Insuring a modified car

jozi

I've been calling around for insurance but after being refused by Axa, FBD First Ireland and Carol Nash (who might insure me if I had a main car + 2nd) I kinda gave up.

Car is a 1990 BMW 3 series, it's pretty much the coilovers and engine that they don't like to hear about. I can't be the only one in the country who's got a different engine and coilovers in their car (declared), so who are you insured with?

I've considered a 2nd car if it means I can get insured on the BMW, might be possible on a classic policy.

pippip

Your best bet

http://www.xsdirect.ie/

Sobanek

pippip wrote: »

Your best bet

http://www.xsdirect.ie/

Not anymore - they're rubbish now as quoteme.ie bought them afaik.
It's a broker, not an insurer now.

djimi

Liberty maybe? They seem to be a bit more open to "unusual" cars than the other main insurers.

Mycroft H

Try Britton Insurance.


Your pretty much not going to get anything from the main insurers; it's a 24 year old car, most insurers wont insure anything on a new policy at 20 and sometimes at 15. Classic may have to be an option.

hi5

Topquote.ie advertise modified car insurance

http://topquote.ie/modified-car-insurance/

dar83

Topquote is the only one I've found that actually pushes itself for modified car insurance.

In saying that, I've not ever dealt with them so who knows.

Mycroft H

But if you look at the assumptions; they don't insure something older than 20 and anything with a modified engine.

jpb14

jozi wrote: »

I've been calling around for insurance but after being refused by Axa, FBD First Ireland and Carol Nash (who might insure me if I had a main car + 2nd) I kinda gave up.

Car is a 1990 BMW 3 series, it's pretty much the coilovers and engine that they don't like to hear about. I can't be the only one in the country who's got a different engine and coilovers in their car (declared), so who are you insured with?

I've considered a 2nd car if it means I can get insured on the BMW, might be possible on a classic policy.

Give John Power Insurance Services in Limerick a call.
Hes a bit of a legend with insuring the modified car young boys and also with car traders.

dar83

Mycroft H wrote: »

But if you look at the assumptions; they don't insure something older than 20 and anything with a modified engine.

I'm guessing that's for the online quotes though. They do say to call for the Modified stuff don't they?

CiniO

We have a 01 Fiat Bravo, which I modified a bit few years back (eibach springs + strut brace). It's registered and insured in aviva on my wife's name, so she gave them a ring, and they accepted it no problem - just increased a premium by 15%.

dar83

CiniO wrote: »

We have a 01 Fiat Bravo, which I modified a bit few years back (eibach springs + strut brace). It's registered and insured in aviva on my wife's name, so she gave them a ring, and they accepted it no problem - just increased a premium by 15%.

Yeah, things get interesting when you start talking Intercooler/Exhaust/Induction...

And when I say interesting, I mean declined!

TestTransmission

jpb14 wrote: »

Give John Power Insurance Services in Limerick a call.
Hes a bit of a legend with insuring the modified car young boys and also with car traders.

These guys are pretty good, best advice is to ring some brokers.

jayok

Is it not the case that you have to get an "Engineers Report" for the modifications? When you do, you submit to the insurer who assesses the risk impact of these mods and then provides a premium accordingly?

I'm with One Direct (broker for Aviva) who had no issue doing this for me.... (at the time)

Supergurrier

Haha 1900 with 600 voluntary excess at 31 7 years ncb and no points on a full licence car kept on private land.

That's just on a standard car. What a joke

jimgoose

Supergurrier wrote: »

Haha 1900 with 600 voluntary excess at 31 7 years ncb and no points on a full licence car kept on private land.

That's just on a standard car. What a joke

Good Cheeses - what is it, a new Bentley??

dar83

Who was that with Jim?

Supergurrier

dar83 wrote: »

Who was that with Jim?

That was the highest of three quotes ang1 was what it came under.

Lowest was 700 but still

dar83

what site though? Topquote?

YbFocus

What mods gave been carried out on it?
You may never get a quote.
Perfect car to cage and do trackways with though
Just a thought if it doesn't work out.

Supergurrier

dar83 wrote: »

what site though? Topquote?

Yup

Chimaera

I've had my car chipped for a few years and Glennon's had no problem covering it once I provided the dyno printout to them. This is not one you're going to get done online, it'll mean phoning around, and quite probably getting an engineer's report.

Most insurers won't touch modified cars because they have to do the risk rating from scratch rather than looking it up in a table and it's more effort for them. If you can show how the modifications result in performance/behaviour similar to another model in their database, it's a bit easier.

Supergurrier

^^

True that.

Its so much easier the way they do it in the UK

jozi

Lots of replies, I'll try some of them in the morning.

YbFocus wrote: »

What mods gave been carried out on it?
You may never get a quote.
Perfect car to cage and do trackways with though
Just a thought if it doesn't work out.

I don't think it will be caged and tracked, ever :eek: to much money spent on it which is why I also want it insured properly.

It's pretty much a 1990 3series touring with most factory optional extras added, engine from a e36 (2.8, common enough swap), BC coils, split rims and that kinda the gist of it really. Brakes have uprated pads, new discs, new hardlines and braided hoses, will be adding 4pots at some point when I can afford it.

I can kinda see how people with an engine swap and coilovers are a higher "risk" but I honestly think I'm prob more the opposite. I've put so much time, effort and money in to this the last thing I'll be doing is putting myself into situations where I can cause an accident, I'll prob be afraid to drive it once it's on the road

jozi

Chimaera wrote: »

I've had my car chipped for a few years and Glennon's had no problem covering it once I provided the dyno printout to them. This is not one you're going to get done online, it'll mean phoning around, and quite probably getting an engineer's report.

Most insurers won't touch modified cars because they have to do the risk rating from scratch rather than looking it up in a table and it's more effort for them. If you can show how the modifications result in performance/behaviour similar to another model in their database, it's a bit easier.

I might try going at it from that angle cause as soon as i mention modification they think honda civic (no joke, I've been ask if it was a civic I had before telling her it was bmw).

It's not chipped, yet, have cams for the engine also

dar83

There is a serious hole in the market over here for a modifications friendly insurer, which is a shame.

Supergurrier

dar83 wrote: »

There is a serious hole in the market over here for a modifications friendly insurer, which is a shame.

You would thing in our EU open market getting insurance through a UK company would be possible.

Greyfoot

Schrick cams or something more adventurous route?

For insurance you better keep ringing everyone till you get the response: diffing much?

lomb

Liberty should insure you. On their website you can select mods after the quote. Ie standard assumptions, then go to buy it and you tick box for mods.
I got insured through a broker in Wexford (no idea who I can check ) and my car is insured by a syndicate of LLoyds in the UK. Axa, FBD, 123 , Allianz all declined. I was seriously thinking of unmodding it.
Liberty were coming up with 1200 and I got it for 700 with the broker. It was 550 before with 123 but they decline mod insurance so I had to walk. (Lowered, bodykit, alloys, audio) Nothing major though. When seeking I paid for a letter from Audi main dealer listing the mods and they had checked them and they were secure also had a recent NCT cert.
I also have full no claims, clean license and am mid thirties and was still declined mostly.
I will say coilovers are not liked at all and you may need to come back onto springs.

dgt

CiniO wrote: »

We have a 01 Fiat Bravo, which I modified a bit few years back (eibach springs + strut brace). It's registered and insured in aviva on my wife's name, so she gave them a ring, and they accepted it no problem - just increased a premium by 15%.

Yet my 00 Bravo had coilovers, 17's, bigger arb's, few bits on the engine etc was grand and the insurance was still reasonable ie it didn't go up much. It may have helped it was a van though

jozi

Greyfoot wrote: »

Schrick cams or something more adventurous route?

For insurance you better keep ringing everyone till you get the response: diffing much?

S52 cams from a us m3, the one that hasn't got the real motorsport S## engine

There won't be any diffing done, but I guess thats the catagory I'm put in to.

dar83 wrote: »

There is a serious hole in the market over here for a modifications friendly insurer, which is a shame.

Want to start an insurance company

lomb wrote: »

Liberty should insure you. On their website you can select mods after the quote. Ie standard assumptions, then go to buy it and you tick box for mods.
I got insured through a broker in Wexford (no idea who I can check ) and my car is insured by a syndicate of LLoyds in the UK.
Liberty were coming up with 1200 and I got it for 700 with them. It was 550 before with 123 but they decline mod insurance so I had to walk. (Lowered, bodykit, alloys, audio) Nothing major though. When seeking I paid for a letter from Audi main dealer listing the mods and they had checked them and they were secure also had a recent NCT cert.
I will say coilovers are not liked at all and you may need to come back onto springs.

I'll give them a call tomorrow. I'd forgotten about audio (not done yet), it also hasa tec2 kit but thats a bmw item.

I got rid of springs to go coils because they give me more flexibility in damping and ride height (which won't be crazy low anyway) and obviously springs are much cheaper for them.

Did someone mention trying to insure a group of people or did I read it somewhere that you might get a policy for a whole group?

Supergurrier

lomb wrote: »

Liberty should insure you. On their website you can select mods after the quote. Ie standard assumptions, then go to buy it and you tick box for mods.
I got insured through a broker in Wexford (no idea who I can check ) and my car is insured by a syndicate of LLoyds in the UK. Axa, FBD, 123 , Allianz all declined. I was seriously thinking of unmodding it.
Liberty were coming up with 1200 and I got it for 700 with the broker. It was 550 before with 123 but they decline mod insurance so I had to walk. (Lowered, bodykit, alloys, audio) Nothing major though. When seeking I paid for a letter from Audi main dealer listing the mods and they had checked them and they were secure also had a recent NCT cert.
I also have full no claims, clean license and am mid thirties and was still declined mostly.
I will say coilovers are not liked at all and you may need to come back onto springs.

Im pretty much where you were last year.

Full 3" Exhaust system
Bigger FMIC
Remapped
Some suspension mods and other smaller stuff etc

jozi

I'll have to call Liberty, they wont online quote older than 94

dgt

jozi wrote: »

I'll have to call Liberty, they wont online quote older than 94

They don't insure cars over 20 years old

jozi

Well that sux And it's probably in better condition than some 10yr old cars with everything being renewed or refurbished

s14driftking

Had the same trouble yrs ago trying to insure modded cars then the sickener was when I was 6 months into my policy and they woundnt let me change to another car I had bought no matter what I did, reason was I had bought to many cars and did to much swapping and changing, ended up going with a trade policy that ended up cheaper than insuring one car singly and have it since, insured to drive any car on the road and anything that's parked in my yard is also insured while not being driven, only catch is mates cant drive my as theyre not covered.
Pm if u want the name of the insurance group im with.

dar83

lomb wrote: »

Liberty should insure you. On their website you can select mods after the quote. Ie standard assumptions, then go to buy it and you tick box for mods.
I got insured through a broker in Wexford (no idea who I can check ) and my car is insured by a syndicate of LLoyds in the UK. Axa, FBD, 123 , Allianz all declined. I was seriously thinking of unmodding it.
Liberty were coming up with 1200 and I got it for 700 with the broker. It was 550 before with 123 but they decline mod insurance so I had to walk. (Lowered, bodykit, alloys, audio) Nothing major though. When seeking I paid for a letter from Audi main dealer listing the mods and they had checked them and they were secure also had a recent NCT cert.
I also have full no claims, clean license and am mid thirties and was still declined mostly.
I will say coilovers are not liked at all and you may need to come back onto springs.

Any chance you could PM that brokers name? Cheers.

CoDy1

dar83 wrote: »

There is a serious hole in the market over here for a modifications friendly insurer, which is a shame.

Absolutely, I work in the industry and its pretty impossible to get quotes within the Irish market. Cosmetic modifications, bodykits, alloys, etc aren't a problem even including big exhausts but if you go near the engine and don't declare you are paying a premium for a worthless policy.

lomb

dar83 wrote: »

Any chance you could PM that brokers name? Cheers.

Heya its Doyle Mahon in Wexford. Don't approach them without scanned copies of NCTs and a main dealer report on mods though ready to email as youll be pissing into the wind. What I did was neatly type out a list of mods and that they were well fitted and paid Audi 100 euros to have a look and stamp it. I also denied any engine mods to the best of my knowledge in it in case a previous owner remapped it. So that would cover me if cover later declined if it turned out the case.

jozi

Tried Doyle Mahon yesterday and no luck with them. Haven't had the chance to call other places as they are either closed for lunch or finish work before I do and been to busy since starting a new job.

Same story though, think it's going to be impossible to get a quote from anyone or even insurance, they just dont want to hear about the engine swap or coilovers :mad:

Mycroft H

jozi wrote: »

Tried Doyle Mahon yesterday and no luck with them. Haven't had the chance to call other places as they are either closed for lunch or finish work before I do and been to busy since starting a new job.

Same story though, think it's going to be impossible to get a quote from anyone or even insurance, they just dont want to hear about the engine swap or coilovers :mad:

Has it been certified by an engineer? Might have more luck with one. Have you tried a classic policy?

thecomedian

So does any company actually insure a car with a modified engine, even with a map or a turbo changed?

jozi

Not certified, yet, car is still being put together but I will be looking to get it done once it's finished.