MRC remap and insurance

[JustinM]

Does the MRC remap give more than 10% inc. Most insurance companies categorise 0 to 10% inc.

[Contigo]

Which one? Stage 2? with miltek

Stage 2 is around 420bhp

so

standard is 380bhp

extra 40bhp = 10.5%. I'd say 10% , how on earth are they going to measure that and prove that you are wrong or have lied?

These things cannot be detected anyway so I personally wouldn't bother declaring.

Exhaust is worth doing as it's a visible thing but a remap nah not bothered.

[oneye]

i declared my remap with tesco using mrc's estimated figure of 420 bhp and it falls in the first 1- 10% cat because the next one up is 11% to whatever ,so anything up to 11% falls in the first cat if that makes sense. they charged me about £80 for the year on top of my premium.

[derdle]

Exhaust is worth doing as it's a visible thing but a remap nah not bothered

This line of topic has been covered before. Any mods should be declared to your insurer, otherwise you are technically driving without insurance.

Granted it is difficult to detect, but you only need to write off your car and for the assessor to decide to check the ECU for an undeclared remap and you've lost your car with no payout. If a tuner can remap an ECU then that map can be easily compared with a stock map for comparison. We all know that insurers will try every means possible to wriggle out of a claim. I actually wonder whether an insurer would go to the lengths of checking the ECU?

Paul

[DavidT]

I guess it depends on the size of the claim. If there is a large third party liability then they probably would get the car's ECU checked.

Mad not to declare mods IMO.

[Hiltoa]

Jeez!

If you can afford to buy, run and modify an RS4, you can afford to insure it properly!

[MarkB]

I guess it depends on the size of the claim. If there is a large third party liability then they probably would get the car's ECU checked.

Mad not to declare mods IMO.

I agree with David. If the claim is large or if excess speed was involved the insurance will look closer.

I'm of the opinion if you're going to shell out hundreds of pounds you are better getting proper insurance rather than potentially just an expensive peace of paper worth nothing if the worst happens

[ccr]

Been in the insurance business for a few years now and in the early 90's insurance companies were quite cavalier in chucking claims out using any means nessasary not to pay, one company refused to pay a claim as a car had a roof rack on and it wasn't declared so the insurer said it was a modification and all mods should be declared.

The insurance industry has changed alot since then and is now regulated up to its eye balls so such things don't happen again. We have had cases where small mods were not disclosed and an insurer just charged the client an additional premium for what they would have charged at the beginning of the policy, this is not to say all insurers will do this.

I wouldn't personally declare a remap and thats just my own choice and opinion. I havent heard of an insurer checking a ecu and even if they did who is to say that you were aware of this when you bought the car, that is if its a second hand motor.

[derdle]

wouldn't personally declare a remap

Now that is absolutely startling for someone who used to be in the insurance industry. A contract of insurance is one of "uberrimae fidei" - i.e. one of utmost good faith. If you fail to declare something that you know about then you stand the real chance of voiding your contract of insurance. I suppose it's a bit like bank robbery - it's ok until you get caught.

As mentioned earlier, for the sake of an extra £ 40/£80 (or in my case free) given the cost and rarity of these cars I can't see that declaring the mods should ever be a problem. To save £40 or £80 - put remoulds on your car!

Paul

[audijohn]

wouldn't personally declare a remap

Now that is absolutely startling for someone who used to be in the insurance industry. A contract of insurance is one of "uberrimae fidei" - i.e. one of utmost good faith. If you fail to declare something that you know about then you stand the real chance of voiding your contract of insurance. I suppose it's a bit like bank robbery - it's ok until you get caught.

As mentioned earlier, for the sake of an extra £ 40/£80 (or in my case free) given the cost and rarity of these cars I can't see that declaring the mods should ever be a problem. To save £40 or £80 - put remoulds on your car!

Paul

There are "Millions" of uninsured drivers out there, we are paying for there lack of good faith.
ECU remaps have to match the Checksum of the original software, the only way to check a NON reflash map, is by sending the ECU off to the software provider, and that is very is a rare occurrence indead.
If you have had a reflash and the signature has not been removed on exit, it will stand out, it is always best to ask and get confirmation of the type of remap the mapper is offering, many come to you and plug and play, this is the most OBVIOUSLY detectable map, it takes the mapper 20 mins, and in most cases it's easy to find. You make your choise on who you use but do your homework.

[CliveH]

I actually wonder whether an insurer would go to the lengths of checking the ECU?

I certainly think they would. In fact I know someone who used to do this for a living...

[CliveH]

This thread has gone totally off-topic (ie is an MRC remap on a B5 RS4 more than 10%?) and has raised once again the question of basically "can I get away without declaring mods on my insurance?"!

As an open forum, everyone is entitled to their opinion of course (even if some of them are questionable ), but surely this is a matter of law and common sense.

Should we not have a Sticky entitled "READ THIS : make sure you're properly insured", along the lines of "A basic principle of insurance is one of utmost good faith (thanks Paul ) which requires, amongst other things (I’ll avoid the Latin ), full declaration to insurers of all modifications to the vehicle. If you fail to do this, a claim may be declined or at worst the policy declared null and void. Beware! Do not take the risk, Do not cut corners (except on the track ), be properly insured.”

I appreciate that we cannot be seen to be giving “financial advice”, so a disclaimer would also be required along the lines of “RS246.com is not regulated to give insurance or financial advice and the comments set out above are not intended to constitute such advice but merely a ‘wealth warning’. Members should always seek independent professional advice on such matters. RS246.com accepts no responsibility or liability, etc etc (gee, what a bore!)”

Just an idea – this comes up time and time again…..

If the Mods are not comfortable with that, then lets have a Sticky in the Ownership section, where we can all post our 2p's...?

[ScottyBoy]

There is a sticky covering this Clive and your on it in the tuning section

[CliveH]

Oops! Silly me... Didn't think of looking in Tuning (Ownership includes insurance)

Thanks for putting me right Scotty

Must be my age...well, at least I was consistent...!

[ScottyBoy]

Glad i could help Clive I know being able to correct your good self doesnt happen that often so i am now basking in the glory