do i need to tell insurance company?

7th January 2010, 06:51

im looking at fitting a vt kit on my flat arch 1.1, is this something i need to tell the insurance company as its still a standard kit just from another model??

cheers

dave

7th January 2010, 07:14

yes you will as its still a modifiacation from origonal just not worth the risk as if ya have accedent and an inspector is called he will null and void your insurance

7th January 2010, 11:59

yeh, as said above.

7th January 2010, 23:00

Just to add if a insurance company does void your insurance there is a good possibility you will be reported for the offence of driving without appropriate insurance. So it really is worth telling them.

7th January 2010, 23:02

Any mod = Insurance must be informed.

11th January 2010, 23:02

is it likely to raise my insurance much?

11th January 2010, 23:06

tbh ive not declared any mods on my car and im with direct line and they wont let me have alloy wheels until im 25 so put them on but didnt declare them so if i had an accident my insurance company wouldnt pay out lol

11th January 2010, 23:09

Mate you "SHOULD" tell your insurance company EVERYTHING, but almost every1 just dosent declare it however...good luck if they send someone to view it on a claim

12th January 2010, 00:24

You say you should declare everything then. Okay so would you declare something like removing the slats from the front grill and fitting mesh? ( the bonnet grill )

12th January 2010, 00:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by daz_zz_er

tbh ive not declared any mods on my car and im with direct line and they wont let me have alloy wheels until im 25 so put them on but didnt declare them so if i had an accident my insurance company wouldnt pay out lol

Should you really be posting that on an open forum?

12th January 2010, 00:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrHouston

Should you really be posting that on an open forum?

Baring in mind, we can see the number plate in his avatar aswell

12th January 2010, 00:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0908

You say you should declare everything then. Okay so would you declare something like removing the slats from the front grill and fitting mesh? ( the bonnet grill )

or tcutting badges?

12th January 2010, 00:56

ive always wondered weather my insurance would be void as ive smoothed over my fogs and widemouth'd the front bumper

12th January 2010, 10:24

I read my insurance full T&Cs. They deem a modification something thats increases appeal to theives or something that increases performance.

I have a fibreglass bonnet which doesnt increase performance (just decreases weight) and i wouldnt claim for theft. Therefore, its not a mod i have to declare

12th January 2010, 20:02

is it likely to raise my insurance as much as it would if i got a proper bodykit for example?

12th January 2010, 20:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave1-1

is it likely to raise my insurance as much as it would if i got a proper bodykit for example?

depends on which company you're with i think. bear in mind that if you have a crash the insurance will then have to pay out the cost of the aftermarket kit as well as the car so it's understandable that they'll increase it quite a bit. why not save your cash for a year or 2 then get a vt* instead?

12th January 2010, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomMartin

depends on which company you're with i think. bear in mind that if you have a crash the insurance will then have to pay out the cost of the aftermarket kit as well as the car so it's understandable that they'll increase it quite a bit. why not save your cash for a year or 2 then get a vt* instead?

id like a vt but atm to insuremyself ona vt was about 8 grand a year. which i cant afford, i pay £1800 on a 1.1 as it is. im looking for interesting things to do with my 1.1 to improve it.

12th January 2010, 21:06

It sounds stupid but in a recent report, there were cases of insurance companies not paying out on cars which had not declared 'Stickers, viynls or decals' like thoes flowers on VW beetles. Apparently it increases the chances of it being stolen. Some companies may be this tight so its always worthing calling them up. Things like tcutting badges are so hard to notice i wouldnt bother.

12th January 2010, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by L_E_W_I_S

It sounds stupid but in a recent report, there were cases of insurance companies not paying out on cars which had not declared 'Stickers, viynls or decals' like thoes flowers on VW beetles. Apparently it increases the chances of it being stolen. Some companies may be this tight so its always worthing calling them up. Things like tcutting badges are so hard to notice i wouldnt bother.

i mentioned my alloys and rear lights to my insurance company and they werent interested in putting it on the policy as it wouldnt make a difference. is this a good sign that they might not charge me too much forthe vt kit?

12th January 2010, 22:32

Tcutting badges you can get away with, just by saying it wore off?

However, meshing grilles etc...however much you say it doesnt need to be declared, it does. That is a modification and that is making you car more "attractive"

Anything that is done to your vehicle (from manufacturers standard) to enhance performance, looks or anything is a mod, which im 100% certain any insurance company would know about.

Most probably wont charge for things like grill mesh etc...but, its not worth taking the risk or having a prang in your car, smashing the front grill then they dont pay out...or the worst case senario, invalidate your insurance, which then they will pay out but reclaim from you or whatever.

So yes any kind of kit, vt or not, needs to be declared, not worth the risk if in an accident imo.

12th January 2010, 22:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0908

You say you should declare everything then. Okay so would you declare something like removing the slats from the front grill and fitting mesh? ( the bonnet grill )

Yes you should, i remember when i first brought my car and i had some trims i put on, as they was sending someone to fit a tracker i thought id just let them know i got them so i didnt have to take them off and they declined me having them ...

12th January 2010, 22:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0908

Baring in mind, we can see the number plate in his avatar aswell

uh ohh, fucked..

12th January 2010, 23:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by sam2kk8

Yes you should, i remember when i first brought my car and i had some trims i put on, as they was sending someone to fit a tracker i thought id just let them know i got them so i didnt have to take them off and they declined me having them ...

Thanks, that clears things up then.

12th January 2010, 23:43

I have a fair few mods on my bike. When I called them up to mention them, they said they weren't interested in visual mods as long as they never made the bike any faster.

13th January 2010, 01:05

I told them about my VTR alloys and VT kit, and they told me it was from a citroen model, so it was not increased.

(Y)

13th January 2010, 11:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0908

I have a fair few mods on my bike. When I called them up to mention them, they said they weren't interested in visual mods as long as they never made the bike any faster.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mango_Wes

I told them about my VTR alloys and VT kit, and they told me it was from a citroen model, so it was not increased.

(Y)

Every insurance company is different. Same companys are different between cars and bikes.
Even if they don't increase the price of your policy items should still be declared - the sole purpose of an insurance investigators job is the find fault with your car or driving so that his company don't have to pay out.
If anyone wants to risk driving without/with invalid insurance then you're a prick. If you want mods on your car then choose a company that specialises in modified cars - the premiums are generally cheaper. So no complaining that swinton/direct line/etc make you pay £xxx! If you're under 21 and drive a VTR/S then you're going to pay a shit load anyway.

[ /rant]

13th January 2010, 11:33

Finally someone with sense!

13th January 2010, 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by sam2kk8

Yes you should, i remember when i first brought my car and i had some trims i put on, as they was sending someone to fit a tracker i thought id just let them know i got them so i didnt have to take them off and they declined me having them ...

as in wheel trims/hubcaps. thats ridiculous

13th January 2010, 11:40

BazzaC - I don't seem to see a thanks button...

So thanks!

13th January 2010, 12:29

Ha its ok mate, just remeber a topic about someone having vinyls and should they tell insurance company.

I told them yes and explained why then got people telling me I was wrong and that its stupid etc....

I only work in an insurance brokers

13th January 2010, 14:37

Im with Quinn Direct and they told me 'You DO NOT need to tell us about any mods which DO NOT enhance the performance of the car.' If your lucky some companies will be the same, so its worth asking before you do anything. Although, they said they require an engineers report on anything which can affect the performance so be careful.

13th January 2010, 14:48

I'd ring them up and at least ask them about it before you do anything. See what they are going to say about the mod before you apply it, then you can decide afterwards what you are going to do.

13th January 2010, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrAdaam

I'd ring them up and at least ask them about it before you do anything. See what they are going to say about the mod before you apply it, then you can decide afterwards what you are going to do.

makes sense to me to be fair.

13th January 2010, 15:40

im with churchill and i phoned to ask today and they said even though its off another saxo it counts as a body kit and i wasnt covered for any mods as i was under 25. hmmmmmm

13th January 2010, 21:27

directline are shite. quoted me like 3 times more than any other company and hate any car with a single mod

14th January 2010, 09:34

There was a recent poll done to find the worst insurer's in the UK...

1. Aviva (Formally Norwich Union)
2. Direct Line
3. AXA

Mainly for the fact Aviva has their claims team in india, which everyone hates speaking to after you just had an accident. But most hated these due to claims service, prices and flexibility with cover (i.e mods).

14th January 2010, 10:00

I think i might change mine, I'm with Churchill but I'm earning a 1yncb off them for next years insurance, i don't plan on mods yet but I'd like the option to add them haha.

14th January 2010, 12:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrAdaam

I think i might change mine, I'm with Churchill but I'm earning a 1yncb off them for next years insurance, i don't plan on mods yet but I'd like the option to add them haha.

im the same but im planning some mods. im going to check with them what they class as mods and what i can get away with.

6th February 2010, 15:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by BazzaC

There was a recent poll done to find the worst insurer's in the UK...

1. Aviva (Formally Norwich Union)
2. Direct Line
3. AXA

Mainly for the fact Aviva has their claims team in india, which everyone hates speaking to after you just had an accident. But most hated these due to claims service, prices and flexibility with cover (i.e mods).

hmm, aviva aren't good with mods then, do they wack a load on for them? i'm with aviva, tried phoning them- technical fault, tried online- can't reconise my policy number. I wanted to enquire about how modifications affect the premium.

25th February 2010, 00:56

A good tip is if you have blacked out windows... Call it security glass

or Privacy glass because they then add it as a securiity feature as i found out with my works van