JamesS

Or Scare even!!

Looking for comments.

A friend with a GT4 with usual mods has just phoned round for renewal quotes.

A guy at one brokers went back to the underwriters with a question about running a de-cat exhaust.

The underwriter has told him that they had refused two claims recently invloving cars with de-cat pipes.

There position is that if the car is not road legal (ie built after 1992 and hence requiring a Cat), you will not be covered. This is despite the broker being fully aware and agreeing to cover this mod.

Any comments - any law bods out there?

As far as I can see if you declare it to the broker and the broker agress to cover you then any later refusal to pay out by the underwritter should come back to the broker. However how do you prove the broker knew about the de-cat?

Feeling a bit worried now!!!!!!!!

[Edited by JamesS - 1/25/2002 2:30:02 PM]

carpet

I would of thought somehwere on your insurance policy it should list the 'mods' youve done ?
Typical attitude by insurance co's tho, make you pay then tell you to **** off when its time to collect !!! they always have some hidden small print that you didnt read / understand that they can screw us with !

ga33a

Remember one thing when dealing with insurance companies:

It's their policy NOT to pay out on claims. FACT. If the can get out of paying, they will.

Bastuwards. If there's two types of people I hate dealing with. It's the tax man and f*%&ing insurance companies.

And relax

Gazza


[Edited by ga33a - 1/25/2002 4:36:13 PM]

Scooby-Doo

On a serious note as I am currently considering a downpipe. If you contacted the insurer and inform them you are changing the downpipe and due to the modification it will not pass an MOT would they insure it ? On the flip side would they refuse a claim if your reverse light or horn (example of MOT failure) were not working at the time of an accident ?

Brendan Hughes

Ask them how they can agree to cover it, then refuse to pay out?

If they agreed, they agreed. If they don't they don't. How can they agree but don't? Ask them for the LEGAL explanation, in terms of basic laws of contract, like, you both made a contract and they haven't stuck to it. They may start to waver. And DON'T accept bullsh!t, keep asking. Worked for me with Privilege.

Of course, if they have a good explanation in the small print, too bad



BJH

JamesS

I`m quite worried about this. The Broker in question was a specialist that I know members here use. The underwriter is also a major player....

As for mods on insurance policy, mine says something like ,declared mods covered....

But when you get insured thru a Broker, they want business, they may not disclose to underwriters all details?????

As for road legal...if they found a Hlamp was out and you had a crash at night, or had bald tyres they prob. would not pay out. So why not a de-cat, which technically makes your car as illegal as lights/tyres?????

ChrisB

I'm just reading all the paperwork from Privilege. I can't find anything about insurance being invalid if your car wouldn't pass an MOT.

Anyone else with Privilege found anything?

ChrisB

I have found my insurance doesn't cover for loss or damage caused by the sonic boom from an aircraft though???!!

StanS

iTrader: (3)

I run the original centre section cat, but SS decat d/p and SS back box. In theory, if hot enough, it should get close to a pass on emissions.
My way of thinking I'm legal, anyway !!
NFU got a page of mods for mine and still no probs insuring it.
Stan

ChrisB

Stan,

Exactly what I've been thinking of doing.

Dave T-S

As I always say, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS put change requests like this in writing to your broker/insurer and get a reply in writing - don't do it over the phone.

It's a grey area - an MOT is only valid at the time of the test, and it is not a legal requirement to have a cat fitted, merely that a car has to pass an emissions test - but catch 22 most cars won't pass without one.

NBW

Dave's right, get it in writing.

Cheers
Tim