46 replies to this topic

[MIKE_VX]

I got a call from Admiral yesterday regarding my insurance renewal, saying they wanted additional information regarding my modifications before they send out the renewal price. I've got a Stage 2 Turbo, so have it declared as 'Non Standard Exhaust' and 'engine chip', as this is the closest they offer on their online form. When I ran through this with the guy on the phone, I said that the 'chip' is actually a remap, but is essentially the same thing, just a different way of achieving the same result. Anyway, he said he wasn't sure if it would be covered, so would need to check with the underwriters. He got back to me, and has said they don't / won't / never have covered any remaps, but they will cover 'chips', even though they do the same thing, and increase the engine power by a certain %. They've said 'as a favour' they'll honour my cover for the rest of this year's policy, but won't renew it with a remap. So just a word of warning for people out there with 'chip' declared on their schedule that there could be problems with the validity of the insurance, so may be worth checking with them Anyone else come across this problem or know of a way we can get around this? This is annoying as Admiral / Elephant are the cheapest by miles!

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

If it's a software type thing which is my understanding of a Remap then surely the original Chip is still there . so with out running some sort of diagnostics on the ecu (do they ever do this )could any body tell and how would they know it was not standard ?

[danVXT]

If it's a software type thing which is my understanding of a Remap then surely
the original Chip is still there .
so with out running some sort of diagnostics on the ecu (do they ever do this )could any body tell and how would they know it was not standard ?

i think if your car is involved in a fatality crash or a big payout due then the insurance company may send your car to get tested to make sure you haven't got any mods that weren't declared, thus making it void?!

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

I get what your saying is the remap date stamped ? is it possible it could have been on the car before it was purchased and not disclosed to the buyer at sale . I maybe clutching at straws here .....

Edited by scubadaddy, 27 September 2007 - 12:38 PM.

[convict]

I'd suspect you'd still be liable for not disclosing full information, even if you were unaware

[danVXT]

I get what your saying
is the remap date stamped ?
is it possible it could have been on the car before it was purchased
and not disclosed to the buyer at sale .

I maybe clutching at straws here .....

i'm not sure mate about the date stamp etc
i think you maybe losing your grip on them straws

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

Not fair Insurance is such a bloody con .

[danVXT]

Not fair Insurance is such a bloody con .

yep!

[Mak1]

Iwas with elephant and when I bought the VXT (stage2) they said they wouldn't insure mods ina ny shape or form?! Any way switched to a broker reccommended on here (can't remember the name?) and listed all mods in full = no problem.

[dw1]

Try Adrian Flux, they like you if you've had the car for a year. They are very good for mods and good value.

[calletson]

I get what your saying
is the remap date stamped ?
is it possible it could have been on the car before it was purchased
and not disclosed to the buyer at sale .

I maybe clutching at straws here .....

Normally the remap consists of a tuner downloading the origional map and changing certain parameters to create a "new map" then upload it back to the ecu. Therefore the map is undetectable by simple diagnostics.

Only way would be for the insurers to download the map, open it up and compare the parameters to that of a standard map, which i cant see them doing

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

Thank you this is what I was trying to get at They could spot a ssteelzorst or an induction system or a supercharger you could quite easly Down tune your car with a remap to make it more ecco why should you get hit for that !

Edited by scubadaddy, 27 September 2007 - 05:21 PM.

[p4cks]

I read somewhere here that they had their VX lowered and had a VSE which weren't declared and Admiral paid out in full

[SamVx]

In my eyes a VSE is a standard exhaust as it was on car from new and doesn't increase performance - the same as a momo gear knob, lowered is different though....

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

What about an mp3 head unit or elise wiper arm or wiper relay or turbo lights on an NA or hard top or racing brake fluid or mintex pads or 4 pot calipers . where do you start . Re bore yes turbo on an NA yes supercharger yes re map Bollocks

[Guy182]

you've got a TMS remap yes? so you just need to declare you have a Superchip.. ? superchips used to be a chip replacement, now they can do it on modern cars by flashing a map on. same thing, newer method. i have my remap listed as engine chip on my elephant policy.

[gazcaddy]

Elephant/Admiral do cheap quotes but they are very fussy. Never knew about the remap/chip issue but they are very funny about optional extras. Im currently insured with Elephant for my stage 1 VXT and have it down as engine chip. Im 100% certain ill be moving my insurance to a specialist when its ready for renewal as im concerned Elephant will be a pain in the event of a claim. I have to admit though so far Elephant have been spot on but I real test is when you calim.

[jonibegood]

Try this broker (cant remember name of firm): 01159 415255, ask for Mary or Steve in the Lotus department. Remaps and exhausts aren't seen as mods but you can mod further than that with roll cages etc and they only load it by 10% max. You get 4 track days with their policies too albeit with a £2k excess which aint bad for a track.

[Anarchy]

I imagine most tuning garages could tell if a remap has taken place, sure I read on here TMS have been asked by insurance companies to look for un declared mods. Whether they told them

[MIKE_VX]

superchips used to be a chip replacement, now they can do it on modern cars by flashing a map on. same thing, newer method.

Well this is what I told them, but they seemed to be in 'computer says no' mode, and as they seem to know nothing about cars, they say that a remap is not covered, but a 'chip' is (even though the guy couldn't explain to me what they meant by a chip!)

They've essentially declined to cover me for next year, so what I'm saying overall is that those of us with remaps declared with them as a 'chip' may have trouble in the event of a claim if they're being tight.

I've asked them to consider it further, so you never know, they may get hold of someone who knows waht they're talking about! I'll update here with anything further they say!