Re-mapping and telling the insurance company.
Discussion
I know the official line is that when a car is re-mapped, the insurance company should be informed. I also know that as soon as you answer 'yes' to whether or not the vehicle has been modified in any way, a lot of insurance companies won't quote.
A lot of people I know have had their cars re-mapped, but very few of them have ever told their insurance companies they have done so. A couple of them have had claims and in both cases, the insurance assessor wasn't the slightest bit interested in checking whether or not the car had been re-mapped.
On both occasions that I have had an insurance claim, although my cars had not been re-mapped, they would never have known as they didn't check.
So, has anyone ever had an insurance company check whether or not their car has been modified when processing a claim, or are the stories about having an accident and then not getting paid out just scare tactics?
Before anyone asks, no, I'm not thinking of re-mapping one of my cars and not telling the insurance company!
I am just curious. 
A lot of people I know have had their cars re-mapped, but very few of them have ever told their insurance companies they have done so. A couple of them have had claims and in both cases, the insurance assessor wasn't the slightest bit interested in checking whether or not the car had been re-mapped.
On both occasions that I have had an insurance claim, although my cars had not been re-mapped, they would never have known as they didn't check.
So, has anyone ever had an insurance company check whether or not their car has been modified when processing a claim, or are the stories about having an accident and then not getting paid out just scare tactics?
Before anyone asks, no, I'm not thinking of re-mapping one of my cars and not telling the insurance company!
I am just curious. slippery said:
I know the official line is that when a car is re-mapped, the insurance company should be informed. I also know that as soon as you answer 'yes' to whether or not the vehicle has been modified in any way, a lot of insurance companies won't quote.
A lot of people I know have had their cars re-mapped, but very few of them have ever told their insurance companies they have done so. A couple of them have had claims and in both cases, the insurance assessor wasn't the slightest bit interested in checking whether or not the car had been re-mapped.
On both occasions that I have had an insurance claim, although my cars had not been re-mapped, they would never have known as they didn't check.
So, has anyone ever had an insurance company check whether or not their car has been modified when processing a claim, or are the stories about having an accident and then not getting paid out just scare tactics?
Before anyone asks, no, I'm not thinking of re-mapping one of my cars and not telling the insurance company! I am just curious.
Hi Stuart who owns a Audi A8 4.2 Quattro & Mercedes ML500 5.5A lot of people I know have had their cars re-mapped, but very few of them have ever told their insurance companies they have done so. A couple of them have had claims and in both cases, the insurance assessor wasn't the slightest bit interested in checking whether or not the car had been re-mapped.
On both occasions that I have had an insurance claim, although my cars had not been re-mapped, they would never have known as they didn't check.
So, has anyone ever had an insurance company check whether or not their car has been modified when processing a claim, or are the stories about having an accident and then not getting paid out just scare tactics?
Before anyone asks, no, I'm not thinking of re-mapping one of my cars and not telling the insurance company!
I am just curious. 
It's an interesting question that, and one i'd like to know the answer too.
I'd also be very interested to know where you stand if you buy a second hand vehicle which had previously been re-mapped without your knowledge.
There must be thousands of mapped VAG diesels knocking about now which have been mapped and chopped in etc.
I'd also be very interested to know where you stand if you buy a second hand vehicle which had previously been re-mapped without your knowledge.
There must be thousands of mapped VAG diesels knocking about now which have been mapped and chopped in etc.
Shotgun Jon said:
I'd also be very interested to know where you stand if you buy a second hand vehicle which had previously been re-mapped without your knowledge.
There must be thousands of mapped VAG diesels knocking about now which have been mapped and chopped in etc.
Very good point. There must be thousands of mapped VAG diesels knocking about now which have been mapped and chopped in etc.
Really worth the risk?
My car has been remapped (via a piggyback, so more obvious, but not really the point)and the insurance know about it - doesn't add much to the premium (£20 or something over the year) and if push ever did come to shove and they checked it in the event of a crash, I would be covered.
My car has been remapped (via a piggyback, so more obvious, but not really the point)and the insurance know about it - doesn't add much to the premium (£20 or something over the year) and if push ever did come to shove and they checked it in the event of a crash, I would be covered.
Parsnip said:
Really worth the risk?
My car has been remapped (via a piggyback, so more obvious, but not really the point)and the insurance know about it - doesn't add much to the premium (£20 or something over the year) and if push ever did come to shove and they checked it in the event of a crash, I would be covered.
How would they check?My car has been remapped (via a piggyback, so more obvious, but not really the point)and the insurance know about it - doesn't add much to the premium (£20 or something over the year) and if push ever did come to shove and they checked it in the event of a crash, I would be covered.
It may well be that they have the stats to show that it makes no difference at all to the risk. However we are all under the impression that insurance cos are all out to screw us so have one of two viewpoint , tell them everything or just keep quiet. A bit of official clarity to dispel any myths would help.
The ins cos didnt help themselves though, witness how using winter tyres in winter actually added to some premiums, ie take more care and we will still charge you ! I think it took a statement from the abi to sort that out.
The ins cos didnt help themselves though, witness how using winter tyres in winter actually added to some premiums, ie take more care and we will still charge you ! I think it took a statement from the abi to sort that out.
Shotgun Jon said:
It's an interesting question that, and one i'd like to know the answer too.
I'd also be very interested to know where you stand if you buy a second hand vehicle which had previously been re-mapped without your knowledge.
There must be thousands of mapped VAG diesels knocking about now which have been mapped and chopped in etc.
If you are the owner and have an accident which lets say causes death or lifelong injury to someone and they discover the car has been mapped previous to your ownership its hard luck. You are the peer it is your responsibility to ensure it is legal - I guess it would be like saying getting the car to have an equivalent to a survey then the survey is your insurance policy. I'd also be very interested to know where you stand if you buy a second hand vehicle which had previously been re-mapped without your knowledge.
There must be thousands of mapped VAG diesels knocking about now which have been mapped and chopped in etc.
Hi,
I've got a speculative question here (none of my cars having been mapped).
If your vehicle had just a remap and God forbid, you had an accident in which someone was killed, don't the Police or VOSA take the car away and look or check the vehicle for any defects which may have contributed to the crash, and in that would they be as thorough to check the chip? (if speed were a factor). If it came to light there were mods which had been undeclared this , I expect would be the ideal chance for the Insurance company to refuse paying out
Again, totally hypothetical and perhaps I'm clutching at an extreme scenario. Just askin' tho.....
I've got a speculative question here (none of my cars having been mapped).
If your vehicle had just a remap and God forbid, you had an accident in which someone was killed, don't the Police or VOSA take the car away and look or check the vehicle for any defects which may have contributed to the crash, and in that would they be as thorough to check the chip? (if speed were a factor). If it came to light there were mods which had been undeclared this , I expect would be the ideal chance for the Insurance company to refuse paying out
Again, totally hypothetical and perhaps I'm clutching at an extreme scenario. Just askin' tho.....
- Edit** Welshbeef beat me to it.
Converting Morris Minors to run on unleaded was seen as a modification for quite some time (ridiculously), converting minis to run on unleaded with big valve heads and thus increased breathing was also seen as a modification (and rightly so).
The question surely is down to risk and disclosure. The Ins Cos may well have evidence which suggests that a chipped or modified car is no more likely to be involved in an accident or collision than a standard car (so no increase in risk premium) but if the modification is discovered as a result of an investigation after an incident (especially if death or serious injury are involved), it's an opportunity to declare insurance void.
So I declare all my mods even down to alloy rad to replace the chocolate item on my Focus. What irritates me with the mini is that I have to repeatedly complete a form for my broker (who is known to these pages), this has to become better managed by the insurance industry IMHO.
The question surely is down to risk and disclosure. The Ins Cos may well have evidence which suggests that a chipped or modified car is no more likely to be involved in an accident or collision than a standard car (so no increase in risk premium) but if the modification is discovered as a result of an investigation after an incident (especially if death or serious injury are involved), it's an opportunity to declare insurance void.
So I declare all my mods even down to alloy rad to replace the chocolate item on my Focus. What irritates me with the mini is that I have to repeatedly complete a form for my broker (who is known to these pages), this has to become better managed by the insurance industry IMHO.
Shotgun Jon said:
It's an interesting question that, and one i'd like to know the answer too.
I'd also be very interested to know where you stand if you buy a second hand vehicle which had previously been re-mapped without your knowledge.
There must be thousands of mapped VAG diesels knocking about now which have been mapped and chopped in etc.
Insurance is all done to the "utmost good faith". That is, if you know you should disclose something, you disclose it.I'd also be very interested to know where you stand if you buy a second hand vehicle which had previously been re-mapped without your knowledge.
There must be thousands of mapped VAG diesels knocking about now which have been mapped and chopped in etc.
If you'd bought a run of the mill derv lump from somewhere, and at no point was it advertised that it had a non standard map; I suspect your insurance would pay out. There's no reasonable way for you to know, and you did not fail to disclose information in an attempt to mislead the insurer.
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