Insurance With Mods

[safw91]

Hi folks,

I'm in the market for a GTi but I'm from Ireland, living in London and this will be my first time getting insured in the UK so it won't be cheap.

I'm looking for a standard MK4 or 5 but I wonder if anyone's experience can tell me which modifications won't cause me much of a premium increase and which ones to stay away from? That would broaden my options a bit.

I've been getting an idea from comparison sites but I found an air filter and exhaust change on one car made no difference but when I input that it was lowered, it went through the roof. Which made no sense to me.

Appreciate any help anyone can offer.

Cheers

[jv]

The first thing that comes to mind is step away from the comparison sites! As soon as you want to list modifications you really need to use a specialist insurer who a) knows what you are talking about and b) realises that as an enthusiast modifications may not add any risk at all to include.

Based on personal experience I'd try HIC/Adrian Flux/GreenLight. Might be my old age but I've also found Admiral surprisingly happy with the normal level of car mods.

[safw91]

The first thing that comes to mind is step away from the comparison sites! As soon as you want to list modifications you really need to use a specialist insurer who a) knows what you are talking about and b) realises that as an enthusiast modifications may not add any risk at all to include.

Based on personal experience I'd try HIC/Adrian Flux/GreenLight. Might be my old age but I've also found Admiral surprisingly happy with the normal level of car mods.

Thank you!

[SRGTD]

The first thing that comes to mind is step away from the comparison sites! As soon as you want to list modifications you really need to use a specialist insurer who a) knows what you are talking about and b) realises that as an enthusiast modifications may not add any risk at all to include.

Agree. Insurance companies on comparison sites are looking to acquire high volumes of standard business that can be priced easily through using a ‘standard’ pricing algorithm. This standard business is their ‘bread and butter’ and they’re not really interested in non-standard business, so the likelihood is they’ll apply large premium increases to the majority of modifications;

• because they don’t have the expertise to understand modifications or the modified car scene
• to discourage customers accepting the unrealistically high premiums they quote for modified cars

In addition to the brokers / insurers you’ve mentioned, it’s worth doing a google search for brokers who specialise in modified and performance cars. Many of these brokers will have special scheme arrangements and / or they’ll have negotiated preferential premium rates with specific insurance companies who do willingly underwrite and accept modified cars.