Sprts Exhaust & Insurance

[PKW]

Has anyone experienced difficulties with car Insurance when you have a sports exhaust. I have a '97 Chimaera which already had a stainless steel sports exhaust fitted when I bought it, a year ago. It was my understanding that this did not enhance performance, just the sound of the car. Last year I was Insured with Privilege, who advised me the exhaust mod would not affect the quote as it didn't enhance performance. This year when I have been searching round, it has been a different story. If you mention a sports exhaust, you have to identfy how much the performance is enhanced, starting at seven percent. This is adding £60 a year to the premium. Worth it for the sound, but I can think of better things to do with the cash than donating it to a poor Insurance company. Just for info Egg with recovery cover included is worth getting a quote from.

[Pete Cros]

This year, it appears that many insurance companies and agents now use the same 'information form'. You only have to look at the on-line ones, and call some companies/agents to get the feeling that they are all using 'upgrades' to get more money from you. Barclaycard and Egg use the same calling centre, i.e. you will get the same person asking the same questions for calls to Barclaycard insurance, and Egg insurance.

I wouldn't try not telling your insurance company of any modifications, I know you might want to resist paying more money to insurance companies. But, tell your insurance company of any changes to your car or personal circumstances. Insurance companies will use the 'you must inform us of any changes' fine print to get out of paying you in the event of a claim. I have been present when a loss adjuster has visted a garage to inspect a claim. He querired everything with a 'thats not original for this car' type of statement.

Upgrades; companies now use two forms, cosmetic upgrades e.g. wheels. performance upgrades, e.g. sports exhausts. Each 'yes' will cause a loading to be applied to your premium. For performance upgrades, they go something like has the modification resulted in less than 10%, increase in power, 11% to 15%, 16% to 20%, 21% etc etc.. A yes to any band will increase the cost of insurance. Cosmetic upgrades depends on what it is, e.g. more inviting to joy riders, etc.

[icamm]

Take your car to a rolling road. Get the BHP figure and send it to the insurance company. If it is the same, or lower, than the quoted figure for the car then argue with them to put the exhuast in the cosmetic upgrade field. You have just proved it has no performance effect.