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Insurance change... I see how hard it is with mods...


AMT

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...and I don't even have much! Tinted windows and an exhaust (cat back) and direct line, Allianz etc won't touch you unless your standard, not even options to add any changes on the quotes. So, while I wait for next Monday for my Admiral price to generate I thought I'd start seriously looking into specialists to see if they are any cheaper. Tried Sky and AdrianFlux and one said I had to call as its cheaper and never gave me a quote and the other I gave up after it started asking about my alarm system...like the specific make wtf?

 

So gonna give them a call and try that. Any one got up to date reviews on them? Service, used them for an incident, what they offer as standard eg. legal cover, windscreen etc?

 

Also any other good specialists to try besides them?

 

Thanks!

Edited by AMT
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I think for a catback and tinted windows its not really worth mentioning to the insurance.

 

Maybe that's just me?

 

God forbid you have an accident, just throw the mistake of fact card. 'Don't all Zeds have standard tinted windows and that exhaust?'

Edited by M1 6RYF
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What M1 said.

How were you to know it had a modified exhaust when you bought it the car? You can't be expected to crawl around under the car looking for part numbers and manufacturer stamps.

Unreasonable.

 

And anyway, if you put an oil filter on that isn't OEM, isn't that a modified addition..technically? or a pattern part wing? Osram light bulbs?

When's a mod not a mod?

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I think for a catback and tinted windows its not really worth mentioning to the insurance.

 

Maybe that's just me?

 

God forbid you have an accident, just throw the mistake of fact card. 'Don't all Zeds have standard tinted windows and that exhaust?'

 

DONT DO THIS

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I think for a catback and tinted windows its not really worth mentioning to the insurance.

 

Maybe that's just me?

 

God forbid you have an accident, just throw the mistake of fact card. 'Don't all Zeds have standard tinted windows and that exhaust?'

 

DONT DO THIS

 

Do it, hand over your forum user name for a bit of discount and then see what happens when you have a crash.

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If you don't declare your mods, you're an idiot. End of.

 

Not declaring things like tinted windows and exhausts is the pinnacle of stupidity. You think an assessor won't check when they pop round to look at your car after you've ploughed into a Veyron or a bus stop full of kids and they're looking at ways of reclaiming their money? And don't even think about removing them if you crash, that's not going to work if you're in hospital with two broken legs is it?

 

If you don't know you have mods, then you ask. Common sense up to a point of course (bulbs, wiper blades, tyres no; air filter, exhaust, gear knob yes), but for fussake don't give insurance companies a reason not to pay out.

 

 

Why would you spend £400 a year and risk not being covered? Might as well not bother with insurance at all in that case...

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I think you're crediting assessors with too much intelligence and effort. IME they're a lazy bunch. At some point there has to be a reasonable level of ignorance. I have no idea if my car has polybushes, different anti roll bars, camber arms, a remap, non oem tyres etc. Insurers just use it as a scam to extract more money from the demographic with most money to burn (I.e. 18-35y. Males). Their risk assessment models are hilariously archaic, slide rule things.

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Depends. If you're a top assessor sent out to look at a car where the payout is likely to be £500K+, then I'm pretty sure you'll be going over the car with a finer tooth comb. If you turn up and the windows are tinted then you don't really need to look any further anyway.

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But in your experience would that really invalidate an insurance contract if it came to court? There must be shades of grey in the interpretation of its legalese as with any other commercial agreement, regardless of how well stress-tested it is (and I'm guessing they're battle-hardened drafts). Something like a bolt on supercharger or slammed geo I can understand, but marginal stuff like stickers or a Y-pipe less so.

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I have absolutely no doubt if you were in an accident and huge payouts/compensation was likely then your insurance company will be looking into every which-way to get out of paying up. Just not worth the risk IMHO.

 

Rather like if a car was ploughed into and its driver was the innocent party at that point.......until the police arrived and found they were over the drink limit, such that they became a guilty party, rather than a victim.... giving the insurance company the excuse they needed not to pay out.

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... with a finer tooth comb ...

 

'toothed' mate, just sayin'. :teeth: <\pedant>

 

But I digress.

There are no shades of grey unless the contract is deemed unreasonable by a court. Ignorance is never a defence. It is YOUR responsibility to determine if what you have bought is standard or modified and act accordingly.

As Dan says above, if you are going to give them a way to get out of it then why bother buying in the first place.

And many insurers are quite happy to accept mods if they add no extra power and particularly if you are ok with the insurance only covering mods as standard parts. Keep trying; insurance is always a pain to arrange but the insurers who give discounts for forum members are all very familiar with modded cars.

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Good god my post looking for REVIEW OR HELP on those two insurers or other recommendations has went a bit... off topic haha. :lol: ALWAYS declare stuff, especially good heavens if its visibile, I'm sure they'd noticed my polished stainless steel if I ended roof side up in a ditch one day..."oh whats that...".. "why are your windows darker on the back??" haha. Yes I will be declaring my windows and exhaust, deary me, if you have mods and you are not, good luck to you...

 

Anyway Adrian Flux (from the few words mentioned on topic) seem to be getting a good nod, I'll phone them first. Anyone know if they have 3rd party driving for other cars on their comp? It's been useful on my Admiral policy to help friends shift cars around for short distances. (you'd be surprised how many people I know think its standard on all comps....wrong lol).

 

I know I could check by sifting through endless online writing but I thought it'd be good to get a feel from some members on here.

 

Cheers for the help.

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I don't quite understand the problem. I have 3 cars, 2 of which are heavily modded and have no problems getting insurance quotes to cover the mods. I don't think any of the big companies have said no mods to me. Obviously you don't have to list absolutely everything down to the brand of spark plugs and screen wash! But list the big stuff: Windows, exhaust, engine, entertainment system, alloys.....you're usually allowed 5 before they ask questions and bump the price up.

Don't risk not covering yourself just because you think you won't be in an accident. There are plenty of idiots out there to guarantee an accident at some point!

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If you try people like direct line it doesn't give you option and then says in the 'assumptions's that the car is to be standard. Admiral have been fine, but just fancy seeing what a specialist can offer. Depends who you've tried

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But where do you draw the line? Does everything have to be OEM? What if you're using equally effective brake pads that aren't Brembos? Is that a declarable / contract voiding non-standard addition to the car?

 

Madness...

 

I think common sense prevails here imho.

 

Asking should i tell them about a change to the braking system, well yes of course as it could/will change the way the car stops, but, should i tell them about a non oem oil filter or wiper blades as mentioned else where, no, what difference does that make to the car?

 

Incidentally, my insurance company insisted that i must have uprated brakes with my supercharged car.

 

Stick a roll cage in, which is only going to assist in safety and your premium will go up, go figure, of course they presume you will be driving dangerously, but it could save you from serious harm.

 

A lot of time they are only asking for "value" purposes, i.e have you got 19" lmgt 4's or other that they would have to replace if they were nicked, aftermarket ice costing a £1k etc

 

If anyone is concerned i would just ask :)

Edited by Jetpilot
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Anyway Adrian Flux (from the few words mentioned on topic) seem to be getting a good nod, I'll phone them first. Anyone know if they have 3rd party driving for other cars on their comp? ................

 

Yes, 3rd party driving of other people's cars is included :)

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