Car Insurance & Modifications

[kscpauly]

Hi everyone im just unsure about insurance on my xr6 turbo

its currently stock atm but im wanting to do some work to the engine such as a nizpro stage 1 or 2 kit

im currently with racv full comp insurance

do you have to tell the insurance company if you mod the engine??

if you dont tell them can they refuse to cover you?

any info on this would be appreciated..

[SilverG6ET]

Why not ring them and ask??? I think you'll find they will want to know about any mods. Remember, if you make a claim and haven't told them, they can deny the claim for disclosure failure. Also remember you are obliged (ie: MUST) inform them of anything which may affect their decision to accept or continue cover on the car.

If it were me, I wouldn't even contemplate it without checking with them first. If they agree, also remember to get the modifications cover IN WRITING on your policy. That way they can't say you have not informed them, if/when the crunch comes and you need to make a claim.

[Venom XR Turbo]

I got mine when I was 22, 04 fpv f6, put a Nizpro stage 2 kit on it (at the time [now up to stage 3]) and went with Just Car Insurance. I have had no problems, and with the Adjustable Excess on their policy, and with a rating one, its not very expensive for me to have a highly modded vehicle - only just over $100 more than insuring it stock.

they wont give me choice of repairer for any body/physical damage, but I dont really care coz its just a taxi shell at the end of the day so 99.9% of repairers will do a great job, and because Nizpro are 'the only shop who can get my engine running' they will let me get all power associated work done there.

Venom

[jimking19]

You can tell an insurance company your car shoots flames and has a 6" exhaust which wakes up the whole of Footscray, and they'll happily note it down on your policy. But when push comes to shove if you get into an accident and they realise those mods are illegal (I.e. not roadworthy/ too loud/ too polluting) you will be DENIED! Noting it down on the policy just tells them where to look first when they're inspector is checking over your wreck, sorry to say.

[pharkit]

There's no way they will give you the "all clear" and then turn around and then reject the claim. That's just not possible, do you know how easy it would be to take them to court over that?? Mods arent a big deal these days with insurance companies. A lot of them have lifted their game and realise they are losing way too many good paying customers to more specialised insurance companies by knocking them back. With most bolt-on mods you will have no problem with a claim.

[jimking19]

Really is a grey area I think. Can't see how easy it would be to win a court case when all insurance companies say your car and mods must be roadworthy. Even if they they have written them on the policy saying there covered I reckon the 'roadworthiness' clause would override that (legally). Can't say I've personally heard anyone being knocked back for unroadworthy mods though. I'd like to hear from someone who has (or hasn't).

[gregor]

It depends what your talking about -Assuming its noted on the policy if it was something like brakes that hadnt been engineered you could be in trouble but for a bolt on exhaust or not passing emissions standards I think you'd have a good case.

Edited 05/11/09 09:16 PM by gregor