ECU remap and insurance

jamjar · 03-04-2005, 23:56

Hi (again!)

I was thinking about all you guys and gals who have remapped your ECU. How many have told your insurance companies about this? If i was to Remap to get about 160Bhp would not telling the insurance company be suicide? Im 18 so obviously im going to pay through the roof for a modded car

Thanks

James

fastVeRSion · 04-04-2005, 00:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamjar

would not telling the insurance company be suicide?

Theres no easy way to break this to you so...

YES!

You would not be covered, and you'd effectively be driving illegally.

Neo_Vrs · 04-04-2005, 00:12

Unless you get one of those reversible ones....

But I would still tell your insurance company it would be very stupid not to!

jamjar · 04-04-2005, 00:55

Thanks guys! How do you switch the reversible ones over?

walkie · 04-04-2005, 07:39

Jamjar try a search mate, theres loads on remaps.

If your 18 you'l have a hard time with remap's and insurance, but whatever you do dont be a plank and get one on the basis thats it is reversible and not declare it

ScoobyChris · 04-04-2005, 09:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamjar

I was thinking about all you guys and gals who have remapped your ECU. How many have told your insurance companies about this? If i was to Remap to get about 160Bhp would not telling the insurance company be suicide? Im 18 so obviously im going to pay through the roof for a modded car

By law, you must declare all mods (from standard spec) to the car or your insurance will be null and void, and you can be charged with driving without insurance. Unfortunately, being so young, you'll get stung by insurance companies anyway (assuming they're happy for you to mod the car at all!)....

Chris

SteVRs · 04-04-2005, 09:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkie

Jamjar try a search mate, theres loads on remaps.

Keen on this now!!

walkie · 04-04-2005, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteVRs

Keen on this now!!

On searches?

Goochie · 04-04-2005, 11:11

reversible maps are great until you have a crash where you're in no physical/mental condition to reverse it. Fair enough, if someone runs into the side of your car you can drive home etc. and reset the map but what it you throw the car onto its roof then into a tree having run over a child on the pavement? The plod will investigate and examine your car with a fine tooth comb. The point at which they discover the non-declared remap will be the point at which your "sorry it was an accident" excuse starts to look a bit thin.

Shop around though, I found that direct line wouldnt touch me but admiral would. The admiral premium with remap delcared was less that standard Direct Line. All I did was add my mum as a named driver.

The admiral website also has a choice of mods when you're doing the quote where you can choose "chipped" and a percentage power increase.

flatfourburble · 04-04-2005, 12:25

Isn't the saying "Dont Play unless you can Pay!"

If you cant afford the insurance wait until you can, it's not worth mucking around

jamjar · 04-04-2005, 12:44

Thanks for you opinions on this! Regarding declaring mods are they only mods not done by the manafacturer? So if i had Xenon headlights, would i have to delcare the car as modified.

ScoobyChris · 04-04-2005, 12:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamjar

Thanks for you opinions on this! Regarding declaring mods are they only mods not done by the manafacturer? So if i had Xenon headlights, would i have to delcare the car as modified.

It will depend on the insurance company, but mine specifically says "any modifications to the vehicle from standard spec". It's in your interest too, because it means if you write the car off you should get money to buy a similar age one of the same spec.

Chris

***DGW*** · 04-04-2005, 12:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamjar

Thanks for you opinions on this! Regarding declaring mods are they only mods not done by the manafacturer? So if i had Xenon headlights, would i have to delcare the car as modified.

You should let your insurer know about any options fitted which are not part of the standard spec for the model you buy.

PaulC · 04-04-2005, 13:19

Always tell the truth to the insurers, they will try hard enough under normal circumstances to avoid paying out should something go wrong, declare everything they will only charge you for things that their rules say are chargable.

Its just not worth not saying anything.

mikejay · 04-04-2005, 14:13

elephant ask when you declair a tunning box how much extra power it gives, for 10% the premium was 651 quid, for 30% 881!! could you just act dumb and say 10%? would they check your car enough to find out the extra power??

**robmawer** · 04-04-2005, 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikejay

elephant ask when you declair a tunning box how much extra power it gives, for 10% the premium was 651 quid, for 30% 881!! could you just act dumb and say 10%? would they check your car enough to find out the extra power??

Ignorance is no defence in law. I'd imagine they could check with the tuning box manufacturer for actual likely increases in the event of a dispute.

By lying, you'd as good as be invalidating your insurance - £651 seems a lot to pay for nothing...

Rob.

SteVRs · 04-04-2005, 14:53

The argument is, if you were paying for 10% remap, without testing with a dyno they shouldn't know - all they're looking for is 'has this car been remapped - if so is it insured for a remap?'

mikejay · 04-04-2005, 14:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteVRs

The argument is, if you were paying for 10% remap, without testing with a dyno they shouldn't know - all they're looking for is 'has this car been remapped - if so is it insured for a remap?'

yes thats what im trying to say. any more views on this?

Goochie · 04-04-2005, 15:04

my mate works on the theory that if you've been in a big enough crash for them to be interested in a map, the car will most likely be too badly damaged to put on the rollers. He's got a 30% gain but told them 10%.

Personally I think you should tell them the truth.

Dr Zoidberg · 04-04-2005, 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikejay

yes thats what im trying to say. any more views on this?

Yes , they will ask you what tuning box/remap you have and are quite capable of speaking to the manufacturers and finding out what they actual gains are.

If you have deliberately underestimated the output then your insurance is invalid.

As for "They will only be interested if the car has been in a big smash" , that may be true. Trouble is thats when you most need your insurance to pay out. My minor accident when someone hit the back of me cost over 10k including legal costs to sort out. Multiply that by 10 for a big crash with permanent injuries and then think of the consequences of having your policy invalidated.

03-04-2005, 23:56	#1
jamjar Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Peterborough Posts: 89 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	ECU remap and insurance Hi (again!) I was thinking about all you guys and gals who have remapped your ECU. How many have told your insurance companies about this? If i was to Remap to get about 160Bhp would not telling the insurance company be suicide? Im 18 so obviously im going to pay through the roof for a modded car Thanks James

04-04-2005, 07:39	#5
walkie ............... Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Monday: MK Tuesday: MK Wednesday: MK Thursday: MK Friday: MK/Home Saturday: Home Sunday: In bed ;o) Posts: 6,606 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Jamjar try a search mate, theres loads on remaps. If your 18 you'l have a hard time with remap's and insurance, but whatever you do dont be a plank and get one on the basis thats it is reversible and not declare it __________________ Having a little break, concentrate on the more important things in life, swmbo and my training. See you soon folks, take care - James

04-04-2005, 11:11	#9
Goochie Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Up a tree. Posts: 12,376 Thanks: 7 Thanked 28 Times in 26 Posts	reversible maps are great until you have a crash where you're in no physical/mental condition to reverse it. Fair enough, if someone runs into the side of your car you can drive home etc. and reset the map but what it you throw the car onto its roof then into a tree having run over a child on the pavement? The plod will investigate and examine your car with a fine tooth comb. The point at which they discover the non-declared remap will be the point at which your "sorry it was an accident" excuse starts to look a bit thin. Shop around though, I found that direct line wouldnt touch me but admiral would. The admiral premium with remap delcared was less that standard Direct Line. All I did was add my mum as a named driver. The admiral website also has a choice of mods when you're doing the quote where you can choose "chipped" and a percentage power increase. Last edited by Goochie; 04-04-2005 at 11:15.

04-04-2005, 12:25	#10
flatfourburble "Bones" Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Heathrow/Crewe Posts: 5,449 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Isn't the saying "Dont Play unless you can Pay!" If you cant afford the insurance wait until you can, it's not worth mucking around __________________ Oh to have the internet back..................oh have I missed it

04-04-2005, 14:13	#15
mikejay Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: wigan Posts: 1,136 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	elephant ask when you declair a tunning box how much extra power it gives, for 10% the premium was 651 quid, for 30% 881!! could you just act dumb and say 10%? would they check your car enough to find out the extra power?? __________________ bye bye primera, hello furby number 2!!!

04-04-2005, 00:12	#3
Neo_Vrs Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 159 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Unless you get one of those reversible ones.... But I would still tell your insurance company it would be very stupid not to!

04-04-2005, 00:55	#4
jamjar Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Peterborough Posts: 89 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Thanks guys! How do you switch the reversible ones over?

04-04-2005, 12:44	#11
jamjar Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Peterborough Posts: 89 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Thanks for you opinions on this! Regarding declaring mods are they only mods not done by the manafacturer? So if i had Xenon headlights, would i have to delcare the car as modified.

04-04-2005, 13:19	#14
PaulC Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Nuneaton UK Posts: 1,168 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Always tell the truth to the insurers, they will try hard enough under normal circumstances to avoid paying out should something go wrong, declare everything they will only charge you for things that their rules say are chargable. Its just not worth not saying anything.

04-04-2005, 14:53	#17
SteVRs Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 3,063 Thanks: 4 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts	The argument is, if you were paying for 10% remap, without testing with a dyno they shouldn't know - all they're looking for is 'has this car been remapped - if so is it insured for a remap?'

04-04-2005, 15:04	#19
Goochie Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Up a tree. Posts: 12,376 Thanks: 7 Thanked 28 Times in 26 Posts	my mate works on the theory that if you've been in a big enough crash for them to be interested in a map, the car will most likely be too badly damaged to put on the rollers. He's got a 30% gain but told them 10%. Personally I think you should tell them the truth.

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