How difficult can it be?

[AndrLync]

To get insurance on a MINI?

Spent several hours yesterday on the phone trying to sort out some insurance for my MINI. It's a Cooper with a Chilli pack and a couple of other extras (including a CAT1 alarm) and bearing in mind that I'm 32, have a couple of years NCB and a clean licence I'd have thought it would be easy, but apparently not!

It's a point that has been raised in a couple of other threads on here but I would say 80% of the companies I spoke to refused to cover any factory-fitted extra's on the car. The few that would then quoted £600+ for my 'modified' car... The worst thing is that lots of people were willing to quote after I listed the options and only told me they were not covered after I specifically asked the question (thanks to mini2 posters!).

I ended up with insurance via a Lloyds firm at £415 but with a £350xs.

I'd advise everyone with any extras on their car to double-check their policies...

[skrauze]

After I upgraded from 15" to 17" wheels I rang the insurance company (Direct Line), just to inform them that I had had them fitted. Straight away they told me to take the wheels off and put my old ones on because I would be uninsured as they don't allow people under 21 to make modifications.

I tried to explain to them it wasn't a modification, and actually probably makes the car slower, but they were having none of it. The thing that really annoyed me though was the fact there was no mention when I forst took out the policy of not being able to 'modify' the car, and believe me, I read EVERYTHING that came with my policy.

Hence, I immediately changed my policy, and got it £400 cheaper from Endsleigh! They allow to you have two 'modifications' before you're penalised. I also tried Quinn Direct, they only penalised for 'structural modifications', but couldn't offer me the insurance as cheap as Endsleigh.