modified car insurance

martyp

Hi all,
I'm having my usual struggle to get car insurance due to my car having certain modifications (done over 7 years ago) - these are:
engine change (non standard) (newer engine but a from a 1.4 to 1.6)
uprated brakes (to match the engine)
exhaust change (to fit with the engine)
air filter (standard would not fit - had to use performance one)

I had one bump in November 2004 - small claim, minor amount of damage.
No convictions etc.

My problem is that only a handful of insurers will insure a car with a different engine...
I have got quotes through all the comparison sites, many can't even quote...
This leaves me with the 2 or 3 modified car specialists but also these three:
Direct Line
Churchill
Privilege

I think AA possibly as well...

My current insurer will beat another like for like quote so I am going to get Privilege to live up to their 'promise'...

My renewal quote fully comp is £375, £150 excess
Privilege quoted nearly £600 with a £600 excess!!!
I then questioned their promise and they said they'll have to match my renewal quote if I provide proof - at least by £1, possibly more...
Then I can go back to my current insurer...
I believe Churchill will do this as well...
I also heard the AA will give you £100 if they can't beat an existing quote...

Being the owner of a hard to insure car - can anyone advise on how I can best take advantage of these 'if we can't beat your existing quote we'll...' etc. offers...?

Teza511

Try Adrian Flux they do all mods & standard cars www.adrianflux.co.uk
or phone 08000 83 88 33 very competitive.

martyp

Thanks Teza511, I'm actually with their sister company at the moment and couldn't pull off the trick I did last year where I haggled between them and got the quote down. This year they were wiser to it and refused to quote me
I think I might have to resign myself to the fact that my current insurer is simply the best for my car.

darich

I'm intrigued as to why the brakes and air filter required to be upgraded from standard components? why won't the standard 1.6components fit? It's not as if the engine bay is larger for bigger engines. The air filter just had to be an uprated one??
As for the exhaust - again, why won't a 1.6 standard exhaust fit?

I'm not clear why the above changes were all necessary because you replaced the engine and that's probably what the insurance companies are thinking.

I do have to commend you though in actually declaring your modifications to your insurance company - i suspect that many of the small citroens and peugeots on the road with big exhausts and fancy rear lights are effectively uninsured because the company will have insured the car as a standard 1.4 model.