When does maintenance and normal upgrading become a mod?

i.e. if I fitted superpro bushes instead of oem ones, is that a mod?

if I fitted a VRS front bumper, is that a mod?

obviously a remap is a mod - so when does a mod become a mod?

Any departure from stock is a mod, so yes, the uprated bushes are a mod, as is the front bumper, even if just a styling mod. Maintenance is not modding, upgrading is.

ANYTHING not to oem / factory spec is a mod.

Any departure from stock is a mod, so yes, the uprated bushes are a mod, as is the front bumper, even if just a styling mod. Maintenance is not modding, upgrading is.

ANYTHING not to oem / factory spec is a mod.

As above.

It's annoying though. You can make changes like getting better brakes, and they're that stupid they charge more for it. Even though you're making the car safer!!

Furthermore, 99% of people you speak to will have no clue what most of your mods are/do.

Incompetent industry if ever there was one!

You can make changes like getting better brakes, and they're that stupid they charge more for it. Even though you're making the car safer!!

yes, i'd agree that could be true potentially, but sadly (and rightly) the insurers see that as a conduit for you pushing your car that little bit more and driving faster... after all why would anybody want or need to upgrade thier brakes from standard if they drive sensibly? :yes:

Incompetent industry if ever there was one!

Well yes and no.. my company and most specialist insurers most certainly would NOT charge extra for a brake upgrade.

In my humble opinion, the problem lies with the customer and how their choose their insurance company, a lot of people just go with the cheapest quote possible and dont think to ask if the insurer will cater for modifications, and then moan when they get charged a high fee or are refused cover. Most UK insurers will only cater for standard UK cars, if you have a modified car or are planning on making some changes to the car, then pick your insurer wisely.

Ollie

Sky Insurance

Furthermore, 99% of people you speak to will have no clue what most of your mods are/do.

Again (and sorry to pick on you!) it is all about how wisely you choose your insurance company, choose wisely and you never know, the person on the other end of the phone may know more about modified cars than you do

yes, i'd agree that could be true potentially, but sadly (and rightly) the insurers see that as a conduit for you pushing your car that little bit more and driving faster... after all why would anybody want or need to upgrade thier brakes from standard if they drive sensibly? :yes:

On the contrary we find (and our fantastic claim statistics prove it) that people who drive modified cars are car enthusiasts, look after their cars so are therefore less likely to claim than someone in a standard car.

yes, i'd agree that could be true potentially, but sadly (and rightly) the insurers see that as a conduit for you pushing your car that little bit more and driving faster... after all why would anybody want or need to upgrade thier brakes from standard if they drive sensibly? :yes:

Vanity and looks

Well yes and no.. my company and most specialist insurers most certainly would NOT charge extra for a brake upgrade.

In my humble opinion, the problem lies with the customer and how their choose their insurance company, a lot of people just go with the cheapest quote possible and dont think to ask if the insurer will cater for modifications, and then moan when they get charged a high fee or are refused cover. Most UK insurers will only cater for standard UK cars, if you have a modified car or are planning on making some changes to the car, then pick your insurer wisely.

Ollie

Sky Insurance

@Sky

I sort of agree. Some consumers try to find a knowledgeable insurer. My wife and I have been trying to find a such a one. But, we're getting Evo prices for our Octavia.

Also, most (like yourselves) don't cover Northern Ireland. :'(

If you can make an exception, or give advice, let me know.

Also, most (like yourselves) don't cover Northern Ireland. :'(

If you can make an exception, or give advice, let me know.

Apologies about the lack of cover we provide for Northern Ireland, frustrating for me personally as I have a lot of family out there and am a frequent visitor.

Have you tried local brokers?

Ollie

Sky Insurance

Apologies about the lack of cover we provide for Northern Ireland, frustrating for me personally as I have a lot of family out there and am a frequent visitor.

Have you tried local brokers?

Ollie

Sky Insurance

Yeah, Ollie. As soon as you say "lowered, remapped, exhaust" you get, "sorry".

Waiting on Adrian Flux to get back to us with something a bit more acceptable.

I've set a maximum budget of £800 (which is shocking enough). After that, the remap will have to go, and I'll have to look at putting standard kit back on.

I'll be doing the sums on the differences, though.

Modification is anything altered from the standard base car. So factory fitted options are classed as modifications.

But how do you know what is an option and what isn't?

Edited 25 November, 201015 yr by faboka vrs

how about these, are these 'mods?

cheap seat covers which go over the standard seats

expensive seat covers which replace the original oem covers, exactly the same but different style/colour?

swapping alloys for steel wheels (for winter), do u need to tell insurance co?

oem mud flaps?

chaning the style of the wheels? (oem to another oem)

different make of tyres?

different make of brake pads/ brake discs?

changing 'yellow' bulbs to road legal 'bright white' bulbs?

chaning the oem hu to an after market or upgraded oem one?

adding a window suckion stuck-on fan powered off the cig lighter?

sun strip?

i know some companies charge an admin fee for each change.so every time you change the wheels for example it's gonna work out quite expensive.

Edited 30 November, 201015 yr by fabia55

what i don't get is, if you bought a vrs, and a non vrs and modded the non vrs with a few vrs parts, the modded car is gonna cost more to insure, might as well go for a vrs.

or if you bought a base spec car and added a few extras from a higher model which might be 1 insurance group higher.

Edited 30 November, 201015 yr by fabia55

Any departure from stock is a mod, so yes, the uprated bushes are a mod, as is the front bumper, even if just a styling mod. Maintenance is not modding, upgrading is.

ANYTHING not to oem / factory spec is a mod.

I've often wondered where the line is drawn though. What if I fit a brand of tyre that isn't an OEM supplier? No one will see that as a mod. What about pattern parts?

Modification is anything altered from the standard base car. So factory fitted options are classed as modifications.

But how do you know what is an option and what isn't?

Especially when specs change during a model's life.

Modification is anything altered from the standard base car. So factory fitted options are classed as modifications.

But how do you know what is an option and what isn't?

Not to mention what the previous owners might have had fitted...

resurrecting an old thread.....

On the basis of "anything not oem is a mod" then should we in theory inform the insurance company if we change a stereo to something supermarket?

Would be interested to hear from the site insurance sponsors on their point of view on things like stereos, bumpers spoilers etc, I.e the cosmetic only changes.

resurrecting an old thread.....

On the basis of "anything not oem is a mod" then should we in theory inform the insurance company if we change a stereo to something supermarket?

Would be interested to hear from the site insurance sponsors on their point of view on things like stereos, bumpers spoilers etc, I.e the cosmetic only changes.

I'm with most people on this one - What if I need to take a car to a garage - they diagnose faulty X Y Z, and replace them - how do I know if they are OEM parts? Do I declare them?

What if I make non mechanical (no tools required) changes myself - e.g. some people put increased visibility rear view mirrors over the original. Is this a mod? you can see a wider view of the rear (including blind spots) so have changed the ability of the original part.

I don't do many mods on my own car (yet) - but SWIMBO's is another matter - new stereo, new speakers are planned, interior - replaced door cards, etc..

With insurance company's drawing lines under everything and having it all down in black and white what can and cannot be done - I would have thought they would have to do the same to define everything that can and cannot be modded.

Surely a "mod" for insurance purposes is something which will change the statistical probability (possibility) of an accident or make the value of the vehicle more expensive to replace by the insurance company. as such anything that changes speed or acceleration is a mod, a change in wheels, brakes, suspension all alter the speed the car and or drive can drive at. Also relacement HU are mods as it will cost the insurance company more to replace.

The reality is most insurance companies I have ever dealt with consider mods to be aftermarket items anything factory fitted is not treated as a modification as it comes as part of the manufactures spec.

So, if I fitted the vrs front bumper, do we think I should tell the insurance company?

Just to be awkward,, I have an octy vrs mk 1 standard wheels but have had them re furbed. As it happens they have done them in a grey colour not the original silver!

Mod????

Would be interested to hear from the site insurance sponsors on their point of view on things like stereos, bumpers spoilers etc, I.e the cosmetic only changes.

I can only give you the 'stictly speaking answer' . All changes made to a vehicle from when it left the factory need to be declared to the insurer. If you are unsure then it is best to contact your insurer and ask.

Some changes are a bit of a grey area, eg replacement parts which are not OEM but as I say, make sure you check, ignorance will not help in the event of a claim.

Ollie

Sky Insurance

So, if I fitted the vrs front bumper, do we think I should tell the insurance company?

Yes, absolutely.

As it happens they have done them in a grey colour not the original silver!

Mod????

Yes, needs to be declared.