New kit and declaring it to insurance providers

07-10-2013, 05:07 PM

As many of you may know, I was unfortunate enough to bin my Monster a few weeks ago. The insurance company has ok'd the claim and the estimate, and those nice people at ProTwins are starting to get things together to do the repairs. I have agreed for a few upgrades to take place, chief amongst them a tail chop and fitting of Termis. I have a few questions on this:

1) Am I right in thinking that I will have to declare the changes to my insurance company as soon as I pick up the bike?

2) As Termis are considered Ducati's factory option provider, do they need to be declared or could it be taken that as the bike could have come out of the factory with them fitted I don't need to declare them?

3) Assuming both the tail tidy and Termis need to be declared, can I expect the insurance company to take account of my stack / claim when calculating my new excess or should this make no difference to the figure they're going to require that I pay?

Cheers!

Flip · 07-10-2013, 07:26 PM

My understanding is it is a bit of a grey area as a lot of Insurance companies consider many 'modifications' as 'cosmetic' and therefore do not come under their 'increased performance' guidelines although if you have spent £2000 on a special paint job I am sure they would want to know about it if they thought they might have to pay to have it redone in the event of damage.

I would imagine the tail chop would be considered cosmetic and therefore no problem.

However, when I last spoke to an insurance broker about exhausts they told me as long as they didn't have 'Not for Road Use', 'Race Use Only' or words to that effect on them then they were considered cosmetic and didn't need to be declared. But if they were marked, that identified them as a performance upgrade and incurred a loading- oddly they didn't mention anything about them being illegal, which I should think is a whole other 'can' of worms should it ever be cited in a court case.

gary tompkins · 08-10-2013, 01:59 AM

It always pays to declare modifications otherwise the insurance company may deny all liability in the event of a claim

You may even be accused of obtaining insurance under false pretences

11-10-2013, 09:29 AM

Thanks for the advice guys.

slob · 11-10-2013, 11:15 AM

Termis should be fine, Insurance companies tend not to care as long as the performance gain is less than 10% but definitely declare them.

jonzi · 11-10-2013, 11:19 AM

I declared my termis but none of the other mods. When some twat knocked me off and broke everysingle mod, the insurance company replaced it.

Though I sent the bike to Rosso Corse and he just put in the estimate which included all the mods.

I recommend not getting knocked off though.

11-10-2013, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonzi

I recommend not getting knocked off though.

Well yes, I'm starting to be of the opinion that it's highly overrated.

07-10-2013, 05:07 PM	#1
turbohobbit Guest Posts: n/a	New kit and declaring it to insurance providers As many of you may know, I was unfortunate enough to bin my Monster a few weeks ago. The insurance company has ok'd the claim and the estimate, and those nice people at ProTwins are starting to get things together to do the repairs. I have agreed for a few upgrades to take place, chief amongst them a tail chop and fitting of Termis. I have a few questions on this: 1) Am I right in thinking that I will have to declare the changes to my insurance company as soon as I pick up the bike? 2) As Termis are considered Ducati's factory option provider, do they need to be declared or could it be taken that as the bike could have come out of the factory with them fitted I don't need to declare them? 3) Assuming both the tail tidy and Termis need to be declared, can I expect the insurance company to take account of my stack / claim when calculating my new excess or should this make no difference to the figure they're going to require that I pay? Cheers!

07-10-2013, 07:26 PM	#2
Flip Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Beachtown Bike: M900 Posts: 2,188	My understanding is it is a bit of a grey area as a lot of Insurance companies consider many 'modifications' as 'cosmetic' and therefore do not come under their 'increased performance' guidelines although if you have spent £2000 on a special paint job I am sure they would want to know about it if they thought they might have to pay to have it redone in the event of damage. I would imagine the tail chop would be considered cosmetic and therefore no problem. However, when I last spoke to an insurance broker about exhausts they told me as long as they didn't have 'Not for Road Use', 'Race Use Only' or words to that effect on them then they were considered cosmetic and didn't need to be declared. But if they were marked, that identified them as a performance upgrade and incurred a loading- oddly they didn't mention anything about them being illegal, which I should think is a whole other 'can' of worms should it ever be cited in a court case. __________________ You're perfect, yes, it's true- But without me you're only you! Last edited by Flip; 07-10-2013 at 07:31 PM..

08-10-2013, 01:59 AM	#3
gary tompkins 1/2 man - 1/2 pogo-stick Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Dartford, Kent Bike: M900ie Posts: 7,241	It always pays to declare modifications otherwise the insurance company may deny all liability in the event of a claim You may even be accused of obtaining insurance under false pretences __________________ GT Fully paid up member of the S.A.S. (Scottoiler Appreciation Society) 27,000 miles on original chain - and still going strong!

11-10-2013, 11:19 AM	#6
jonzi Mary Mary Quite Contrary Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Berkhamsted Bike: M796 Posts: 1,398	I declared my termis but none of the other mods. When some twat knocked me off and broke everysingle mod, the insurance company replaced it. Though I sent the bike to Rosso Corse and he just put in the estimate which included all the mods. I recommend not getting knocked off though. __________________ #48

11-10-2013, 09:29 AM	#4
turbohobbit Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks for the advice guys.

11-10-2013, 11:15 AM	#5
slob . Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: East London Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 9,736	Termis should be fine, Insurance companies tend not to care as long as the performance gain is less than 10% but definitely declare them.