Soapy Sam

So you do a full decat and then have a major crash. What's to stop the insurance co. declaring that the car has no cat therefore MOT is invalid therefore no insurance?

kenb@manx

Not really a problem with the MOT because all that says is the car was of the standard to pass the MOT on the 'day the certificate was issued' and is not a statement of its continued standard. More likely is if the decat isn't declared to the insurance co and they have a knowledgable surveyor you could have a problem.

ken

carl

It's one of those ongoing debates. I don't see people driving ordinary rustbuckets going and declaring their non-OEM Kwik-Fit Timax exhausts to their insurers. You could argue the toss about 'equivalant form fit and function' and that a decatted Scooby exhaust is noisier, but I got a Kwik-Fit cheapy exhaust for the wife's Saxo and it was significantly louder than OEM. I certainly didn't declare it to the insurance company

SiPie

Hey Soapy Sam....

Why don't you do what I did and actually tell the insurance co....

I was insured (via the AA) with Churchill and they refused to insure me anymore and the best the AA could come up with was a £800 increase, so at 33yrs of age and max NCB, I thought '**** you' and phoned Liverpool Victoria (declared the downpipe) and they covered me for less than the original pre-mod premium from Churchill

Guess I'm just too honest

Si

Soapy Sam

OK, so to be safe you need to declare the decat to the insurance co....

So come on then, how many of you have......? Has anyone had a problem following a claim if you haven't?

Soapy Sam

SiPie

Thanks for response, I'm surprised the insurance co. didn't question the fact that the mod goes against legal requirements but if they accept it and you pay the premium they can't refuse a claim. (can they????)

Josh L

I think even Rum would agree that insurance company's sole aim is to avoid paying out money. Consequently, anything you choose to change on you car, without declaring it, increases the chances that any claim will be refused.

I nearly had a claim refused a long time ago, because they claimed I used the car for business occasionally, and hadn't mentioned it even though I wasn't using it for business when the accident occured. To cap it all, it wasn't even my fault, so what difference did it make?

Don't give them any excuse, IMHO.

Josh

Andy McCord

You could always plead ignorance, afterall, does everybody who buys a second hand car check to see whether exhaust is original, afterall you never fitted it did you

banshi

I assume "ignorance does not constitute a defence" would be applied.

My policy simply states, exhaust modifications, brake modifications etc. No further details are given, nor were they requested at the time of the quote.

Far more interested in how I obtained those additional lines on my licence unfortunately

Dunk

iTrader: (1)

Declared with Churchill that I've fitted "a stainless exhaust", as I intend to keep the car for while - no premium increase & no lies told

D

SiPie

Dunk

The AA (on Churchill's behalf) asked me directly to tell them the BHP increase that the exhaust modification would provide

I could have lied, but then I'm lying my *** off on record

Reckon you must have been lucky with your interrogating officer

Cheers

Soapy Sam

It seems to me that when the mods are declared to the insurers, it's done in a way that doesn't specifically state "i've taken the cats out" ie. "Scoobysport Stainless exhaust" or whatever.

I just think that all insurers have no fathers and usually make the soles of your shoes smell. They will find any way they can to avoid paying up and I've just got this feeling that they will catch on and stitch up anyone they can...

Soapy gets paranoid again............

SiPie

LOL @ Soapy

clubby

I informed my insurers Greenlight of all my cars mods when i bought it.

I toyed with the idea of not declaring it, but thats the equivalent of running around without insurance (in the eyes of the insurance co.s and the law).
Greenlight understood everything I told them about. My previous insurers wouldnt take me on, never heard of Eibach suspension, kept saying "is the suspension harder".
I would go to a specialist insurers like Greenlight, I have peace of mind knowing I have declared everything (£800ish/Full NCB/40yrs old.)

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

I've stated to Greenlight the make and model of my exhaust ie. Scoobysport downpipe and HKS Super Drager mid/back. They have issued a policy based on this so they should honour it IMHO

Steve777

iTrader: (8)

I have to agree with some of the above comments re declaring the correct car spec. I have seen many boasts from younger, less experienced drivers than myself claimimg that Liverpool Victoria and other companies insuring there cars cheaply.

I am 36 and have been down simialr routes with insurance and being honest about spec's mods etc with them, haven't find them that competitve and usually find they are in a simialr ball part to the rest especially when you compare what you get for your money

A lot of these companies have very high excess charges, insist that it is garagred every single night of the week regardless of circumstance, load for mods, give you reduced legal fee (Which can be very important if you get in trouble), won't entertain any points, any certainly won't allow any substantial claims in the last 5 years.

So if anyone wants to get in the 'It only cost this much' then please state the whole truth and nothing but the trouth m'lord

dhorwich

If you did have an accident with a de-cat, then why could you not fit the standard exhaust back on before an assesor came out..??? only take an hour or so including the downpipe once you know what your doing..? Obviously this would depend on how bad the accident was..

Dan

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

Dan,

You just answered your own question

DEEDEE

How many people on here, who tell their insurance companys the truth. Openly admit to them their Pride and joy is chipped, remapped or even had a new engine management system.

igratton

There is also the problem when somebody has purchased the car unaware of modifications (i.e. a jap import a few years old and modded). ummmmm. big grey area.

Personally - declare everything - and I mean everything - Nice Pedals, Gear ***, anything of value really and different to std spec.

As for quick fit type exhaust they are classed as OEM I believe -direct manufacturer replacement.

Ian.

SiPie

Soapy

Forgot to mention that it was only the downpipe so it will still be legal (ie. will pass emissions test....just)

It's maybe just me, but the fact that insurance co's nowadays can refuse a payout on the grounds that your tyre pressures are incorrect [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img], I think I'd rather declare....

Disclaimer
In every other aspect of my life I am a raging criminal

[Edited by SiPie - 1/6/2003 1:40:55 PM]