[mitch625]

Something that I've always wondered.

So, do you tell your car insurance company that you've modified your car?

Im 26 and my 440i will be delivered next week and I plan on doing a few minor mods. To ensure my insurance policy is 100% valid in a worst case scenario I will declare these modifications. Pre mods, my insurance is roughly £595 per annum. Post mods i'm looking at about £750.

Have you had any nightmares with insurance companies and modifications?

[Billfitz]

They know how your car was originally equipped, from the VIN. If you ever file a claim for damage to or theft of something not original to the car they'll know it, and they won't pay for it. If you want it to be covered, declare it, and pay the resulting tab if there is one.

[sds0918]

Excellent question. Would this change your premium at all? They will allow the mods with no issues? They would be covered as long as they're claimed beforehand? I changed the intake and exhaust on my car and was curious if I should call them.

[White340]

What about extended warranties? Suppose you buy one aftermarket and the car gets totaled just after. Is this covered?

[brh189]

Originally Posted by White340

What about extended warranties? Suppose you buy one aftermarket and the car gets totaled just after. Is this covered?

I had purchase aftermarket headlights and got into a reck and damaged both headlights my insurance replacement them no problem all I had to do is provide them the receipt.

[ronanz]

I have, and documented Mods to them. My coverage now includes all Mods and power increase separate from regular coverages (up to 90% claim recovery)

.

[Wires]

Premiums depend on the mods. If they are deemed to cause you to destroy the car, premiums go up.

When I insured my car, they actually flat out asked if there were modifications and if I tracked the car.

[bri1042]

My insurance company knows about my audio equipment. I have my home owner's insurance through the same company and between the two policies, my audio stuff is covered.

[tgmsocal]

This is a good question, thanks for bringing it up OP. It brought a question to my mind, that hopefully one of you can answer:

Do you really need to declare aftermarket modifications if you aren't worried about getting the same part replaced? What I mean by this is, if say you bought an aftermarket intercooler and installed it, but didn't declare it, then got in a wreck. Would the insurance company not just replace with OEM?

I ask this because if they would just replace aftermarket parts with OEM, then you could easily just take them back off right after the repair and sell them, or work with the shop to have a similar product installed at the time of repair (since OEM cost is usually > aftermarket).

Just a thought. I'm sure I'm missing something.

-tgm

[sds0918]

You know, I always thought that the shop would just communicate what was on the car and the cost to replace it. I never really thought it would be relevant to the Insurance Company that it be declared if it's just going to be declared by the shop. Unless they don't trust the shop I suppose?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by sds0918

You know, I always thought that the shop would just communicate what was on the car and the cost to replace it. I never really thought it would be relevant to the Insurance Company that it be declared if it's just going to be declared by the shop. Unless they don't trust the shop I suppose?

In the UK it is more often about risk, than the cost of parts fitted.

If the insurance see a risk in uprated parts, lowered suspension, non OEM wheels, engine tunes, etc., then up goes the premium. Even if the changed parts are no more expensive than OEM. Even cosmetic changes can cause an increase in premium over here. Does it give a more sporty image, (boy racer), or more likely to be stolen due to the attraction to thieves.

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by mitch625

So, do you tell your car insurance company that you've modified your car?

I do depending on the project and amount of parts and bits that went into it. Insurance company has no issues with a modified vehicle providing you get a rider to pay for the increased value over it's stock counterpart. Receipts and invoices are required and need to be submitted in order to properly insure. No insurance company will cover you if you are on a track regardless of how much you insured the vehicle for. You will need separate track insurance for this.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

FWIW. All the items on the COBRA engine, trans, sound etc are listed in its agreed value policy. My 435 is stock but I did not list any performance mods on my old 335is.

[jd_perspective]

if it was more $ than a comparable factory replacement part they just won't pay the extra costs...

example you buy an m-sport bumper. maybe its $1,000 but the factory Luxury bumper on your car is only $700. They'll pay the $700.

reverse example - my grills were being replaced in a damage claim. Factory grills were about $200. I found the M-black grills for $150 online. I bought them and they just reimbursed me (or the shop would have bought them). No extra costs so didn't need to be covered.

If you want your EXTRA COST equipment to be covered you have to have it added to your policy.

[gds52]

Originally Posted by exl_ent_v6

if it was more $ than a comparable factory replacement part they just won't pay the extra costs...

example you buy an m-sport bumper. maybe its $1,000 but the factory Luxury bumper on your car is only $700. They'll pay the $700.

reverse example - my grills were being replaced in a damage claim. Factory grills were about $200. I found the M-black grills for $150 online. I bought them and they just reimbursed me (or the shop would have bought them). No extra costs so didn't need to be covered.

If you want your EXTRA COST equipment to be covered you have to have it added to your policy.

Not sure about body parts mods, but years
Ago I had Lancer and I mounted after market wheels for around $2k. I added the wheels to insurance, probably as accessories. Premium went up by $20 or so for 6 months but my wheels were covered for theft.

[CIWS]

I don't plan on wrecking my car. But the other driver who hits me and damages my car, their insurance company will be provided copies of my receipts from the dealership of everything that was added and their client damaged so they can replace it.

[440xiGCMsport]

Up north here in Ontario they ask about aftermarket tuning specifically when I got my insurance because they won't insure any car with it and outright told me that if in a big accident they will check and won't pay out if they find one. That said I haven't heard of too many cases of this happening.

[koryrykman]

I'm an Allstate Agency owner and the answer is YES, you can tell your agent about it. And then the Agent can "declare" it on your policy, which means if that item is more expensive than stock or if you'll want it replaced w that part later- you should tell them. It's like jewelry at your house, you have a standard limit to what you get reimbursed if there's a loss- unless you specifically "declare" it. Now you get the entire amount reimbursed since it's specifically listed out. I'd recommend doing that so there's no beef later.

[RockBamson]

Reviving this thread because of my experience today.

I was shopping around for new auto insurance because my premium went up with my current company.

I priced out a quote on Geico, then talked with a Geico agent over the phone ready to make the switch to them. During that conversation I got asked if the 335 has any modifications. I say that I had an exhaust installed. The agent put me on hold, came back 2 minutes later and said they can't insure me. After speaking with another agent and a supervisor (who both had really poor attitudes), they made it clear that I wouldn't be getting insurance through them (ultimately, probably a good thing for me based on this experience). I fail to see how an aftermarket exhaust couldn't be accounted for with slightly increased coverage, but oh well.

For anyone who has Geico, careful what you say to them. Has anybody else heard of this?

[BEAR-AvHistory]

You got classified as an increased accident risk because of the performance muffler. Suggests to them STREET RACE potential.

[1QuikWS6]

My insurance on all my daily driven cars is thru Nationwide & carries an optional 'modifications' rider. I do not have to tell the insurance company or notify them with a list of specific mods. Muscle cars I have are insured for their actual value thru Grundy

I DO, however, save all my receipts for any aftermarket mods, or even mods done to the car with OEM parts that were not part of the original factory build (such as upgrading bumpers, side skirts, etc with MSport panels vs. the base that came with car). Without those receipts the adjuster would have nothing to go on except for the OEM parts that are listed when he pulls up my VIN

I have had several occasions over the years of claims I submitted - due to deer hits. They have never had a problem paying for the cost of the parts different from factory as long as I showed them the receipts for the upgraded/aftermarket parts. This is from the largest item, right down to small items such as upgraded HID capsules for headlights. Adjuster simply scans in my receipts & includes them with his estimate.

I have also never had them raise the cost of my insurance after that when they find I had aftermarket 'go faster' parts installed. Now at this point I'm 57 yrs old, married, insure (4) cars with them + my house, been with them for 37 yrs, never had an accident in my life other than deer hits, and have not had a speeding ticket since I was 24 yrs old. So that may have something to do with it

If the items damaged are not OEM, they write me a check (all my cars are currently owned outright by both myself & wifey) based on their cost from my supplied receipts - and it's up to me to order the same parts if I want to have them installed on car when fixed. I could simply take the $$ and have the parts replaced with less expensive OEM parts if I wish = net profit out of the deal, but I never would/or have done that. Any upgraded OEM parts installed are ordered/handled by collision shop that is doing the work.

Does this rider increase my insurance bill - yes, but it's worth it to me since I plan to mod my cars, and it is proven to be useful if an accident ever occurs

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by mitch625

Something that I've always wondered.

So, do you tell your car insurance company that you've modified your car?

Yes I do and I pay for it as the mods are probably worth as much as the car.

Originally Posted by sds0918

Excellent question. Would this change your premium at all? They will allow the mods with no issues?

Yes it changes premium and most Insurance Companies will cover anything.

Originally Posted by White340

What about extended warranties? Suppose you buy one aftermarket and the car gets totaled just after. Is this covered?

EW coverage OEM equipment on VIN.

Originally Posted by sds0918

You know, I always thought that the shop would just communicate what was on the car and the cost to replace it. I never really thought it would be relevant to the Insurance Company that it be declared if it's just going to be declared by the shop. Unless they don't trust the shop I suppose?

What if you car is stolen or you total it? You insured an OEM car with equipment listed on your VIN.

Originally Posted by CIWS

I don't plan on wrecking my car. But the other driver who hits me and damages my car, their insurance company will be provided copies of my receipts from the dealership of everything that was added and their client damaged so they can replace it.

And what happens when your car is totaled and the driver is uninsured or only has $15,000 of property coverage? I do not know you anyone who “plans” to wreck their car or “plans” to have it stolen.

Originally Posted by RockBamson

Reviving this thread because of my experience today.

I was shopping around for new auto insurance because my premium went up with my current company.

I priced out a quote on Geico, then talked with a Geico agent over the phone ready to make the switch to them. During that conversation I got asked if the 335 has any modifications. I say that I had an exhaust installed. The agent put me on hold, came back 2 minutes later and said they can't insure me. After speaking with another agent and a supervisor (who both had really poor attitudes), they made it clear that I wouldn't be getting insurance through them (ultimately, probably a good thing for me based on this experience). I fail to see how an aftermarket exhaust couldn't be accounted for with slightly increased coverage, but oh well.

For anyone who has Geico, careful what you say to them. Has anybody else heard of this?

One of my cars on Geico had a $25,000 rider added to it just 13 days ago.