Kids, driving cars badged up for something they aren't.

For example, I know of two here whose cars are badged Corsa 1.2, and insured as such, yet are running circa 300bhp with 2 litre turbocharged motors. One was even modded at the local tech

If one hits me, or a pedestrian, where do we stand? And what should/can be done?

 

Few years back, a couple of mates put together and got a corsa b with a calibra red top engine dropped in it. Pretty dam quick.

Pulled over by the police, who checked the car over (making sure to give the tyres a good kick). Alls ok lads, on your way.

That was insured as a 1.1.

I'm guessing if hit by one, their so called insurance would be void, and would be like claiming against a uninsured driver??

 

Void insurance as you have to disclose any changes or modifications to the car.

 

You are all assuming that it is not insured correctly.....

If insured correctly why would a badge make any difference at all?

I see a smart car with a v12 sticker on the back. Does that mean they aren't insured? What a ridiculous post lol

 

yeah police stopping and checking the cars for mods that arent declared, take it v5 changes ?

My ex had a fiat punto sporting that had red calipers, slight prang insurance said wasnt going to pay out due to undeclared modification!!

 

Not assuming, it was stated in the OP

I never understand why you'd do it tbh, ZLET conversions aren't exactly cheap.

 

Yes uninsured as driving a car not as specified on the insurance or possibly V5 - report them.

 

All changes from standard spec should be declared, apparently even roof racks can be an issue. Should there be an accident then insurers can just walk away from it and then your in real trouble. Its all in the insurance small print, heres an example if what can happen

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-s...wales-31064998


As far as the cars running bigger engines and not declared then report them to the police, while an odd sticker or wheels change imo isn't an issue, doubling the power of the car is.

 

I'm sure Moley would be able to answer this based on his experience

Declaring mods is a pain...my Jag insurer keeps "forgetting" to list the mods on renewal

 

Jumped straight in again, I see. You REALLY need to learn to read the posts before responding

Nearly FOUR times the expected power output.

 

What mods can you get away with not declaring? I know panel filters seem to be ok and possibly stickers. Remaps/chips aren't likely to be investigated. I expect a decat up-pipe on the WRX would go unnoticed.

 

To be honest if a pedestrian is hit I doubt they will care if the car has declared mods.

I was under the impression that if you crash your car into another when you have undeclared mods.
Your insurance is void, however the other car and claims got paid. (May be wrong).

I would never Grass a fellow Petrolhead unless I was directly affected. (My Own Belief)

Personally I would live and let live,
If however he hit you and no insurance pays out then Breaks it buys it,

 

I'm not in agreement with your first point, just because it doesn't affect YOU it doesn't matter?? "I'm alright, Jack....."???

And what if he hits a self-employed man who can never work again? What then????

 

You really need to get a life and stop worrying about other people ☺

How do you know what is an is not insured? Have you seen their documents?

 

None. You MUST declare any changes made to the car. Your insurance company are then allowed to tell you OK, or charge more...or even refuse to insure you. Even stickers.

When my eldest bought a new car with 17's instead of the 15's it was built with, his insurance company didn't want to know him. They cancelled by mutual agreement and he went with another company.

But we DID tell them.

My own Scoob's mods cover two pages of typed A4...but are ALL listed.

 

Oh, for heaven's sake.

How do you THINK I know, mastermind? What a fatuous comment.

And if one of them hits me, or someone else, then what? What if the person he hits is a self-employed man and can never work again? Who pays? Who keeps his family?

Are you SERIOUSLY condoning not having valid insurance, or just on one of your usual wind-ups?

 

One of my previous Imprezas was written off, insurance company recovered the car and took it to there approved repair centre for a full inspection,

I had none of my modification declared! So as you can imagine I was s**ting bricks, The possibility of loosing the car and financial impact it would cause was very worrying!

A few days past and I had a call from the claims adjuster, I was ready to expect the worst and to my amazement he was offering me a payout.

Maybe I was incredibly lucky or maybe some people that look over the cars don't know the difference from a standard to a modified one.

Mods on the car were
Springs
Full decat turbo back
Forged bottom end
Air filter
Remap
Fuel pump
Colour coded wheels
Brake pads

 

Either lucky, or the ins co. didn't care.

 

All my mods are declared, only cost an extra £30 or so. Don't give the slimeballs any excuse not to pay out

 

So come on then? Answer the question. Got a copy of the documents?

 

Stick the reg in here


https://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/


It will tell you what the vehicle details are, if the engine size is incorrect, its a fair bet the insurance is wrong too

 

Nah, insurance do what they want really so just your luck, loads of folk get away with it.
I personally would mind my own business, but then i'm a sinner.
Worst case your insurance pays out ( i guess), and you get compensation in court for injurys same way you would if he had hit you with a brick. only taxpayer pays the compensation not insurer.( i think )

 

Telling the DVLA about engine size and insuring it correctly are very different things though. Declaring a modification and tax dodging....

 

True, but if someone doesn't declare the engine swap, they are unlikely to insure it properly either.

 

Just put my car details in that link.

Apparently I have a very rare model!
Must be the only 1.5 liter Sti in the uk!

 

That's the bizarre bit, proper modified vehicle insurance through a specialist tends to work out cheaper overall.

More or less. Your insurance company may also attempt to recover there losses through the courts as well.

 

Eldest son knows the lads. No way could either afford it if they had declared. They laugh openly about cheating the insurance co.

 

So no proof then, could be bluster and bravado for all you know. Keep your nose out....

 

That is my understanding also, I don't believe the insurance company can refuse to pay out for the car you hit, just your own car is uninsured

Not sure on that though as how would that work for 3rd party only? Would be no need to declare anything as your car ain't covered anyway?

Would also be good to understand exactly what is classed as a modification? I can understand them not covering you if you have a 600bhp subaru insured as a standard car as the extra power would most likely be a cause of the accident but how could they refuse to pay for say a different spoiler as that has no bearing on anything and did not contribute to the crash in anyway.

Also would declaring a brake upgrade increase your premium as that is crazy, surely better brakes mean ur less likely to crash, should get a discount on ur premiums but bet it doesn't work like that.

So I put better brakes on my car, don't declare it and have void insurance yet I can fit a pair of cheapo ditchfinder tyres (which would probably be a significant factor in any crash) yet the insurance Co has no issue with that, it's all a bit crazy if you think about it

 

These posts seem mostly concerned with getting away with it with the insurance companies. But a major problem occurs when your undeclared modded car crashes into another vehicle and kills someone. The insurance company then washes its hands of it. Quite apart from the police attention this could see you wiped out financially if you're having to pay compensation for a dead bread winner.
There are insurance agents on here (Moley's mine) who I'm sure could clear up any doubts about this. Come on guys, speak up!