Mod-friendly insurance companies

[markleigh]

I know there was a thread on insurance started by [MENTION=12964]Stark[/MENTION] about 18 months ago but can anyone recommend insurers that won't load policies if you have simple aftermarket mods (ie stripes, exhaust).
From that original thread Admiral comes up well. I've heard a company called Aplan recommended and also DirectLine... though they gave me a standard excess without mods of £750... (FFS!) with a clean licence / driving record. All advice welcome so I know who to approach and who not to bother with. Thanks

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[Gibbo205]

Directline were cheapest for me, but they do not like big power modifications, exhaust, intake is fine, but anything that takes power over 10% more they won't even insure.

They were £300 without mods and £410 with all modifications declared.

 

[Manders Mustang]

Really depends how you 'market' your mod to them, if you say 'Im getting an exhaust to be louder, and draw more attention to my car and drive quicker' that's gonna up their risk ratings.

Side note. Adrian Flux are meant to be quite good

 

[markleigh]

Really depends how you 'market' your mod to them,

I guess 'aesthetic' reasons won't work...

 

[Manders Mustang]

I guess 'aesthetic' reasons won't work...

Depends what you're dropping for them lol. My lights were for visibility to other users because of complains the lights were hard to see
My exhaust was to reduce back pressure on the turbo

Both cost me nothing, and I'm 21 :doh:. Have a feeling when it comes to year 2 I'm going to get wrecked.

 

[Stark]

Greenlight are another modification specialist.

I went with ESURE as they were the cheapest quote by far and were happy for me to add the exhaust on for a cost of £26.

 

[Stuart0202]

Went with Aviva as they were the cheapest for me. Told them about my catback and it increased by £5.

 

[Jimboy2]

I'm with Churchill. Zero to add exhaust and I think it was 23 quid to lower it. They really don't have a clue tho and it's all tick boxes to them.

I also noticed that most of the websites and telephone numbers are pretty much identical. I'm pretty sure the 2 advisors from 2 different companies were sat next to each other!

 

[SteveS]

I went with Aviva as our other cars are with them. The price started below £200 and barely broke that when I'd added exhaust, suspension, spacers, steering wheel, knob, emblems, LEDs. May change at renewal however as the excess is a little high (they claimed its "model specific" but not heard anyone else mention it).

As I've said before and i'll say again, the most important thing is making sure they know what you're trying to insure as the mainstream companies have no real clue about mods. Conning them into a cheap premium will come back and bite you in the ass if you have a problem. They really don't know or care about reducing back-pressure on turbos...its all about performance boosting or not ;)

 

[Manders Mustang]

I went with Aviva as our other cars are with them. The price started below £200 and barely broke that when I'd added exhaust, suspension, spacers, steering wheel, knob, emblems, LEDs. May change at renewal however as the excess is a little high (they claimed its "model specific" but not heard anyone else mention it).

As I've said before and i'll say again, the most important thing is making sure they know what you're trying to insure as the mainstream companies have no real clue about mods. Conning them into a cheap premium will come back and bite you in the ass if you have a problem. They really don't know or care about reducing back-pressure on turbos...its all about performance boosting or not ;)

No dyno tests to see whether it's a performance increase or not, to be fair, I have no clue if it has or hasn't... Wasn't bought for performance. End of the day, it's on file that it's on the car, that's all that matters, will they cover it - no, will I care, probably not in a write off. :frusty:

 

[McXtravert]

Phoned direct line for my type r spoke to a lass about insuring car with a aftermarket induction kit, price went up hugely.

Phoned back day later spoke to someone different saying I was changing out the cold air intake tube and air filter to increase air flow around the engine, price remained the same.

All in the sales pitch.

Interested to hear pitches for adding a cat-back exhaust on a GT though...

 

[SteveS]

No dyno tests to see whether it's a performance increase or not, to be fair, I have no clue if it has or hasn't... Wasn't bought for performance. End of the day, it's on file that it's on the car, that's all that matters, will they cover it - no, will I care, probably not in a write off. :frusty:

Sorry, wasn't suggesting your reasons were the con; it was actually more my experience with a variety of clueless agents. First time I phoned and gave them a list of everything I was going to do and they gave me a great quote of £164, with "everything on". Only they didn't actually add any of the mods. I could have left it at that but wasn't comfortable knowing they'd f*cked up and would try to wriggle out of paying any future claims despite their mistake. I know calls are recorded (and I had a letter) but who needs the hassle. Only cost another 30-odd to do it properly.

Phoned direct line for my type r spoke to a lass about insuring car with a aftermarket induction kit, price went up hugely.

Phoned back day later spoke to someone different saying I was changing out the cold air intake tube and air filter to increase air flow around the engine, price remained the same.

All in the sales pitch.

Interested to hear pitches for adding a cat-back exhaust on a GT though...

Direct Line don't cover wheel spacers they told me, yet others have them and are covered by DL, so it definitely depends on how you explain it.
For my catback I just told them it was purely for the sound and looks, no performance upgrade (although I think I remember SteveP suggesting it might add 12bhp...).

 

[DaBigGinger]

One of my toys is a heavily modified car and is insured with Herts Insurance Consultants (also known as HIC). There's a company out there called Brentacre IIRC who are also supposed to be very competitive.

 

[Harley103]

My cheapest non modded quote came from AXA. They state that they do not consider "stainless steel exhausts" as a mod, as long as you inform them in the drop down box about them. No price increase. Don't know about the other mods though

 

[Symone]

Insurance

One of my toys is a heavily modified car and is insured with Herts Insurance Consultants (also known as HIC). There's a company out there called Brentacre IIRC who are also supposed to be very competitive.

I use brentacre for mustang they insure all mods and specialise in hot rods and American I only pay £320 fully comp for my 2015 V6 mustang

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