Anybody see the MCN this week about the possibility of your insurance being null and void if you have any undeclared mods. Dunno about you but I got the usual belly pan, end cans, indicators & braided hoses not to mention Sportmax tyres and Fireblade wheels.
Has anybody spoken to their Broker and declared everything-how much did it go up if at all?
Undeclared Mods!!!!!!!!
Nice to see MCN has its finger on the pulse again
15 years ago my m8 had his insurance company try and wisely out of a clamed leaving him uninsured for having a stainless steel exhaust on his classic car even though it was to the original pattern
Any non OME parts on your bike will null your insurance so declare them people. Unless you have increased the performance of the bike it shouldn’t cost too much and it’s cheaper than the up to nine points on your licence for no insurance.
Hummm note to self next time I see that Vauxhall corsa with the silly spoilers and 9†exhaust turn round and ride the other way because you can bet they haven’t been declared
Almost forgot Caroline Nash declared belly pan, s/s hoses, high level pipes no extra charge result
15 years ago my m8 had his insurance company try and wisely out of a clamed leaving him uninsured for having a stainless steel exhaust on his classic car even though it was to the original pattern
Any non OME parts on your bike will null your insurance so declare them people. Unless you have increased the performance of the bike it shouldn’t cost too much and it’s cheaper than the up to nine points on your licence for no insurance.
Hummm note to self next time I see that Vauxhall corsa with the silly spoilers and 9†exhaust turn round and ride the other way because you can bet they haven’t been declared
Almost forgot Caroline Nash declared belly pan, s/s hoses, high level pipes no extra charge result
.)
This has always been the case. Your policy details will even say in it.
99% of insurers are fine with things like exhausts and bellypans etc and if you dont tell them, not onyl can they technically not pay out, but even if they do, they wont pay out on any extra bits you have. Which can suck if you have an exhaust system and a nice shock, thats a grand gone...
Tell them.
They'll only be putting your premium up if you have proper tuning work, and even then it probably wont go up.
Whats worth more? The literally few quid a year it might up your premium or the hundreds of thousands you'll be paying if your insurance is declared void in an accident?
99% of insurers are fine with things like exhausts and bellypans etc and if you dont tell them, not onyl can they technically not pay out, but even if they do, they wont pay out on any extra bits you have. Which can suck if you have an exhaust system and a nice shock, thats a grand gone...
Tell them.
They'll only be putting your premium up if you have proper tuning work, and even then it probably wont go up.
Whats worth more? The literally few quid a year it might up your premium or the hundreds of thousands you'll be paying if your insurance is declared void in an accident?
Agreed!Kitch wrote:This has always been the case. Your policy details will even say in it.
99% of insurers are fine with things like exhausts and bellypans etc and if you dont tell them, not onyl can they technically not pay out, but even if they do, they wont pay out on any extra bits you have. Which can suck if you have an exhaust system and a nice shock, thats a grand gone...
Tell them.
They'll only be putting your premium up if you have proper tuning work, and even then it probably wont go up.
Whats worth more? The literally few quid a year it might up your premium or the hundreds of thousands you'll be paying if your insurance is declared void in an accident?
I see myself as a sensitive intelligent man but with the heart of a clown that causes me to **ck things up right at that crucial moment........'Jim Morrison'
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Mad Ax
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2007 3:10 pm
- Location: Lurking among the gothic shadows of Bath
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E-bike are very good with mods - the only insurance company I've ever known where mods can be declared on-line and a quote be given instantly, without having to wait for call-backs.
I'm also amazed (since I've owned bikes) how much cheaper it is to declare modifications. My old bike was a heavily modded GSXR 750 ratfighter, and even with all mods declared the premium was almost unchanged.
When I was in the modded car scene, modifications made a huge difference to premiums. Adding a subtle bodykit to a basic Ford Orion put the premium up by 75%; little things like performance exhaust, air filter, fuel pressure regulator etc. came around 35%. Just another way for insurance companies to extract more money from road users for no extra service - because most insurance policies are on a "standard for modified" basis - i.e. if you declare your lovely titanium exhaust system and then drop the bike, they will only pay the value to replace it with a standard system - EVEN THOUGH YOU PAID EXTRA to insure it with the aftermarket system and EVEN THOUGH it made no difference to your likelihood of crashing.
I think there's a bit of scaremongering in the argument, tho. I have heard (from someone who works in insurance) that the insurance company can only legally refuse to pay out on a claim if they can prove that the undeclared modifications were a contributing factor in causing the claim.
e.g. if you've bored out your engine, fitted a turbo, nitrous, jet motor and liquid schwarz injection and then you flip the bike on the highway with no other cars involved, then they probably have a strong case against paying out.
However, if you fit heated grips and a gear indicator and you're knocked off by someone pulling out in front of you, they probably can't wriggle out of it. But that doesn't mean they won't try...
I'm also amazed (since I've owned bikes) how much cheaper it is to declare modifications. My old bike was a heavily modded GSXR 750 ratfighter, and even with all mods declared the premium was almost unchanged.
When I was in the modded car scene, modifications made a huge difference to premiums. Adding a subtle bodykit to a basic Ford Orion put the premium up by 75%; little things like performance exhaust, air filter, fuel pressure regulator etc. came around 35%. Just another way for insurance companies to extract more money from road users for no extra service - because most insurance policies are on a "standard for modified" basis - i.e. if you declare your lovely titanium exhaust system and then drop the bike, they will only pay the value to replace it with a standard system - EVEN THOUGH YOU PAID EXTRA to insure it with the aftermarket system and EVEN THOUGH it made no difference to your likelihood of crashing.
I think there's a bit of scaremongering in the argument, tho. I have heard (from someone who works in insurance) that the insurance company can only legally refuse to pay out on a claim if they can prove that the undeclared modifications were a contributing factor in causing the claim.
e.g. if you've bored out your engine, fitted a turbo, nitrous, jet motor and liquid schwarz injection and then you flip the bike on the highway with no other cars involved, then they probably have a strong case against paying out.
However, if you fit heated grips and a gear indicator and you're knocked off by someone pulling out in front of you, they probably can't wriggle out of it. But that doesn't mean they won't try...
"Years of delivering pizzas has taught him to drive like this"
--Sheriff John Bunnell, ret'd
--Sheriff John Bunnell, ret'd
Hi level cans, BMC air filter and lower fairings £25 extra (twenty for admin costs!!!) so all in all a £5. Done now so they better pay up if I slide doon the black stuff!
I see myself as a sensitive intelligent man but with the heart of a clown that causes me to **ck things up right at that crucial moment........'Jim Morrison'
Have spoken to my insurance company (NIG) about my mods and they said that the belly pan wouldn't affect my premium. However, they won't entertain the end cans, the braided brake lines or the fireblade wheels!!
I either have to take them off, get insured elsewhere or take a chance. Its a shame as the premium was only £94 a year fully comp with max 4000 annual miles.
Back to the drawing board I guess.
I either have to take them off, get insured elsewhere or take a chance. Its a shame as the premium was only £94 a year fully comp with max 4000 annual miles.
Back to the drawing board I guess.
I'm 43, had 3 years continuous riding experience (thou had bikes off and on for 25 years) but only 2 years ncb.
No one seems to wanna touch ya if modified even though I cold argue that some of the mods have improved the bike, i.e braided brake lines.
Now debating whether to return bike to standard 9wot a p**ser!)
No one seems to wanna touch ya if modified even though I cold argue that some of the mods have improved the bike, i.e braided brake lines.
Now debating whether to return bike to standard 9wot a p**ser!)
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LotusSevenMan
- Posts: 1915
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:32 pm
- Location: Liss, Hampshire. UK
Crazy when braided brake lines are better than std. I thought it was only performance enhancing parts that would upset the insurance Co's but obviously not.
My Caterham Se7en car insurance has just come through and even though it differs from std with uprated brakes, 100bhp more than std, throttle bodies, programmable mapped ecu, etc it added...................7 quid to the cost!!!!!!!!
My Caterham Se7en car insurance has just come through and even though it differs from std with uprated brakes, 100bhp more than std, throttle bodies, programmable mapped ecu, etc it added...................7 quid to the cost!!!!!!!!
"Only ride as fast as your guardian angel can fly" !!!
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RedStormV
- Posts: 1372
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:41 pm
- Location: West Yorks (Bronte Country) - Home of the Negro Lesbian Cornet Players
- Contact:
Ok I've held out long enough now, I've weakened and am gonna have to stick my oar in!
That's interesting Simon, who you with?
Perhaps a post on here Insurance Addys berating the miserable gets will help ease the pain.
It's all well and good the insurance companies boosting (or not) the premiums for mods that are performance enhancing, if by performance enhancing, they mean faster!
Performance enhancing encompasses a wide range of things which also make the bikes safer eg upgraded brakes and or hoses, stickier tyres.
OK it could be argued that these 'enable' you to go quicker cos they're used to stop you quicker. However, if they stop you quicker (brakes) then you're theoretically less likely to make a claim as you'll theoretically stop before hitting the tw@ that pulls out in front of you! Where as with 'standard' equipment you'd theoretically get a free flying lesson.
Someone ought to explain to insurance companies that performance enhancing doesn't necessarily mean faster! Better handling = safer bike IMO If you choose to go faster as a result of it then that's personal choice.
If you're involved in an accident and the police are involved, they determine who's to blame or 50/50, if there's a case to answer, and if speed, weather, road conditions and a host of other things are relevant.
Therefore insurers should reduce your premiums for some mods (saftey) and conversely increase them for others if at all! (preferably not at all).
Quite a few serious and expensive performance enhancing mods would not be visible before during or after an accident, unless the engine was stripped down and vernier (blueprint) checked by an engineer. eg racing cams, altered ports, re-bores, jets etc etc.
Although I'm sure this has happened in some cases, I would imagine it's only likely to happen if unfortunately a fatality has occurred, in which case, if you're the fatality, you're not likely to give a sh1t.
OK fitting and using a nitrous kit is extreme but if not being used at time of an accident then should have no bearing on the validity of the claim or the policy.
Should things like heated grips need to be notified? I think not.
Again theoretically - any change from manufacturers spec is a mod - Honda recommended tyres replaced by BT's or Pilots is a mod - K&N air / oil filter or any other 'non Honda' part is a mod!
Some insurance companies offer reduced premiums for MAG members Well Whoopee Sh1t for them! I say, last time I checked, the reduction was approx the same as the cost of membership! (I'm not decrying MAG or its members BTW ).
How does that work then? Being a member of MAG makes you less likely to have an accident? I very much doubt it!!!!
The only one I've heard of that reduces your premiums with most insurers that doesn't cost you an annual membership fee etc is doing an advanced riding course, which stays with you and reduces your premiums year after year even if it's only by a few quid.
I don't think anyone's mentioned 'nickability' yet. If you've covered your bike in CF parts, Ohlins dampers and lots of nice shiny 'bling' bits then it's bound to be more attractive to the b@astard theiving C you Next Tuesday's out there - So I can see a reasoning for an increased premium perhaps...
Having said that, I was insuring Hornet 600 couple of years ago and even though it's got a dogs doo dahs alarm system on it (fitted by previous owner) - because the model number of the system wasn't on the insurers 'long out of date' list, it wasn't able to contribiute to reducing the premium!
The girl at the time said it wouldn't make much difference, if at all, even if it had been on their list!
Neither did the £200+ of disc lock, padlock and chain!
OK I think that's covered it - for now at least!
I stand to be corrected - & welcome it.
Rant over
Graeme.
*
That's interesting Simon, who you with?
Perhaps a post on here Insurance Addys berating the miserable gets will help ease the pain.
It's all well and good the insurance companies boosting (or not) the premiums for mods that are performance enhancing, if by performance enhancing, they mean faster!
Performance enhancing encompasses a wide range of things which also make the bikes safer eg upgraded brakes and or hoses, stickier tyres.
OK it could be argued that these 'enable' you to go quicker cos they're used to stop you quicker. However, if they stop you quicker (brakes) then you're theoretically less likely to make a claim as you'll theoretically stop before hitting the tw@ that pulls out in front of you! Where as with 'standard' equipment you'd theoretically get a free flying lesson.
Someone ought to explain to insurance companies that performance enhancing doesn't necessarily mean faster! Better handling = safer bike IMO If you choose to go faster as a result of it then that's personal choice.
If you're involved in an accident and the police are involved, they determine who's to blame or 50/50, if there's a case to answer, and if speed, weather, road conditions and a host of other things are relevant.
Therefore insurers should reduce your premiums for some mods (saftey) and conversely increase them for others if at all! (preferably not at all).
Quite a few serious and expensive performance enhancing mods would not be visible before during or after an accident, unless the engine was stripped down and vernier (blueprint) checked by an engineer. eg racing cams, altered ports, re-bores, jets etc etc.
Although I'm sure this has happened in some cases, I would imagine it's only likely to happen if unfortunately a fatality has occurred, in which case, if you're the fatality, you're not likely to give a sh1t.
OK fitting and using a nitrous kit is extreme but if not being used at time of an accident then should have no bearing on the validity of the claim or the policy.
Should things like heated grips need to be notified? I think not.
Again theoretically - any change from manufacturers spec is a mod - Honda recommended tyres replaced by BT's or Pilots is a mod - K&N air / oil filter or any other 'non Honda' part is a mod!
Some insurance companies offer reduced premiums for MAG members Well Whoopee Sh1t for them! I say, last time I checked, the reduction was approx the same as the cost of membership! (I'm not decrying MAG or its members BTW
). How does that work then? Being a member of MAG makes you less likely to have an accident? I very much doubt it!!!!
The only one I've heard of that reduces your premiums with most insurers that doesn't cost you an annual membership fee etc is doing an advanced riding course, which stays with you and reduces your premiums year after year even if it's only by a few quid.
I don't think anyone's mentioned 'nickability' yet. If you've covered your bike in CF parts, Ohlins dampers and lots of nice shiny 'bling' bits then it's bound to be more attractive to the b@astard theiving C you Next Tuesday's out there - So I can see a reasoning for an increased premium perhaps...
Having said that, I was insuring Hornet 600 couple of years ago and even though it's got a dogs doo dahs alarm system on it (fitted by previous owner) - because the model number of the system wasn't on the insurers 'long out of date' list, it wasn't able to contribiute to reducing the premium!
The girl at the time said it wouldn't make much difference, if at all, even if it had been on their list!
Neither did the £200+ of disc lock, padlock and chain!
OK I think that's covered it - for now at least!
I stand to be corrected - & welcome it.
Rant over
Graeme.
*
