Insurers vs Modifications - Current Status?
 

Hi,

I was just wondering what response people are getting recently, when discussing modifications with insurers. Are there currently any other than Bennetts who accept a range of fairly basic modifications without the need to declare them?

I've been finding that the various online brokers and comparison tools either require you to specify no modifications, or in one case refuse to quote when I declare the silencer (non-performance) and LED indicators. And that's even before I add fender extender, hugger, chain oiler, tail tidy.

So it looks like I'll need to phone round, but I don't want to waste time calling insurers known to be unhelpful, I'd rather go straight to ones that other people have found to be OK with mods.

I assume everyone DOES declare their modifications? I don't think I've ever seen and SV without at least some.

Thanks,

Tony S

Re: Insurers vs Modifications - Current Status?
 

Ebike are good with mods but absolutely abysmal should you actually get knocked off.

And I mean, groin grabbingly terrible.

No that's still too nice, I would rather play Russian roulette than have them deal with a claim again.

Russian roulette with 5 out of 6 rounds loaded.

I'd rather leave it up to my dog to decide the outcome of an incident.

Re: Insurers vs Modifications - Current Status?
 

I added an R6 to a policy renewal I had with Carole Nash recently. It added about £200 for the year! I queried this and asked for a quote on it's own with no no-claims (which came in at £700). The operator suggested it might have been something to do with the double-bubble screen I declared.....he didn't even snigger when he said it.....

Re: Insurers vs Modifications - Current Status?
 

Cheers. Sounds like I shouldn't bother with Carole Nash. Ebike? I wonder if their service matters for third-party only? I mean I won't be claiming off them no matter what. I suppose if it comes to it and someone makes a claim against me, I would really rather it was dealt with efficiently.

Re: Insurers vs Modifications - Current Status?
 

I had a conversation with the nice girl at MCE about modifications which went "Of course its bloody modified, you guys even count crash bungs as being modified."

Still, my insurance was half what it was last year with me declaring a new exhaust so not too bad.

Re: Insurers vs Modifications - Current Status?
 

Forgot the crash bungs, that's yet another one. I might end up ringing Bennetts after all, although I had ruled them out for raising the price from £91 up to £511 for adding business use - I've been assuming that even telephone haggling isn't going to turn that into a competitive figure.

What a quandary, do I try to argue Bennett's price down, or start with a low priced offer (Devitt for example) and try and talk them into accepting modifications?

Re: Insurers vs Modifications - Current Status?
 

I've never quite understood crash bungs making your policy go up in price if you are fully comp. They say they won't cover the cost of replacing them if they are damaged in an accident but if they do their job you're insurer will be paying out less as they'll have saved damage to the bike, especially the big bars of the sort you can get for my GS that cover the fairings too.

Insurers vs Modifications - Current Status?
 

Try Suzuki insurance. Use the link through the main Suzuki site though, there is a pretender out there!

They are (or at least were) underwritten by carol Nash. When I got a new exhaust (cosmetic) they said it was a "free" mod.

When I got the public they were quite reasonable, good service and matched meerkat on price and near as damn it benefits such as breakdown (although they had roadside assistance at the time).

Of course I got stuffed at renewal which is par for the course so moved to Hastings premier :)

Ebike was good for me after my accident a few years ago, only people that would quote under 4 figures!

Edit:

At the time of ebike I had pretty much all the mods you mentioned. Only thing with them is no cover for riding other bikes! And mostly online, premium rate number for call centre.

Re: Insurers vs Modifications - Current Status?
 

I've just added adjustable rear footpegs (to make things more comfortable, so probably safer too) for the pillion, and Mrs DJF got me heated grips for Xmas (which make me more comfortable, so definitely safer). Now I'm wondering if I should have told the insurer. To get the premium down, obviously.

Re: Insurers vs Modifications - Current Status?
 

Ebike i personally found to be no issue claiming (twice in 3 months! - total los theft and total loss accident - I know, bad end to 2010). Virtually no diff in price between standard and a raft of addons, only starts to get bad of it's over a 5% power increase.

Really hit or miss to be honest and varies so widely every year (Only silly thing is the company I had the speed triple insured with wouldn't insure me on a new tiger 800 and thats Triumph's 'Triumph Insurance' broker!)