometimes!!

although i do hate renewal time.. they never seem to give a good quote.