Car Insurance Question

[skygod]

You know when you are applying for car insurance, there is the question of any modifications. How radically does this affect the quote, (say just alloy wheels) or (having had the front end lowered 4 inches and alloys). Does it wack the price up a huge amount? Does it affect if you're going just for 3rd party? If it wacks the price up loads what happens if you pretend you've had no mods when say you've got alloys etc. does that void the insurance so that if you had a crash and wrecked someones 80 grand porsche you'd have to pay the 80k for their new porsche or just lose anything on paying for your car or what?

Cheers people.

[TheBoyWonder]

The amount by which your insurance premium would increase depends on your circumstances, usually around 15%. Some companies only allow 6 modifications. As far as not declaring modifications is concerned, whilst many people do it, and get away with it, it is illegal, and will make any insurance void. In other words, driving with no insurance, so the said porsche driver may persue his costs from you, through the courts. Should you be puled over by the police, a check will be made on your car, and will show whether any modifications have been declared. If it is obvious, then the officer will pick up on it, but if it is subtle, then they may not notice it, for example, subtle lowering, or standard looking alloys.

Best thing is to be honest, but I understand that insurance is pricey, I'm 18 and drive an MR2!!

Hope this helps mate.

[paulco]

I remeber reading an article, back in the 80's, about a guy who had an accident and when he claimed the insurance company refused to pay up. The reason? He had put an aftermarket coach strip down the side of his car!!

This was a genuine article in one of the car magszines. It went on to say that even if you change the stereo you should inform your insurance company.

So where would this put all the boy racer's with big thumping sound systems!!

[tali122]

never heard of police checking up on declared (or otherwise) modifications

as a rule of thumb modifications will bump up your premium -but its a grey area for example you may have bought a car modified by its previous owner with say non standard alloys- many owners would not be aware of that

[steffomini]

I have a non-standard exhaust on my Rover Mini and the premium is about �60 extra

[qapmoc]

With insurance (not just car) you should allways assume that if the company can find the smallest reason to get out of paying you or worse the other party they will, so why give them the chance, just tell them everything and make sure that they can't weasel out of their side of the deal.

[spaced]

if you insure your car and it has alloys for example, but you tell the insurers it does not, if the car is stolen you wont be able to claim back for the extrta cost of the alloys. If a car comes as standard with alloys, this usually does not affect the premium. Honesty is the best policy.

[tali122]

in some cases when a car is stolen failiure to disclose alloys may result in complete refusal to pay anything for the car itself even