My car could originally be bought with an upgrade option (90bhp Vs 80) but this was not marked with DVLA in any way - same model, just a remap and new tik (it isn't an option on insurance applications either).
Mine was 80 and I had the upgrade done to 90 last year. I declared this to insurers, giving a 20% increase in premium. I am now wondering if I really needed to (probably not) and can I stop bothering (no idea).
Any thoughts?
I think that's a declare or risk being uninsured question.
You know about it, you did it, you need to declare it.
That's how insurance contracts work.
I wouldn't risk it, especially now it has been recorded in one insurance policy.
Yeah it’s a mod unfortunately, if you think about the modifications question then you’d have to lie to say no
That's what I originally thought, and possibly a done deal if insurers can access previous policy applications, but if it had had the upgrade from new it would never have been declared as there is nothing to differentiate the "upgrade" from the model of the car.
What car is it?
With mine the different engine power options are listed on the comparison sites, so you "could" insure the car as the 90bhp model.
Although you would still need to lie on the application and say that the car is not modified from new (which obviously it has)
Its been modified from the factory so yes, it needed to be declared.
Modded. You did the right thing. Now you need to stick to it.
With mine the different engine power options are listed on the comparison sites, so you “could” insure the car as the 90bhp model.
This
Its been modified from the factory so yes, it needed to be declared.
Definitely this now.
Yep - I think in the event of a claim it could cause you hassle. Note the laws on what recourse insurers can take has changed somewhat in the consumer's favour so it is unlikely a claim would be refused but you would still be in a world of pain come renewal.
Always best to declare...
Smart Roadster.
With mine the different engine power options are listed on the comparison sites, so you “could” insure the car as the 90bhp model.
It's not listed as 2 models. The only other model is the 100bhp version.
I had the upgrade done to 90 last year. I declared this to insurers, giving a 20% increase in premium.
Perhaps the hike wasn't because of the car spec but rather that because the driver had gone "I want to make my car faster" which increases perceived risk?
Not sure how they'd ever had known if you hadn't told them though. In 30 years of driving I've never known of anyone having their car put on a rolling road by an insurer.
Perhaps the hike wasn’t because of the car spec but rather that because the driver had gone “I want to make my car faster” which increases perceived risk?
That’s exactly that it is, modified cars are x% (can’t remember now, was years ago I did it) more likely to have a crash. So everyone gets tarred with the big brush
i wouldn't have bothered declaring it. what are they going to do -get a checksum from the ECU? or download it's contents and disassemble the result?
also unless you've got a plot from a bespoke map for your engine, you will have lost a bit from new anyway. it's probably making similar to what it made from about 30k miles. and really - 80 to 90 bhp? it probably feels better to drive but it's still putting out less than a Mk1 golf GTI.
In hindsight I would not declare it.
Yes it's not a powerful car, this isn't about willy waving, but the remap makes more of a difference to torque and is significant in terms of driving experience.
Cougar my guess is if you are involved in a big claim they may investigate and get a specialist to look at the car - the different tik pipe is a giveaway.
i wouldn’t have bothered declaring it. what are they going to do -get a checksum from the ECU? or download it’s contents and disassemble the result?
If it lets them wriggle out of a liability... Yeah, quite possibly.
Allegedly some even go sleuthing on the old social meeja (Probably more When "Billy just passed" rolls his Corsa VXR or Fiesta ST) to see if there's any undeclared remap mentioned. But if it's worth their financial while they'll check...
So Yeah now the OP has an STW thread on the topic it's sort of out there in the public domain, as well as on his history from the previous insurer.
Looks like you'll be paying for those extra ten ponies OP.
insurers can access previous policy applications
From my underwriting days and it was a few years ago, that wasn't possible.
The only thing shared was the claims database.
Times may have changed though but not as far as I'm aware.
Cougar my guess is if you are involved in a big claim they may investigate and get a specialist to look at the car – the different tik pipe is a giveaway.
I almost added, "unless you'd killed someone."
What's a tik pipe?
Connects air box to turbo intake. Bigger = moar air = moar power, all 10bhp of it.