A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

markrnorton · Post by **markrnorton** » Fri 19 Jun, 2009 10:09

I've just rang my insurance to disclose the mods to my Z3
premium originally was £280 comp

they have now told me that the current insurance wont allow mods, so it will be cancelled (no refund ! although i have 5 months remaining) and there best quote is now £637 !

All that for changing brakes, suspension and exhaust.

The're having a laugh, thats more than the insurance on my E55 AMG Merc !!!

So beware with the mods guys. Allows rip offs.

I have now got a price back at £483, still extortion for the mods i think.

regards

Mark

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Fri 19 Jun, 2009 10:48

Suprised that this isn't discussed more often so well done for having a justified rant.

I am always amazed at folk that spend many hundereds or more to modify and hundereds extra p/a to insure when it would be cheaper to upgrade the car. Annoyingly it seems to be suspension and chassis mods that attract the premiums too.....furstrating if someone merely wants to say upgrade bushes, shocks and maybe add brace(s)........annoying also for folk wanting to tweak suspension on a higher premium car such as Z3M.

I suspect that many in the UK are uninsured due to non declared mods. There are many cars out there maybe having had maultiple owners and whose latest keeper is unaware of the non OE exhaust, stealth maps etc comissioned by last owner(s).

Upgraded suspension & brakes could add a premium yet many folk drive everyday cars around with worn suspension and worn cheap/copy/pattern parts & odd budget maybe dmamaged tyres with pressures unchecked.................additional cost to them = zero.

Clearly a money making scam by insurers who would do better to invest in efforts to reduce losses from isurance fraud & pursuing costs from uninsured drivers.

dooby · Post by **dooby** » Fri 19 Jun, 2009 10:51

I declaired an S/S exhaust on my old car and the premium and excess both went up by £100.00 each

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Fri 19 Jun, 2009 11:04

One could argue that any car fitted with a non OE exhaust is modified.

Examples :

Copy pattern exhaust replacements

Stainless replacements marketed merely as longer lasting

Standard rubber replacing Runflats

Poly bushes

Mintex Road pads

Insurance company greed

Post by **Robert T** » Fri 19 Jun, 2009 11:14

Two things to try that might bring your premiums down on a modified car.

1) Try Adrian Flux. I have never used them, but quite a few people on here have. They are a broker that specialises in finding the right insurance for your car and understand how to put modifications to insurers. They work by phone, but you will be talking to someone who can tell a strut brace from a supercharger.

2) Consider a classic car policy. At 10 years old, a Z3 should just about able to make it onto a cherished car policy. I know that classic policies are much more lenient towards mods as very few classics have all their original parts - my classic insurance is 2/5 of that for my standard(ish) Z3 - yet the car has an engine which is 30% larger than standard. There are some limitations, such as mileage, but for a little extra I could have had business class 1 insurance on it.

As to greed, I'm not sure. I think they sometimes use price as a deterrent. If they don't want to get involved, they put a price to you that they know can be beaten, and if you are daft enough to pay it, they will take your money. I had this with NU on mine - they wanted £800 or so for my Z3 1.9 - I pay nothing like that - and when I looked at an ///M it was more like £1800 - I'm rapidly approaching 40 ffs!

Cheers R.

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Fri 19 Jun, 2009 11:22

I have isnured cars with flux before - havent had a modified quote from them, (no need), but their base quote for a 2.8 was hundereds more than others. That said they can underwrite and ammend modified policies.

Alfie · Post by **Alfie** » Fri 19 Jun, 2009 11:57

markrnorton wrote:so it will be cancelled (no refund ! although i have 5 months remaining)

I don't believe that.
They can't charge you for a product that they are withdrawing and haven't yet provided.

I would fight that one very strongly!

Admiral are not too bad on mods....

A.

Althulas · Post by **Althulas** » Fri 19 Jun, 2009 12:13

Esure gave me a renewal of 600 pounds and when I checked online it was just under 430 but the compulsary excess was 500 quid

In disgust for being taken for a ride by esure for some years due to my lazy ass not looking else where I tried that confused.com as direct line wanted a tracker installed for a quaote of 325 and ended with a nice quote from elephant.co.uk for my STD M for 350 quid fully comp, 11yrs no claims, no voluntry excess, compulsary of 75 for fire and theft and window screen cover and 100 for damage. Protected no claims for me and my dear other half who will have to sit my stringent exam before I let her drive it

but the funny thing was it was cheeper having her on the policy

I dred to think how much it would go up by with strut braces and a change of rims.

Geoff H · Post by **Geoff H** » Fri 19 Jun, 2009 13:55

My car isn't modified but Insurance company's always try it on, my insurance is due next month and I have just received the renewal notice, gone up to £304. The AA had already sent me a quote of £246 as I contacted them last year. I told my company of this quote and they bettered it, down to £245 "just for this year" which is what they told me last year when the same thing happened. "If you don't ask you don't get" is what I was told during the phone call.

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Fri 19 Jun, 2009 15:06

Alfie wrote: They can't charge you for a product that they are withdrawing and haven't yet provided.

Early cancelation charges vary from providers who can charge significant percentage of premium remainder to cancel with zero refund in some circs depending on llife remaining.

If grossly unfair ombudsman is only recourse but small print can leave little room for negotiation.

markrnorton · Post by **markrnorton** » Fri 19 Jun, 2009 15:18

Just to respond to Rob T

1) tried fluxy, they were over £600
2) it was on a classic policy, the mods excluded it from further cover

anyhow
I have now insured it through Admiral, quiet flexible with mods - £463.
Still alot, but ok for piece of mind. Plus i have future modifications in mind and they will cover it.
Admiral also cover the cost of replacing the modified items too, like for like.

stu · Post by **stu** » Fri 19 Jun, 2009 20:14

markrnorton wrote:Just to respond to Rob T

1) tried fluxy, they were over £600
2) it was on a classic policy, the mods excluded it from further cover

anyhow
I have now insured it through Admiral, quiet flexible with mods - £463.
Still alot, but ok for piece of mind. Plus i have future modifications in mind and they will cover it.
Admiral also cover the cost of replacing the modified items too, like for like.

I'm with flux and have errrr, quite a few mods and they're cheap (much less that £600. How old are you and where do you live?

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Fri 19 Jun, 2009 20:24

I fell into this trap with my Cooper S a few years back. I went for an Eisenmann cat back which set me back a whopping £875

Called the insurer First Alternative thinking the premium would go up no more than £100 and they said £500 extra please

was gutted lol.

Moral is check first before modding.

I'm wanting to get a Blufin for the 1 Series soon but I daren't call the insurers to ask what it will do to the premium

I know alot of people use a Blufin and don't tell their insurer and carry the unit around with them so if the worst happens they can load the original map back on the car. Risky Risky lol.

Tim.

Justin Time · Post by **Justin Time** » Sat 20 Jun, 2009 21:04

Having researched before purchasing the mods with my insurance provider, Admiral, new alloys and strut brace would add an extra £56 each to the insurance premium, however they are not covered by the insurance.

gookah · Post by **gookah** » Sat 20 Jun, 2009 21:12

TitanTim wrote: I know alot of people use a Blufin and don't tell their insurer and carry the unit around with them so if the worst happens they can load the original map back on the car. Risky Risky lol.

Tim.

if the worst happens? could that mean you having to do this from your stretcher before they put you in the ambulance?

Stoned@Home · Post by **Stoned@Home** » Sat 20 Jun, 2009 21:26

How would you know that a car is modded when u buy it??

Is

/ignorance a good defence

Admiral £300 fully comp for my 2000 Z3 2.0 roadster
been quoted from compare the meerkats £250 for next year

curry · Post by **curry** » Sun 21 Jun, 2009 11:13

id try adrian flux. iv had a string of modified cars and have used them for years. im 630 fc for my 2.2 z3 with my alloys declared.
im 25 with 9 points and 1 accident. 4 years no claims.
i have 3 points for a bald tyre and thats what keeps my insurance high.
my premium includes windscreen and audio cover, drive any car, a courtesy car, personal injuries protection and 250k of liability and 3rd party injury insurance and breakdown cover. Iv nearly always payed 4 figures for insurance so this seems a decent deal to me lol
I originally went to them at 23 y/o with a 2.5 gtst r33 skyline.
mods:-
17in drift alloys
bilstein coilovers
hks bov
hks mushroom
kakimoto stainless from the cat back
every other company told me not to expect a premium of under 2500 tpft
until i was 30.
adrian flux insured me f/c for 1098 with all mods declared.

tags · Post by **tags** » Sun 21 Jun, 2009 16:59

Adrian Flux on my ///M Roadster is less than 300 quid with a declared strut brace. I asked for a quote on an induction kit, i guessed at 20bhp increase (even though its only 5bhp, don't know where i got 20 from), anyway, they came back and said it would be £20 extra per year. Hopefully when i give them the real figure of 5bhp there will be no change. Ordered from evolve, just waiting now.

Tags

Z3M Jason · Post by **Z3M Jason** » Mon 22 Jun, 2009 20:56

I would recommend a specialist called A Plan 01635874646.
My policy with ALL mods covered on a like for like replacement basis was about £525 fully comp with £250 excess.

Worth a try!

mr strange · Post by **mr strange** » Fri 29 Mar, 2013 21:48

Watch out as your no claims can only be used for one vehicle at a time so if you run two or more cars you have to choose which you will apply it to. Some insurance company's wlll take it into account for your second car and offer some discount. Another clause in the insurance company's favour considering you can only drive one at a time.
Also recently chose an insurance quote because included breakdown 'membership'-every callout cost you £20 and a further £50 if car 10 years or older, so £70 each time, cheaper to join the AA or RAC, never found this out until after I received docs and cost £20 to cancel insurance and took the cheaper insurance company with no so called breakdown cover.

Bonzo · Post by **Bonzo** » Fri 29 Mar, 2013 23:24

I went for this. £214 Fully comp. 5k miles per year.. Front and butt strut no extra charge, £100 excess, rescue and legal protection inc. Europe. E.C.U. remap.. £50! (pro rata)...Will be doing this soon.

RH insurance....(They said they don't like lowered suspension though)

Bonzo.

XVar · Post by **XVar** » Thu 04 Apr, 2013 12:03

Bonzo wrote:I went for this. £214 Fully comp. 5k miles per year.. Front and butt strut no extra charge, £100 excess, rescue and legal protection inc. Europe. E.C.U. remap.. £50! (pro rata)...Will be doing this soon.

RH insurance....(They said they don't like lowered suspension though)

Bonzo.

Now that is interesting, I just bought the exact same policy from RH, for the exact same price! It seems odd to me that they don't factor age and location into it (I assume you're not 26 living in DE13) but perhaps that's just a classic insurance thing.

Zee3 · Post by **Zee3** » Sat 06 Apr, 2013 08:27

[quote="mr strange"]Watch out as your no claims can only be used for one vehicle at a time so if you run two or more cars you have to choose which you will apply it to. Some insurance company's wlll take it into account for your second car and offer some discount. Another clause in the insurance company's favour considering you can only drive one at a time.quote]

Elephant Insurance gave me 5 years NCD when I bought me second car just because they wanted my business

I've also just had my renewal for my 2.8 from Liverpool Victoria at £380. I checked to try and get a better quote on Meerkat and guess what, with Liverpool Victoria a like for like quote was coming in at £240. Phoned them up and asked why my renewal they sent me was £380, when on Meerkat with them it was £240. She said the £240 quote was a "new product" so I said could I have the new product then please, which she did and I saved myself £140.

I like Liverpool Victoria, my wife and daughter insure with them and between them they have had 4 prangs in the last 3 years and Liv Vic have been brilliant on every occasion. I'd rather stay with a decent company than go with a risky company where I may have problems

gookah · Post by **gookah** » Sat 06 Apr, 2013 11:17

XVar wrote:
Bonzo wrote:I went for this. £214 Fully comp. 5k miles per year.. Front and butt strut no extra charge, £100 excess, rescue and legal protection inc. Europe. E.C.U. remap.. £50! (pro rata)...Will be doing this soon.

RH insurance....(They said they don't like lowered suspension though)

Bonzo.
Now that is interesting, I just bought the exact same policy from RH, for the exact same price! It seems odd to me that they don't factor age and location into it (I assume you're not 26 living in DE13) but perhaps that's just a classic insurance thing.

RH just quoted £311 for my wife's Z3 on a 5000 mile policy, after all the questions were asked I mentioned they had forgotten to ask how much No-Claims Bonus she had, and they told me they neither take, nor give out proof of no claims bonus and it will be lost after two years with them.
They said they could produce a letter at renewal saying the period with them was claim free, but other companies may not take that as NCB proof and so any built up previously would be lost forever... a way of gaining repeat business I suppose.

She was with Direct Line at £590 last year, and with an extra years NCB renewal came in at £830! Confused's best price was Tesco at £470
ClassicLine insurance who do give NCB are £367... will probably go with them,

OldskoolRS · Post by **OldskoolRS** » Thu 18 Apr, 2013 13:41

I just recently renewed my 2001 3.0 Z3 with zero no claims. I have a company car (and a letter from HR stating that I've had 7 years driving with them without a claim) but many companies would only use this if I was giving up my company car. In the end found a company that would give me a decent price and don't mind it being kept on a drive (my RS2000 is in the garage), for 3000 miles at year it was £303. At least next year I'll have one year's no claims, but perhaps it's helps being a secondcar and that I'm late 40s.

I couldn't get 'Classic' insurance either since it isn't kept in a garage as per one place's rules and another just said that it wasn't old enough.

I've been toying with a remap but reading these posts regarding extra premiums it probably isn't worth it for the small gain in power.

petethepipe · Post by **petethepipe** » Thu 18 Apr, 2013 20:10

Hi all. If you have more than one car try Admiral Multicar policy. My 2.0 Z3 just cost £289.36. Fully comp, european breakdown cover, legal protection, and personal injury. Yes I did tell them about the uprated suspension so that it listed on my schedule.
This for both my wife and myself to drive. Both of us are late 40's
Other cars on policy 1.9 Vauxhall signum £326.73. Same drivers
1.6 Zetec S Fiesta in my 21 year old sons name, 3 drivers £673.54. All policies have the same breakdown and legal aid as Z3.
Try an online quote then ring them up to negotiate.
Hope this helps

gookah · Post by **gookah** » Thu 18 Apr, 2013 20:22

petethepipe wrote:Hi all. If you have more than one car try Admiral Multicar policy. My 2.0 Z3 just cost £289.36. Fully comp, european breakdown cover, legal protection, and personal injury. Yes I did tell them about the uprated suspension so that it listed on my schedule.
This for both my wife and myself to drive. Both of us are late 40's
Other cars on policy 1.9 Vauxhall signum £326.73. Same drivers
1.6 Zetec S Fiesta in my 21 year old sons name, 3 drivers £673.54. All policies have the same breakdown and legal aid as Z3.
Try an online quote then ring them up to negotiate.
Hope this helps

Went with Admiral a couple of years ago, A real bargain, until renewal time then it jumped up massively, and then of course, all my car insurances were due at the same time and always will be from now on.....

siwilson · Post by **siwilson** » Thu 18 Apr, 2013 21:52

gookah wrote:
petethepipe wrote:Hi all. If you have more than one car try Admiral Multicar policy. My 2.0 Z3 just cost £289.36. Fully comp, european breakdown cover, legal protection, and personal injury. Yes I did tell them about the uprated suspension so that it listed on my schedule.
This for both my wife and myself to drive. Both of us are late 40's
Other cars on policy 1.9 Vauxhall signum £326.73. Same drivers
1.6 Zetec S Fiesta in my 21 year old sons name, 3 drivers £673.54. All policies have the same breakdown and legal aid as Z3.
Try an online quote then ring them up to negotiate.
Hope this helps

Went with Admiral a couple of years ago, A real bargain, until renewal time then it jumped up massively, and then of course, all my car insurances were due at the same time and always will be from now on.....

Same here. Multicar BIG mistake!

Eastsix · Post by **Eastsix** » Thu 18 Apr, 2013 22:08

siwilson wrote:
gookah wrote:
petethepipe wrote:Hi all. If you have more than one car try Admiral Multicar policy. My 2.0 Z3 just cost £289.36. Fully comp, european breakdown cover, legal protection, and personal injury. Yes I did tell them about the uprated suspension so that it listed on my schedule.
This for both my wife and myself to drive. Both of us are late 40's
Other cars on policy 1.9 Vauxhall signum £326.73. Same drivers
1.6 Zetec S Fiesta in my 21 year old sons name, 3 drivers £673.54. All policies have the same breakdown and legal aid as Z3.
Try an online quote then ring them up to negotiate.
Hope this helps

Went with Admiral a couple of years ago, A real bargain, until renewal time then it jumped up massively, and then of course, all my car insurances were due at the same time and always will be from now on.....
Same here. Multicar BIG mistake!

Thats interesting, did you not put your details into the website as if for a new quote and challenge on the difference? I always do that with elephant and they always give me the website quote. Its the same company.

siwilson · Post by **siwilson** » Thu 18 Apr, 2013 22:15

The issue is that they only seem cheap the first year because you are paying part of a year. Then all your cars renew on the same day at full whack.

gookah · Post by **gookah** » Fri 19 Apr, 2013 07:57

siwilson wrote:The issue is that they only seem cheap the first year because you are paying part of a year. Then all your cars renew on the same day at full whack.

Not right in my case, I factored in that they were 'part year prices' and worked them out pro-rata for a full year, and it was still miles cheaper even based on a full year. They even confirmed the equivalent price of a year on the other cars.
However, the year after, it went up nearly double, and was actually more than I had been paying individually..
One thing was they were good prices on modifications.
I just went with ClassicLine who were again miles cheaper, than Admirals first quote.
Like all Insurers nowadays, you have to look each year as there is no loyalty discount offered anymore.

zroadster.net

A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

Re: A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

Re: A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

Re: A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

Re: A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

Re: A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

Re: A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

Re: A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

Re: A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

Re: A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

Re: A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

Re: A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

Re: A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

Re: A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!

Re: A word of warning - mods and insurance rip offs !!!!