Making non manufacturer approved modifications could improve car insurance premiums by up to $9,600. This is according to research by the UK based uSwitch.com.

These pricing implications are putting off many motorists from making modifications to their vehicles, despite the fact that they can improve both the performance and appearance.

We therefore take a look at what counts as a modification, the impact of them on car insurance prices and the things that can be done to overcome them.

What counts as a modification and what effect will it have?

A car modification is defined as any change which is made to a car which results in it deviating from its original manufacturer specifications. These can range from even minor modifications such as replacing the cassette player with a CD player, to major alteration like the addition of full sports body kits. Motorist should ensure that they inform their insurance company when any change is made to their vehicle, as otherwise it could be used as a loop-hole by the insurer to avoid paying out when a claim is made.

The impact of the alteration on car insurance prices will depend upon the modification which has been made; with the whole basis of car insurance quote calculation based upon the statistical likelihood of the policy holder making a claim. For instance, simple side-skirts will only increase car insurance prices by about $140 with this price increases not only reflecting that this part will have to be replaced if an accident occurs, but also calculated on the premise that people who add a side-skirt to their car will be statistically more likely to make a claim.

However, drivers who completely change their exhaust system to ensure higher performance could see their premiums increase by up to $9,600. The higher performance will make the car more difficult to handle, hence making it more likely that the driver will be involved in an accident and make a claim. It should also not be forgotten than young male motorists who fit enhanced exhaust systems could fall into the ‘boy-racer’ category, which potentially explains these disproportionately prices.

Overcoming insurance discrimination

Discriminating against motorists by branding anyone who makes even a minor modification to their vehicle a dangerous driver is viewed by many to be a highly unfair system. While it is fair enough to charge more for motorists who replace a cassette player with a CD player to reflect the they will be far more likely to have their vehicle broken into than if the car had been left in its original specification; it is unfair to assume that everyone who adds performance enhancing features is a ‘boy-racer’. It is just as likely that they will be a car enthusiast who will take much better care of their vehicle than a conventional motorist. Additionally, why is it fair that modified vehicle owners will be discriminated against far more heavily than owners of high performance sports car?

However, it is not the end of the world, and there are still a number of things that can be done to bring down the price of premiums:

• Add a named driver- Adding a older person with more driving experience as a named driver on a car insurance policy is a sure fire way of obtaining cheaper premiums. It would also be an advantage if they were female, with women drivers being offered cheaper prices on account of them being statistically less likely to crash and make a claim than their male counterparts. Insurers will assume that the main policy holder will be sharing driving duties with the named drivers, and the quote will therefore take both motorists into account.
• Reduce mileage- Setting a smaller mileage allocation (number of miles you will be travelling over the duration of the policy) will always result in cheaper prices. This is due to motorists with smaller mileage limits being less likely to make a claim on account of them spending less time on the road. It is better to set a limit that is too small than to big, because you can always contact the insurer and offer to pay a little bit more in order to increase your mileage allocation at a later date.
• Security modifications- Not all modifications will bring insurance price increases, with security enhancements actually bringing down premiums. This is obviously due to it being made less likely that the policy holder’s vehicle will be stolen.
• Park securely- Parking a vehicle in a safe location like a secure company car park during the day and a locked garage at night will make it statistically less likely that the vehicle will be stolen or vandalised. This will be recognised by the insurance company who will offer cheaper motoring premiums.

Compare prices online- Compare prices with as many different insurers as possible in order to ensure that you are getting the best deal which is available to you in your given situation. Don’t forget that some insurers will be more lenient when it comes to modifications than others.

© mdvaldosta for Modded Autos, 2011. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags:

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Kia will be debuting a new model – the Soul – during the Paris Motor Show and will be released April 2009. The new car is powered by a 1.6 or 2.0 liter gasoline engine. The UK will get the option of the 1.6 liter gasoline or diesel engine.

Kia will also be offering a line of customization parts that will give consumers the ability to make their Soul unique and different from others. This means that there will be a vareity of accessories, color combinations, and options to choose from. The color combinations are said to be inspired by the Diva and Searcher, Soul Burner concepts that were revealed in Geneva.

The pricing has not been released.

© Naomi West for Modded Autos, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Kia, paris, Paris Motor Show

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

GM has revealed a new roadster, dubbed the Breckland Beira. This stylish new car rides on GM’s Kappa platform, which is the foundation for cars like the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, and Opel GT. This car is powered by the venerable 400hp 6.0L LS2 V8.

Weighing in at just under 3,100lbs, the Beira’s power-to-weight ratio ensures stunning performance. Sub five second sprints to 62mph have been promised, as well as a governed top speed of 155mph.

An interesting fact, is that the Beira is designed to run on Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) as well as gasoline. This gives the car a range of over 700 miles, as well as cutting down on emissions. The Beira sports a fully independent suspension that has been redesigned by Breckland with the assistance of KW Suspension. The newly redesigned suspension features updated springs, dampers, and bushings, also thicker anti-roll bars front and rear.

The Beira comes to a halt with the assistance of 12.8 brake rotors at all four corners with six piston calipers up front, and four piston calipers out back. The Beira will be available in both left, and right hand drive. They are expected to hit showroom floors in November of this year with a price tag of $108,000.

© 06RedfireGT for Modded Autos, 2008. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Beira, Breckland, LS2, Roadster, V8

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

In Europe and other markets, Honda offers its Accord with both 2.0 and 2.4L gasoline powered engines, as well as a 2.2L four-cylinder i-DTEC turbo-diesel. This same car is to be offered in the U.S. as the Acura TSX.

This new version of the TSX will go on sale next year. The new turbo diesel was developed in conjunction with German auto parts supplier Robert Bosch. This new motor is said to produce impressive fuel economy numbers, 34mpg in the city, and 53mpg on the highway.

This car is sure to have respectable performance sporting 140hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. Even with those impressive power numbers, thing diesel passes all of the stringent 50-state emissions laws. Unlike other rival clean diesel models, Honda’s system doesn’t require owners to replace its filtering system with urea. This patented system produces its ammonia to serve the same purpose.

© 06RedfireGT for Modded Autos, 2008. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Acura, diesel, TSX

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Mercedes has revealed pictures of the new 2009 G 55 AMG. This new SUV has been given upgrades in safety as well as comfort (which is something we always appreciate) and a new design that we can all appreciate.(...)
Read the rest of Mercedes Releases Official Pictures Of 2009 G 55 AMG (108 words)

© Naomi West for Modded Autos, 2008. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 2009 amg, 2009 mercedes, g 55 amg

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh