Decisions, decisions. Lowering vs Insurance

M@Turner · Post by **M@Turner** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 8:17 pm

What a dilemma i'm in.

I've just bought some coilovers second hand and was extremely excited about getting them fitted for inters.

Unfortunately my mum, who is officially the car owner and policy holder of the insurance, has found out and is not impressed. I'm only a named driver so its my mum who gets the s**t if i'm in an accident.

Here are my options.
1, get the coilovers fitted but only slam it for shows and not tell my mother or the insurance company.
2, fit the coilies, tell my mum to change insurance companies and pay an extra Â£444 to be insured.
3, don't fit the coilies and refurbish them so they look mint when i put them on. (next year)

At the minute i'm biased towards 3. i don't want to lie to my mum and get shafted by the insurance company incase i have an accident. And i also cant afford the initail new insurance charge, until i receive my money back from the current insurers.

If only Zurich would cover for lowering modifications.

Help me decide!

Mat

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 8:36 pm

Don't try to fit something like coilovers without telling your insurers.. a little bit here and there like an induction kit or whatever can easily enough by removed given three minutes and a spanner if you have an accident.. I'd like to see you attempt to change a full suspension setup by the side of the road if you had a bump

I'd go for (Edit: 2) or 3 depending on how much extra you'd have to add to your premium.

robz · Post by **robz** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:02 pm

id def not advise u 2 go 4 no.1, 2 seems good but if u cant afford it then i suggest no.3 wins!

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 11:52 pm

Mat, no. 3 is the route I am looking at as my insurers are pretty similar regarding mods, they want me to be over 25 before I can do anything. I'm either waiting until September '05 (renewal time) or May '06 before applying the parts I'm slowly stockpiling as the months go by. I can still apply the little things like aero wipers, sunglasses holder and refurbed alloys (refurbed to same colour see) without endangering my insurance terms, whilst having to leave mods like coilies, 'zorst and B&M until I'm 25 or insured with someone else!

dubpolo · Post by **dubpolo** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 6:35 pm

well you know what i think

but you need to decide! if you choose number 1 or 2 ill see you next saturday (spanners at the ready)

mikegti · Post by **mikegti** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:42 pm

GroovyCarrot wrote:Don't try to fit something like coilovers without telling your insurers.. a little bit here and there like an induction kit or whatever can easily enough by removed given three minutes and a spanner if you have an accident..

unless you've really stacked it and are upside down in a ditch!

I think you should fit them and damn the expense!!! you wont believe the difference to the handling once they're on

i'm a hypocrite cos i did fit my springs and B&M without declaring them. I will when i change insurers though.)

Elephant just charged me 53 quid for changing address, and there's only 5 months left on the policy, AND it will be garaged which it wasnt before!

they're all theiving gits!!

zekegti · Post by **zekegti** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:27 pm

I wouldn't fit them. Insurance companies are just looking for an excuse not to pay out, and as its not even your policy that would be a pretty poor show if you mum gets put in the situation of losing her insurance at the time of an accident.

Worse comes to worse she could see jail time if her insurance is void (sorry don't mean to scare you into not doing it)

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:57 pm

yeah coilovers are pretty obvious - just springs are less so

if I did springs I wouldn't declare, but if I did coilovers I would

however, my insurers don't mind mods - so my springs ARE declared.

M@Turner · Post by **M@Turner** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 9:34 pm

Cheers for the replys guys.

Things seem to be looking up. My mum seems to have come to the decision that i'm paying for the car so i can do what i want to it. However i have to be insured.

Looks like tomorrow every car insurance company will be rang. Any suggestions on companys that are quite good with mods.

If i can get insured for around the Â£1000 mark, then all systems are go.

If not then i can't be bothered with all the hassle and i'll just fit them at a later date.

Mat

robz · Post by **robz** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 10:45 am

http://www.quotea.co.uk

Id gives these guys a try, ive jst been insured with them & they were a gd bit cheaper than most.
Although try Admiral/Elephant ive found them 2 b the cheapest jst they dnt wanna insure me.

Now that i think of it tho, i dnt think they r 2 keen 2 insure any1 whos car is lowered mre than 50mm

M7 · Post by M7 » Sun Apr 24, 2005 1:20 pm

i was in similar dilema.

my car was on company insurance to keep it cheap. they told me i could mod it slightly, and let me have my rims and stereo in. so then i went and bought some springs, got them fitted, rang up and told them.

they kinda said are you mad, you cant lower a company car! they then told me they wouldnt be insuring me anymore as they didnt trust me because they springs were already fitted. they said my policy was void as long as they were on.

to teach me a lesson, my dad made me change policys to another company and i have to pay the full wack myself now.

but on the bright side of that, i chose the insurers and made sure i got one who didnt mind springs etc

i would ALWAYS declare mod's to the insurance company. they are the ones who have all the money if you get in bother!

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 3:11 pm

2fast4u wrote:i would ALWAYS declare mod's to the insurance company. they are the ones who have all the money if you get in bother!

Presactly

13twelve · Post by **13twelve** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 9:43 am

the springs on mine didnt really put my insurance up

after i put the wheels on they were not bothered about the springs - probably cost me Â£20 extra