Definition of a mod (in the eyes of the insurance co)

Discuss common aspects of Audi RS and S tuning and modifications
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zappy-chops
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Definition of a mod (in the eyes of the insurance co)

Post by zappy-chops » Sat Jan 12, 2019 7:55 pm

Hi folks. Just read the thread about mapping and insurance and it got me wondering. My C7 RS6 PE is standard but I did recently put on another set of wheels with winter tyres. They are OEM Audi wheels but 20s rather than the 21s the car came with. And I fitted spacers. This wouldn't be classified as a mod would it? As long as it's not affecting performance I would have thought not.

When I was insuring the car I wanted to make sure all the factory fitted options were listed and the company told me they don't care about that as long as they are factory fitted and don't affect the performance.
Currently running:
18 plate Lamborghini Huracan Performante (5.2l of V10 naturally aspirated craziness)
67 plate RS6 Performance (fully loaded)
66 plate Range Rover Autobiography (for wafting around)
16 plate Mini Cooper S convertible (lots of fun but rather skittish when thrashed)

Favourite car ever owned:
1971 Citroen DS21 - The Goddess (pure art on wheels)

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FrazerD
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Re: Definition of a mod (in the eyes of the insurance co)

Post by FrazerD » Sat Jan 12, 2019 8:21 pm

Doubt they would worry about the wheels but the spacers aren’t factory fitted.

Cheers :thumbs:

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MikeFish
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Re: Definition of a mod (in the eyes of the insurance co)

Post by MikeFish » Sat Jan 12, 2019 9:05 pm

They would categorise that as a mod. If it didn't leave the factory like that then it's a mod. Arguably, you could tell them they were the factory wheels and they might not know any better.

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Ian_C
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Re: Definition of a mod (in the eyes of the insurance co)

Post by Ian_C » Sat Jan 12, 2019 9:14 pm

FrazerD wrote:
Sat Jan 12, 2019 8:21 pm
Doubt they would worry about the wheels but the spacers aren’t factory fitted.
Agreed
B5 B6 B7 B9

HPsauce
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Re: Definition of a mod (in the eyes of the insurance co)

Post by HPsauce » Sat Jan 12, 2019 11:09 pm

My insurers want to know that I have winter wheels and tyres and it's noted on the policy as a modification, but leave it up to me when I swap them and they don't need telling.
No charge for that by the way.
I do actually use OEM wheels but they didn't ask for any details. It's obviously implied that I have a spare set and so have to store them, again details not required.

Spacers I'm sure they would want to know about and may even have concerns.

zappy-chops
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Re: Definition of a mod (in the eyes of the insurance co)

Post by zappy-chops » Sat Jan 12, 2019 11:55 pm

Cheers folks. Glad I asked. Better give them a call on Monday.
Currently running:
18 plate Lamborghini Huracan Performante (5.2l of V10 naturally aspirated craziness)
67 plate RS6 Performance (fully loaded)
66 plate Range Rover Autobiography (for wafting around)
16 plate Mini Cooper S convertible (lots of fun but rather skittish when thrashed)

Favourite car ever owned:
1971 Citroen DS21 - The Goddess (pure art on wheels)

HPsauce
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Joined: Tue May 19, 2015 6:31 pm

Re: Definition of a mod (in the eyes of the insurance co)

Post by HPsauce » Sun Jan 13, 2019 1:18 pm

They care about mods for many reasons above performance; e.g. increased risk of breakdown, damage or theft, additional costs of repairs, etc.

Fatneck73
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Re: Definition of a mod (in the eyes of the insurance co)

Post by Fatneck73 » Sun Jan 13, 2019 5:15 pm

They care about anything they can charge you more for...or use as an excuse to get out of paying a claim. I’m not being arsy...but remember they’re just a business looking to make a profit and minimise risk.

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Covkiller
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Re: Definition of a mod (in the eyes of the insurance co)

Post by Covkiller » Mon Jan 14, 2019 8:51 am

You probably won't pay any extra.
RS4 B7, Mugello Blue, K&W V3 & HR ARBs, set up by Centre Gravity, Milltek Valved Non Res & cat bypass pipes, BMC air filter, braided hoses, DOT 5.1, Terraclean, MRC Full Carbon Clean, MRC remap 448PS 477NM, 20" S7 alloys with 4mm spacers & Hawke spigots 66.6 > 57.1, AP Racing front discs. Sold Sept 2019. Now rocking an F80 M3

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Re: Definition of a mod (in the eyes of the insurance co)

Post by bam_bam » Mon Jan 14, 2019 6:06 pm

I've got a C5 RS6 with C6 RS6 wheels, they saw this as a mod (OEM+). Don't matter, it's a mod. Even the CS Sportster seats and TTS flat-bottom steering wheel are listed mods.
No matter where you go, there you are.

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MikeFish
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Re: Definition of a mod (in the eyes of the insurance co)

Post by MikeFish » Mon Jan 14, 2019 6:31 pm

Your policy is normally very clear in this. Any changes after it left the factory is a mod.

zappy-chops
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Re: Definition of a mod (in the eyes of the insurance co)

Post by zappy-chops » Mon Jan 14, 2019 10:40 pm

MikeFish wrote:
Mon Jan 14, 2019 6:31 pm
Your policy is normally very clear in this. Any changes after it left the factory is a mod.
Probably is Mike, but that involves reading the policy. :bigblink:
Currently running:
18 plate Lamborghini Huracan Performante (5.2l of V10 naturally aspirated craziness)
67 plate RS6 Performance (fully loaded)
66 plate Range Rover Autobiography (for wafting around)
16 plate Mini Cooper S convertible (lots of fun but rather skittish when thrashed)

Favourite car ever owned:
1971 Citroen DS21 - The Goddess (pure art on wheels)

HPsauce
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Posts: 788
Joined: Tue May 19, 2015 6:31 pm

Re: Definition of a mod (in the eyes of the insurance co)

Post by HPsauce » Tue Jan 15, 2019 6:33 pm

MikeFish wrote:
Mon Jan 14, 2019 6:31 pm
Your policy is normally very clear in this. Any changes after it left the factory is a mod.
Not always.
One big-name insurer I used also put down a couple of factory-fit options as modifications. :FIREdevil:
Bearing in mind that these were ABS, heated windscreen and air conditioning that was a bit weird!
Non were standard at the time of manufacture, nor indeed that common on the particular model, though they would be now.

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Covkiller
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Re: Definition of a mod (in the eyes of the insurance co)

Post by Covkiller » Tue Jan 15, 2019 8:34 pm

Image
RS4 B7, Mugello Blue, K&W V3 & HR ARBs, set up by Centre Gravity, Milltek Valved Non Res & cat bypass pipes, BMC air filter, braided hoses, DOT 5.1, Terraclean, MRC Full Carbon Clean, MRC remap 448PS 477NM, 20" S7 alloys with 4mm spacers & Hawke spigots 66.6 > 57.1, AP Racing front discs. Sold Sept 2019. Now rocking an F80 M3

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