insurance again

[grant watson]

After reading the threads for insurance with the chilli pack causing so much probs I have some questions.

I am insured with admiral, and have been last year with my last mini cooper, I did not disclose the chilli pack then as I was really not aware that it was a different model. so I was probably driving under insured for a year!!!!

I now have a mcs with a chili pack and ordered my quote online, there was no specific chilli pack model, and the modifications to the car option did not seem aplicable to the chilli pack .. because it is a pack! a discounted set of extras. If I asked my old man if his TT roadster with leather and bose stereo was declaired I know the awnser is no. he bought it second hand and would not know that a bose stereo is optional. Weird.

Back to the online quote, I clearly stated that the car was worth 16500, and that was it no more info. So I believe I have not lied as the car in my and some BMW dealers I have spoke to opinion, not 'modified' it has some extras... I think this is such a grey area. My quote was 470 a year, 2yncb, rural location, 28years old. Happy with that, not happy with 980 a year that mini quoted over the phone.

[Crashandburn]

check your small print.

In the event of an accident Admiral will NOT replace the chilli pack items - they will only return the car to base Cooper S spec. Those 17" alloys will become 16" X-lites, or more likely, you'll be asked to shell out for a replacement alloy yourself. The same goes for the Xenons, air-con etc.. Admiral will not replace them.

Give them a ring if you don't believe me, and don't let them convince you that all insurers operate the same policy. They don't.

[grant watson]

Okay...what would you recomend insurance company wise

[Crashandburn]

easier to recommend who not to go for, (Admiral and Elephant). I'm with Directline, but with only 2y NCB you're going to have to ring round the usual suspects.

You'll be fine as long as you ask specific questions :-

"If my car is stolen / written off in the first 12 months will it be replaced to the same specification?"

"In the event of an accident will the car be repaired to the same specification as before the accident?"

that kind of thing. Might as well check that they have no objection to you taking it to a BMW dealer for repair while you're at it.

A good place to start is LeiChat's
online database of owners insurance premiums

good luck.

[Nic D]

Try www.liverpoolvictoria.co.uk they are very good and i'm insuring my Cooper S with them.