Insurance and uprated suspension

[Duffer34 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Duffer34]

Hi Guys i am about to fit a 2 inch lift kit to my trusty old 05 GXL, I am currently insured with Coles. Given these people are absolute pain in the ar$e to deal with should i be telling them of my grand plans. Happy not to; but if i don't and smash the car i am worried they will not pay out and my insurance be nil and void:lol:

Any advice would be great

ta

Nick

[Smickbus Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smickbus]

Hey Nick,
I think you are better off telling them everything you do to your car, because as you said, if you crash, you run the risk of them not paying out a claim. My insurer(CGU) has not upped the premium for any of the mods Ive done eg bullbar lift etc, so maybe just ask yours what the price will be when you add the lift, and if you dont like, shop around!

[JGD Member Find all posts View Profile Close JGD]

Hi Nick,

Definitely get any modifications on your policy, otherwise most insurers are only required to repair/replace parts with original/OEM components.

Consider this scenario: your car is involved in a prang where your aftermarket suspension,a 4WD tyre, snorkel and bull bar are damaged. If they are on your policy then your insurance company has agreed to cover those parts, so will replace them. If they are not on your policy then the insurer is under no obligation to repair the parts as they can't be repaired with original or OEM components. In that instance the modifications would simply not be replaced, and you would be required to pay the cost of having them replaced.

I've found many of the new 'low cost' insurers do not permit modifications such as suspension upgrades, and if they do the prices become uncompetitive. Check before you do the mod, and if they won't cover you switch insurers.

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Interesting that smickbus said cgu will cover him as i just did a 2" lift and cgu were going to double my excess and increase my premium by 25%. I use an insurance broker and they ended up moving my car to allianz for the original cgu price i had before the lift and a slightly lower excess.

[Smickbus Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smickbus]

Interesting that smickbus said cgu will cover him as i just did a 2" lift and cgu were going to double my excess and increase my premium by 25%. I use an insurance broker and they ended up moving my car to allianz for the original cgu price i had before the lift and a slightly lower excess.

Really? They have not increased ours at all....? ours was organised through our credit union bank. I was expecting the premium to go up and was pleasantly surprised when it stayed the same. I even queried the guy on the phone about it

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Yep. Only just sorted this out during the week. might be different for different states? Even with professional installation and related warranty cgu weren't happy.

[JoshF Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoshF]

Nrma said as long as it was legal in the state of registration i was covered for all mods. I didn't need to the let them know as they needed to be permanent changes and easily identified when reviewed after a crash etc

[Duffer34 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Duffer34]

Thanks guys will make the relevant calls this week and see what they have to say.

[brogers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close brogers]

RACQ Insurance have been advised of multiple modificaions, and so long as they are legal, and roadworthy, they are covered at no extra cost. Rhino Rack, awning, 2 inch suspension lift, tinting, sandgrabba mats, tow bar, second battery, etc, all covered, and listed on the insrance policy, with no increase in premium.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

I am also with RACQ again after toyota insurance wanted an extra $200 a year because I had a claim.

Hutch- Prado 2012 petrol with the TJM Catologue.

[Duffer34 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Duffer34]

Just off the phone to Coles Insurance, they said that there would be no extra charge to my premium if the modification was legal and carried out by a professional. This is pretty suprising as i was expecting to be paying loads for this. I haven't agreed this with them as yet as i have only just purchased the rear springs and i am doing it bit by bit, but will defo keep you guys posted on the progress. Again thanks for the advice

[Dmines Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Dmines]

Hi there

I am with TIO in the NT and checking with them there is no issue with the suspension upgrade or turbo timer install as long as they are listed on the policy. In fact they class the turbo timer as an accessory and not a modification.

cheers
Doug

[Scratchedgrande Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Scratchedgrande]

If you have any dramas mate give Shannons a call. Didnt even bother calling Coles after the mods to my 120. They were three hundred more so around 970 full comprehensive. However that is with supercharger, and mandrel bent with extractors hi flow cats etc. And then all the usual suspects two inch lift snorkel winch and bar, driving lights etc. The guy at Coles pissed himself laughing when he asked me the reason for cancelling my policy and i told him i had modified the car to a degree that they would no longer insure it. Good luck