Insurance spoilers ripoff

[Johnny C]

It's that time of year for me to get robbed again.

I had a quote from hastings... £645, very reasonable. So I went to buy online, and there was the usual list of 'exclusions' - being a fraudster, not racing, that sort of stuff. But then I noticed it said 'any modifications including bodykits'.

Now my little C2 has a fixed rear RS spoiler and RS front scoops. Just look nice more than anything. They were on when I got it.

So I rang Hastings up, to see what they said. I figured that as it wasn't lowered, turboed, somethng like that, it would be a case of just noting it down. If anything, the bigger spoiler means it holds the road a bit better at motorway speeds if I have to swerve suddenly so is less likely to crash, also that not having the electric spoiler means that it would be cheaper to fix in the event of a rear-end smack.

But they came back with a quote of ... £2,500! I asked why, I explained the scoops and spoiler were standard factory-fitted parts on a different model, they didn't increase speed and (as above) reduced the likelihood and potential cost of a claim. But they wouldn't budge.

So I went onto confused.com, and only 3 insurers would quote for a modified car - lowest quote was Endsleigh at £1,350

I've since had a quote from Adrian Flux of £925.

If anyone can suggest another specialist who would give a reasonable quote I'd appreciate it.

Bloody insurance companies! I've got 18 years without making a claim, I've been driving porkers for the last 10, how on earth can they justify 4x higher cost? I could understand if it's some boy-racer sticking a nitro kit and turbo on his Seat Ibiza so he can race his mates, but a different spoiler? I suppose it's because a human would have to make a decision rather than some mindless call-centre school-leaver poking keys on a PC - it's easier to dissuade people with non-bog-standard cars than have to employ someone with a brain

 

[oxford_hippo]

Try Brian at 'Coversure Insurance Services, he's been extremely helpful for a few different cars - ,

and he's beaten Adrian Flux Quotes for me before hands down![]

Tel. 08704 585 703.
TP[&:]

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Try A Manning - real people who talk to you.
01491 578759

 

[danofesher]

ORIGINAL: Mark Bennett

Try A Manning - real people who talk to you.
01491 578759

I agree with Mark. I changed the standard GT3 rear spoiler for one from a GT3 RS and it made no difference to the premium. The fact that you've been driving Porsches for 10 years should help.

 

[stuart tanner]

I agree, A Manning. They saved me loads on my insurance too...

 

[pse_SC]

Quite apart from the minor mod issue (which is ridiculous, of course), the insurance companies have you over a barrel all the time "" even if, like you say, you've had 10 years' experience of Porsche[]. I've had around the same with Porsche, together with 34 years' driving time (and no claims!). You have my sympathy.

 

[Johnny C]

Thanks, I'll give Mannings a try

 

[vinceg]

Probably worth giving my current insurer a try - details as below. A TVR mate suggested them to me and Darren ( OPS Manager) certainly knows his cars and seems able to offer the realistic personal touch. I paid ~£450 this year for a 4k policy with guaranteed value.




Hagerty International Limited
Darren Saunders
Silverstone Innovation Centre

Silverstone Circuit
Northamptonshire
NN12 8GX
Tel: +44 (0) 1327 856 002
Fax: +44 (0) 1327 856 001
Mobile: +44 (0) 7770 958 912
www.hagertyinsurance.co.uk

 

[jdpef356]

I would NOT try Norwich Union Direct after my recent epesode with them - I wanted to transfer a BMW coupe to a BMW convertible on a policy held with Norwich Union Direct. After over an hour on the phone to a call center (not in the UK) we were still going round in circles.
The final straw came when I was asked what sort of van the BMW was - I replied it was not a van but a convertible car - the reply -
Does it have a slidding side door? A lady sits on a UK phone for Norwich Union to field complaints but can only redirect you back to the call center if your policy is with Norwich union Direct. I suggest you contact Nowell and Richards in Stafford give them a ring on 01785 255514. They did my 993 C2S this year for £409.00 - and thats with Norwich Union - NOT Norwich Union Direct.

John D -
993C2s
And the only BMW325CI sport convertible - with slidding side door.

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: Johnny C

It's that time of year for me to get robbed again.

I had a quote from hastings... £645, very reasonable. So I went to buy online, and there was the usual list of 'exclusions' - being a fraudster, not racing, that sort of stuff. But then I noticed it said 'any modifications including bodykits'.

Now my little C2 has a fixed rear RS spoiler and RS front scoops. Just look nice more than anything. They were on when I got it.

So I rang Hastings up, to see what they said. I figured that as it wasn't lowered, turboed, somethng like that, it would be a case of just noting it down. If anything, the bigger spoiler means it holds the road a bit better at motorway speeds if I have to swerve suddenly so is less likely to crash, also that not having the electric spoiler means that it would be cheaper to fix in the event of a rear-end smack.

But they came back with a quote of ... £2,500! I asked why, I explained the scoops and spoiler were standard factory-fitted parts on a different model, they didn't increase speed and (as above) reduced the likelihood and potential cost of a claim. But they wouldn't budge.

As I work for Hastings, I suppose I shouldn't get involved, but you are not exactly or target market... No offence. And our underwriters can sometimes have very strange views.[&:]

You are chuffed with your mods... well a thief would be as well...
Your car parked next to a standard C2... which would the thief take?

 

[Johnny C]

Hi Nicola

Thanks for replying. No offence taken!

Quote:
Your car parked next to a standard C2... which would the thief take?
Unquote

To most car thieves, a porsche carrera is a porsche carrera, hence the group 20. I doubt many would think 'Oh, that car's got an extra grand's worth of bits, I'll make a special point of stealing that'. If they've got a special order for an RS for export, they'd know as soon as they looked inside that the RS bits were cosmetic only and look elsewhere.

If it's two 993s next to each other, what will determine which to steal is how easily and quickly the thief can take the car and get away.

I was staying at the in-laws a while ago. During the night my car was on the road, next to a fiesta. Which got stolen during the night? The fiesta.

That raises the question, what %age of payouts are for thefts and what are for smashes?

If it's say 50:50, then £300 of the £600 quote is for smashes (which are less likely) and £300 for thefts. The revised quote of £2,500 presumably includes the same £300 for prangs - there's no increase in power, which means the £300 for thefts has gone up to £2,200. I would seriously question that the body parts would make it 700% times more likely to be stolen!

When I got my quote from Adrian Flux, it was a renewal. Last year I hadn't notified them of the body mods (I didn't realise I had to). When I phoned up and mentioned it this year, and asked if the renewal quote still stood, the lady made some enquiries with their underwriters. She then phoned back and said that it made no difference to the quote as it was largely cosmetic. That's their view, and they're specialists.

I realise that Hastings just don't want my business. From a commercial perspective that's crazy. Hastings have spent money marketing to me, both directly and on TV, and I've responded. I've had 15 years without a claim, most of which was driving high performance cars and most of which was living in Islington with on-road parking, and they're fine with insuring a C2 at very competitive rates, so somebody somewhere has made a decision that a 993 C2 is their target market. Yet at the final hurdle they decide they don't want my custom just because my car's got a couple of different bits of plastic?

As you work for them, please feel free to pass my disgruntlement on to the right person (or let me know who to contact)

Cheers

 

[Johnny C]

PS, thanks to everyone who recommended other people. I've tried them all, but no-one could come close to Adrian Flux for my set of circumstances. Believe me, I'm more unhappy about that than you are!