Insurance

Thanks for the info.

One thing i'd like to check with you (this probably sounds really daft) but when an insurance company asks if the car has been modified, does this mean anything at all on the car thats been changed, or is it specifically modified for the engine?

For example....i've been looking at a car thats had new alloys, exhaust, air filter & also had a toad alarm fitted.

Would this be classed as a modified car?

Also, i know someone in this thread (totally forgot who, i think it may have been Kelly) has their insurance with Quinn Direct. Everytime i get a quote, there always the cheapest. Are they any good from your experiances with them?

Cheers

 

Yes, unless the alloys was from the cars manufacturer. Most of mates have not declared them with the insurence companies though.

What about window tints, is that classed as being modified if the car is not tinted as standard?

 

I have no idea fella.

I always thought having a modified car increaed the cost of your insurance. If it is true that alloys are classed as having a modified car, how the hell thay can increase the cost i have no idea.

I can understand if it enhances the performance, but things like alloys, exhaust, window tints etc......no idea if they are included . If they are it seems a little daft to me though...

 

Quinn Direct are the anti-christ. I despise them with a passion. Their claims handlers work on commission and try and take over our own claims by authorising repairs and what not. As for how they treat their own customers I can't say, but they a lot of people in the industry can't stand them. I would never take a policy out with them personally.

Anything that is not standard on the vehicle is a modification. Whether it increases the value or not is down to the relevant insurer, my old insurance company where I worked didn't charge an additional premium for Alloys for example, I'm not sure about my current one. Other companies may just use it as an excuse not to insure you.

Seriously, be careful if you haven't notified your company of something because if you were to have an incident, an engineer will tell the claims dept that it is non-standard and your claim may not be paid (the final decision there will rest with underwriters).

 

Obviously alloy is more expensive than plastic

 

In other news...

I got a few quotes for a renewal price for my Focus 1.8 TDCi. Last year it was £790 and the lowest I got quoted was £433. Massive price drop.

I got 3 years no claims now so I'm guessing that's the main reason?

I am with Tesco at the moment but if they can match or better the lower price above I will just stick with them.

 

I'd imagine the insurance companies deciding you are a very high risk indeed if you have plastic wheels on your car.

 

They "detract thieves" - surely that's a good thing?

 

I disagree, I'd say a thief is more likely to smash a tinted window to see if anything's in the vehicle than have a quick look through a clear one and realise nothing's on show.

It would also increase the desirability of the vehicle to a thief.

 

Fair enough, just the ad thats been going on Ram FM over in Derby, boasting how it detracts thieves and insurers look "favourably" on it

 

Darkened windows, stops them looking in....like I said, its an advert thats being played constantly on the local radio station here that made these claims

 

My Insurance has halved since I passed 2 years ago, still £600 though on a Citroën C2 .

 

Quick insurance question...

My bro will be moving out soon so I will get to park my car in the garage. If I ring up and change my insurance details from it currently being parked on the street on a night to it being parked in the garage will it make my insurance cheaper?

 

It's a nice area, but I'm guessing that's just deemed by my post code to the insurers?

Aye I see your point. I'll have to do some research and see if the price drop is worth me changing it...

 

You should be ok, if it's one night and it gets broken into then it may take a little longer for your claim to be paid, but it will more than likely get paid.

As StretfordEnd says, it will decrease your premiums a little, but not too much.

 

few interesting points however recently changed my insurance (long boring story) to include my girlfriend who had "more" driving experience few months older and it cost £105 extra for the final seven monhts of the policy with them citing the fact "the car she owns is not relevent experience for driving your DC5" surely thats just a poor excuse to squeeze more money out of you