what do you need to declare?

Hi

I am wondering how detailed you need to be in declaring mods

Do I need to declare rolled rear arches, wider wheels on the back, kevlar hoses, uprated brake discs etc?

It's just that when you get someone on the other end of the phone who knows nothing about cars and you say rolled arches, they immediately panic and don't want to insure you for what I consider to be a very minor mod

tough one - but the position is pretty clear.  If you don't decalre everything the insurers will resist payment when you come to claim.  Try doing your application by mail and photo's.  

M

Where are the kevlar hoses?

The guy who had the car before me had contacts with someone who manufactures kevlar reinforced hoses

He supposedly changed all the water hoses in the engine for these

I'd say for things like hoses, electrical wires, etc then no need to declare this. Basically, if you were working at a garage and couldn't get the original VW part, but could get another - fair game. So this could apply for aftermarket discs, pads but not bigger discs or race pads. Also, say your engine was replaced with another, again so long as its more/less the same spec, then no need to declare. But if you increased the capacity, compression ratio, or went from carb to fuel injection, need to declare. If you replaced your stock carb with a Weber - no need to declare. But if you replaced GTI fuel injection, or single carb, with twin webers, declare.

Basically if you've made the modification to improve or enhance the car - declare. If the mod has been done during the normal course of maintenance and repair - no need.

What happens if you are to fit new anti roll bars and polybushing?is this considered okay, being 19 its pretty sketchy to modify and insure...

welchy said

What happens if you are to fit new anti roll bars and polybushing?is this considered okay, being 19 its pretty sketchy to modify and insure…

Strictly speaking, these are the kinds of questions you would need to ask your insurance company. New anti roll bars - if they are uprated or additional over the stock ones - yes declare. If not, then no.

Bushes are a grey area, they are obviously an upgrade but I believe the originals are no longer available (for some), so you might be forced into an upgrade…….

Thanks, will have to look into it as i need a new policy and quote..

I'm struggling to see how a set of bushes are going to I'mprove the power or performance of a car??

A5OPY said

I'm struggling to see how a set of bushes are going to I'mprove the power or performance of a car??

Its to do with psychology though. Someone who fits uprated bushes to his car, is a bit of a "boy racer" and they are statistically perceived as a higher risk by insurance companies. Its the same argument with uprated brakes.

People don't understand that insurance companies evolve the way they classify risk all the time, the more data they use the fairer it is - but on that balance, some people pay more, some less.

I know you are supposed to declare everything, but no insurance engineer i no will get on there hands and knees and look under your car for different colour bushes. And to be honest the majority of cars are inspected by the repairing garage and the insurance companys get images sent to them.  

But saying all that it is best to declare as much as you think as when it comes to paying up they will try and find means and ways of not paying.