This thread should help you make your declare or not decision.

http://briskoda.net/forums/off-topic-chit-chat/bail/113784/

If it doesn't I for one am quite happy to shop anyone who was to drive with undeclared modifications if I found out who they were insured with.

I know this sounds harsh, but an uninsured driver near as damn killed me, I've had friends scared for life in accidents caused by them and I have not a second for them saving a few quid.

Most people who pay insurance may not say it, but from speaking with a few insurance people I know there is plenty of shopping going on. Some companies even offer a reward if you help them uncover insurance fraud.

Most insurance companys will read your ECU to make sure it wasnt a failure of the car which caused you to crash, or jst to get out of an insurance pay out.

Its very rare for them not to check, but some people are lucky.

I would tell your insurance company... you wouldnt want to risk not being insured and having a huge bill on your hands, as they wont pay for any damage you do to anyone else either, so you will have to pay for it all.

NOT GOOD.

Most insurance companys will read your ECU to make sure it wasnt a failure of the car which caused you to crash, or jst to get out of an insurance pay out.

Its very rare for them not to check, but some people are lucky.

I would tell your insurance company... you wouldnt want to risk not being insured and having a huge bill on your hands, as they wont pay for any damage you do to anyone else either, so you will have to pay for it all.

NOT GOOD.

IIRC if you have voided your insurance, they tend to pay out to the third party, then sue the cr*p out of you so you pay them it back.

IIRC if you have voided your insurance, they tend to pay out to the third party, then sue the cr*p out of you so you pay them it back.

And don't forget, driving without valid insurance is also a criminal offence...

So what classes as a mod?

Aftermarket pads i.e not performance enhancing, Little stickers on the car, bigger tyres than standard...The list of little mods that they could get you on is endless.

Insurance is a nightmare and its quite worrying, not knowing if your car is insured fully.

And don't forget, driving without valid insurance is also a criminal offence...

Yes, there is that too and if it's a cert, then the police like to make their figures look good

So what classes as a mod?

Aftermarket pads i.e not performance enhancing, Little stickers on the car, bigger tyres than standard...The list of little mods that they could get you on is endless.

Insurance is a nightmare and its quite worrying, not knowing if your car is insured fully.

I can confirm that after market pads that are not to OEM spec are considered a mod. I went to the insurance co and underwriters. IIRC I was told they will almost certainly be a zero cost option as long as they are as good or better than OEM spec and meet the EU approval regs.

So my reading of that is that buying OEM equivalent parts you would be fine and not need to declare.

Either way, if you tell them where your car deviates from standard and it's zero cost it's not an issue should you ever need to use the insurance.

IIRC sticking VRS badges and spoler etc on a non-VRS car can actually up the premium as it makes it more of a target to be nicked as they think they are nicking a VRS. I'd guess that depends on a lot of factors, but if they could use that to stop the 316i M3's that would be great

So what classes as a mod?

Aftermarket pads i.e not performance enhancing, Little stickers on the car, bigger tyres than standard...The list of little mods that they could get you on is endless.

Insurance is a nightmare and its quite worrying, not knowing if your car is insured fully.

In general, unless it's on the standard spec list, you are supposed to declare it (i.e. even factory-fit options), although whenever signing up with a new company, they've never been bothered about my CD changer or my cupholders. Did have a bit of fun trying to declare my new brakes, though - I've already told the story on here before, but it basically involves the girl on the other end of the phone not understanding how more powerful brakes wouldn't affect the brake horsepower of my car!

I do know sone people, however, who wouldn't declare something like uprated pads if they were the same size as the ones they were replacing, on the grounds that something like that is a consumable, so where do you draw the line? Not putting in super unleaded? It's a bit of a minefield, and as has already been pointed out, if your insurer can find a way to avoid paying out, they will...