And occasionally when I eat out I like to toss a few back, but only 2. Maybe 4 sometimes. And mostly beer. Well unless, I’m in a whiskey mood then I… *click*… hello?
Insurance companies cracking down on modified cars
- Thread starter Rhill
- Start date
I think the broker/agent is the wrong person to ask about this if you are going to ask, which I do not think is a fantastic idea. Showing an inordinate amount of interest in claim handling practices is a red flag. Right or wrong you’re throwing 2 NICB indicators right off the bat.
Couple things:
If it’s modified when you do the app and the app ask - do not lie.
Review the policy and endorsements when you get it to make sure there is no provision that it has no customization or similar ( Texas used to be a big on on trucks and vans, but may have changed )
Claims are handled on slightly lowered cars all the time. Same is true of audio. I’d be shocked if it was even mentioned, much less an issue.
Nitrous or a Blower might be a different story.
Couple things:
If it’s modified when you do the app and the app ask - do not lie.
Review the policy and endorsements when you get it to make sure there is no provision that it has no customization or similar ( Texas used to be a big on on trucks and vans, but may have changed )
Claims are handled on slightly lowered cars all the time. Same is true of audio. I’d be shocked if it was even mentioned, much less an issue.
Nitrous or a Blower might be a different story.
Not sure why anyone would discuss their minor car mods with their insurance company. In the end, you want them to pay you for your car if you total it baed on the value of the car (not modded). Not sure there is any basis to think an adjuster will somehow blame the wreck on you or all of a sudden it will be considering your fault b/c you had lowering springs etc. For power adds like tunes, how would they ever know? Driving a modded car and never even thought about this. When I add cars to my policy there isn't anything about modifications in that process. A bit of over-thinking on this I'd say...lower your car.
I did actually do that somewhat - I ask if I was taking a driving class at a track if that was covered or not. They said b/c it's an enclosed facility/not a public road it was not. Easy. Track insurance it is!
Then don't modify your vehicle.
Hahahah.
Thanks guys,
It was a bit of a rabbit hole. Reading posts stating that claims of personal injury being denied etc.....
Unless it's extreme, I just can't imagine.
Besides.....Eibach Pro kits are black now.....with a bit of grim they'll completely dissapear under there.
It was a bit of a rabbit hole. Reading posts stating that claims of personal injury being denied etc.....
Unless it's extreme, I just can't imagine.
Besides.....Eibach Pro kits are black now.....with a bit of grim they'll completely dissapear under there.
True, but I worked as an adjuster, and you don't want to give insurance companies any additional reasons to deny coverage. Keeping your mouth shut can be just as bad as not disclosing the modifications.
Slightly lowering the suspension, some performance mods, etc, *shouldn't* deny coverage, but I've seen heavily modded vehicles that coverage was completely denied. Not a pleasant surprise when you are at fault for an accident with several medical bills exceeding $150K+. My advice is to thoroughly read the policy, some companies are stricter than others.
Yeah, not sure why anyone would discuss modifications with an insurer in the first place.
I never had an insurer ask me if something was modified in 40 years.
Just go to any online insurance company and I never saw a question anything like it.
It's usually not a question they ask, but is intentionally hidden in the fine print of some policies.
When it comes to insurance, I practice the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The one accident involving my modified vehicle, it was on the other person's insurance. (Geico) They didn't want to cover the aftermarket wheels and exhaust that was damaged in the accident. I reminded them that their client ran a red light and hit my car while having an open container, a blood alcohol level 2x the legal limit, and hit & run charges for fleeing the scene. I also reminded them that my daughter was in the vehicle with me at the time of the accident, allowing me to come after them for even more punitive charges in my state. They can either payout their max liability per person and cover the damages in full, including the aftermarket parts and replacement car seat, or I'll see them in court. They cut me a check pretty quick.
Ask people how quickly home insurers can cancel coverage for similar questions. There are plenty of stories of home insurers canceling homeowner policies "upon review" soon after a customer asks an innocent question about the claims process or about whether something is covered. Just asking a question raises the risk, goes the companies' logic. You don't want to do the same with auto insurance.
Owen Lucas
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There is no crackdown. If you have a claim with a slightly modified vehicle, where it will cost just as much to replace a modified suspension as an OEM one then the adjuster probably won't care. Custom paint job, engine mods, high end speaker setup, if your vehicle is repairable the adjuster probably won't cover those items. If your car is totaled, you are probably getting pennies on the dollar if that for any upgrades. If you are filing a 3rd party claim, the other insurance company should cover you for every and all upgrades. If you modify your vehicle significantly from stock, you don't have to tell your insurance IMHO, because no one will cover you unless you go the specialty route which is usually for classics.
This. My car has as much in mods as the value - so $20K car with $20K mods. That's on me, not my insurance company. If something happens and it's a total, I will just try to work it out to "part out" my mods and sell them off to try to recoupe what I can or just buy the car back and do the same. The specialty/"defined value" policies are too much money to justify it...you just accept the risk and self-insure.
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It has nothing to do with the cost of mods vs. OEM parts. The insurance company is concerned with how it impacts safety, structural integrity of the parts involved, how modifications change collisions vs. OEM, and how it can unknowingly change their liability insuring you in an accident. An example would be lifted trucks. I've seen several claims denied instantly due to the insured driving a lifted truck with larger tires and a higher bumper height over stock, with lawyers being able to prove the modifications played a significant part in the impacts being more severe. Not a good outcome when the insured is suddenly on the hook for expensive medical bills or even a lawsuit/death. This is why many aftermarket companies have disclaimers saying they are not responsible for the modifications to your vehicle altering how it performs in a crash to excuse them from liability.
I wouldn't call up the insurance company and ask about mods right away, but a good start would be to read through the policy and see if there are any exceptions for modified vehicles and what they involve. Most insurance companies won't bother for a single vehicle accident or a fender bender, but when it comes down to them having to make a big payout they will absolutely check over everything they can during the claims process.
Years ago I had AAA ask me if my vehicle had any modifications. They also wanted 2 photos of my vehicle before I could get full coverage through them. I don't use them anymore.
A woman was just awarded 5.2 million dollars when she sued the ins company of her boyfriend, (Geico) she had sex in his car and he gave her an STD.
Geico appealed and lost, the 5.2 million award to the woman stands.
You never know, one day they may ask you if you have a STD !
https://nypost.com/2022/06/09/geico-ordered-to-pay-woman-5-2m-who-claims-she-caught-std-in-car/
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