Do you declare mods to your insurance company?

[Stock323iSaloon]

I'm currently insured on the basis of 'standard' spec but I'll be getting HID fitted this w/e and have few other simple mods like corner lens, handbrake cover etc. If the car gets nicked, I can expect the insurance company not paying out 'casue you didn't declare' nonse. I've got a quote of extra 30quid for HID, although they will not replace the HID if they were to replace them in the event of an accident, so the extra 30 quid is for 'risk of theft'. I think this is totally BS but just wandered how you guys are coping with your insurers.

[BigFas]

I took the step last year of declaring all my mods on a replacement basis and had to pay an extra £200 which covers rims, bodykit, ICE, suspension and "Basic" engine mods, e.g air intake.

I'm with elephant and they said that my insurance would be void if I installed Nitrous or window tints.

[All ON U]

I am with More Than insurance and they haven't stated anything. I have the car lowered, tinted and ACS rims fitted but I will double check with them anyway.

[-CT-]

I took the step last year of declaring all my mods on a replacement basis and had to pay an extra £200 which covers rims, bodykit, ICE, suspension and "Basic" engine mods, e.g air intake.

I'm with elephant and they said that my insurance would be void if I installed Nitrous or window tints.

Fas man i got this from the elephant site modification bit when i went thru the quote process:

Please note - if you make a claim for loss or damage to your car, we will only pay the cost of replacing the parts needed for the car to meet the manufacturer's standard specification. The modifications themselves are not insured.

In otherwords i THINK that means they just want you to declare them so they can put the price up because more chance someone nicks your car but are not willing to replace them :thumbdwn:

[BigFas]

No, that's the website only. Phone them up and speak to them, they will then hike the premium up on a replacement basis

[Stock323iSaloon]

I'm currently with Bell Direct (Admiral) and they said they do not offer mod replacements, only standard parts.

Fas, do you report your new mod every time you get something done, or is it a one-off cost to cover whatever you are allowed? If you were to make a claim, do you think you will have to produce a receipt for EVERY ITEM???
I personally think we're getting a raw deal. BTW, I still pay 480 p/a with protected bonus :thumbdwn: This was the cheapest I could find via Confused.com. I am guessing that you guys with fast cars are paying a lot more?

[BigFas]

If I am close to getting a mod, I phone the insurance company to see the effect. That's why when I was thinking about tints, I called them up, they said my policy would be null and void if I had them installed.

I'm paying £800 fully comp, 318Ci vert with audio, rims, suspension, exhaust and bodykit and exhaust. I'm 29 yrs old, 3 points (SP30) and 2 years NCB and 1 accident (wife's fault).

[GarrettF]

They will cover your bodykit, rims etc but if you tint they say piss off... I love europe!

[BigFas]

There's actually a good reason for tints voiding your policy. Bottom line, they're officially illegal on the front windows. Rims / Bodykit / Exhausts aren't.

A while back, a driver killed a cyclists purely because the tints were too dark on the car and he didn't see the biker. There are some tolerances, i.e. 33% tint / light smoke tends to be allowed, but it really depends on the luck of the policeman you meet, some may let you go, some will be very strict.

On the other hand if you DO have an accident and the insurance company send an assesor to allow repairs to go-ahead or approve the claim, they will void your policy and refund you your annual premium which is a hell of a lot less than paying out for repairs / new car.

[Stock323iSaloon]

I'll be damned if my insurance company didn't pay up (say I crashed into someone) just because I didn't declare my ACS handbrke cover...Sad thing is, I can see this happening...

[-CT-]

well if u do ever have an accident you best UNMOD the car before the assesor turns up lol.

[Qas]

I used to own a 318is (e36) it was fully modded to look like a M3, I told the insurance company it had factory M-tech kit, however all the extra bits were put on afterwards which i never decleared, my car had an accident and was written off, they paid my asking price for the car with out any questions.

[kev_hughes]

Elephant are tottally crap (they are admiral - really).
Had to claim because my 5 series was vandalised and they did everything they could to get out of paying, saying the dents where wear and tear etc!
Lucky I'd taken pictures when I bought the car a few months before. They still send out a engineer and then tried to disregard what he said, took months to get repaired and had to go back 3 times.

Then they tried to cancel my no claims bonus even though it was protected, i had to treaten them with the ombudsmen (spelling!)

my renewal has just come through, I now have a 330i and its £823 and they have forgot to put on the claim!

Elephant = Crap ! :woot: