Fantom

I have a clio 172. The exhaust fell in half so I replaced with a stainless system as it comes with lifetime guarentee. It was a similar price to putting another standard exhaust on.
Rang Direct Line to tell them (wish i hadn't) and they wanted £65 additional premium!! When asked about power gains I said 0bhp. Its only a cat back system. I can't believe I am being punished because I bought an exhaust made out of different metal. Its not like its changed the car in any way. The exhaust is hidden behind the bumper so no big tailpipes either.
Really annoyed and the manager didn't have the guts to speak to me.
Got an address where I can send a letter of complaint but not sure what good it will do since I've paid the money now.
I can understand an increase for modifications that actually make a difference, but this just seems ludicrous.
I said to the lady what happens if I don't pay it, and she said my insurance would then be void. I never used to declare modifications but now I'd rather have everything done properly, but if its such a big con then I don't think I'll be doing it again!

Anyone had anything similar and got out of it?
Regards
Steve

Fantom

The exhaust in question:

K-Tec Racing - Renault Tuning & Styling Specialists

Hardly turns my car into a race car.

slipstream_uk

iTrader: (1)

This is the second exhaust system to be released as part of our new "Ultra performance" range. These new systems will offer the ultimate in performance, sound, quality and fitment and have been completely redesigned as part of our continual desire to offer the best tuning parts available. This new stainless steel cat back exhaust system features enlarged 2.5" bore pipework along with a new design of rear silencer which has been fine tuned to offer a very subtle yet sporty exhaust note that does not become too loud or intrusive at motorway cruising speeds. The 2.5" pipework has been chosen as the 172 engine benefits from a good, free flowing exhaust system (especially if the engine is tuned) while 304 stainless steel has been used due to its superior quality and strength. As with all our exhausts this system will be covered by our lifetime guarantee to give you piece of mind knowing you have purchased a quality exhaust system. As with our first generation stealth exhaust system, this one is neatly hidden behind the rear bumper giving a standard look to the back of the Clio for those not wishing to have a tailpipe on display.

The KTR system is the original and the best "Stealth" system available for your 172/Cup. Beware of expensive immitations.

As featured in Performance French Cars magazine (May 2007 issue)and fitted to their Clio 172 project car. Quotation from the magazine about our Stealth exhaust system: "All told you'd be hard pushed to find a better Clio 172/Cup performance exhaust solution than this". This was backed up by the exhaust producing almost identical power to that of a custom, one off fabricated race system. In fact our Stealth exhaust actually increased torque compared to the race system.

slipstream_uk

iTrader: (1)

Above from the link you supplied. Its also says 'increased torque' & 'performance exhaust' so its not standard then and the insurance have got you by the nuts

lem6

its not a standard exhaust..so pay up.

Fantom

Ok, so I'm sure you're all petrol heads. Do you really think that this exhaust is going to make a blind bit of difference to my power? We could be talking 2-4 bhp. A difference like that could be the difference between a cold day and a hot day.

bugeyeandy

It's a mod , the insurance company is there to make money from you so naturally they will charge you regardless of whether it increases power.
Only thing you can do is go with another insurer next time round.

Fantom

But the insurance premium is calculated on risk. How has my insurance risk changed?
I'm not more likely to crash because I have stainless instead of mild steel or whatever

bugeyeandy

Not really sure what you want us to say to you?

subaruturbo_18

i reckon shop around, find some quotes for other insurers, should you find a cheaper one then phone direct line and say price match or im leaving. see what happens. end of the day the exhaust is non-standard and it will be a term of the insurance to have a standard car otherwise premiums may be affected. as bugeyeandy said they are there to make money, so end of the day, if they say they want an extra £65 for a different exhaust then thats what they will get if you want to insure your car. Since its been modified you may be now classed as a "boy racer" or "high risk" as you will fall into that catogory. that aside i do see where your coming from but unfortunately i do not think there is a lot you can do.

banny sti

iTrader: (68)

Having mods on a standard car, albiet a simple exhaust is a previlage you have to pay for simple as.

Banny

Shark Man

Phone up and say you swapped it for a kwik-fit sysem (i.e still non-stanadard) ...see what they say

Keep complaining, you may find a sympathetic ear somewhere in a call-centre, as I do agree with your cause. Its not right, and too many people lay back and take it. You may not get anywhere with it, but at least can say that you tried.

Stupid thing with exhausts is 95% of cat-back systems don't offer any performance gain....some may claim 5-10bhp/lbft. But put the car on a rolling road and compare the charts to a stock system and you'll note a drop of 5-10bhp at certain rpms, and a gain in at other rpms. overall, the net average gain is next to zero.

The 5% execption is stuff like old Jag v12s, which have 2.5 to 3litres (per bank) worth of exhaust gas pushed through 1.5" pipe and baffled silencers...even with a performance system it only nets to 25bhp (plus a huge flatspot because the antique EFi).

Spyder550

Guess the flip side of this is that if you have declared your car to have this stainless exhaust system, and the exhaust was stolen, or damaged in an accident, as you are paying the additional premium you would be within your rights to ensure they replaced like for like

borat52

You have to remember insurance premiums are calculated on a wide range of data relating to standard cars. Regardless of how little extra 'risk' you are actaully adding with this exhaust the insurance company will hit a panic button as its outside of their standard data set, and hence will overcharge you for the mod.

Yes, they are rip off merchants, and no it won't add any extra risk worth talking about (as you say its a similar replacement cost to the OEM exhaust).

The silly thing that I find is I can go and drive any car not belonging to me, regardless of modification, and my vauxhall astra insurance will cover me 3rd party without any extra cost (I pay £200 a year fully comp on the astra), yet if you actually try to buy a modified car and insure it in your name, the premium will potentially go into thousands. Strange country England.

Andy Porter

I said to the lady what happens if I don't pay it, and she said my insurance would then be void. I never used to declare modifications but now I'd rather have everything done properly, but if its such a big con then I don't think I'll be doing it again!

Not true, you are covered and in the event of a claim they deduct the extra premium off the payout ( from a m8 who works for DL ) its actually quite hard to invalidate your insurance

Moley

iTrader: (9)

Nope. There are only a very limited amount of insurers who'll cover like-for-like

DYK

Everything has gone MAD in this country matey..I hate to say it but,the more honest you are,the more you come out holding the **** end of the stick..Fooking Crazy.

Underworld

my premium increased by about £120 for declaring exhaust.. over £100 again for non standard wheels. from 15" to 18" ... urmmm i didnt declare the KnN as it would cost me double the premium.... that was on a 1.4 mazda3!!

banny sti

iTrader: (68)

View my scooby for my mods, declared them and will get like for like if anything happens and paid £950 thanks to Moley

Banny

Norman Dog

iTrader: (1)

Admiral charged me an extra £50 just for having an STi backbox on my car

Needless to say, did not renew with them

Fantom

Glad to see some more sympathetic replies
Will let you know what happens as a result of my snotty letter I shall construct over the weekend.

Thanks
Steve

dan/scooby

iTrader: (2)

i paid an extra 5% for the swoosh up the side of my scooby

Mark/WRX

yes its all a bunch of bollocks,

Run the risk, or pay through the ****, you decide

megabreath

I think it will get to the point were we have to declare, Non standard wheel nuts, magic trees and tyres.

Gotta love those insurance companies.

Mark/WRX

to be fair, the only time they are going to pay any attention is if your fully comp. and you stack it into a tree, i.e. they are paying out for your car because it's your fault.

My cars being repaired through insurance atm (non fault), and they don't know their **** from their elbow.

Slaphead

i'd cancel and take the hit. give a decent company your hard earned.

philbr

my mate had similar afew years back, old cavalier sri 130, engine blew up so tried to find another, could only find a 1.8 (not original 2.0) so had that and 1.8 ecu fitted by recognized garage, guess what smaller ,lower power engine insurance went UP by 120 notes??????
answer was modified from standard sir!

AllanB

I used A Plan and declare everything from drop links to change of tyres. Never had and agro and by far the best value and way cheaper than these companies who spends loads advertising on the telly.

Don't complain just taker your business elsewhere but accept you will have to pay a bit more what you consider reasonable is up to you


AllanB

Fantom

I was with a-plan when I had my impreza. 280bhp and all mods declared but when it came to the standard clio they wanted more money!!!

I am going to make the point to Direct Line that having now paid the extra permium I will expect the exhaust to replaced by a stainless system in the event of it being damaged. If they refuse then why are they charging me an additional premium!

Lemster

This is how I see it (partly due to my sister being an insurance under-writer).

Premiums are based upon known probabilities. Once you step out of the 'known', the premium increases. In the case of the OP he has gone from a box standard Clio 172 to a modified motor with (minimal) improved performance. They will therefore take a stance that this guy 'could' be a bit of a boy racer, or the car could me more desirable to be stolen.

A while back I bought a Citreon diesel van for personal use, and the insurance quotes for private use where horrific, typically £700. If I got and equivelant quote under business use it dropped to £200. this was due to the fact that vans are not normally insured for 'private and pleasure', therefore an unknown risk.

Sorry guys, but thats how they make their money. And if you dont declare ANY mod, they WILL void your insurance - beware, be very aware!