MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: 99hagued on January 10, 2018, 11:26:25 am

Title: Modified car insurance
Post by: 99hagued on January 10, 2018, 11:26:25 am
Which insurance company are you guys and gals using for your modified golfs? what mods are you declaring just the obvious like exhaust,intakes, suspension or everything like remap,intercooler ect? and how much are you paying. Time for renewal soon and I’m all modded up now so think it’s time to declare.
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: pudding on January 10, 2018, 12:29:24 pm
Declare EVERYTHING.   Just as a car maker will void a warranty if the car is modified in any shape or form, so do insurance companies when it comes to undeclared items on their policies. 

I've used Greenlight and Brentacre over the years without any issues.  Avoid really cheap never heard of companies.  The proof of the pudding is in the claiming and Brentacre especially have always been good in that respect.

Suspension and a remap won't bump it up much.    Adding cages, big brakes etc tends to increase it more as insurance companies treat those upgrades as you driving faster, therefore more of a risk.

I'm 44 and pay £400ish through Greenlight with everything declared.  Stage 2+ map, coilovers, etc.


Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: Andy on January 10, 2018, 12:40:43 pm
as above declare mod you done because in the unfortunate event yoi have an accident and you havent declared the mods your insurance will be void
I have been with Adrain flux but switched to green light
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: neilw on January 10, 2018, 06:27:08 pm
Just renewed with Greenlight

I'm 34 and it was £430 which was only £30 more than my renewal with Admiral. Now my Mods are like for like replacements. The chap on the phone knew his stuff and was clearly a car enthusiast.

Its free to add on non-power mods
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: willni on January 11, 2018, 04:36:35 pm
Speaking of insurance, what are your opinions of informing insurance of oem retrofits? Eg parking sensors or multi function steering wheel.




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Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: loop on January 11, 2018, 07:47:25 pm
I also wondered about informing them of adding RNS 510 nav over the standard CD player


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Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: FJ1000 on January 11, 2018, 08:33:15 pm
Try sky insurance for modified cars


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Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: Rossimac on January 11, 2018, 09:06:19 pm
Speaking of insurance, what are your opinions of informing insurance of oem retrofits? Eg parking sensors or multi function steering wheel.

I declare EVERYTHING non-standard.

AXA NI were threatening to cancel my insurance on me before I switched to Greenlight because I had "retrofitted" 18" Pescaras in place of my 17" Monzas. Their reasoning? Modifications to OEM wheels needed to be at least 1" bigger.

According to their underwriting team, an analysis of the market showed that people who upgraded by 1" were more likely to claim and so they wouldn't cover it in the event of an accident. I am actually not joking here, it was infuriating.

Of course, they were sweet with everything else though:

Insurance companies (and pretty much every company out there tbh) are not to be relied upon to have your back and some will try to get out of claims with the simplest of excuses. I wouldn't want to give them that ability by not declaring OEM retrofits.

It's funny to hear me on the phone listing all changes I've made...

A MFSW? Hmm, it does add value. Does it increase it's likelihood of being stolen? Could be argued yes by them and no by you. Just my 2 cents  :happy2:
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: Manny_ED30 on January 11, 2018, 09:18:48 pm
Been with brentacre for 3 going 4 years now and they have been great. Premium has dropped every year on the same vehicle. Spent most of this time insured on my Bora PD130 and was not charged for having coilovers or OEM retro fitted leather recaros and this also included high mileage as I was commuting to uni daily, clocking up over 300 miles a week sometimes.. This was from the age of 20-23, im turning 25 this year so will no longer be classed a young driver.

Always declare mods & shop around, you're bound to get some ridiculous quotations that will wanna make you hang up but thats insurance companies for ya. Use price matching if some work by this?
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: GTi-Tecnix on January 11, 2018, 10:24:44 pm
Insurance is the biggest fraud out there because you can be paying them premiums for yeasrs without a single claim and they bucket free dough!
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: Rossimac on January 11, 2018, 10:42:44 pm
Insurance is the biggest fraud out there because you can be paying them premiums for yeasrs without a single claim and they bucket free dough!

I agree if you don't have a lot of money to fix your things or other people's things and then you only pay when things actually go wrong, but for the majority of us, we wouldn't be able to stump up £5k+ on a whim when it really hits the fan, so it's good to have something there to shell out on our behalf. For most, this may never actually happen, but it does happen and so it's a needed thing and it protects me and you from those who can't afford.

There are other models, like in New Zealand where everyone is insured through the government, but I don't know enough about them to comment.

Edit: removed the don't
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: GTi-Tecnix on January 11, 2018, 11:30:00 pm
Insurance is the biggest fraud out there because you can be paying them premiums for yeasrs without a single claim and they bucket free dough!

I agree if you don't have a lot of money to fix your things or other people's things and then you only pay when things actually go wrong, but for the majority of us, we wouldn't be able to stump up £5k+ on a whim when it really hits the fan, so it's good to have something there to shell out on our behalf. For most, this may never actually happen, but it does happen and so it's a needed thing and it protects me and you from those who can't afford.

There are other models, like in New Zealand where everyone is insured through the government, but I don't know enough about them to comment.
theses 'incidents' are marginal compared to the millions of us who pay yearly and do not have a need to claim And the premium does not change a fraction - that's quite worrying for me.. There are both sides of the argument here.
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: pudding on January 12, 2018, 09:33:47 am
Don't get me started on the insurance industry  :fighting:

The whole thing stinks of eau de watery shat. 

'Recommended' body repair shops who deliberately over charge and you're not 'allowed' to choose your own body shop without attracting some kind of penalty.

Ambulance chasing lawyer firms enabled by the useless 'legal protection' add ons that don't protect you from whiplash and crash for cash scumbags.

Windscreen replacement companies who fit crap glass deliberately to keep themselves in business and again, over charge the insurance companies, which gets passed back onto us with inflated premiums.

Government raking in 1.5% tax on every premium sold, so there is no incentive for them to tighten the regulation.  Not that there is any regulation.  The ombudsmen are as much use as snow chains in Florida.

The 'Protected' no claims bonus system that still profits THEM, not us. 

Heavily loaded premiums based upon some flim flam bullsh*t reasons they concoct among themselves.   "Oh you live the middle of nowhere with a garage.  Yeah well, this was previously a good thing for security, but this year we've decided that it's a bad thing because no one will see the car being stolen, so that'll be a 30% loading, thanks". "We don't like Manchester this month, so anyone living there will pay an extra 14%" and so on.

I wasn't joking with the garage thing.  A few years ago I was charged more for putting the car away every night.  Their suddent change of reasoning was a car parked on the street (previously a loaded scenario) is more visible to the public.  Like anyone would ring the police these days??  F'kin clowns.

It's just the usual Ivory Tower bollocks, completely out of touch with reality.   We have to begrudgingly pay it every year to remain 'legal' but it really is a big con.

Insurance was originally a community thing to protect farmers, but now it's just a revenue making scheme for greedy f'cks.

Anyway, as above, Brentacre are refreshingly different in age of call centers that treat us as cash cows.


Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: stealthwolf on January 12, 2018, 10:59:54 am
I've had good service with Sky Insurance and Brentacre. Declare everything, even if OEM. When I had an accident, the underwriters - LV - asked about any modifications. I told them what they were and that they had all been declared to Brentacre. No problems encountered as a result.
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: ballcrusher on January 12, 2018, 08:17:47 pm
I have used greenlight insurance for a number of years cheaper than any other company and adding mods dont really add much on it nothing as I told them over got 19s lowered and upgraded  panel filter and didn't go up at all...give them a shout but you must of had 1 years insurance with another company before they except you but like I said cheaper than any other company I found online 👍   
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: FJ1000 on January 13, 2018, 07:32:18 am
Just goes to show you have to ring round.

With 3 modified Cars at Home - sky insurance worked out way cheaper than anyone else mentioned above (and some others). As an added bonus - the cover is like for like on mods (unlike a lot of policies).

Also, I always deal with the same bloke; chap called Luke. We always have a natter about his boxster - sent me pics of it

I think I’ve been with them 3 years now


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Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: GTi-Tecnix on January 15, 2018, 03:26:17 am
For me the ideal insurance is to purchase a vehicle that comes with the insurance that you will receive at least one new replacement car from the car company of you're carthat you're doing business with i.e. if the inevitable was to happen.. Insurance should not be run by these 'private' companies that come up with new ideas for safer driving which all end up in you paying more! If a fatality were to occur, and yes they do- anywhere at anytime then this should be the full responsibility of the government because they manage traffic and roads in the UK so they must have to cough up the money for fatality incidents' i.e. full compensation and costs. They do have a magic tree you know  :wink:

This is just mere fantasy but the way insurance should be run is that you get this inclusive when buying a new car from the car manufacturers themselves And not companies making free money for driving. This is how car leasing works but there's another catch that you don't actually 'fully' own the car. Its just Like a car hire purchase now where's the point in that!
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: GTi-Tecnix on January 15, 2018, 03:36:37 am
Don't get me started on the insurance industry  :fighting:

The whole thing stinks of eau de watery shat. 

'Recommended' body repair shops who deliberately over charge and you're not 'allowed' to choose your own body shop without attracting some kind of penalty.

Ambulance chasing lawyer firms enabled by the useless 'legal protection' add ons that don't protect you from whiplash and crash for cash scumbags.

Windscreen replacement companies who fit crap glass deliberately to keep themselves in business and again, over charge the insurance companies, which gets passed back onto us with inflated premiums.

Government raking in 1.5% tax on every premium sold, so there is no incentive for them to tighten the regulation.  Not that there is any regulation.  The ombudsmen are as much use as snow chains in Florida.

The 'Protected' no claims bonus system that still profits THEM, not us. 

Heavily loaded premiums based upon some flim flam bullsh*t reasons they concoct among themselves.   "Oh you live the middle of nowhere with a garage.  Yeah well, this was previously a good thing for security, but this year we've decided that it's a bad thing because no one will see the car being stolen, so that'll be a 30% loading, thanks". "We don't like Manchester this month, so anyone living there will pay an extra 14%" and so on.

I wasn't joking with the garage thing.  A few years ago I was charged more for putting the car away every night.  Their suddent change of reasoning was a car parked on the street (previously a loaded scenario) is more visible to the public.  Like anyone would ring the police these days??  F'kin clowns.

It's just the usual Ivory Tower bollocks, completely out of touch with reality.   We have to begrudgingly pay it every year to remain 'legal' but it really is a big con.

Insurance was originally a community thing to protect farmers, but now it's just a revenue making scheme for greedy f'cks.

Anyway, as above, Brentacre are refreshingly different in age of call centers that treat us as cash cows.
Con was the right word you used there Pud  :congrats: :congrats: :congrats:
And hear this out. In an incident that involves both aprties , you still have to pay the full excess before you are even paid out. REGARDLESS of who was at fault in the claim. The term 'claim' is also very misleading indeed. All you are doing is informing them of an incident of car collision and pleading it wasn't your fault. And it doesnt end there.. They they can then decided to pend the so called 'claim' for an extended period to suit and satisfy the companies full full liability of the claim. Insurance companies all p**s in the same pan as far as I'm concerned and their use of jargons does not help matters but only complicates to confuse the claims further. And wait.. Three is also the counter-claim bit coming  from the other side where the lawyers then question your actions in driving for the claim to be settled. :fighting: :sad1: :phew:

Claim is a very toxic word they use indeed! :fighting:
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: GTi-Tecnix on January 15, 2018, 03:51:34 am
Another way for insurance to be deemed fair is to use the premium that you've paid for a whole years cover i.e. without making a single claim, so that they can use thesame  money you've paid, again and not need to charge you for the following year. This would be like placing money into a trust and that money gets reused for the proceeding years ahead. This would be fair practice.They know this and won't ever want to give you this type of cover plan but they clearly interested pocketing every year- your free hard earnt cash. This is what I call being excessive !!
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: pudding on January 15, 2018, 11:23:22 am
That was the original idea of insurance.   A contingency fund for farmers who lost crops due to bad weather.  There was no profiteering from it, it was just a mutually beneficial and affordable system for everybody.

The only reason car insurance people get away with bleeding us dry is because it's a legal requirement. 

The way the world is heading right now, is unsustainable.  Population explosions, jobs being automated, prices constantly on the rise......it's not going to end well.
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: GTi-Tecnix on January 15, 2018, 01:32:13 pm
That was the original idea of insurance.   A contingency fund for farmers who lost crops due to bad weather.  There was no profiteering from it, it was just a mutually beneficial and affordable system for everybody.

The only reason car insurance people get away with bleeding us dry is because it's a legal requirement. 

The way the world is heading right now, is unsustainable.  Population explosions, jobs being automated, prices constantly on the rise......it's not going to end well.
Again well said  :congrats:
It goes to show how this country Great Britain operates on order to extort free money from us
The legal requirements bit is debatable because of the statutory regulations that are passed through Parliament (sometimes very covertly) thus they are deemed man made laws.  Not the rule of law at all when you go back to the old days of Queens Bench and the Magna Carta. Those were the original laws to govern man. But man made laws have superseded to fool us and stick the Magna Carta in a glass surroundings to see it as a work of art. How egregious and misconceived is that!
Stealth taxes are rife here in the UK with parking fines that never get settled on court but done so through threats and intimidation  by the council's who deploy bailiffs at your door.  In this case for motor insurance it creates anxiety for folk who need to cover all their "extras". They don't follow the law. If they did they will stick to the Bill of Rights 1688/89: in the event of issuing parking tickets.
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: pudding on January 15, 2018, 02:18:34 pm
Ha, and the taxes don't stop when you're a slab of pork on the mortuary table either.

Well, it is 'law' to have 3rd party cover, minimum.   Comprehensive is obviously your choice.

It's just one of those things in life it's best not to chew on.  We are just batteries to feed the top 1% of earners across the globe.   Modern day slavery.....especially the hospitality and health & Well being industry.
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: Bodyboarder81 on January 15, 2018, 04:38:39 pm
Is an absolute joke .... I spend around 4K a year on insurances ( inc my business) that I have never once claimed on . I’m not looking at this thread again as it boils my blood to dangerous levels  :confused:
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: kuriisenbo on June 21, 2020, 09:07:48 pm
Hey there. Getting an insurance for a modified car is different from when dealing with a stock one. First of all, it depends what degree of modification your car underwent. Obviously, if the only thing that's left in your car from the factory is the windshield, signing an insurance contract could be tricky. A friend of mine does drag racing and he always ensures his car at https://www.moneyexpert.com/car-insurance/ as according to him they have the most suitable conditions and the prices are relatively low when it comes to modified cars.
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: titchy on June 23, 2020, 10:57:15 am
shop around admiral wanted over£700 std mk7.5 gti marks and spencer bank£259 Same cover i am 68 no claims over 20yrs collected 3 points last year exceeding w/way limit
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: Lewo on June 23, 2020, 01:54:58 pm
shop around admiral wanted over£700 std mk7.5 gti marks and spencer bank£259 Same cover i am 68 no claims over 20yrs collected 3 points last year exceeding w/way limit

You're way too old for one of those cars mate, I'll look after it for you.  :wink:
Good on you.
Ps, I'm not so far behind you....  :partywave:
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: titchy on June 23, 2020, 08:10:33 pm
Thanks eyes like a hawk reactions of a cat. A blind hawk and a dead cat
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: RyanPaterson on August 18, 2020, 11:40:02 pm
I'm also looking for an insurance company for my car, i had a horrible accident on my upgraded Golf 5 and my old insurance company didn't pay me for the add on parts and i had to fix it on my own. After that i cancelled my insurance with them and had to find another company with good reputation, my friend has experience working with insurance companies recommend me to call auto insurance Lowell (http://www.conwayinsurance.com) he said he insured his 3 cars with them and they were really nice and paying easily and cover absolutely all your expenses, but still looking for other options.
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: pudding on August 21, 2020, 04:41:00 pm
I paid £350 this year with LV.  Stage 1 Edition 30 with coilovers, ARBs, and bigger brakes.

I was surprised to see some of the bigger players covering mods on Confused.com.  I guess they've decided they now want the business they previously turned down and left to the smaller brokers  :grin:
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: Adrian 200bhp on August 21, 2020, 07:51:48 pm
I was with direct line then i got a stage 1 remap and thought ill do the right thing and tell them. Geez i spent half hour trying to explain to the numbnuts on the other end of the phone what a remap was!!! Would have been easier  to expain the da vinci code to a two year old!! Gave up and cancelled my insurance and went over to Adrian Flux. I agree though,  ive got years and years of no claims and still pay £400 a year. Cobbing runts!
Title: Re: Modified car insurance
Post by: dorothydun on July 28, 2021, 08:48:09 am
I have used Greenlight and Brentacre for years without any problems. Avoid the really cheap never heard of companies. The proof of the pudding is in the statement, and Brentacre has always been good in that regard. Declare the mod you did because in the unfortunate event you have an accident and you didn't declare that mod, your insurance will be invalid. I was with Adrain flux, but switched to the green light. I chose it thanks to joywallet.com (https://joywallet.com/usaa-auto-insurance/) because it is a free car insurance quote comparison tool to help you find the best price. It helped me a lot.