Car mods may not hike your premium
Insurance company warns against modding without informing
Modifying your car is hugely popular and getting more so all the time, especially with younger drivers. The problem is that many 'modders' don't tell their insurance company about the modifications, for fear that their premium will skyrocket. Now Adrian Flux Insurance has warned that these drivers are not insured at all, even though they are paying a premium. And if they make a claim, their insurance company will more than likely refuse to pay it.
The most ironic thing of all is that, if these drivers were honest with their insurance company about the modifications, it's quite possible that their premium would come down rather than go up.
Adrian Flux Insurance is one of the leading specialist insurers for modified vehicles. Flux's Gerry Bucke explains: "We reckon as many as 30 per cent of drivers under the age of 25 who mod their car don't inform their insurers, which means they are driving illegally and are not insured.
"And strange as it might seem, a modification won't automatically increase your premium. Specialist insurers can sometimes actually reduce the premium following a modification, on the basis that the owner is going to drive more carefully as a result of his or her investment."
Body styling and new exhaust systems would seem obvious examples of potentially premium reducing mods, but even those that enhance the car's power, tuning or suspension won't necessarily increase the costs, says Gerry Bucke. "We'd take a look at the whole picture and, like most specialist insurers, we try to keep the premium to a minimum.
"Failure to tell you insurer about modifications isn't only stupid because it's illegal and nullifies your cover, it's also stupid because it could actually be costing you money."
Adrian Flux says it has a range of policies for the motoring enthusiast. You can contact the Flux on (08700) 777888, email quotes@adrianflux.co.uk.
. . . utter bllox . . .
Last time I called Adrian Flux they were a long, long, long way from being competitive . . . and were massively bumping my premium based on the mods to my car . . . whereas my current insurer does so much less . . .
Fd
I told my insurers who INSISTED it would make up to 10% difference in power. I tried to reason with them, but was told either i pay the £150 increase in premium (insurance for the year was only £650), or risk not being covered if i was involved in an accident.
Not much difference to being robbed a gunpoint i guess.
About a week later, i bought a K&N induction filter and actually achieved the 10% increase - no further premium!
stackmonkey said:
OK, heads up, Can ANYONE tell me of anyone who has modified their car and the premium has gone down?
Yes, I replaced my Nova's 400bhp V8 with a 2hp lawnmower engine and the insurance went from £1000 to £999 - honest!
However, I have managed to not make it go up at renewal - which in 'real terms' means it did go up as I should have got another year's NCB discount.
Mine currently goes up year on year, for a car that is becoming less valuable each year, and a driver that is gaining more no-claims each year.
>> Edited by m-five on Thursday 9th September 13:36
stackmonkey said:
OK, heads up, Can ANYONE tell me of anyone who has modified their car and the premium has gone down?
Well it hasn't put mine up......
Someone told me that Liverpool Victoria won't increase the premium unless the mod increases the capacity of the engine.
So, TVR owner gets the lump bored and stroked and increases capacity by 200cc. Gains 10% output. Gets screwed.
I fit forged pistions, a FMIC, a big ass hybrid turbo and MOTEC ECU, gain 200bhp, and my premiums remain the same.....
....cool.
I own two Fiat Seicento's, one has a 1242cc 16v 120bhp engine, roll cage and a bucket seat. The other is completely standard.
The modified car is cheaper to insure (asking for quotes through the same broker). However, much of this is due to the fact that the modified car does a limited mileage and isn't used for commuting. Not convinced that it had much to do with the modifications.
Mr E said:
Well it hasn't put mine up......
Someone told me that Liverpool Victoria won't increase the premium unless the mod increases the capacity of the engine.
Yep, my golf is with liverpool victoria (who strangely enough are NOT based in Liverpool
). Suspension kit, different wheels and exhaust make no difference to the premium. However, i too have NEVER heard of someone's premium being reduced after modifications. I think this is just a cynical attempt by Flux to generate some more enquiries... 
I've done that many mods its a nightmare filling in the forms
they do charge me for the 65% power increase though. i've tryed Adrian Flux in the past and there usualy a waste of time due to the chavs on the other end of the phone.
On the plus side AF will insure N02 if its been installed by HighPower systems and these are the only company i have spoken too that are even close to being competative.
no insurance increase. thats on a TVR, think I will stick with them a bit longer, bye the way fully comp, 5k a year and full european recovery (home) a whopping £149.00. 
yes the decimal place is correct"he wants to stop faster and safer"
but actually reads
"if he's got better brakes he'll drive faster and make sure that he's capable of stopping better"
gotta love em, also buying a stainless steel box, i argue that yes it increases the power slightly but it's also got a lifetime guarentee, so in the end it's cheaper than reaplacing yer exchaust every couple of years (notice how the exhaust always fails after the kwik-fit warrenty runs out!)
little thieves
. In the Porker, I upgraded from 16 to 17 inch wheels and they charged me an extra £25! As if they make a heap of difference either way. Go figure...
Separatley but on the subject of legalised robbery insurance car groups are set on various criteria including risk of theft, cost of repair & parts etc. The same groups are then applied to Third party only policies where they are only covering how much damage you can do to someone else. I know I can do more damage with something like a 2.8 Mk2 granny than i can in say a Ginetta G4 so why the disproportionate premiums? Yeeeha insurance companies...gotta love em.
40% power hike!
Larger wheels/tyres
Uprated Brakes
Upreated Suspension
Etc
I think if you are prepared to shop around then you'll find an agreeable broker/insurance company
I had about 10 comapnies including Adrian Flux who weren't preapred to even quote!
davidy
Even though I think it is daylight robbery, I have been in the situation of having the insurance assessors crawling all over a heavily modified car of mine after an accident. Fortunately everything was declared, but I could just see them trying to look for excuses not to pay out!
I have declared mods on my last 6 cars, and in all cases the premium has gone up.
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