Shannons insurance - modifications question

[Range Runner]

I meant to post this in the earlier thread, but the impressive thing with that photo is the undamaged state of the car from the A pillars back - the windscreen and driver's side door look undamaged, which bodes well for the state of the passenger cell. Impressive for such a small, light car.

Whilst sad for the loss of the car, glad it put up such a fight looking after its driver.

Yes, both doors still opened & shut perfectly, & Nina walked away without a scratch, which is very fortunate, not only for Nina, but for all the rest of us who like looking at her.



If I never loved my 5 for anything else, I'll always be grateful that it didn't damage my beautiful lady in it's death throes. A mighty, mighty car. Right to the end. R.I.P. 853 DIZ

[93_Clubman]

In late 2010, as a Shannons customer, spoke with them about comprehensive insurance for an non-engineered SC'd MX5 that I was considering buying in Vic. They advised that for public road use they only insure & payout on 'legal' vehicles. I asked them what their definition of 'legal' was & they advised me to ring Vicroads. Vicroads advised me 'legal' meant a turbo or supercharged vehicle needed an approval certificate from a VASS, i.e. it needed to be engineered. Of course in Vic there's also an EPA consideration in terms of aftermarket ECUs so this would be another hurdle to engineering , & therefore legality, in Vic.

In early 2012, still as a Shannons customer, spoke with them about comprehensive insurance for an non-engineered SC'd MX5 that I was considering buying in Vic. This time they said they would insure it, but with the proviso that if a future claim was specifically as a result of the SC they would decline the claim. However, they said if the SC wasn't the cause of a claim they would honour it. Of course, none of that would be in writing, so basically I'd be putting any claim entirely at their discretion. And as already noted above, the vehicle would not be legal in Vic, so they'd have an out either way if they wanted.

Might be worth PMing Blue94T as he has a useful insight into this issue (not from personally making a claim on a modified vehicle).

[bruce]

, they said if the SC wasn't the cause of a claim they would honour it.

How would a SC cause a claim/accident? Seems highly unlikely. If your motor blew up (with or without a supercharger), your always on your own.

(Blue94T hasn't been active on the forum for years).

[Vat]

, they said if the SC wasn't the cause of a claim they would honour it.

How would a SC cause a claim/accident? Seems highly unlikely. If your motor blew up (with or without a supercharger), your always on your own.

(Blue94T hasn't been active on the forum for years).

Two looping black lines out of a corner into oncoming traffic comes immediately to mind.

[bruce]

Two looping black lines out of a corner into oncoming traffic comes immediately to mind.

That's called hooning and your insurance would be void in that situation (with or without a SC).

[93_Clubman]

they said if the SC wasn't the cause of a claim they would honour it.

How would a SC cause a claim/accident? Seems highly unlikely. If your motor blew up (with or without a supercharger), your always on your own.

(Blue94T hasn't been active on the forum for years).

I nor Shannons were refering to a motor blowing-up. The conversation with them was purely about if they assessed non-engineered, but declared to Shannons, modification/s caused or contributed to an accident then they would not payout on a claim. However that said, at the time they were happy to insure some non-engineered modified vehicles, specifically in the case I raised with them, ie a formerly normally aspirated but now SC'd NB8B.

Btw, search reveals 25 matches for Blue94T in the last 12 mths, with his last visit being 7 June 14.

[taminga16]

Bruce, This is a nowhere discussion.
Get on with it declare and the mods, insurers are in the business of making money, dodgy claims are viewed as just that and the companies will pursue offenders to the end, EVEN IF IT COSTS THEM MONEY! Ask me how I know, and it is not because I have ever lodged a false claim or neglected to meet the requirements as laid out in an insurance proposal.
Greg.

[bruce]

OK. Yes, I agree.
Thanks for everyones experiences.

[Vat]

That's called hooning and your insurance would be void in that situation (with or without a SC).

True, but I was more getting at that being more likely to occur 'accidentally' (think the mythical patch of diesel) in a supercharged car and a scenario where the SC could be pointed at.

A good rule to remember with insurance is the whole point of the insurance industry is to take your money and then not give it back, which is why the contracts are so long and confusingly written. If the company is presented with an opportunity to deny a claim, they will take it.

[Mr Morlock]

my impression is that most Insurance cos do the right thing- if you do the right thing. Not having insurance is irresponsible. Its abundantly clear that a lot of guys are not advising of mods that should be reported e.g. a turbo or s/c fitment or checked before doing. 93 spelled it out. A insurance policy based on something not in writing is a claim waiting to be rejected.

[narita]

I recently had a claim with shannons, I was upfront and always called them to amend any changes to the car.

the claim was my first ever insurance claim and I was very happy with the process and the work performed.

[evil_weevil]

If anyone has a claim denied due to either undeclared/declared mods/accessories I'd be disputing it right away.

Unless of course you were a fullee sick person and got the grinder out and chopped your springs for that hectic look and they caused the accident!