Insurance mod question... Uprated brakes?

MikeHunt79 · 10 Jan 2009 at 11:52

What (in the eyes of the insurer) are uprated brakes? I'm guessing they are typically uprated pads and disks? Mintex pads, Brembo disks, etc.

The thing is on my car I'm running standard OEM Peugeot pads, disks and calipers on the front, but they are from a 306 yet I drive a 205. My standard brakes were borderline dangerous - they're not even vented!

Does this count as uprated brakes? I'm guessing yes.

Is makes around £3 difference to my premium to include it as a mod, so I'm not bothered about that. If I declare it as a mod when it turns out to not be a mod, could this lead to anything nasty or am I just worrying about nothing?

RiPz · 10 Jan 2009 at 11:55

are they exactly the same specification as the OEM units ?

if not, they are a mod.

MikeHunt79 · 10 Jan 2009 at 16:09

RiPz said:
are they exactly the same specification as the OEM units ?

if not, they are a mod.

I guess that would be a no... My original setup used solid disks, my new setup uses vented disks. I've added to the mods list.

My solid disk setup poor to say the least. I managed to get a complete front brakes setup (calipers, pads and vented disks) from a Pug 306, which are a straight swap... The brakes are a lot better now. It's all original Pug OEM stuff, not aftermarket bits (eg Brembo, EBC, etc.).

I just wanted to be sure as it easier to declare it before you insure it. I still find it a little ironic that you get charged extra for making your car safer, but insurers are a pessimistic bunch, and they probably think I'm higher risk as it's a modification. :rolleyes:

Cr0fty · 10 Jan 2009 at 16:19

£3 increase is stupid anyway, should decrease it if anything in this context.

agw_01 · 10 Jan 2009 at 16:25

Cr0fty said:
£3 increase is stupid anyway, should decrease it if anything in this context.

In the eyes of the insurer... bigger brakes make them think that'll you be driving faster as you can stop sooner.

Does the same apply with better tyres too? If you have excellent tyres, does that mean you'll drive faster as the tyres can handle more? It's stupid really.

Peerzy · 10 Jan 2009 at 16:31

Cr0fty said:
£3 increase is stupid anyway, should decrease it if anything in this context.

If the they cost more then a like for like replacement is going to push any payout for a crash up. If you fit breaks that cost £500 a wheel (just a random figure) it's gonna cost the insurance company more if they have to payout than £20 breaks.

Cr0fty · 10 Jan 2009 at 16:31

^ Both valid points.

..I suppose

rypt · 10 Jan 2009 at 16:44

Peerzy said:
If the they cost more then a like for like replacement is going to push any payout for a crash up. If you fit breaks that cost £500 a wheel (just a random figure) it's gonna cost the insurance company more if they have to payout than £20 breaks.

Then why do mods / imports affect TP insurance prices as well - your insurance company has no liability if someone crashes into you afterall.

Peerzy · 10 Jan 2009 at 16:46

rypt said:
Then why do mods affect TP insurance prices as well?

That was just one reason. Fit an induction kit, big breaks, tints, a big bad boy exhaust and the car is not going to be used for the standard 5 miles a day to the shops and back. It's goes to be shagged about and ragged.

More chance of hitting something.

ineed2upgrade · 10 Jan 2009 at 19:45

rypt said:
Then why do mods / imports affect TP insurance prices as well - your insurance company has no liability if someone crashes into you afterall.

imports are more expensive to insure because its going to cost more on average for an insurence company to get parts if you have an accident.ask yourself this question,if your mate said he had just had his car chipped/induction kit/exhaust and cams/coilover kit/bigger brakes/wheels and tyres you would assume he wanted his car to accelerate faster,be able to go round corners quicker/brake later ect wouldnt you?if the car can go faster it can potentially have an accident at a higher speed and cause more damage therefore cost more in a claim

rypt · 10 Jan 2009 at 21:12

ineed2upgrade said:
imports are more expensive to insure because its going to cost more on average for an insurence company to get parts if you have an accident.ask yourself this question,if your mate said he had just had his car chipped/induction kit/exhaust and cams/coilover kit/bigger brakes/wheels and tyres you would assume he wanted his car to accelerate faster,be able to go round corners quicker/brake later ect wouldnt you?if the car can go faster it can potentially have an accident at a higher speed and cause more damage therefore cost more in a claim

Thing is though, your insurance company does not pay out to you if you are only TP, so import should not matter.
Equally, they bump the price for ALL upgrades, even if you are not making more power but rather making better ride quality / safer car. Better suspension, better brakes, even "style" al cause an insurance increase even for TP.

L0rdMike · 10 Jan 2009 at 21:16

I wouldnt say pads were uprated brakes, I would save that for discs/calipers.

Fr0dders · 10 Jan 2009 at 22:43

L0rdMike said:
I wouldnt say pads were uprated brakes, I would save that for discs/calipers.

this is a tricky one

id say pads were consumables in exactly the same way as tyres are

you dont have to notify your insurer when you change tyres to a different brand, so under the same principle of a device designed to degrade over time with use, id say not a mod.

ineed2upgrade · 10 Jan 2009 at 23:38

Pads are a service part so you wouldn't need to declare them assuming they are the same size as the standard ones and ce marked.same with panel filters,asking as they are the same size and fit in the standard airbox they are not declarable.

lsg1r · 10 Jan 2009 at 23:59

from my perspective the 306 brakes are a modification (they weren't meant for the 205 were they

) so at the very least tell the insurer and then let them decide.

As to why mods can up tp insurance, its not just to do with the 'performance' its also down to it being made more of a theft risk which is covered by tp insurance.
Take this into consideration - you see two identical cars, one with a nice shiny set of aftermarket rims, which do you think is most likely to get stolen.

Dandle · 11 Jan 2009 at 00:05

I had Mintec c-tech discs and pads all round on my volvo and evey insurer i used classed them as uprated brakes even though they were the same size discs and using the original calipers. The funny thing was I paid an extra £60 roughly a year for them and would have pad the same had they been a proper set of brembo multi piston setup all round.

SB118 · 11 Jan 2009 at 00:09

ineed2upgrade said:
Pads are a service part so you wouldn't need to declare them assuming they are the same size as the standard ones and ce marked.same with panel filters,asking as they are the same size and fit in the standard airbox they are not declarable.

Huh?

Fr0dders · 11 Jan 2009 at 00:32

SB118 said:
Huh?

he's got a point

why should you declare what make of air filter you have ?

do they want to know what make of oil filter you have too ? no because it doesnt increase power. And by all accounts, keeping the standard airbox but with a K&N power filter wont up power on its own anyway.

so no need to declare.

SB118 · 11 Jan 2009 at 00:47

Changing your oil filter isn't a tuning mod, fitting a free flowing panel filter is (admittedly it adds about 0.05bph, but it is a tuning mod)

gareth.e · 11 Jan 2009 at 00:55

What if you add a turbosupercharger?