Declaring replacement exhaust tips to insurance as a mod?
Discussion
An interesting debate began brewing in one of the sub-forums regarding the replacement of exhaust tips from factory items to non-factory items.
Whilst this is not a performance enhancing change, it is a change aesthetically from the factory specification.
So, how would you answer to your insurance company asking: "is your car modified in any way from the original specification?"
Would you declare the change as a modification to your insurance company?
YES or NO...(sorry cannot create a poll)...and on what grounds?
If YES, where does this stop? windscreen wipers / speakers / etc. Imagine the car being totaled and them not paying out due to an 'undeclared mod'.
I lean towards YES but the feedback on the other thread was a little different.
Whilst this is not a performance enhancing change, it is a change aesthetically from the factory specification.
So, how would you answer to your insurance company asking: "is your car modified in any way from the original specification?"
Would you declare the change as a modification to your insurance company?
YES or NO...(sorry cannot create a poll)...and on what grounds?
If YES, where does this stop? windscreen wipers / speakers / etc. Imagine the car being totaled and them not paying out due to an 'undeclared mod'.
I lean towards YES but the feedback on the other thread was a little different.
^ very good point !
Here is a quote from an Aviva rep on a MSE thread:
andy-xr said:
No, 1) because it's not really a mod, and 2) because it's massively boring
Wouldn't be very boring if they voided your policy in the event of a claim?saaby93 said:
Are you sure it wont increase the value of the car and make it more liable to theft?
Well, this is the argument. Here is a quote from an Aviva rep on a MSE thread:
Aviva said:
Having these fitted options makes your car more desirable - you pay extra for them, so what is to say that a thief won't find them more desirable? As has already been mentioned on this thread - insurers want you to be honest with them, not being honest is a sure fire way to help invalidate your policy.
Edited by avaF1 on Friday 25th July 11:02
SHutchinson said:
If you had a replacement exhaust fitted at a fast-fit type centre and they fitted a slightly different specification exhaust would you inform your insurers?
If you had a slightly different exhaust with one of those big sporty chrome pipes on the back would you inform?SHutchinson said:
If you had a replacement exhaust fitted at a fast-fit type centre and they fitted a slightly different specification exhaust would you inform your insurers?
Woah! I fell foul of this one back in 2008 with my old SLK230; needed a new exhaust and it was cheaper (and made an awful lot more sense) to have one of those lifetime guarantee stainless jobbies made; insurance shat themselves and the premium more than doubled. Can't remember who it was with, sadly. The droid on the phone didn't care - if it wasn't OE then it was a mod - and that included the likes of Kwik-Fit according to her.
avaF1 said:
andy-xr said:
No, 1) because it's not really a mod, and 2) because it's massively boring
Wouldn't be very boring if they voided your policy in the event of a claim?Also, the scare tactics reply, it's my opinion, you can choose to accept it or not, but if you dont like the sound of it - hardly a fair balanced question
Insurers are just bothered about what gets them cash, for the most part.
My current insurer are generally decent but I didn't think much of their underhand tactics this year. The exhaust change on my car was a very cheap declared mod. However, a few months after renewing my policy I got an email from my insurer, which strangely went straight to my junk mail box, whereas their other emails come straight to my inbox.
When I read it, it stated that a 'partner's record' did not match the details given when I started my policy. I wondered what they meant, and realised that it would probably be when I was shopping round on comparison sites, I had included an air filter modification in the quote to see what difference it made. However, I never did bother buying the kit so when I renewed my insurance I obviously didn't inform them of a modification I had never made. The email stated that there would be a charge made to the card used to take out the policy within a certain time limit - lucky I read the email or that would have been £40 down the drain for nothing! I rang them an argued the point with them over the phone, they agreed despite initially trying to fight their corner. I invited them to inspect the car for this modification or cancel their charge, which persuaded them to give up!
My current insurer are generally decent but I didn't think much of their underhand tactics this year. The exhaust change on my car was a very cheap declared mod. However, a few months after renewing my policy I got an email from my insurer, which strangely went straight to my junk mail box, whereas their other emails come straight to my inbox.
When I read it, it stated that a 'partner's record' did not match the details given when I started my policy. I wondered what they meant, and realised that it would probably be when I was shopping round on comparison sites, I had included an air filter modification in the quote to see what difference it made. However, I never did bother buying the kit so when I renewed my insurance I obviously didn't inform them of a modification I had never made. The email stated that there would be a charge made to the card used to take out the policy within a certain time limit - lucky I read the email or that would have been £40 down the drain for nothing! I rang them an argued the point with them over the phone, they agreed despite initially trying to fight their corner. I invited them to inspect the car for this modification or cancel their charge, which persuaded them to give up!
I also think it's scare tactics. I had a claim on an M3 I owned, I hadn't declared mods as it was supplied new with an AC Schnitzer carbon fibre bodykit, split rims, coilovers, etc.
I didn't tell my insurance company about the spec when I took out the policy. I claimed for a £1500 carbon front bumper. They paid up with no issues. Maybe the accessor was having a good day.
I didn't tell my insurance company about the spec when I took out the policy. I claimed for a £1500 carbon front bumper. They paid up with no issues. Maybe the accessor was having a good day.
How is the average car owner to know exactly what is or what isn't standard spec. on their model of car? I had to buy an old brochure on eBay to find-out what was optional on my Discovery (privacy glass, front passenger's seat electric lumbar adjustment etc.).
If Joe Average buys a Focus Zetec but it has the wheels from a "Ghia", the centre caps would still say 'Ford' and only an anorak like us would notice.
If Joe Average buys a Focus Zetec but it has the wheels from a "Ghia", the centre caps would still say 'Ford' and only an anorak like us would notice.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff