Crash - Insurance Unaware Of Engine Swap - Consequences
Discussion
Friend of mine is in hospital at the moment following a big crash that he was involved in a few days ago, he hadn't told his insurance about his engine conversion & the police took the car away etc - from what I gather, the accident was his fault.
What's the likely outcome going to be for him apart from probably having a limp?
Before anyone says it, yes it really is a friend that had the crash and not me as Im not as stupid as him
What's the likely outcome going to be for him apart from probably having a limp?
Before anyone says it, yes it really is a friend that had the crash and not me as Im not as stupid as him
Edited by Sea Demon on Thursday 7th September 12:16
insurance will most likely refuse to pay out, could be charged with driving without suitable insurance, coupled with any previous points they probably have and any they get for causing the crash could lose their license.
Your friends an idiot
let me guess, kept the standard brakes too?
Your friends an idiot
let me guess, kept the standard brakes too?
Any insurance assessor that can't spot the difference between a 4 pot and a 6 pot shouldn't be in a job, so I'd say it's highly unlikely your mate will get away with this. If the engine swap had been a 4 pot for a 4 pot (from a 1.6 to a 1.8, or similar), the insurance assessor might not spot the change.
As for the consequences, his insurance policy will be invalidated, and he may be charged for any number of offences relating to the accident, which will now include driving without insurance.
The dude is royally screwed.
As for the consequences, his insurance policy will be invalidated, and he may be charged for any number of offences relating to the accident, which will now include driving without insurance.
The dude is royally screwed.
If he's really lucky, he will just end up with a boat load of points, and will have to pay to repair his own car. He also won't be able to get insurance at a reasonable price for a very long time.
The third party payout is the real issue though. He will be liable for 100% of this and, depending on who/what else he hit and how badly, could be paying for this for quite literally the rest of his life.
And of course as the police are involved, if they decide to prosecute for dangerous driving, or racing, or anything else then he could easily be looking at jail time.
Basically, he's proper f
ked.
The third party payout is the real issue though. He will be liable for 100% of this and, depending on who/what else he hit and how badly, could be paying for this for quite literally the rest of his life.
And of course as the police are involved, if they decide to prosecute for dangerous driving, or racing, or anything else then he could easily be looking at jail time.
Basically, he's proper f
ked.Sea Demon said:
Yep the car was originally a 1.8 4 Cyl but then had a 3.0 straight 6 dropped in
Are we talking about something like a 3-series, or are we talking MAJOR mods?If it is "just" an engine swap, did he upgrade other stuff - suspension/brakes - where the larger-engined model differed?
I'm thinking that a "simple" fullish-upgrade from a 318 to "330-spec" might be a good chunk less likely to having the book (and bill) thrown at him, especially if it's with a mod-friendly insurer.
He's going to regret it, whatever...
Ekona said:
It worries me that people this stupid genuinely still exist in the world. I just can't fathom why you'd go to all that cost of carrying out the swap and then not bother insuring your investment, ignoring the legal aspect of it for a second.
Now, where's the "Still a <whatever> on the V5C" thread?Edited by TooMany2cvs on Thursday 7th September 11:45
Possible bad things that could happen
Insurance is cancelled by company, which then makes getting vehicle insurance difficult for the rest of your lift (cancelled policies usually don't have a 5 year declaration limit)
Insurance refuse to pay out for your friend's car
Insurance pay out to third parties for their costs, then come after your friend for the money
Insurance is cancelled by company, which then makes getting vehicle insurance difficult for the rest of your lift (cancelled policies usually don't have a 5 year declaration limit)
Insurance refuse to pay out for your friend's car
Insurance pay out to third parties for their costs, then come after your friend for the money
strain said:
let me guess, kept the standard brakes too?
There's always some fool who will say something like this trying to sound clever...just because the engine is upgraded does not mean you drive everywhere twice as fast and brake twice as hard 
If you ever manage to overheat the brakes on any remotely modern car by braking so hard for multiple corners then really you are driving like a total moron anyway, uprated engine or not.
JimSuperSix said:
strain said:
let me guess, kept the standard brakes too?
There's always some fool who will say something like this trying to sound clever...just because the engine is upgraded does not mean you drive everywhere twice as fast and brake twice as hard If you ever manage to overheat the brakes on any remotely modern car by braking so hard for multiple corners then really you are driving like a total moron anyway, uprated engine or not.
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