insurance question....

[perpetual gyro]

Ok this may seem like a dumb question, but how can you collect insurance on a car that has an aftermarket body, paint, and engine. Don't insurance companies designate specific shops to do repair work?...so if they see i have all this aftermarket stuff on my car, will insurance not cover me then or what. I'm completely lost on this, but it's such a huge factor. Thanks fellas.

[Repo Man]

Come on, there have got to be some insurance gurus here!

I'm no expert in this area, but it's been my experience that you can get a lot of good advice from your agent if you're in tight with him/her. That may be your best bet. Your agent know the insurance company and generally what they will and won't do.

Good luck!

[b240]

i think on certain policys you can have them come out and evaluate what you have done to your car and take pictures , so that if a accident should happen you get the money for what it is worth.

[Cyberkreig]

Actualy, *most* insurance companies do not view aftermarket work as increasing the value of the car. *most* insurance companies will not cover aftermarket work. Tho many offer an additional $500 in customization. And at least with my insurance company, if they find out you have a swapped motor, it will void your insurance. As the SR is lighter and disturbes the weight balance of the car.

[perpetual gyro]

Damn...$10,000 worth of work on my car can vanish in a blink of an eye in some freak accident. what a thought.

[wingzero]

Dude, that is a pretty scary thought, you just gotta drive more carefully I guess. I'm no insurance expert either, but I'm pretty sure they won't cover any mods, at least I've never heard of it being done.

[miteymax86]

Some insurance companies will cover aftermarket stuffs, like stereo etc... I'm not real sure about the whole deal, but a friend of mine had something like 2.5g's into his stereo in his Integra before he wrecked it, and when he did his insurance company paid him off for it b/c he had a policy covering his aftermarket stereo for like another $30/mo or so. I'm sure engine swap would be different, but show cars have to be insured too, as do drag cars(I'd think anyway) so I'd suggest you speak with your agent(entirely in hypotheticals, don't actually show your hand, just pose a few questions, see what you can find out)

[driftaholic]

when i got my insurance, my agent asked if my car was modified, and i told her i had an intake (that was all it had at the time) and she said she didn't consider that a mod, but exterior stuff like wheels or a body kit would be a mod...i dunno exactly what the criteria they use is...when my old insurance came and inspected my truck after it got totalled, the guy didn't seem to car that it had any custom work at all...*shrug*all i can say is KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS, just in case

[Bubba1]

Policies vary, but if you have a lot of mods invested, I believe you're likely going to need that additional "value" established in your policy upfront, not after you make a claim. That would increase the size of your premium as the insurer assumes more risk, but you're covered. If you were an insurance company, how likely would you pay out a $10,000 claim on a $1500 240sx? Not likely. Also remember mods to your car do not necessary increase its value. Most times, mods actually reduce the value. Sad but true. I recommend telling the insurance company your car is stock to keep the premium down, especially if you're a single male under 25.

[big jon's 240]

When it comes to body damage, your pretty much covered. They evaluate the damage, cut you a check, and then you take it to the body shop, and if the body man says it wont cover it, the insurance company will cover the difference (9 time out of 10). This happened to me in my old s-10, which had a rollpan in the back, which actaully cost less than the stock bumper, but what more severely damaged nad cost more to fix. when i got rear ended. It does depend a lot on whether or not its your fault, if its the other persons fault, youve usually got the upper hand. Now if you total it, the insurance will usually only give you the blue book value of your car. And yes, some insurance companys will cover mods if you have them inspect it, but then your premium goes through the roof.

:uzi insurance companies i hate insurance companies, they are a scam.