Do insurance companies care if your car is modified?

[Theturbo551]

Hey, just wanted to know do car insurace companies car if you car is modified at all? Like if you have a 600 Civic. Can you just say a civic? A friend of mine said you can.

[gw84]

the insurance company will ask for the VIN number which will tell them everything about your vehicle. You don't even have to tell them what it is, once they have the VIN, they know the year, make, model, engine size, etc. So in response to your question, yes they care! I don't think you can get car insurance without giving them the VIN.

[gw84]

In fact, when I was researching insurance on a new car, they couldn't even give me an exact $ amount without the VIN. They gave me a rough estimate, which was close though. Once I gave them the VIN, I got an exact quote (with my discounts).
Now, if the vehicle has had a new engine put in, they may not be able to know....what I'm saying is that all they would know is what engine the VIN says the vehicle is supposed to have.

[Theturbo551]

Exactly what I thought they just think it's a stock civic they don't know it has 600 HP.

[Cl0ak]

If you crash this civic though, they won't be responsible for all of the mods as far as I understand. If the car is worth $1000 and you have $12,000 in mods that would not be cool to get a grand if its totaled.

My agent told me to keep all receipts for things such as my rims in case of an accident. I wonder if they can go as far as refusing to cover you if you swapped the motors and didn't report it.

[gw84]

Originally Posted by Theturbo551

Exactly what I thought they just think it's a stock civic they don't know it has 600 HP.

Well if that 600HP were stock ..yeah right... they would know. Last post is right though, you wouldn't be compensated for it if you were in an accident....as far as insurance man knows, you've got a stock (whatever HP) engine.

[fredjacksonsan]

Yes; and ANY modification, including upgraded stereo, isn't covered if it's not reported. Also, there are limitations to what will be covered, so read your policy or talk to an agent to find out what those limitations are.

[Theturbo551]

Yes, you would only get money for how much the stock car is worth.

[drunken monkey]

in the UK, if you do not correctly describe your vehicle, the insurance is void.
It makes sense that the same is true in the US.

IF you have an accident in your car and you did not describe it correctly to the insurance company, chances are you won't get any money and more than likely be liable for all costs of the accident for all parties involved, if it was your fault.

[Theturbo551]

No, they only pay the stock vehicle.

[drunken monkey]

Originally Posted by Theturbo551

No, they only pay the stock vehicle.

is this something that you know for sure 100% and have at hand some reference from some insurance policy? Or something that you're having a guess at?

For the record, as I mentioned, I was talking about UK car insurance policies.
CTRL+V from a car insurance agencies terms and conditions:

What you need to tell us

Please tell us right away if anything changes which might affect your insurance. If you're not sure whether it's important, tell us just in case. Any changes which you don't tell us about may mean your policy is void.

We would need to know things like:

* if you change your car
* any modifications or engine conversions to the insured car from the manufacturer's original specifications
* change of any full- or part-time occupation
* change of how you use the car
* change of address or address where the insured car is kept overnight
* change of drivers
* any claim, incident or loss
* any convictions or fixed penalty offences
* any pending prosecutions
* any physical or mental defects including heart conditions, diabetes, epilepsy, disabilities or infirmities which require notification to the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency
* the prescription of permanent medication
* additional audio or communications equipment.

notice the bit about things that might render the cover void and the subsequent bolded items?
void = won't pay anything because technically, you won't be covered.

[Theturbo551]

So if you tell them they charge you more. So rather not tell them and pay for the difference if I got into a accident.

[drunken monkey]

Originally Posted by Theturbo551

So if you tell them they charge you more. So rather not tell them and pay for the difference if I got into a accident.

You can not seriously be that stupid.

Under the conditions that I listed, if you did not tell them about any modifications done to the car, the policy can be made void due to incorrect information.
As I said before, void policy = no insurance = you pay for everything (medical, legal whatever else comes up) for all parties involved.
Not sure if it is a legal requirement but in the UK, you are legally required to have car insurance in order to drive the vehicle in question. If you were to not tell the insurance company of modifications made and you cause an accident, and they void the policy, you would've also broken the law.

Anyway, that's the last i'm going to say about this as I think I've made it very clear how it works in the UK and how it might relate to you if it is the same in the US.

[Theturbo551]

So, you pay. And how much more would it be if you told them it is modified? Would they even still be willing to insure it?

[Theturbo551]

By the way I talking about the U.S.. And when I was getting a quote they didn't ask anything about modifications.