[Boz335i]

I'm getting a bit pissed off with my insurance company (Admiral). Every time I do a slight mod they want either £50 or £75 depending on what it is.

Kind of reminds me of Peter Butterworth in carry on camping, where everything is a pound extra.

Put a set of 313's on - £75 extra a year.
Perf Exhaust - £75 extra pa (charging me for a whole exhaust so I suppose that leaves me ok to fit downpipes)
Asked about a diffuser - £50 pa (said that would cover all exterior cosmetic mods, but doesn't cover a spoiler)
Asked about a spoiler - £50 pa
Asked about air filter change - £50 pa
Didn't even bother asking about a JB4

Just wondered if there were any other companies out there a bit more sympathetic towards mods?

I did put a fictitious quote into a company claiming to understand mods more than other companies. Came out at £1200 with £700 excess. Current insurance £450pa + £150pa for the wheels/exhaust with £250 excess.

[DarkAnt335i]

Can't answer the question of 'Just wondered if there were any other companies out there a bit more sympathetic towards mods'

But i have been with Admiral for nearly 2 years now. My previous 2 cars have been modified. They seem to make the prices up as they go along. E.g. I called 1 month before adding a map and some wheels to my Mazda i was quoted £50 for the Wheels a £25 (which did seem cheap) for the map. When i called back on the day of the mods the price had miraculously increased to £76 something for the map. I pointed out i had called previous and had another price quoted to me, at which point they agreed to only charge me £50 for both mod.

Similar thing happened on my next car, i added an upgraded rear engine mount and remap and managed to get them to do them both for £50.

On that basis i assume prices are somewhat negotiable.

[Boz335i]

Originally Posted by DarkAnt335i

Similar thing happened on my next car, i added an upgraded rear engine mount and remap and managed to get them to do them both for £50.

When you asked about a remap, what sort of questions did they ask: % increase etc?

How much performance increase was your map?, as that does seem cheap. Thanks.

[doughboy]

They all hammer you if you keep adding things drip by drip, its hardly suprising as they will have a minimum ammendment charge for admin etc.

Admiral were way the best for me last year with all mods quoted from the outset, about 25% extra on the standard car.

Re JB4, just declare it as a 'chip/modified engine management' don't start mentioning 'plug in piggy back unit imported from the US etc'

I'm just requoting now, Best:

Standard - £360 (esure)

Modded - £650 (elephant)

Admiral are nowhere to be seen this year. I'm quite happy with £650 (3 points, 1 small parking accident 2009)

We've moved out of Manchester now, last year I was paying £1400.

[B005T3D-G]

Elephant are Admirals sister company. I was with elephant for years then when getting a quote for the 335i I was asked if I wanted a Multi-Car policy and as it would save a chunk of money I agreed. Elephant don't do multi car (or at least didn't at the time) so they then put me on to Admiral who I hold my current policy with.

£750 a year for a fully modded STi and my 335i.

[doughboy]

I tried multicar, but there was no saving at all. Who knows how these computer systems work!

[B005T3D-G]

Multi-Car quotes are only available through direct contact. Best bet is to phone them.

[seanblee]

I'm with Green Light, who just seem to charge a £25 admin charge every time you add something, but the premium doesn't alter. I was too nervous to just declare everything I had planned at the outset, as I wasn't sure the policy would be valid if it listed mods that weren't fitted - anyone know how that works?

[DarkAnt335i]

Originally Posted by Boz335i

When you asked about a remap, what sort of questions did they ask: % increase etc?

How much performance increase was your map?, as that does seem cheap. Thanks.

Yeah they ask what % power increase cant remember the exact split but i know there we 3 options (something like 5-10% 10-20% 20% and over). The MPS was about a 18% increase in power. It was defiantly a lot cheaper than expected, maybe the previous person miss-quoted the price but that was the price i ended up paying. Maybe it was the fact they dropped both admin charges, as i complained, and just charged for the mods???

Forgot to mention on my original Mazda i also had coilovers, for which they told me there was no charge BUT my policy would be reviewed at the end of term due to the amount of modification... totalling 3!!! Fortunately i changed my car before then

Admiral Multicar policy saved us a fair amount on our cars around £300 for the pair. You do have to call them to get the best quote.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by B005T3D-G

Multi-Car quotes are only available through direct contact. Best bet is to phone them.

It was direct on the phone, they put it through multiquote and it wasn't even £10 cheaper, not worth the hassle. (£1400 for the 335i and £800 for the missus 1.8 civic)

Now we don't live in the Bronx anymore, I'll be trying it again this year over the next week though.

Re the the JB4, as I only ever use it on map 1 then +20% is enough!

[gIzzE]

I use Liverpool Victoria.

They do charge extra for mods but not much.

My E320cdi was £610 and with the Brabus chip added it was £680.

They also allow you to add a second car with full no claims etc.

[doughboy]

For me LV would only allow 2 mods of any description, any more and 'no quote'.

[Boz335i]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Re the the JB4, as I only ever use it on map 1 then +20% is enough!

Like it, I'll remember that one

[Kerr]

Adrian Flux were good in the past for modified cars.

[doughboy]

Just done a round of comparision sites and Elephant wins every one for me this year, by some margin at £600 odd with chip / suspension / intake mods / wheel spacers

Onto the direct calls next.......

[rsmallwo]

don't declare mods till renewal time. you will get stung on the admin charges.

I recently had my roof repaired under my Admiral policy and I hadn't declared my m3 lip spoiler. Still all went through fine. Funny thing is, I even got the bodyshop (BMW approved not admiral approved) to stick the spoiler back down abit better as it was coming off on one side, they did this for no charge

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by doughboy

For me LV would only allow 2 mods of any description, any more and 'no quote'.

Strange one Mike, I use LV and declare more than two mods with no problems.

I will try Elephant though, as I usually alternate between LV & Directline,which ever is cheaper come renewal.

[zltm089]

I decided to stay with admiral....multi car policy....negotiated the premium down by £300!!!!!.....I said "speak to whoever you want, if i don't get a discount, i'm fuckin off elsewhere....i don't care because the service is crap anyways.....i didn't receive any paperwork last year so i'm ready to leave."

[nicktyler]

The best place I have found for modded cars is SKY Insurance. They area a broker but allways give by far the cheapest quotes in my experience and don't allways charge admin fees for adding things.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

Strange one Mike, I use LV and declare more than two mods with no problems.

That was last year though, in Manchester, i've yet to try them direct for this year.

Originally Posted by rsmallwo

don't declare mods till renewal time. you will get stung on the admin charges.

I recently had my roof repaired under my Admiral policy and I hadn't declared my m3 lip spoiler. Still all went through fine. Funny thing is, I even got the bodyshop (BMW approved not admiral approved) to stick the spoiler back down abit better as it was coming off on one side, they did this for no charge

I'm sure noone would give a hoot about a lip spoiler, if anyone even noticed anyway.

There's a risk there of course of having a claim in between, small body work claims etc are not an issue, they'll just pay up, I mean PROPER accidents where accident investigators are involved and potential costs are huge - those are the ones where they will look to wriggle out of paying - and those are the ones where you really need your insurance!

[Real Thing]

Originally Posted by Boz335i

When you asked about a remap, what sort of questions did they ask: % increase etc?

How much performance increase was your map?, as that does seem cheap. Thanks.

Just had my TT-RS remapped. With Admiral % Increases were 0-10%, 11-25% and above 26% I went from 340 to 410 bhp (11 -25%) Premium was £510 for the year 6 months left to run cost me another £105

[creepy coupe]

Mr fiddler