Insurance and modifications

[Lanerboy]

Bit concerned about a couple of modifications i wanted to do to my new M3 LR I was going to tint the rear windows and rear roof and Fit a rear spoiler like the model P

By adding these two items my insurance quote has gone from £427 up to £780 Has anyone else noticed this when doing the mods they have done

Find that ridiculous for a 52 year old with 20+ years no claims

 

[pgkevet]

The days of insurance being tied to risk have gone - it's all about hooking a punter and fleecing them. Much the same with utility prices and everything else. I've got nearly 30yrs no claim but no-one cares over 7 or 9yrs.. and if they did take it into account you'd be 'unusual' and loaded as such.

 

[Epico]

That the insurance goes up or that a 52 year old wants to add a spoiler to his car?

 

[Durzel]

To add some balance. I’ve got full PPF on my car and recently dechromed it. I informed insurance about them and it added nothing to my premium.

It strikes me that people ought to explore these conversations with their potential insurers before taking out the policy in the first place, rather than assuming that they won’t have any problem with it (Direct Line don’t allow wraps including PPF at all as far as I know, for example)

 

[Lanerboy]

To add some balance. I’ve got full PPF on my car and recently dechromed it. I informed insurance about them and it added nothing to my premium.

It strikes me that people ought to explore these conversations with their potential insurers before taking out the policy in the first place, rather than assuming that they won’t have any problem with it (Direct Line don’t allow wraps including PPF at all as far as I know, for example)

I have not taken the policy out yet or taken delivery of the car but i think the increase they are quoting is over the top for the mods i was going to do, i may not do them now

 

[roadcred]

I have 20 years NCB . My wife has none because I have always insured her car. Just about to change and decided to get a quote in her name. Her quote was almost identical to mine.

 

[15Peter20]

How about Performance Boost?

Is there any experience on here about the additional insurance loading it causes?

 

[bhav]

Why is it ridiculous? People with cars that have spoilers and tinted windows are more likely to be involved in accidents - so it's totally reasonable that their insurance is, on average, higher.

 

[Durzel]

How about Performance Boost?

Is there any experience on here about the additional insurance loading it causes?

Nothing to add except to say I love your username

Peace and f**king.

 

[Durzel]

I have not taken the policy out yet or taken delivery of the car but i think the increase they are quoting is over the top for the mods i was going to do, i may not do them now

I think some insurers are averse to mods full stop. In some cases people might be close to the threshold in terms of their existing premium, i.e. any additional loading puts them into another bracket.

I don't personally buy the argument that it's a racket. There's enough insurance companies around competing with eachother that if one of them chose to load policies disproportionately they'd simply price themselves out of the market. What's more believable is that your "high street" (like that's a thing anymore) insurers are aiming at unmodified vehicles, simple to price, etc whereas specialists are more open to modifications (with a suitably higher premium).

You get what you pay for really. For me personally I went with Novo because they have bespoke Tesla coverage, and my car is covered at an agreed value including the PPF & labour, as well as a variety of other Tesla benefits like charging cable theft coverage, etc. It costs more than your average policy but I don't want to sacrifice peace of mind to save a few quid, I want to know that I can rely on the policy if it comes to it.

 

[GRiLLA]

How about Performance Boost?

Is there any experience on here about the additional insurance loading it causes?

Churchill certainly don't increase the premium for the Model 3 LR Performance Boost, but it's perhaps worth getting them to note it for you. AFAIK the LR and P model 3 are both in the top insurance group.

 

[Electric Jim]

The performance boost is a standard Tesla option, not a modification, surely.

I don't need to let the insurance company know if I put 19inch Tesla wheels on or order the white interior. Do I need to tell the insurance company if I take the wheel covers off?

If I went to a 3rd party and tuned my car then I would consider that a modification.

 

[Durzel]

I suspect cars getting significant performance boosts from the manufacturer are a new thing for insurers.

I would not want to gamble on insurance not paying out or whatever by not declaring something that is as substantial as the Performance Boost upgrade, but that's just me.

That being said, as said above, both LR and P are in insurance group 50D so are already heavily loaded.

 

[Alistairuk]

The performance boost is a standard Tesla option, not a modification, surely.

I don't need to let the insurance company know if I put 19inch Tesla wheels on or order the white interior. Do I need to tell the insurance company if I take the wheel covers off?

If I went to a 3rd party and tuned my car then I would consider that a modification.

If you want them to be “covered” by your insurance then yes you normally do...

For instance “autopilot” is standard on all the UK models but you should still declare it as technically it’s an add on - it will also lower your premium by £40 if with Churchill.

 

[doats1]

If you want them to be “covered” by your insurance then yes you normally do...

For instance “autopilot” is standard on all the UK models but you should still declare it as technically it’s an add on - it will also lower your premium by £40 if with Churchill.

Maybe I got unlucky with the 3 different people I spoke to at Churchill, but I mentioned autopilot to all of them and they all said that as it's standard in my car, it's already been factored into the quote and I don't need to declare it, nor do I get a discount. I was quoted August this year.

They were still the cheapest though so I went with them in the end.

 

[MrBadger]

Maybe I got unlucky with the 3 different people I spoke to at Churchill, but I mentioned autopilot to all of them and they all said that as it's standard in my car, it's already been factored into the quote and I don't need to declare it, nor do I get a discount. I was quoted August this year.

I found same with DL, even when pushed on at least 2 occasions.

We have declared FSD and tow, both noted.

When I tried an online quote at renewal with LV and declared the same (nothing specific for FSD so I think it went in under other), the computer said no.

 

[Drew57]

I informed Direct Line about the Performance Boost, the advisor checked with a supervisor & then added a note to my policy without any additional premium.

 

[15Peter20]

Nothing to add except to say I love your username

Peace and f**king.

Ha, thanks. Under appreciated, sadly prescient, comedy gold in my opinion.

 

[15Peter20]

If you want them to be “covered” by your insurance then yes you normally do...

For instance “autopilot” is standard on all the UK models but you should still declare it as technically it’s an add on - it will also lower your premium by £40 if with Churchill.

Crikey, so you’re saying that if my car is lost or written-off then my software enabled features are lost too unless specifically insured?
Strange new world....

 

[Vinny2102]

I know Churchill dont care about rear tints and you dont even have to inform them, I asked before taking out my policy on the live chat and I also got it in writing to be safe.