[taffster]

Hi,

Does anyone know what an insurance company classes as modifications? I guess it varies across companies but there must be a basic idea. Do they include "chrome bits" and fuel filler caps etc or is it mainly performance mods?

Thanks

[Dom]

Quote:

Originally posted by taffster
Hi,

Does anyone know what an insurance company classes as modifications? I guess it varies across companies but there must be a basic idea. Do they include "chrome bits" and fuel filler caps etc or is it mainly performance mods?

Thanks

it's probably better safe than sorry to tell the insurance company about chrome bits, but I don't know how much extra they'd charge, if at all. At least if you tell them you've covered your arse...

Dom

[tomwexler]

I spoke to loads of insurance companies about our new One - nearly all of them said the alloys were classed as a mod - adding about £150/year to the premium! In the end, I spoke to someone who knew what he was doing at the Royal Bank of Scotland insurance centre (Direct Line by another name) and he told me that as they were factory fitted at the time of purchase they didn't get classed as a mod. Not surprisingly they got my money.

[kjs]

This topic has been raised before and there's some really good advice on the site - particularly as there's a few people posting here who work in the car insurance area. Doing a search should bring up a couple of quite big threads.


kjs

[Silver Surfer]

a mod is any thing you change/replace on you car

the way it comes from the factory is standard change anything and that is classed as a mod

any factory fitted option on you car e.g chili pack doesn't mean that your car is modded as that is the way you brought the car

if you change the alloys even if there the same size that is classed as a mod becouse thats not the way the car came out of the factory

[dietcokeplease]

Quote:

Originally posted by Silver Surfer
any factory fitted option on you car e.g chili pack doesn't mean that your car is modded as that is the way you brought the car

Whether an Insurance Company will classify an item as a mod depends on the Insurance Company and what side of bed the Underwriter got out of. It's a mystery like MINI deliveries to the US and availbility of options.

For example: Direct Line classify the Chili Pack as a mod and load the premium 10% over the standard Cooper.

Anything you add is technically a mod - from the www.mini2.com sticker to the full race exhaust to the Works Conversion.

Generally speaking, most insurance companies only load if the car is in a high-risk area, if the driver is young (in insurance speak you ain't old 'til yer 35) or if the power is increase by 10% or 10bhp. Many people cannot fathom why their premiums are high and think premiums are unfair. Insurance Companies often have hot spots of low-risk areas that have a high claim record for the same population/occupation. Too much emphasis is put on location by Policyholders. A car that is stolen may mean a pay-out by the insurance company of £15k. In a low-risk area this means a infrequent occurence. A car driven by white-collar clerk causes a six car pile-up - payout £15k per car and £25k per driver in compensation. Accidents are the main reason for high premiums and in low-risk areas thefts aren't!

Diet "Insurance" Coke

[smiffy]

Any thing that alters the looks & performance of a car is classed as a mod However if these mods were factory fitted LLoyds of London do not see these as a mod because they are not an after market mod Your insurance company need to be made aware of alloys, spoilers, filters. exhausts etc etc

You be able to get away with stickers & air freshners

[spanky2k]

I'm with CiS and they don't raise the premium if you get the Chili. The only mods you need to notify them of are engine mods. So I'm guessing air filters, new exhausts and superchargers fall into this. Wheels, chrome and audio mean sweet f all. Although if you want your expensive ice insured you should really get an independant insurer. I think thats right.