AvantSE Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Got my renewal through from Elephant the other day - looks like a good price. I decided I'd give them a ring to see how much extra they would charge if I had my 130bhp TDi remapped to a modest 160bhp by a local firm. I was told that it was an "unacceptably high risk" and they would not be in a position to insure the car if I went ahead. So, 160bhp... not exactly a huge amount of power is it? I am not going to bother now but just wondered why this is the case when there are obviously far more powerful cars out there that they WOULD insure (inc the 250bhp T5 V70 I had before the Audi)? Are they just 'scared' of modified cars for no particular reason? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
encee Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Mate, I believe it`s just a "risk" thing with them, as they start to look at you as more of a potential risk, because of the fact that you are looking to increase the power of your car, than someone who buys a higher-powered car in the first place. At what point this becomes logical to them I`m not sure ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 [ QUOTE ] Got my renewal through from Elephant the other day - looks like a good price. I decided I'd give them a ring to see how much extra they would charge if I had my 130bhp TDi remapped to a modest 160bhp by a local firm. I was told that it was an "unacceptably high risk" and they would not be in a position to insure the car if I went ahead. So, 160bhp... not exactly a huge amount of power is it? I am not going to bother now but just wondered why this is the case when there are obviously far more powerful cars out there that they WOULD insure (inc the 250bhp T5 V70 I had before the Audi)? Are they just 'scared' of modified cars for no particular reason? [/ QUOTE ] Other companies will insure you. Might be worth calling them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 [ QUOTE ] Got my renewal through from Elephant the other day - looks like a good price. I decided I'd give them a ring to see how much extra they would charge if I had my 130bhp TDi remapped to a modest 160bhp by a local firm. I was told that it was an "unacceptably high risk" and they would not be in a position to insure the car if I went ahead. [/ QUOTE ] That's odd. It depends who you speak to there as the first time I enquired they said "No, only a chip upgrade would be insured." The next time I spoke to them, they said they would insure my remapped GTI as its within 25% power increase. I would try calling again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted January 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Funny you should say that - first chappy said I'd rung the wrong department but if it was 25% it should be OK. Phoned renewals and they said no. I suppose it is a bit over 25% if they are being pedantic. I could try somewhere else but when I was finding quotes for the car as it is now - i.e. standard apart from the wheels - Elephant were the cheapest by quite a long way in a lot of cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby_simon Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Odd, 130 - 160 is just UNDER 25%. maybe they just have standard rating rules and this is flagged as it's over 20% (This is a guess as I no longer have access to this software / rules). A lot of the "bucket shops" are very automated and so if the profile does not fit, they just decline the cover.... I'd ring again and ask a few more questions and maybe try and escalate it up to someone with a brain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted January 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Dur, you're right Simon. It has been a long day. I will try again - an extra 30bhp would be useful to have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Let me know how you get on? I'm intending insuring with them as my renewal is due very soon. The quote is so much cheaper than anyone else, including Greenlight, albeit the terms are only 10 months in duration. Still get the NCB though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted January 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Only thing I would say about them is that they will only pay out on standard kit. e.g. my wife's car has heated seats as a factory option; they class this as a modification and would only pay out for a normal seat to be fitted if, for example, the heated one caught fire and needed to be replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve2 Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 i have had a quote from Adrian Flux today for my A6 1.9TDI as my present insurer do not want to know and AFis cheaper as well so im going to be speaking to my insurer very soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3_Scot Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 I have modified insured with elephant (as amazing price) & had no problems. A supervisor talked to me & tacked on some money and bling.. insurance! I would try again. They have loads of numbers so maybe call one that isn't the standard sales line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brisel Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Since I started with Elephant, I have had all my mods done one at a time - Haldex PP, followed by Milltek, brake upgrade & now an air induction kit. Each time they have just said ok, that will be X pounds extra please. Ask for a bloke called Mervyn - he knows his mods! Even commented on how good Millteks were! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Try Noel Dazely. They are sensible with mods, and many do not attract an increase. Like for like as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisg Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 personally I wouldn't be dealing with a company that classed a heated seat as a mod and replace with a standard model..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biscuits Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 I opted for BMW insurance this time round, they wanted to know ALL of the optional extras FACTORY fitted to the car, BUT they were still cheaper than my previous company (Academy) so I went with them.... .... not overly fussed with a bit of a premium increase if (when) I get a remap, but would they inform BMW and knobble my warranty ?!!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted January 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 [ QUOTE ] personally I wouldn't be dealing with a company that classed a heated seat as a mod and replace with a standard model..... [/ QUOTE ] It riled me a bit but then they were £533.35 to renew and not £996 which is what Swinton quoted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted January 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Quick update - I phoned today to change the card details to my new 0% card, so I can pay the premium over a few months rather than in one hit, and won't incur any interest. I asked again about the chip - "Oh yes, there is a note here - we would cover it but it would be £700+ for your premium...". So I haven't bothered. Will stick with the stock 130bhp rather than pay an extra £200 plus the cost of the chip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Elephant will insure the mods, but they do not replace like for like, so I wouldn't bother with them. With regards to the £700 extra, that is ludicrous. They wanted to charge me an extra £200 for my Revo stage 1. Now going with Adrian Flux as they insure all mods (and don't classify heated leather, cruise, xenons etc as mods) for less than elephant AND its all covered like for like. Try Adrian Flux. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted January 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Sorry, should've phrased it better. What I meant was, the premium would total over £700. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3_Scot Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 Its quite expensive overall and you will just drive faster... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alera Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 Seriously limits you panel of insurers in you start modding engines / chips etc. Most direct insurers wont touch cars with performance modifications.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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