It's just occured to me that the Powerflow middle and rear silencer on my Polo would count as a modification by insurance companies, I'd imagine.

When I bought the car, I had no idea that it was there. I didn't actually find out until several months later when I had the car jacked up and noticed 'Powerflow' written across my back box.

Has anyone ever got in trouble over a mod they weren't aware was there?

This intrigued me so I thought I'd post about it.

I believe they say 'ignorance isn't an excuse' or something along the lines of that now. So yes, you'll have to declare it.

Otherwise every one would go 'My car didn't come with a 1.8T engine. Who knew '

Edited 25 April, 201511 yr by vdoubleu

Yeah, I get that. Obviously you couldn't pull that off with an engine conversion. But I just meant that it made me wonder if anyone else has been running around on exhaust systems they didn't know they had or similar situations.

Let's be honest, the majority of people never do any work to their cars, so would never had it up on axle stands and would never seen that it had a different exhaust system. It would be a right pain if they turned around and got in trouble fo rit.

But as you said, at the end of the day, ignorance isn't an excuse.

Hi,

If you need any help with modified car insurance then please feel free to drop me a line.

Regards,

Dan.

I actually filled out the quote form but your underwriting team said to call, and my insurance isn't up until July.

I agree it being abit of a grey area.

It sort of means anything that the car left the factory left with must be the same...

So what if someone had a genuine snapped spring and changed it for a Sachs item, does it now have modified suspension?

The exhaust could have been klarius or bosal, both do performance and OEM.

Does it change the way the car performs? If yes declare it, otherwise it's a like for like part.

Well I think all this exhaust system does is make noise. It does sound good, I found the receipt and it's been on the car so 's 2006, I highly doubt that the last owner ever even looked underneath the car, so it's probably not been declared since it was fresh.

There are no performance gains from it, my car is sloooooooow.

But that's the point I was getting at, was where is the line? I'm open for a discussion, it would be interesting to see where everyone stands.

This exhaust in particular could have been to replace the factory exhaust for whatever reason, not for performance or aesthetic.

Edited 28 April, 201511 yr by mbusby993

I've questioned this a few times.

Obviously as said engine swaps and any other obvious mods have to be delared.

The insurance companies do say something like 'has the vehicle been modified outside of orginal factory spec?'

My argument would be that for 99% of cars over the age of 5 the answer to that question would be yes.

After 5 years most cars have been through a set of tyres, a few services and a couple MOTs. So quite possibly it will have a different make or makes of tyres on. The filters should have been changed, quite possibly for different items to standard, Bosch to Mann for example. Also likely it has been through a set of front brakes and they have been changed for just cheap DriveTec items.

That is a fair list of modifications right there from just general care and keeping the car roadworthy. But how are you to know? Unless you get a book full of receipts for the car and go through them and pull the car to bits to find out then you aren't going to know.

Where do I stand?

When I buy a car, unless it is clearly modified, I class it as standard. If I then pull it apart and find a mod, like springs for example, then I'll go ahead and declare it. Usually I'm pulling it apart to fit my own mods instead.

Some things I don't bother with, likes of swapping out rusty bolts or any other little things that just tidy it up. Mainly because I can't be bothered sitting on hold for 3 hours, to then be insulted by them asking if these mods were fitted and signed off by a qualified mechanic.....Yes I have been asked this before and apparently me being a qualified Mechanical Engineer isn't good enough for some of them...

Insurance companies aren't helpful at the best of times. To be honest I don't think I'll bother declaring this exhaust now, as it doesn't see any performance gain and it's been on there for so long undeclared. Its just a replacement part to me.

I thought it was a thought provoking circumstance and I'm glad other people have given thought to this too.

I actuary discovered it months ago but I didn't even think of it as a 'mod' until the other day.

If you fit replacement parts on your car regardless of who makes them as long as they are a standard replacement part no probs ie as you say a spring change as long as its standard height replacement to original spec if you replaced it with a spring that's lowered or uprated from original spec you should declare it again regardless of make, as you say with the exhaust if its made by powerflow I presume its stainless steel and not mild steel you should really declare it although it would probably open up a can of worms

I'm unsure how much longer I'll have the car, so I won't do anything yet. If I keep it I'll probably add it on to insurance just so it can't be held against me at all.

Asking where people stand is irrelevant. What matters is where the insurance company stands. So my advice is ask the insurance company what constitutes a modification if you're worried.

Was just after different people's opinions really. It was for debate more than reassurance. :)