Modifications = Not Insurable?

PinkFloydEffect · Nov 24, 2012

I just contacted Liberty Mutual for an updated insurance quote and when we got to the questioner about the vehicle they asked about engine size. (1988 Dakota) I told them "3.9L V6 but will it make any difference when my V8 is swapped?" then we got into are there any other modifications.... apparently after a rear axle swap I will be uninsurable by most companies? WTF?

What do I do just lie? Will I be subject to prosecution for lying if I got in an accident? What is the worst that will happen they won't reimburse me? I'm sure an insurance appraiser will not even pickup on a different engine or rear axle unless they are REALLY good....then I will just get reimbursed as if it was factory?

jmaack727 · Nov 24, 2012

LMAO change companies.

That is ridiculous not covered after axle swap.

WRXCarl · Nov 24, 2012

What a joke! Call around and see what other companies have to say.

Misfit · Nov 24, 2012

Get E-surance, they dont ask you shit. My mustang was a 5.0 swapped 4 banger, etc..paid like 50 a month for full covg lol

Big_Texxan · Nov 24, 2012

Your only insurance is a gun, and dark windows

PinkFloydEffect · Nov 24, 2012

I currently have Commerce/Heritage and everything is fine but looked on switching because I pay $150 a month for minimal coverage

nothing bad on my driving record either!

Big_Texxan · Nov 24, 2012

guns, windows, and exterior protection. Only insurance.

PinkFloydEffect · Nov 24, 2012

Big_Texxan said:
guns, windows, and exterior protection. Only insurance.

The first time was funny, but maturity will tell you we live in the real world where we have to be reasonable. A shoebomb is not going to solve the fact I still have to pay taxes either...

Ranger50 · Nov 24, 2012

What you want is a plain liability coverage policy with an agreed to $X amount additional equipment rider to cover your modifications.

Sounds like you are trying to insure with collision and comp coverage, quit throwing your money away on coverage for a vehicle so old. That is why you are getting hammered on the modifications.

SH0K0TA · Nov 24, 2012

I got 2 drivers, 3 vehicles on my ins coverage... one being full coverage and I pay 275ish a month for all of it. This includes 1500+ in modifications. Literally, they cover my mods haha.

But yeah... their fucktards to say after an axle swap you won't be covered... fuck that

PinkFloydEffect · Nov 24, 2012

Ranger50 said:
What you want is a plain liability coverage policy with an agreed to $X amount additional equipment rider to cover your modifications.

Sounds like you are trying to insure with collision and comp coverage, quit throwing your money away on coverage for a vehicle so old. That is why you are getting hammered on the modifications.

I have bare minimal with no listed modifications, $150 a month.

SH0K0TA · Nov 24, 2012

Ranger50 said:
What you want is a plain liability coverage policy with an agreed to $X amount additional equipment rider to cover your modifications.

Sounds like you are trying to insure with collision and comp coverage, quit throwing your money away on coverage for a vehicle so old. That is why you are getting hammered on the modifications.

Yeah... that's easy to say now... cuz I was sayin it too.

Then a deer jumps out and hits you and totals your vehicle... and all the ins company can do is say tough shit... that would have been covered under comp.

TazRango · Nov 24, 2012

I think you misunderstood what they said. When you get straight up comp/collision insurance, it only covers stock items and up to a certain amount of 'permanently installed' accessories (usually $1,000). If you were to make modifications to your truck such as the new axle, the new engine, etc, THEY would not be covered unless you have an additional equipment rider or 'agreed value' policy. What would happen is if the truck were totaled, you would get replacement value for whatever the truck came with stock.

Its not that they wouldn't cover the truck at all, or refuse to pay you anything, it's that unless you have the mods listed and pay premiums on them, they can only pay you to replace the truck as stock. So with all the mods and equipment you're adding, you absolutely DO NOT want to go that way. If your truck were to be stolen or catch fire, you would not be covered for all that cool expensive stereo equipment or anything else you added on. Once everything is done you want to do an 'agreed value' policy. That means you and the insurance company decide what the truck plus all your mods/accessories are worth, and that is what your premiums are based on. If you end up with a total loss, you receive the agreed upon value. Thats how hotrodders and classic car owners insure their cars.

SH0K0TA · Nov 24, 2012

Although... it does help to have the paperwork on the equipment you have. It has to be paper copies and everything though

PinkFloydEffect · Nov 24, 2012

I think mine is high because they cover the other persons medical bills if an accident occurs so you don't get stuck in debt for the rest of your life....but I think that only applies if YOUR at fault right? If they cause the accident they pay their own medical bills and I'm not going to cause an accident so that should be dropped from my premium.

SH0K0TA · Nov 24, 2012

Don't leave yourself open like that... you wanna be able to cover them.

jhoppy16 · Nov 24, 2012

idk i'd honestly just go with what ur Vin tells them... if it says v6, say its a v6..

Thats just my personal opinion. Because usually when i go and get insurance they ask for truck 2004 dodge dakota, engine size 4.7 or 3.7 , 4x4 or 2wd kind of thing... It'd be hard if i had a hemi swap, and they asked 4.7 or 3.7 and i said 5.7 they'd prolly scratch there head lol

TazRango · Nov 24, 2012

PinkFloydEffect said:
I think mine is high because they cover the other persons medical bills if an accident occurs so you don't get stuck in debt for the rest of your life....but I think that only applies if YOUR at fault right? If they cause the accident they pay their own medical bills and I'm not going to cause an accident so that should be dropped from my premium.

No. First of all your statement that "I'm not going to cause an accident" is almost as ignorant as it is stupid and arrogant. You never know. And if you do end up causing one (or even if you didn't but fault is pinned on you by technicality - ask me how I know about that one) what then?

Your premiums are high because you live in Boston. Mass and NJ have the highest premiums in the country because their drivers cause more accidents per capita than anywhere else. There's absolutely nothing you can do about it aside from shop around. In my shopping experience, Liberty Mutual and Allstate were always the highest quotes. Try calling State Farm or Geico, or American Family. I'm with AmFam now. It might also be good to call some local insurance agents just for shiggles. Agents are usually higher, but you might get lucky.

The 'other guys' medical bills are part of your liability limits. It is not a separate line item. That is also why it is incredibly stupid to carry low limit or state minimum insurance - if you cause serious injury, $10,000 isn't going to pay for jack shit. I carry $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 just because it's only a few dollars a month more than the minimums, and I don't feel like being sued if someone claims whiplash and permanent disability. If you're a homeowner you should also look into an umbrella policy for even further protection.

PinkFloydEffect · Nov 24, 2012

jhoppy16 said:
idk i'd honestly just go with what ur Vin tells them... if it says v6, say its a v6..

Thats just my personal opinion. Because usually when i go and get insurance they ask for truck 2004 dodge dakota, engine size 4.7 or 3.7 , 4x4 or 2wd kind of thing... It'd be hard if i had a hemi swap, and they asked 4.7 or 3.7 and i said 5.7 they'd prolly scratch there head lol

That is exactly what just happened.

TazRango said:
No. First of all your statement that "I'm not going to cause an accident" is almost as ignorant as it is stupid and arrogant. You never know. And if you do end up causing one (or even if you didn't but fault is pinned on you by technicality - ask me how I know about that one) what then?

Your premiums are high because you live in Boston. Mass and NJ have the highest premiums in the country because their drivers cause more accidents per capita than anywhere else. There's absolutely nothing you can do about it aside from shop around. In my shopping experience, Liberty Mutual and Allstate were always the highest quotes. Try calling State Farm or Geico, or American Family. I'm with AmFam now. It might also be good to call some local insurance agents just for shiggles. Agents are usually higher, but you might get lucky.

The 'other guys' medical bills are part of your liability limits. It is not a separate line item. That is also why it is incredibly stupid to carry low limit or state minimum insurance - if you cause serious injury, $10,000 isn't going to pay for jack shit. I carry $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 just because it's only a few dollars a month more than the minimums, and I don't feel like being sued if someone claims whiplash and permanent disability. If you're a homeowner you should also look into an umbrella policy for even further protection.

I carry the $300,000 but honestly I rarely drive on the highway and do not drive at high speeds how much can I possibly hurt someone? But I do see the point with it only being a few extra dollars. It's just bullshit if I added my $3,000 stereo to my insurance I wouldn't be able to afford to drive my truck anymore...

TazRango · Nov 24, 2012

PinkFloydEffect said:
I carry the $300,000 but honestly I rarely drive on the highway and do not drive at high speeds how much can I possibly hurt someone? But I do see the point with it only being a few extra dollars. It's just bullshit if I added my $3,000 stereo to my insurance I wouldn't be able to afford to drive my truck anymore...

Lol.. All it takes is a split second of distraction or somebody to forget to turn on their blinker. I hit someone pulling out of a parking lot about 10 years ago. Asshole was in the left lane of a 45mph road, the right lane was clear, so I pulled out to make the right and next thing I know I was smashing into him. He failed to signal his lane change and wasn't paying attention to the road and I didn't stand a chance - I never saw him move over. Yet because I had a stop sign at the edge of the parking lot, fault was pinned on me - because how do you prove that he didnt signal?

Modifications = Not Insurable?

PinkFloydEffect

jmaack727

WRXCarl

Misfit

Big_Texxan

PinkFloydEffect

Big_Texxan

PinkFloydEffect

Ranger50

SH0K0TA

PinkFloydEffect

SH0K0TA

TazRango

SH0K0TA

PinkFloydEffect

SH0K0TA

jhoppy16

TazRango

PinkFloydEffect

TazRango

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