Mods + Insurance
Discussion
Have often wondered about de-catting or putting straight through pipes in car as is discussed in many threads on this forum.
The thing that puts me off is what happens if you have a shunt (through someone else's or your own fault) then the insurance company has a look at your car and says "you've altered that, we're not paying out".
I just can't afford to take the risk of losing £50k.
I have heard of people who have just changed the wheels before then had a shunt and the insurers refused to pay because they hadn't been told.
How can you tell your insurance company you've just de-catted your car, which is illegal init? So surely they wouldn't pay up if you do make a claim?
I've heard they are getting wise to the sort of mods people do to these sorts of cars.
Has anyone any experiences with this sort of thing?
Make any mod to the car and that includes removing pre-cats, straight through exhausts, chipped ECU, big brakes etc and you have to notifyyour insurers and they have to agree with it.
If you don't you have just given them an excuse for refusing a claim. If in doubt tell them. You need to be absolutely water tight in this respect.
If you don't you have just given them an excuse for refusing a claim. If in doubt tell them. You need to be absolutely water tight in this respect.
I've made a few mods to my Griff and have informed my insurance co. in writing (Peart btw). In 2000 I told them about the wheels - no charge, in 2002 I informed them about the brakes & engine mods and they charged a £25 admin fee mid-term, when it came to renewal this year my premium actually went down 
. As I see it the really is no reason not to be absolutly straight with them. Rich...
>> Edited by RichB on Friday 21st March 09:23
. As I see it the really is no reason not to be absolutly straight with them. Rich... >> Edited by RichB on Friday 21st March 09:23
I once lowered the suspension, using a well known manufacturers kit,on a BMW and also fitted alloy wheels.Thinking I was doing the right thing I informed my broker.Result Insurance declined ! Reason given increased the cornering capability of the vehicle and made it more attractive to thieves.Unfortunately Insurance companies make all the rules.As you say you don't want to risk a 50K car so I would check with your insurance companuy before you do it and shop around if they won't let you .Don't do it and not tell them, the majority of insurance companies are just looking for the slightest excuse not to pay out in the event of a claim!
>> Edited by P7ULG on Friday 21st March 10:00
>> Edited by P7ULG on Friday 21st March 10:00
If they refuse to pay out on the basis that they were not informed of a modification are they just refusing to pay for the damage to your car or are they saying that you're effectively uninsured and therefore 3rd party claims against you won't be settled either. If that's the case the cost of your car may well be the least of your worries, you don't want to be paying out personally for any personal injury claims resulting for from an accident that is judged to be your fault. Look at that guy who fell asleep, drove off the motorway and caused that train crash... you wouldn't want the final bill for that.
As you say you don't want to risk a 50K car so I would check with your insurance companuy before you do it and shop around if they won't let you .Don't do it and not tell them, the majority of insurance companies are just looking for the slightest excuse not to pay out in the event of a claim!
Mark
Similar thread running in the the Ferrari Forum
www.pistonheads.net/gassing/topic.asp?t=32677&f=63&h=0
davidy
www.pistonheads.net/gassing/topic.asp?t=32677&f=63&h=0
davidy
P7ULG is right, I told my insurance company what modifications Ihad done to my TVR and they were fine.
Bigger Brakes no problem sir.. Roll Bar / Style Bar .. no problem sir. Damaged a wheel and had to replace with wider ex-tuscan alloys ... no worries.
As long as you tell them and be upfront with them you'll know your covered.
Bigger Brakes no problem sir.. Roll Bar / Style Bar .. no problem sir. Damaged a wheel and had to replace with wider ex-tuscan alloys ... no worries.
As long as you tell them and be upfront with them you'll know your covered.
Thanks for the replies guys!
But what about exhaust mods like decatting and/or sports (louder)exhausts.
Loads of people seem to do these mods, but aren't they illegal (except the one Tim from ACT mentioned), in which case you can't exactly inform the insurance company, and even if you did they'd obviously so no?
Just had a look on the ferrari site...
Hmmmm.... potentially very costly indeed, if one guy on there is correct (think he said he was a solicitor)....
So surely these people are running the risks mentioned?
>> Edited by TVR5 on Friday 21st March 18:00
P7ULG said: the majority of insurance companies are just looking for the slightest excuse not to pay out in the event of a claim!
Not entirely convinced. Inurance works on the principal of 'utmost good faith'. Your insurance policy (i.e. contract) requires you to advise your insurance company of any modifications in order that they can assess whether this leads to any additional risk being brought to the pool. Such risks include the insured thinking s/he's Michael Schumacher because thy're 17 and have flash alloys. If you fail to advise them, you are in breach of contract and 'good faith' - therefore why should the insurer pay up? Effectively you are trying to commit a fraud.
In fact I think that most insurers are probably pretty good at paying up, but I have no time for insurance fraud because I have to pay for it - along with the damage caused by the little oiks who either don't insure their cars or steal someone else's car and then cause havoc - the cost falls on the victim of the theft directly and on the rest of us through the insurance system.
:takesadeepbreath
Finally, insurers are not directly concerned with how your modifications affect the legality of your vehicle under Construction and Use regs, but if you cannot get an MOT then probably you will find a contract clause refusing payment as you have an unroadworthy vehicle. Before someone explodes that an MOT is fairly meaningless - how else can they assess roadworthiness fairly?
Anyway, isn't any mpodern TVR quick enough - if you want loud, buy a wedge.
Just a thought
Mike.
Forums | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff