Effect of lowering springs on car insurance

theKramer · 08-11-2010 01:42PM #1

Hi.
Im gonna be buying a Ford Focus and want to lower the springs. What effect will that have on my insurance, and how do I phrase it so it sounds as innocent as possible

Im thinking of going with www.autofastfit.ie. Do they have they a good rep?

They stated that they will supply a "Kilen Lowering Kit".
Front lowered by 35mm / Rear by 45mm

I mainly drive in Dublin, with the odd trip home to Cork every couple of months. Will those springs have much of an effect on the ride? I mostly use the car for driving on the N81 >> M50 >> Nass Road (N7) out to Citywest and back.

I have a quote for the springs plus fitting, but not sure is that allowed to be posted on this forum?

Any help appreciated.

Thx.

JimmyCrackCorn · 08-11-2010 05:40PM

It depends on the insurer. Each has there own policy on these things and most are daft.

Graham_B18C · 08-11-2010 05:53PM

I don't mind you posting the price.

I have lowering springs on my car and I've driven integras without and I didn't notice much change in comfort

theKramer · 08-11-2010 09:32PM

Cool. Thanks for the info guys

I'll check with my insurance first so. I'm buying the car secondhand from a dealer, and he's offering a 6 month warranty, so I might have to wait until that runs out before I get it done.

Im getting a quote of €185 for the springs inc vat/delivery and €100 for fitting costs. That seems alright to me. Any thoughts?

Thx

Ardennes1944 · 08-11-2010 09:35PM

you can get eibach lowering springs on ebay for that price and they are very highly thought of, not to mind alot of other better makes. i bought my astra last month and have an induction kit on it, and have alloys, adjustable coilovers and roof and boot spoiler to fit, and im not gonna tell the insurance comp, because they are daft as said above

B00MSTICK · 08-11-2010 09:43PM

Deutschlandf&#252 wrote: »

and im not gonna tell the insurance comp

I wouldn't recommend this, you never know what will happen if you have to claim.

Mozoltov! · 08-11-2010 11:46PM

B00MSTICK wrote: »

I wouldn't recommend this, you never know what will happen if you have to claim.

If an assessor is ever to look at his car after an accident (god forbid) they'll say "Hang on, what are these suspension components, let's ring and check if they declared them .... No? Well, that's this insurance policy voided, I just saved us some money, wait 'til I tell the wife, there'll be steak tonight for me."

Unless it's a factory fitted modification or something which your insurance company is never going to find out, declare it.

JimmyCrackCorn · 09-11-2010 10:57AM

B00MSTICK wrote: »

I wouldn't recommend this, you never know what will happen if you have to claim.

Reaallyyy bad idea. There clamping down on this. I know two insurance assessors and they have some horrific stories of the worst happening and peoples policy being void.

Its just not worth it.

Atomic Pineapple · 09-11-2010 11:00AM

I rang about using the Eibach Pro Kit on my ST and since its listed as a Ford part and an extra available from them its not considered a modification, happy days!

Although they did mention if its not a performance mod it wouldn't make any difference anyway.

projectgtr · 09-11-2010 08:08PM

draffodx wrote: »

I rang about using the Eibach Pro Kit on my ST and since its listed as a Ford part and an extra available from them its not considered a modification, happy days!

Although they did mention if its not a performance mod it wouldn't make any difference anyway.

who are you with? i need to get declaring

Atomic Pineapple · 09-11-2010 08:16PM

projectgtr wrote: »

who are you with? i need to get declaring

Quinn, will be looking for someone better come January though

projectgtr · 09-11-2010 08:27PM

draffodx wrote: »

Quinn, will be looking for someone better come January though

me too, looked around last month when i was renewing got a lot of refusals

but talked 100 euro off my quote with NCB Protection thrown in for free so it wasnt too bad. Now to mods

Ardennes1944 · 09-11-2010 11:55PM

i recommend axa so far anyway for quotes, seem to be cheapest across the board. well if i do declare my mods...any idea how much roughly it could be?

theKramer · 10-11-2010 12:26PM

Rang the insurance agency. I was told that my company (Asgard) dont insure modified cars at all. Insure.ie is the broker, and they told me they would need an engineers report to prove that it was done to manufacturer's standard.

Unfortunately I'm doubly fúcked as I'm getting the Focus coz I totalled the last car. Will have to wait at least a year before I think of doing this, as it will cost me probably a grand increase in insurance if I want to do it

C'est la vie

Moral of the story. Make sure to check with your insurance agency before you do anything thats non-spec to your car. I'm sooooo glad that I did......

Thank you guys

Crazy Taxi · 10-11-2010 12:39PM

Just had a side thought, if you just fitted bigger/better brakes which shortened your stopping distance and you told your insurer, would they give you a discount?

Atomic Pineapple · 10-11-2010 12:39PM

Crazy Taxi wrote: »

Just had a side thought, if you just fitted bigger/better brakes which shortened your stopping distance and you told your insurer, would they give you a discount?

Some will, some wont.

ChapOfDRyans · 11-11-2010 12:08PM

theKramer wrote: »

Rang the insurance agency. I was told that my company (Asgard) dont insure modified cars at all. Insure.ie is the broker, and they told me they would need an engineers report to prove that it was done to manufacturer's standard.

Unfortunately I'm doubly fúcked as I'm getting the Focus coz I totalled the last car. Will have to wait at least a year before I think of doing this, as it will cost me probably a grand increase in insurance if I want to do it

C'est la vie

Moral of the story. Make sure to check with your insurance agency before you do anything thats non-spec to your car. I'm sooooo glad that I did......

Thank you guys

Im with Asgard via Coverme.ie.

Now my car is heavily modified from the engine to brakes,suspension and nearly everything. Its stripped out and have bride bucket seats and harnesses.

I subsequently wrote off my car and claimed. Nothing was said about the mods which could be clearly seen inc itbs,wilwood brakes etc. The only thing they did say was "were is your interior" my reply was "in the the hotpress as the car was taking on water" which is true sort of.

And Asgard said nothing about the car and its a civic :eek: Im only 19 to

Mozoltov! · 11-11-2010 12:12PM

ChapOfDRyans wrote: »

Im with Asgard via Coverme.ie.

Now my car is heavily modified from the engine to brakes,suspension and nearly everything. Its stripped out and have bride bucket seats and harnesses.

I subsequently wrote off my car and claimed. Nothing was said about the mods which could be clearly seen inc itbs,wilwood brakes etc. The only thing they did say was "were is your interior" my reply was "in the the hotpress as the car was taking on water" which is true sort of.

And Asgard said nothing about the car and its a civic :eek: Im only 19 to

I thought harnesses are illegal on road cars?

Atomic Pineapple · 11-11-2010 12:17PM

Mozoltov! wrote: »

I thought harnesses are illegal on road cars?

Illegal to use, you can have harness's as long as you also have the standard 3 point safety belt also and you wear that while driving on public roads.

@ChapOfDRyans, You seem to have been extremely lucky!!

djimi · 14-11-2010 04:46PM

Deutschlandfürimmer7 wrote: »

i recommend axa so far anyway for quotes, seem to be cheapest across the board. well if i do declare my mods...any idea how much roughly it could be?

From my experience Axa are the last company who will entertain taking on anything that is in any way out of the ordinary.

Ardennes1944 · 15-11-2010 12:16AM

djimi wrote: »

From my experience Axa are the last company who will entertain taking on anything that is in any way out of the ordinary.

oh

cant help to try. coilovers improve handling therefore should be safer....and they should give me a discount! naivity:D

cedan · 15-11-2010 12:20AM

As regards ride quality, I wouldn't really notice but my father never stops complaining whenever hes with me.

So if your an old man you wont like them much;)

W.Shakes-Beer · 16-11-2010 12:13AM

djimi wrote: »

From my experience Axa are the last company who will entertain taking on anything that is in any way out of the ordinary.

+1 on that one.

I added coilovers to my car and insurance rose by €150. Not bad and a nice peace of mind.

As for ride, its a bit bumpy around dublin but not too bad, you get used to it.

Ardennes1944 · 16-11-2010 02:00PM

W.Shakes-Beer wrote: »

+1 on that one.

I added coilovers to my car and insurance rose by €150. Not bad and a nice peace of mind.

As for ride, its a bit bumpy around dublin but not too bad, you get used to it.

what car and insurance company is it?

doleman2010 · 27-11-2010 09:25PM

<snip>

Atomic Pineapple · 28-11-2010 12:43AM

doleman2010 wrote: »

<snip>

Posting crap like that is against the ethos of this forum, if you do it again you will receive a ban

SV · 28-11-2010 08:22AM

If you put lowering springs on your car your insurance disc will be lower to the ground.
That's the most immediate affect on your insurance anyway.

retrothis · 29-11-2010 04:53PM

I was with Travelers and 123.ie as a broker till last Friday.
I had my Koni str-t shock absorbers installed over about a year ago. The car is not lowered or anything. At the time I was with Quinn, I said it to them and they said no worries. When I got my policy with 123. ie I forgot to mention the shocks to them. So about two weeks ago I thought I better notify them, cos these things are bright orange an definetly not standard. Well after another two weeks of back and forth they cancelled my policy and are refunding me the entire premium.
Travelers would not accept anything less (not even an AA engeneers report) than a letter from the VW dealers/garage stating that the shocks were fitted correctly and were safe. I asked VW in Cork twice, the VW dealer politely declined for obvious reasons.
So now I have 10 days to get a new policy.

Design_Dude · 10-12-2010 02:29AM

Im with Quinn at the moment, planning on lowering my otherwise unaltered megane by 35mm soon. Will they charge me if i ring them up?

Atomic Pineapple · 10-12-2010 09:35AM

Design_Dude wrote: »

Im with Quinn at the moment, planning on lowering my otherwise unaltered megane by 35mm soon. Will they charge me if i ring them up?

Its highly likely.

Evil_Clown · 21-01-2011 12:01PM

I declared my tein coilovers to travellers for this years renewal and they have refused to quote the car but were willing to quote me €750 without the coilovers.
I am with chartis and their quote went from €799 to €1900 (28, 5yrs NCB) with the declaration
I want to declare so to anyone who has coilovers declared, what company are you with ??

challengemaster · 21-01-2011 04:39PM

Mozoltov! wrote: »

I thought harnesses are illegal on road cars?

draffodx wrote: »

Illegal to use, you can have harness's as long as you also have the standard 3 point safety belt also and you wear that while driving on public roads.

AFAIK, the only issue surrounding harnesses is that you need to have the stock belt still in place, I've never heard anything about them being illegal to use.

Atomic Pineapple · 21-01-2011 04:59PM

challengemaster wrote: »

AFAIK, the only issue surrounding harnesses is that you need to have the stock belt still in place, I've never heard anything about them being illegal to use.

You defo have to use the 3 point belt on public roads, its not legal to use the harnesses

Ardennes1944 · 21-01-2011 05:09PM

i still havent put my coilovers on because of insurance. think ill sell them at this stage. such a pity:mad:

zubair · 22-01-2011 12:27AM

Deutschlandfürimmer7 wrote: »

i still havent put my coilovers on because of insurance. think ill sell them at this stage. such a pity:mad:

I called into an Aviva branch last time I needed to renew my cover with them and reported all my mods including the coilovers and they didn't charge me. Maybe give them a try before selling, would be a pity to get rid of them, I know how exciting a new mod is!

Definitely recommend calling into an office over ringing them!

Ardennes1944 · 22-01-2011 12:28AM

zubair wrote: »

I called into an Aviva branch last time I needed to renew my cover with them and reported all my mods including the coilovers and they didn't charge me. Maybe give them a try before selling, would be a pity to get rid of them, I know how exciting a new mod is!

Definitely recommend calling into an office over ringing them!

sound man.

challengemaster · 22-01-2011 10:54AM

draffodx wrote: »

You defo have to use the 3 point belt on public roads, its not legal to use the harnesses

Don't want to keep dragging this off topic, but....any link / reference to that?

Atomic Pineapple · 24-01-2011 01:46PM

challengemaster wrote: »

Don't want to keep dragging this off topic, but....any link / reference to that?

I'll have a look over lunch to see if I can dig it up but think the info is posted somewhere on dtdirl.com (It would be well over a year old)

JimmyCrackCorn · 24-01-2011 02:38PM

Evil_Clown wrote: »

I declared my tein coilovers to travellers for this years renewal and they have refused to quote the car but were willing to quote me €750 without the coilovers.
I am with chartis and their quote went from €799 to €1900 (28, 5yrs NCB) with the declaration
I want to declare so to anyone who has coilovers declared, what company are you with ??

Im having big problems for the same reason. Coilovers + some other mods are badddd

Evil_Clown · 26-01-2011 09:33AM

JimmyCrackCorn wrote: »

Im having big problems for the same reason. Coilovers + some other mods are badddd

If you want to try http://www.brophys.ie after getting countless crazy quotes I rang their office and finally got a reasonable quote with mods declared

Effect of lowering springs on car insurance

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