Liverpool Victoria Insurance and Sports Exhausts

[millsc]

I have a 355 Spider and I am looking to get a Tubi system for it. However when I checked with my insurance company, Liverpool Victoria they said that they will not insure a Ferrari with an after market exhaust on it. I know there have been some threads on this in the past, but I am not sure if there was ever a conclusion??? Have any of you managed to get insurance with LV with an aftermarket pipe, and if so how did you do it?

[tonyhopkins]

I spoke to LV today. My understanding is they will only insure existing customers with Tubi or other after mkt exhausts /mods.

[burriana]

They said that to me when i was just about to take out my insurance with them. I simply said that the exhaust makes practically no difference to performance, maybe 1 or 2 bhp and that I was going to have a Tubi fitted come what may... did i need to find another insurance company?

They then agreed that the insurance would remain unaffected but that in the case of damge or theft, they would not cover replacement of the actual exhaust unit.

a.

[Monge2]

Change to Norwich Union. They didn't mind when i put one on 2 months into it.
Not much help i know, but there you go!
Hopefully you haven't got long to run on your policy. Got to get yourself a tubi de-cated.

[shadowninja]

Do a search on sxoc.com's forum for LV... they (LV) really don't like any modifications whatsoever.

[Badapple]

I rang for a quote on a lhd 355 spider with tubi/ecu upgrade about a month ago, the lady I spoke too said they couldnt insure me with a aftermarket exhaust. I asked her to double check with her boss, but the answer was still no.

From what tony says, they must have recently changed their rules.

[tonyhopkins]

Phil,
you're right. If you're an existing custy with a modded exhaust they'll reinsure at renewal time, as in my case. Otherwise they aren't taking any new biz that involves modifications.

[millsc]

Guys....Thanks for your rapid responses.

I have just spoken to LV again and apparently if the vehicle was already fitted with a tubi on or before the 1st November 2004 then they will continue to cover the car. However if it was fitted after the 1st Nov 2004 the insurance would not be valid and LV would provide a grace period to find a new insurer. LV will definatley not entertain a new policy with a sports pipe.

[hazy]

I have just fitted a Tubi to my 355 but never gave the insurance side of things a second thought. just about to re-new with Norwich Union, do I tell em or what???

[456mgt]

hazy said:

I have just fitted a Tubi to my 355 but never gave the insurance side of things a second thought. just about to re-new with Norwich Union, do I tell em or what???

You should tell them, in writing, that you've modified the exhaust otherwise it could invalidate any subsequent claim. I really don't know why L&V are going all anal about sports exhausts since they never used to be. You could give Tesco a try; it always been a toss up between L&V and Tesco when I've been getting quotes for my cars.

[Muncher]

There's also the school of thought that unless it increases the material risk you should not have to tell them. Of course no insurer will ever say that, but the ombudsman would uphold any claim if the insurer gets funny about it.

[hazy]

Muncher said:

There's also the school of thought that unless it increases the material risk you should not have to tell them. Of course no insurer will ever say that, but the ombudsman would uphold any claim if the insurer gets funny about it.

So do I tell em or what?? I'm from the school of thought that says "what they don't know don't hurt them". Generally I use this rule when purchasing expensive bits for my petrol powered toys, to the complete ignorance of my missus

She'll never spot them expensive carbon fibre brakes when they are safely tucked behind the wheels of me 355!!

[tonyhopkins]

Yes , if there's any weighting to the premium it'll be minimal and, god forbid you have an accident, there's no grounds for the claim to be knocked back.

[hazy]

greedy gits have bumped the renewal up from £1030 to £1191 now!

[Vesuvius996]

Pay it! You don't buy a sports exhaust to go slowly are you mate??

[hazy]

Sorted. Moved to first Direct for £736 with breakdown cover.Now will the £450 I've saved by me a chip upgrade??

[Andrew Richmond]

LV are a great insurer but you get different answers to the same question depending on who you speak to.

I thought that any policy they have sold in the last two years allowed mods as long as cylinder capacity was not increased.