34 replies to this topic

[GerryM]

Most mods give a fraction of their claimed increase in power if you believe the reviews. If a car is accident damaged it is assessed remotely via the net by most insurance companies and this will not pick up any mods. Personally, I would not declare any mods that were not visible and TBO I doubt an assessor would spot a Milltek from a standard exhaust in a photo.

Blimey, that is some risk to take, hope you never crash in to me!

[wierdjam]

mine asked for bhp increase and said parts would be replaced with standard in th event of an accicdent. Next year i may go with one that replaces like for like but the excess on them policys are too high to worry..... HOWEVER who is to know if the ecu was remapped? Millteks are also fitted standard on vxr iirc? who is to say you didnt realise a miltek was added by previous owner or that the ecu was remapped previously? In this circumstances most <decent> insurance companies will add a loading to the excess in the event of an accident, most may not notice. Similarily not declaring points half way through a policy incurs a loading on excess in the event of a claim. you should however the insurance company of any changes.... Some policy underwriters are worse than others such as sabre. They rejectmost things that they can wriggle out of i think if you drove while seemingly unwell they wouldnt payout.

[GerryM]

who is to say you didnt realise a miltek was added by previous owner or that the ecu was remapped previously?

Not sure ignorance is a valid defence, I would assume the insurance company would not get stroppy, but what if it was a claim for hundreds of thousands or millions, they might try and find a way out then.

It is one thing to find you are not fully insured when you break a bit of your car.

It is a whole different ball game when you find you are not fully insured and a 3rd party has been injured or killed.

[ChrisKnottIns]

Hi Tim from Chris Knott's here! No problem for mods on our scheme! Please ring us when your renewal comes due on 0800 917 2274. Thanks Tim

[wierdjam]

who is to say you didnt realise a miltek was added by previous owner or that the ecu was remapped previously?

Not sure ignorance is a valid defence, I would assume the insurance company would not get stroppy, but what if it was a claim for hundreds of thousands or millions, they might try and find a way out then.

It is one thing to find you are not fully insured when you break a bit of your car.

It is a whole different ball game when you find you are not fully insured and a 3rd party has been injured or killed.

I agree that its better to be properly insured, but who is to say if a car has had a stage 1 without paperwork to prove it? for example a stage 1 car gets px'ed in the dealer then flogs it on. chances are the new owner would have no way of knowing they have a stage 1. unless paperwork suggested it.... so do you assume your car is a stage 5 unlesotherwise proven?? I guess its where you sign or state that the information given at the time is true to the best of your knowledge, however knowingly falsly saying you have a standard car when you know its got more is wrong (illegal) its just the grey area in the middle its not really ignorance, is it?

[pcmanning]

[I agree that its better to be properly insured, but who is to say if a car has had a stage 1 without paperwork to prove it? for example a stage 1 car gets px'ed in the dealer then flogs it on. chances are the new owner would have no way of knowing they have a stage 1. unless paperwork suggested it.... so do you assume your car is a stage 5 unlesotherwise proven?? I guess its where you sign or state that the information given at the time is true to the best of your knowledge, however knowingly falsly saying you have a standard car when you know its got more is wrong (illegal) its just the grey area in the middle its not really ignorance, is it?

And where does the difference come with things like suspension? You could buy a 2nd hand car (anything doesn't have to be a VX) which someone has just replaced bits with non OEM items just cos they're cheaper? Is this a mod or not, who would ever know/worry? But of course these could fail earlier than OES items and cause an accident? What about even simple things like tyres - how many cars run non OEM items - and a mix at that!? At least we, as drivers of performance cars, actually worry about such stuff, but Jo Public?

Safest is probably just buy a Caterham - car is one big mod!!

Paul

[GerryM]

[I agree that its better to be properly insured, but who is to say if a car has had a stage 1 without paperwork to prove it? for example a stage 1 car gets px'ed in the dealer then flogs it on. chances are the new owner would have no way of knowing they have a stage 1. unless paperwork suggested it.... so do you assume your car is a stage 5 unlesotherwise proven?? I guess its where you sign or state that the information given at the time is true to the best of your knowledge, however knowingly falsly saying you have a standard car when you know its got more is wrong (illegal) its just the grey area in the middle its not really ignorance, is it?

And where does the difference come with things like suspension? You could buy a 2nd hand car (anything doesn't have to be a VX) which someone has just replaced bits with non OEM items just cos they're cheaper? Is this a mod or not, who would ever know/worry? But of course these could fail earlier than OES items and cause an accident? What about even simple things like tyres - how many cars run non OEM items - and a mix at that!? At least we, as drivers of performance cars, actually worry about such stuff, but Jo Public?

Safest is probably just buy a Caterham - car is one big mod!!

Paul

The question on the insurance form will be something like - Is this car modified from standard?

If you do not know, how can you answer yes or no?

I am picking up a car today that is 6 months old, I assume because it is a demonstrator that it is not modified. Now I think that to be a fair assumption. but by no means a guarantee it has not been modified.
Yet I have said no mods on the insurance form.

But as someone said previously, it is probably to the best of your knowledge, but I do not know if the onus is on the owner to prove there isnt or the insurance company to prove there is AND you knew there was. That bit probably needs legal advice rather than our opinon.

Edited by GerryM, 11 January 2008 - 11:31 AM.

[Guy182]

Most mods give a fraction of their claimed increase in power if you believe the reviews. If a car is accident damaged it is assessed remotely via the net by most insurance companies and this will not pick up any mods. Personally, I would not declare any mods that were not visible and TBO I doubt an assessor would spot a Milltek from a standard exhaust in a photo.

Blimey, that is some risk to take, hope you never crash in to me!

why? they would still pay out to a third party.

and he could then argue with the obudsman and get a percentage of his payout..

if you bought the car modified and didnt know you will also get full payout. its been done before. have to argue a bit like

Edited by Guy182, 11 January 2008 - 12:08 PM.

[GerryM]

Most mods give a fraction of their claimed increase in power if you believe the reviews. If a car is accident damaged it is assessed remotely via the net by most insurance companies and this will not pick up any mods. Personally, I would not declare any mods that were not visible and TBO I doubt an assessor would spot a Milltek from a standard exhaust in a photo.

Blimey, that is some risk to take, hope you never crash in to me!

why? they would still pay out to a third party.

How. If the insurance company decide you are not insured, what liability do they have for 3rd parties?

If you have a Fiesta with the perfomance of a Ferarri but omitted to tell the insurance company, surely they have no obligation to insure you and 3rd parties would be your problem not theirs?

[snoopstah]

How. If the insurance company decide you are not insured, what liability do they have for 3rd parties?

If you have a Fiesta with the perfomance of a Ferarri but omitted to tell the insurance company, surely they have no obligation to insure you and 3rd parties would be your problem not theirs?

I believe the Rights of Third Parties act means that even though your insurance was invalid, the third party can still successfully claim through your insurance company. You should expect the insurance company to come after you for the money they had to pay out, though!

I think this is the same as driving while under the influence of drugs/alcohol, or driving without a valid MOT - both of which typically invalidate your insurance, but don't prevent someone you drive into from claiming.

[GerryM]

How. If the insurance company decide you are not insured, what liability do they have for 3rd parties?

If you have a Fiesta with the perfomance of a Ferarri but omitted to tell the insurance company, surely they have no obligation to insure you and 3rd parties would be your problem not theirs?

I believe the Rights of Third Parties act means that even though your insurance was invalid, the third party can still successfully claim through your insurance company. You should expect the insurance company to come after you for the money they had to pay out, though!

I think this is the same as driving while under the influence of drugs/alcohol, or driving without a valid MOT - both of which typically invalidate your insurance, but don't prevent someone you drive into from claiming.

I see, thanks for that. I still wouln't want to test it though!!!

[Spindoctor]

Just renewed my insurance today. The very nice woman in my current insurer's call centre told me she doesn't drive cars. She had never heard of an ECU. And I had to explain that I was talking about a re-map not a re-mat. She was going to give me a price on non-standard carpet.

[mandarinvx]

I think this is the same as driving while under the influence of drugs/alcohol, or driving without a valid MOT - both of which typically invalidate your insurance, but don't prevent someone you drive into from claiming.

Yep,
All insurance quotes include a levy (I think as much as 30%) to cover claims made against insurance companies for uninsured / incorrectly insured drivers

Why they can't direct a proportion of this to the police to stop them (which must be a large amount of cash) is beyond me - yet again the general law abiding public are expected to pick up the bill, they have the full technology now, but that's another

[VIX]

FWIW I declare all mods, it's just not worth the risk of invalidating insurance.

[vocky]

How much does a 6 speed gearbox add?

adrian flux didn't add anything for my 6 speed conversion