Can you ever run a de-cat exhaust and actually be insured? Somewhat of a grey area?
- Thread starter norm
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An insurance policy has been taken out on the cars but, when push comes to shove, coverage could still be denied.
just my take but surely if you have a exhaust fitted to your vehicle that makes it illegal (ie not able to pass current mot laws) then the vehicle is not fit for the road. insurance companies will decline a payout if involved in a major accident.
i use the term major because a minor scrape/dent would probably not result in a fully comprehensive check of the vehicle unless the assessor was diligent. if the accident involved it being compounded/written off etc you would not be covered.
ive had a customer in the past who had his car decatted and fell foul of the insurance, he was stopped by the police and his vehicle checked when the insurance were contacted they decline cover and the police prosecuted. he found insurance nearly impossible for years after (cost wise).
not worth the risk.
dont forget the old adage..... the mot is only relevent when tested. so the garage can say they tested it and it had the correct exhaust.not there problem if you swapped it out after.
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Underboss
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Well said 
Well take my car for example, I have told the insurance company it has an EGR bypass fitted on it, they still chose to insure it. Yet the EGR valve is an emissions device, and if it's not present on the car it should fail an MOT, mine passed because the garage didn't look or care.
So in essence that's no different than not having a catalytic converter fitted.
So why is one allowed and not the other?
I'm more of the opinion that insurance companies can't condone the use of de-cats, but if the car has one and the modification is stated under more general term of performance modification I don't think they care.
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Underboss
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Because the Cat is a MUCH more important emissions related item vs an EGR valve...
Because its an item to actually check on the MOT... and an EGR valve is not...
It's also obnoxious... I can't stand the smell of untreated exhaust. It's not nice.
Why be a selfish git? Lol
Soldato
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Some imports (ie 94 jdm that don't have a UK model) don't need a cat to pass the mot as they don't exist on the dvla database so get a non cat test. A lot of testers get frumpy pointing it out to them mind
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Underboss
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its still a catalytic converter, so yes its fine
seems difficult
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I personally know of 15+ stage 4.25 or higher GTR's all written off and all paid out.
All declared mods no problem with various insurance companies.
Worst case, if you smash your car up totally, have it recovered to a trusted dealership first, swap the cats back on the car and then have it taken for inspection after.
All declared mods no problem with various insurance companies.
Worst case, if you smash your car up totally, have it recovered to a trusted dealership first, swap the cats back on the car and then have it taken for inspection after.
Deleted User 298457
Deleted User 298457
Ah Kindai -- your true colours are genuinely beaut.
Underboss
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so you think if your in a complete smash up with the police etc there, your car would be taken to a garage and quickly swap the cat over before the forensics see it ? no chance
Youre conflating 2 different things here.
If forensics are there, they will be to collect evidence, most likely for a police investigation. Which will most likely be focusing on the safety aspects, and the presence of cats is probably not even going to register on their radar.
The inspection of a car after an accident by your insurance company is something else, and youre under no obligation to have it directly driven to their yard etc.
It is afterall, still your property until such time that you are paid out on it so you can do what you like with it.
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Deleted User 298457
Deleted User 298457
Always above the law - the everyman Lambo owner 
This is the most likely situation for most insurance companies, if they allow you to declare exhaust modifications and accept your insurance, it would be insanely difficult for them not to pay out over... exhaust modifications.
Then comes the proving it aspect. Can your insurer prove you knew it was non-compliant? "Yes guv, I installed the exhaust, and took it for an MOT, they said the car was fine, how am I to know otherwise?"
Then it comes even further, well does the car even start, hold pressure, doesnt leak etc to the point they can do a valid emissions test? If they even picked it up on the inspection.
I would bargain the stories of people not getting paid out are chancers who have modded their cars far beyond their declarations, rolled the dice and lost, or, talked too much and admitted they fitted them and knew they were non-compliant etc.
As always with insurance there are huge swathes of grey to float around in.
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