Admiral and Mods... any experience

Blaque · Post by **Blaque** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:02 am

OK I've had the car 8 months now, so thinking of a couple of mods. Huricane induction kit and Gear linkage/quick shift kit (as a start

).

I have Admirals multi car policy, does anyone have experience so how they would view these mods. IIRC I read that they do not pay for mods. Does this mean in the event of an accident they would just replace the damaged item with standard, or they wouldn't pay out at all.

Do I claim all mods, or do I plead ignorence and claim I bought the car like that, "All the elises I have looked at (except Sanjoy's

) have those on them, so asumed it was standard"

Cheers

jj · Post by jj » Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:17 am

My S1 had an exhaust and filter and decat, all of which came on the car and admiral didnt know about.

I was with admiral and had to make a claim (£3k+) and when the assessor came out he didnt say a thing.

Just my experience.

tenkfeet · Post by **tenkfeet** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:39 am

I have the same policy and assumed they would replace with standard items if the worst happened . The mods I have exhaust , hurricane and harnesses I have declared and do not appear to have effected the price. Having had a couple of prangs I am a firm believer in telling the insurance company everything just in case they try to weasel out of paying .

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:53 am

yup - on admiral here, and adding the mods bizarrely reduced my policy by £20! Mods declared - filter and sports zorst. They wouldn't note the decat pipe as strictly speaking its not legal.

As tenk said, always best to declare, just to prevent against the possibility of weaseling

jj · Post by jj » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:00 am

Probably worth noting that they arent as kind to 21year olds "modding" their car, which is why I didnt declare them. Not that I would say a filter and exhaust is "modded". Not sure of your age etc blaque but if it makes it no more expensive then declare.

The assessor that came out spent more time telling me how great his Touareg was than looking at my car.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:01 am

I'm with Bell, I have declared the engine mods you can see. My suspension was not upgraded it was replaced with the *ahem* new standard Lotus type 111 suspension... (Afterall we all know the S2 is an S1 in drag

)

Curiously my mods were listed as Exhaust/manifold non-standard and filters non-standard, that will be the de-cat covered then

Post by **Shug** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:08 am

Yup - insurance companies are getting worse and worse at looking for the littlest thing that would invalidate cover and get them out of paying anything in the case of a claim.

Bear in mind, your policy will state that you must declare all modifications from the homologated spec. Failure to disclose is technically insurance fraud

Legalised robbery.

Blaque · Post by **Blaque** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:50 am

Cheers for the input,

So what youre all saying is, I should give them a ring first, and see what they say before going ahead.

and jke11y *cough* 40 this month *cough*

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:59 am

Do the mods - its not like you're gonna hold back for fear of your premiums going up £40! But by all means, give them a ring to see their attitude to 'prospective' mods, but I'll venture whatever the increase in premium, you'll press on

Post by **simon** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:33 pm

The story that an insurance company will invalidate your premium because you didn't declare an exhaust is a myth AFAIK. If the offending item was proven to be a contributing factor in the cause of the accident then they could invalidate it.

What I have heard of them doing is forcing you to pay the difference had you declared it in the first place.

Saying that, I've declared all my mods.

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:40 pm

simon wrote:The story that an insurance company will invalidate your premium because you didn't declare an exhaust is a myth AFAIK.

But who's willing to take that chance?

Post by **Shug** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:41 pm

simon wrote:The story that an insurance company will invalidate your premium because you didn't declare an exhaust is a myth AFAIK. If the offending item was proven to be a contributing factor in the cause of the accident then they could invalidate it.

What I have heard of them doing is forcing you to pay the difference had you declared it in the first place.

Saying that, I've declared all my mods.

Myth or not - fancy taking the risk? What you say is definately true of manufacturer warranties, but I'd be a lot more wary of insurers...

It's pretty clearly worded that any undeclared mod can invalidate insurance in any schedule I've seen. It only takes an arsey assessor to make sure you are miles out of pocket should the unthinkable happen....

Post by **Shug** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:42 pm

Gareth wrote:
simon wrote:The story that an insurance company will invalidate your premium because you didn't declare an exhaust is a myth AFAIK.
But who's willing to take that chance?

I just agreed with G....

...I need a lie down

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:51 pm

On previous cars my mods were declared however my stage 2 exhaust isnt. Does it strictly need to be, its a Lotus part afterall. Whats to stop a dealer selling a car to an unsuspecting customer who has no idea that the stage 2 isnt the standard exhaust?

Could an insurance company void a claim on that?

Edit: and on topic Admiral = fcuking gash on mods IMO, wanted 400 extra for the tints on my CTR.

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:51 pm

Shug wrote:
Gareth wrote:
simon wrote:The story that an insurance company will invalidate your premium because you didn't declare an exhaust is a myth AFAIK.
But who's willing to take that chance?
I just agreed with G....

...I need a lie down

Eventually everyone comes round to my way of thinking...it's normal Shug