Thats true but unlikely MrBen. What are the chances an Insurance company chasing you for 70k for not declaring and SP50 or a set of non standrad alloys. You would have to do something really bad for that to happen. Example, I work for an Insurance company that takes a dim view on modified cars but have seen them pay out for a 10k ford focus with full bodykit, induction kit, stainless steel exhaust and 17in alloys which weren't declared. They paid the guy out for his motor but then declined to insure him, when I asked why the answer I got was too much hassle and to time consuming to persue it. The did deduct 15% from his settlement. Do you work in insuracne MrBen? The correct thing to do is declare everything and not hide anything if you want to be on the safe side, I took the chance and it paid off that time, might not in the future.
What i find amazing is the completely opposite views two Insurance professionals have! One is doing the right thing and ensuring we don't leave a single stone untouched, whereas someone else is saying you may as well try and get away without declaring mods! Do the right thing as you will find that it may come and bite you in the ass when you least expect it! Edited by: CabrioRags
Im not saying do the wrong thing, I'm pretty sure none of my posts state that and they all recommend to do the right thing and that this was only my opinion. My current insurer know everything, not a thing hidden from them. The original question was "could I get away with it?" and I expressed my feelings on that. I agree that everything should be declared but you would be suprised how many people dont declare or even realise that they have to declare it. I know no-one agrees with my posts and I wouldnt recommend trying anything I said as every insurer is differant and looks at things like this in differant ways.
So having undeclared mods or goning over your stated mileage VOIDS your insurance? So if someone has a crash, and the milage os over, they can ask you to foot the bill they payed to the third party cos you were over your stated milage? I was told they would just slap an excess on you if you claimed on your own car. I feel sorry for the guy who regularly mods his car, and then has a crash. How could he prove what he has declared on the car after an accident has passed was not on there before the accident, and that he went over his milage AFTER the accident, not before... He would be scared to declare anything soon after the accident in case they say you had it on before, or your milage has gone up before the accident, so pay us. Who has the burden of proof?
e.g, a person has a small bump with someone else. They then mod the car a week later, or go over the mileage a week later and then declare the mod/milage. Where would he stand?
Insurance wouldn't be void over mileage, just increase excess depending on how far you went over. Very rarely do insurers void someone's insurance, you would have to done something very differant to what you declared at inception of the policy.
The excess when claiming on your own car? But if you are tpft, doesn't a declared mileage mean othing then? no point to it? like a mod, or change of address etc? What details do insurers ask far that have no impact on premium? I always though being married was a pointless one. Does it count?
Mileage on TPFT: More miles you do, more likely you are to hit someone, higher mileage, higher price of insurance. If you delcare less than you do and then hit someone, they may charge you what you should have paid at the start. Mod and Change of Address, really depends on circumstances, when you moved, what mod you did etc. If you are married, your price could be less depending on insurer, my company give you a discount for it. When I worked for thr broker, they used to ask all kind of weird questions like 'are you a homeowner?', 'do you have a credit card?' etc the scenario: if the didnt have the mod at time of incident, thats fine but they should declare it as soon as they get the mod. the mileage: say the said 5000 miles per annum, had a claim 2 mths into policy and had done 4000 miles, they could query it and may charge a little extra for rest of the year. these are all generalisations, every insurer does things differant.
Cool, It's so interesting this insurnace game. Austrailia have a thing called a rego, where 3rd party insurance is automatically included with tax - so everyone with tax is covered, and easier to spot those that aren't. If you want fully comp then you go to an insurer. Sounds like a plan to me.
Funny you should say that, my mate has just returned from a year in OZ and said he could not believe the amount of Skylines being driven by 18 yr olds, even 500/600 bhp cars being driven by spotty faced gits! But he explained it was down the the reg as u said.I think thats an excellent system. In other countries like Saudi, Egypt etc, insurance is only compulsary for vehicles over 7 liter displacement!! If you have an accident, the poilce are called and the person who is deemed to be at fault there and then has to pay. They also have the easiest driving test in the world in Egypt. You have to move the car forward in a straight line for 10 meters and then come to a safe stop!! Thanks for all the info and opinions btw. I think Im gonna do a few choice internal mods and leave the rest of the car std. At the end of the day the car didnt cost me anything, Im not concerned about building up NCB as Im immigrating to the States next year so TP will do me fine. Fingers crossed! P.S. If my mum knew though she's not be best pleased as she runs a brokers.
But, by declaring you are in the Insurance Industry, you have a responsibility to give sensible advice, as people will listen to you due to your occupation. I have been working in Insurance for over 8 years, and currently run the service and claims department of a sizeable Corporate Insurance Broker, so feel I have the knowledge to advise people on here, and always give the best advice I can, just as I do in my work. Yes, there is a possibility that you can get away with not declaring mods and claiming - many people can testify to this. But the whole basis of an insurance contract is that it is based on good faith, so entering such a contract and then lying effectively makes the principle of the contract worthless. Also, although you may 'get away' with it, you also may not. Imagine you've somehow lost control and run over a bus queue - can you really see an insurer not using every possible method to reclaim the money they would end up paying out. If there is any reason that the policy should be voided they would do so. Not because Insurers are evil etc etc, but they are a business and are legally required to act fairly. If they pay a claim relating to a fraudulent policyholder, then they are not acting in the best interests of all of there other policyholders who have acted in good faith. [Stepping off soapbox now...]
This is why specialist insurance schemes for enthusiasts make sense for those of us who like to mod our cars. Bear in mind, you are usually still required to notify the Insurer of the changes though.
Very good point indeed. Thats exactly it, its a gamble. You may "get away" with it, but the worst can and does happen. If I do not manage to get a reasonable quote with everything declared then Ill just stop at the flowed head! Edited by: Phil Hall
Lol I have a mate who had done a few things to his engine and not declared it. He had a accident, not his fault. When he realised they were gonna come out and check out the car and engine bay etc, he sealed the bonnet shut by doing a bit of buckling and whatever aparently. He got a slightly smaller insurance pay out, kept the car had the bonnet removed eventually the damage fixed then still had money left over. And with the extra money he declared the mods and paid for it, and what he said when I asked him about not declaring anything "Never again"
so if my car came with vw standard windscreen wipers, which are quite crap, then i put on bosch ones which are of a better quality, this is a modification-SH!T better ring up my insurance company You get the idea, you can't declare everything it would be an endless list, declare all the important stuff, wheels, ice, bodywork, engine, sod the rest
