Insurance on re-mapped vehicle - what is your experience?

[Thon]

Hi Everybody,

I am asking this question as I would like to re-map my 3.0 TDI Quattro and found a significant barrier in the insurance. My current policy is around £480 F.C and when I asked Direct Line if they would insure me with a re-map, they said they would providing it was a maximum of 20% increase in BHP, and would basically double my premium. I was trying to achieve the best MPG rather than increase power but most re-maps exceed 20% and although I am all for reducing the fuel consumption, it seems a bit barmy to spend the thick end of £500 a year plus the cost of the re-map to achieve a 3-5 MPG gain.

Any advice would be appreciated as at present I just feel like forgetting the whole idea.

Many Thanks in advance, Jonathan.

[Sam]

Direct Line are a mainstream company

You're better off finding a specialist. We have a few who sponsor VWAF (see my sig) and I can personally recommend Adrian Flux.

[Eshrules]

Adrian flux again here - used them with the polo and they were the only company who would touch my age, my area and my 'modifications' (serves me right for dropping it over 3 inches :naughty:)

[darich]

my last insurer was RAC (who I'd consider mainstream) and they covered my remap. Without remap my renewal was £320. With remap and several phonecalls RAC covered me for around £420.
When that policy had run its course I used a comparison site and declared the remap (engine chip as they call it and the power increase which is/was around 17%) and the comparison site returned 6 quotes around £305 again.....including my current company but £100 cheaper......go figure.

Anyway....I bought it online complete with declarations of remap, non standard alloys and retro cruise control and it was around £305. Fully comp too.

I appreciate that's quite cheap but I'm on max NCD and in a good postcode. Main thing is, I found insuring modified car not too difficult at all.

I'd check carefully if your remap increases power by more than 20%.....it might make a difference if it pushes you into a new bracket.

[Thon]

You seem to have done well - I am similarly NCD qualified, 43 and in a leafy part of Surrey so would expect reasonable costs. I do also have business use and 20K pa mileage allowance.

My proposed remap was 201 to 255 BHP, which is more than 25%. I will try some specialists and declare a re-map when I renew and see what happens.

Thanks for all of the replies so far.

[darich]

My declared mileage is something like 10k but in real life it's closer to 6-7k. I also don't have business use.

[Big G star]

Direct Line are a mainstream company

You're better off finding a specialist. We have a few who sponsor VWAF (see my sig) and I can personally recommend Adrian Flux.

+1 on adrian flux, they were cheaper even with remap and other mods than most mainstream company's were for a std un-modified car!


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[Splash]

I've used Primo plc for my cars, and they are very practical regarding any modifications declared. They cover my bike too, and specialise in multi -vehicle cover on the basis you can only be riding or driving one at any time.

[Boxa786]

My insurance is due for renewal and I want to check some of this sites sponsors. From your link in your sig mycarsavw, I can only find Sky insurance and then right at the bootom, Chris nott, but you and others have recommended Adrian Flux, where is his link?

Thanks

[Brycie]

I did get a quote from Chris Knott some time ago & they were excellent. At the time, I checked Money Supermarket, Go Compare, Compare The Market, Confused.com and Direct Line; plus I got a quote from my existing insurer (LV Budget who I found the previous year by doing a similarly comprehensive search).

Chris Knott beat all of the other quotes (next cheapest was renewing with LV Budget) plus they offered far lower excess and more extras to boot. I was very impressed. I did try to get a quote from one other site sponsor but they never responded to my answerphone message so I can't give feedback.

I didn't try Adrian Flux so can't comment. Not sure if I've misunderstood what you were saying Darich, but I've added business use on several of my policies with various insurers & it's never added a penny onto my policy. Adding the Wife as a named driver however did reduce my premium, despite her having a single car accident in 2009.

[Sam]

My insurance is due for renewal and I want to check some of this sites sponsors. From your link in your sig mycarsavw, I can only find Sky insurance and then right at the bootom, Chris nott, but you and others have recommended Adrian Flux, where is his link?

Thanks

Our insurers have their own section here - VW Audi Forum Insurance Scheme Sponsored by Sky Insurance (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?205-VW-Audi-Forum-Insurance-Scheme-Sponsored-by-Sky-Insurance)

Unfortunately Adrian Flux aren't site sponsors but they are my personal favourite. I first used them in the mid 90s and I've used them on and off since - I've held my current policy with them for the past 5 years.

[Mike2.0TQ]

what mods would you say are declarable? Darich, I see that you declared your retro cruise but this is an Audi option, unlike aftermarket wheels or engine chip. Would you therefore need to declare a retro fit MFSW??

[darich]

what mods would you say are declarable? Darich, I see that you declared your retro cruise but this is an Audi option, unlike aftermarket wheels or engine chip. Would you therefore need to declare a retro fit MFSW??

Mike
In my experience (more recently anyway) is that any option whether retro fitted or not must be declared. Presumably it affects the value of the car. It may also mean that certain items might require to be replaced in the event of theft or damage and it could be difficult if not declared initially.
Fitting anything to the car that might be considered a modification should be declared and if it makes the car more desirable to thieves then the risk is higher and the premium adjusted accordingly.
In many cases the insurer may simply say that they must be declared but in the event of a theft (eg alloy wheel theft), the original factory wheels will be supplied, rather than the retro fitted ones declared whether Audi supplied or not.

My last car had a long list of options fitted at the factory and I pretty much had to read out the advert from the dealer to ensure everything was listed. Things like xenons, upgraded sounds system, heated seats, wind deflector (car was a Z4 convertible), certain alloys and a few others were all declared to the insurer. Base model might cost a few thousand less than a high spec model (with same engine) so second hand value will be higher. Also more desirable for thieves.
I do know that my Z4 cost over £36k when bought new with all the options included - the options probably added at least £3-4k to the base model.

Each insurer is different but that's my experience.

[clockwork]

I'd also recommend Adrian Flux, I've got all 3 of my cars insured with them, two with agreed values and now the A4.