Insurance....running out of time and options!

8BallAddict

8BallAddict

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Hi all,

I have had a search through the forums and insurance section but still appear to be running out of options! Even Chris Knott have just refused me!!! :shrug:

Currently insured with Admiral - reasonable price for my stock S4. Problem is.....in 4 days my stock S4 will turn into a 'somewhat' modded S4 with a full APR stage 2 upgrade. Admiral wont insure it as it's over a 10bhp increase. I've tried MoreThan, Aviva, Direct Line and just got off the phone to Chris Knott - all saying no due to the mods. Adrian Flux were supposed to phone me back 2 hours ago but clearly they don't want my business as not heard from them - thinking they might be my last shot. Did get a quote from a broker using company called Midas Insurance yesterday but was north of £600. Anyone had any dealings with this company?

I am pretty surprised that I'm finding it difficult to get a decent quote, or indeed a quote at all - guess that's why some people go down the route of not declaring mods! Speaking of which, obviously I am going to declare all the mods and I'm sure everyone on here has also been honest but what is the general consensus on this subject? To declare or not to declare....?

So here's my particulars....

35 year old, single, clean licence, held for 16 years, 8 years no claims, 10k annual mileage, garaged overnight and no claims or points etc etc.

And the car....

2011 S4, £20k value. Declaring ECU remap and Intake. Currently 330 bhp, soon to be upwards of 450 bhp.

Anyone got any advise on where I'm going wrong or a different company to try?

Cheers!
 
Ah, the reality and cost of having fun! My car came with what Audi Dundee described as a "sports exhaust" - Milltek in other words, declaring that with Admiral hurt quite a bit! I think that I need to knock the annual mileage in my policy down quite a bit, as that seems to help things!
 
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Have you tried LV?
I'm with them all mods declared. The only stipulation was a tracker.
 
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Surprised about Admiral. Things must have changed. I had a +20% bhp remap declared on my B7 which cost an extra £35 from memory.
 
I used to be with Adrian flux with my b6 but they increased it year on year.

I'm now through a broker called sky insurance, it seems to be the more mods the better with them.

I've not added anything to my b8 yet and it's a few years since I made changes to my b6 but I'm pretty sure they didn't charge me any extra for adding brakes coilovers wheels exhaust etc

Ryan
 
Just had a flick through Google. Some people say you have to declare all factory fit extras with admiral???
Is that correct? If so I could be in for a surprise
 
Wouldn't it be best to hold off on the work and make sure you'll be able to get it insured?

Will be **** if you get all the work done and either the premiums are through the roof or you can't get it insured.
 
Last edited:
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Leyton388 said:
Wouldn't it be best to hold off on the work and make sure you'll be able to get it insured?

Will be **** if you get all the work done and either the premiums are through the roof or you can't get it insured.
Click to expand...
Haha, no way! That's far too sensible for me, if I want something I'll always find a way to make it happen. I know I can get it insured, I've got two quotes on the table but just trying to get the best deal I can.
 
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rizzini7 said:
Just had a flick through Google. Some people say you have to declare all factory fit extras with admiral???
Is that correct? If so I could be in for a surprise
Click to expand...
They never asked for any of that when I took out my policy on my B7 A4 or when I changed to the S4. I'd be surprised if that is the case, never been asked that by any insurer in the past.
 
8BallAddict said:
They never asked for any of that when I took out my policy on my B7 A4 or when I changed to the S4. I'd be surprised if that is the case, never been asked that by any insurer in the past.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought, never asked me either. I just said remap and intake as mods. Surely the optional extras are what you take into consideration when you give the value
 
rizzini7 said:
Just had a flick through Google. Some people say you have to declare all factory fit extras with admiral???
Is that correct? If so I could be in for a surprise
Click to expand...
Yes you do. When I bought my S4 I was with Admiral, they wanted to know about all the factory fit options. It was a right PITA. I have sports diff which was not easy to fit into a pigeon hole the computer liked! I didn't stay with them long as I was not confident they wouldn't wiggle out of paying. I'm with Aviva now. I double checked with them about the factory fit options and they didn't need to know.

Last time I looked Direct Line were also now doing this. :(

Nightmare.
 
audi upgrades
scotty76 said:
Yes you do. When I bought my S4 I was with Admiral, they wanted to know about all the factory fit options. It was a right PITA. I have sports diff which was not easy to fit into a pigeon hole the computer liked! I didn't stay with them long as I was not confident they wouldn't wiggle out of paying. I'm with Aviva now. I double checked with them about the factory fit options and they didn't need to know.

Last time I looked Direct Line were also now doing this. :(

Nightmare.
Click to expand...
This is one of the reasons I always do my insurance on the phone, not online. The other reason is that there's never an accurate option to select for my occupation.
 
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...try Greenlight on 01277 650866...
...always done well for me...they specialise in modified cars - with a value up to £20K...ask for Neil or Dan or Darren...tell them you know me (Simon Hales)...
 
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Sky were the only ones that gave me a reasonable quote when i bought my S4. Prestige were good for my heavily modded A3 1.8t though. I've also heard of a lot of people using brentacre, they usually just give you a bhp limit and thats it as far as mod restrictions go
 
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This recently happened to me and gave Adrian Flux a ring - declared all mods and power level to be hit with £400.01 which was actually cheaper than last years by nearly £150. Low excess, protected NCB, clean license at that time so chopped their hand off. Very easy process and only had to fill in a modifications list and value for each mod. Can't grumble but have heard afew being given astrinomically high quotes from them though.
 
scotty76 said:
Surprised about Admiral. Things must have changed. I had a +20% bhp remap declared on my B7 which cost an extra £35 from memory.
Click to expand...

rizzini7 said:
Just had a flick through Google. Some people say you have to declare all factory fit extras with admiral???
Is that correct? If so I could be in for a surprise
Click to expand...

I think what annoyed me about the amount added for the Milltek exhaust, was that I was guessing that I had crossed a boundary, and maybe I could have added other upgrades to the car without paying much is any more for the cover.

On the subject of factory fitted options, I'm not sure if Audi standard fit was 19" 7 twin spokes back in February 2011 - certainly when I was looking to buy that car, all S4s for sale first reg'd from 2010 to early 2011 all came fitted with 19" wheels, so I believe I did not mention wheels this time, I did for my 2001MY Passat, just in case I changed wheels.
 
I had a modded B5 S4 for 10 years and had a few different insurers. Over that time I have noticed a trend for insurers leaving the modded market (mostly by pricing high, but I did have one suddenly stop covering modded cars altogether). For the last few years I have been swapping between the two brokers Chris Knott and A-Plan. But for some reason Chris Knott can no longer get a better deal than A-Plan. So since it hasn't been mentioned yet I advise the OP to try A-Plan.
 
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scotty76 said:
Yes you do. When I bought my S4 I was with Admiral, they wanted to know about all the factory fit options. It was a right PITA. I have sports diff which was not easy to fit into a pigeon hole the computer liked! I didn't stay with them long as I was not confident they wouldn't wiggle out of paying. I'm with Aviva now. I double checked with them about the factory fit options and they didn't need to know.

Last time I looked Direct Line were also now doing this. :(

Nightmare.
Click to expand...

Well that sucks, will ask them when I finally get my plates on and ring up to change the insurance. If it's the case can see me changing at renewal time
 
rizzini7 said:
Well that sucks, will ask them when I finally get my plates on and ring up to change the insurance. If it's the case can see me changing at renewal time
Click to expand...
They definitely asked me on the phone when I changed the insurance over to the S4 but this was June 2014. I dug out the current policy wording to see what it says....
We will not pay:

- any modifications, unless they form part of the manufacturers standard specification,
or are optional extras that we have agreed to cover. See also Extra Conditions (endorsement 11)

11. Standard parts replacement
Your policy does not cover any non standard parts (modifications). Manufacturer’s optional
extras are only covered if they have been declared and we have agreed to arrange cover for them.

If you make a claim for loss or damage to your car, we will only pay the cost of replacing parts
needed for your car to meet the manufacturer’s specification.
Click to expand...
 
Just had a look on admiral

"Modifying your motor
When you arrange your car insurance cover you need to tell us about any modifications and optional extras on your car as not all types can be covered.
If you plan on modifying your car in any way during the policy term you will need to let us know as this could affect the car’s value or power.
Similarly, you need to let us know about any optional extras your car may have. Any Mini or BMW owners out there are probably well aware of the incredible number of optional extras available when you buy a new car."
 
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That must be very difficult for people who've bought models second hand; to establish exactly what options are fitted. At least having bought mine new, I can always show a potential insurer the original order form and invoice.
 
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jdp1962 said:
That must be very difficult for people who've bought models second hand; to establish exactly what options are fitted. At least having bought mine new, I can always show a potential insurer the original order form and invoice.
Click to expand...
Totally agree Jeff. I mean a few years down the line how would you ever know what was standard or an option?!
 
Flux direct come up cheapest for me at the moment.
May use them come renewal
 
I remember reading that bit of info that Admiral sent out, so their customers have been warned! I think that it is the general insurance reaction to the current issue with cars from Audi, BMW and Mini ect maybe having been loaded up by at least 15% with factory fitted options, some of which also include power upgrades - which really brings them into a much higher insurance band than the basic catalogue model's spec would have. At the end of the day, there is no such thing as "an honest mistake" - just a lack of checking on the owner's part - now how many of us just wander off and buy a highly spec'd accidentally? Take responsibility as if you don't it might just bite you in the bottom!
 
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