What counts as a modification?

I'm a bit baffled by what counts as a modification for insurance purposes.

Going by the letter of the small print, I believe ANYTHING non standard needs to be declared to them, but is this really true?

I used to have a Vectra with a sports exhaust on it (I know, embarrassing, but it was stainless and half the price of a Vauxhall genuine tin one). I used to get stiffed an extra £60 a year on my premium for the privilege of this - apparently it made it more nickable. It also caused a problem in that a lot of insurance companies wouldn't even quote for it. (No extra performance or anything!)

Has anyone got any practical experience with insurance companies and undeclared modifications and claims? I'm curious to know what really needs to be declared. Fair enough for major modifications, but a 'sports' exhaust? Different size wheels/tyres? Different speed ratings on tyres? Underbody protection? Do they ever actually examine anything like that in the event of a claim and if so has anyone had a claim rejected because of an undeclared modification?

Going by how much extra a simple exhaust added to my premium (me with full NCB, old git, etc), I can't help thinking that the (MUCH) younger drivers in their Halfords accessorised Corsas can't possibly have valid insurance. Or do the insurance companies really not care? Or am I missing something?

Guy

I once got asked if I'd declared the alloy wheels as mods after a claim, fortunately they were standard on that car. It does make you wonder about all the modded cars and how many of them are actually declared. I have heard of someone removing mods before an assesor came to see them.

Back in the day when I had just passed me test, i had a clio with quite alot of modifications (larger wheels, lowered, exhaust, Bodykit, Performance filter etc)and to be honest i diddnt declare any of them, Silly of me when I look back as as careful as i was to not have an accident there are always idiots on the road who could hit you! When i bought the car new it came with free insurance and before i started changing anything rang them and they were fine with the alterations, but by the time i had got it all done that policy had finished and insured it as standard. So i would imagine there a quite a few boy racers driving around with insurance that would become void in the event of a claim.

yes you should declare everything that is not standard, even down to a K&N air filter. all it takes is an insurance assessor to come out and look at your car and suddenly your insurance aint valid and your facing a chat with the police.

while some boy racers dont declare mods, most do. but they use specialist insurance companies (adrian flux) that usually dont charge all that much extra. if a kid has spent thousands of ££ on his car he is apparently more likely to look after his car and therefore be less of a risk, and part of the insurance conditions is Thatcham cat1 alarm/immobiliser MUST be installed by a professional and certified.

insuring a car this way isnt that much more expensive, and sometimes cheaper than insuring a standard car. my old astra gsi was nearly £600fc to insure as standard, by time i'd finished with the mods there was barely an origional piece on the car (not even the fuel tank!!) and it only cost me £420 fully comp to insure on a modified policy. ive also declared all the mods on my disco and it hasnt cost me any extra on my policy.

I use adrian flux and declare everything.They dont blink an eye.

if it aint standard declare it ,or if things go tits up they wont payout

Hmm. Sounds like we're all on the same wavelength.

I just resent having to pay more for a 'modification' that doesn't increase the risk to them at all.

I did try Adrian Flux when I first got my standard Rangey as I had used them before for my Series, but they wanted a ridiculous amount to insure it. My normal insurance company was MUCH cheaper, but I want to do a couple of things to it now and I just know it's going to cost a fortune to insure the damn thing again.

What actually counts as a modification though? If a sports exhaust counts as a mod because it's different to the standard one fitted, why wouldn't a Kwik Fit replacement? They're different too. It's all very frustrating!

Guy

a kwik fit exhaust is built to OE specifications - the pipe diameter and internal baffles are the same as factory. a 'sports' exhaust will have a nicer polished pipe (looks sporty to thieves and also worth money) and its internals will be made less restrictive (nicer sound and also capable of releasing more bhp). add to that the way a thief thinks - "if its got a sports exhaust, what else is under the bonnet? is it a sleeper style racer?" and suddenly you see the risk to insurers.

try speaking to your current insurance company before you do any mods and see what they say. with most landy mods being practical and with no increase in performance then many companies wont impose any extra premiums, or at worst VERY small increases.

My landy is a special vehicles. It had the winch and winch bumper that were fitted removed prior to me getting it and I replaced the weller 8 spokes it came with from new with a set of mach 5's. Does that mean mine is modified cos the winch and bumper were removed or have I modified it by replacing the winch and bumper? same goes for me replacing the non standard wheels with the non standard wheels.:doh: