Insurance With A 'non Standard Engine'

[cheesegrater 43 1 Cars]

Hey all, I'm thinking about getting either a GTI6 or MI16 engine in my 205. Insurance however is saying no, but I am using gocompare and such like. Is there any good insurance people for young (21) drivers and engine transplants? Also how much should I be looking at paying?

 

Thanks,

Tom

[m_attt 31 1 Cars]

you will have to ring up, no point even trying comparisons or online quotes.

 

my 2.0 turbo is with GSI insurance, they were the best for me, also adrian flux but i wouldnt recommend them though.

[Goliath 94]

As above, comparison sites won't be much good for modifications. You will have to ring specialist insurers but try and avoid Skyinsurance if you can, I was with them for a year and had no end of problems, they have the worst customer service I have ever come across.

[cheesegrater 43 1 Cars]

I know its a bit of a silly question but what ball park figure should I be looking at with just the engine?

[omega 82]

I know its a bit of a silly question but what ball park figure should I be looking at with just the engine?

 

to silly a question depends on so many things.

[Anthony 1,003]

Could be no extra whatsoever (especially for an Mi16) all the way to a massive premium increase.

 

Unfortuntately, there's no subsitute for phoning around and getting quotes I'm afraid.

[cheesegrater 43 1 Cars]

Could be no extra whatsoever (especially for an Mi16) all the way to a massive premium increase.

 

Unfortuntately, there's no subsitute for phoning around and getting quotes I'm afraid.

Whys that with an Mi? I'll get on the blower tomorrow.

[Anthony 1,003]

Assuming you've got a 1.9 GTi, a 405 Mi16 is the same capacity and the donor car is a lower insurance group.

 

GTi-6 on the other hand is a few insurance groups higher, plus larger capacity and a smidgen more power than an Mi

[Chris_Mi 6]

For a non-standard engine, there are several factors that you should consider:

 

1) Is it going in a 1.6 shell, or a 1.9 shell - this appears to be a stupid idea from the insurers - although theoretically the same car, some insurers only consider the % power increase over the original car spec (i.e. a Mi in a 1.6 has a greater %age power increase than a Mi in a 1.9 shell). Some insurers won't insure if the power increase is above a certain amount (25% - 30% ?) - which sometimes means that they won't quote for Mi's in 1.6 shells, but will quote for Mi's in 1.9. Daft eh?

 

2) Consider whether you are going to be doing limited mileage in the car - insurance will be much cheaper if you are only doing 3000 miles per year. What they call 'classic insurance' policies (covering up to 5000 per year) are a lot cheaper. Companies such as Peter Best should give you a good quote. However, many need the car to be kept in a garage, and do not cover business mileage (i.e. any works mileage not to your main office/place of work).

 

There is such a disparity in prices, I would ring round all the specialist insurers - some are Peter Best, Brentacre Insurance (recommended), Sky Insurance, Adrian Flux, Herts Insurance? - sister Co. to Adrian Flux.

 

My current quote is for a Mi on throttle bodies, 12,000 business miles per year, fully comp for £670 - this is with 9 years no claims bonus. For information, some of the better insurers were quoting me over £1250 for this - so be prepared for some shocks! My insurance premiums for a similar car were £200 cheaper 2-3 years ago! Completely bonkers and an absolute scandal!

[miamigtimark 3 1 Cars]

Just insured mine with flux.

1.6 to gti6.

Cost me £40 more per year to insure the modified car. (limited miles).

As already said best advice is to ring up. Online quotes were 4 figures!!

[allye 530 3 Cars]

When I did some quotes online they asked what modifications, I ticked non standard engine and no more information was required!! I got a quote for £1200 or similar with just 2years no claims on the Rallye. I certainly will be phoning about abit closer to finishing it.

[james_pug 26 1 Cars]

As above, comparison sites won't be much good for modifications. You will have to ring specialist insurers but try and avoid Skyinsurance if you can, I was with them for a year and had no end of problems, they have the worst customer service I have ever come across.

 

ive recently renew'd with sky for the second year and have found them fine, before them i was with flux and i found them rubbish.

[boldy205 75]

I cant recommend HIC enough, brilliant customer service and prices im happy to pay. Give em a try!

 

I phoned up to tell them i had put an Mi in, and the lady on the phone asked me, straight away, if it was a1.9 or 2.0. Very impressed!

Edited January 9, 2011 by boldy205

[shalmaneser 26]

Flux have been good for me so far, but i haven't crashed yet....

 

insurance with all my mods (everything but an engine) was very reasonable, and I've got an engine on a pallet waiting outside, will have to give them another ring...

[kyepan 291]

flux have been fine with me and i've had all sorts of bother.

[GLPoomobile 958]

Been with Flux for a couple of years due to best quotes, and have used HIC for many years previously. My current Flux policy is with Equity Red Star, and I'm certainly not impressed with the speed and ease of the claim process in handling my written off Saab. I haven't really relied on Flux for any help though, except once when I was not getting my calls returned from ERS. Basically once I had filed the claim with Flux it all got passed to ERS so 99% of the communication has been directly between us, with Flux not involved.

 

Regarding shopping around, in recent years I've been doing it less and less. Not out of laziness though, more becuase I don't find there's actually much choice available anymore. But maybe it's becuase I don't read car mags anymore so don't know what companies are availble these days. Last few years it's been Flux and HIC (but they won't quote against each other as Flux bought HIC), Sky (unable to comete on quotes and not very good at returning calls) and Greenlight (who now only do internet quotes, stopped covering my old N1 London postcode, and also have a massive list of vehicles they won't cover!). I don't tend to use the mainstream companies due to modifications. And when you ask about alternatives on here, most people will recomend companies who only do Classic policies (garage and 2nd car status usually applies).

 

Oh, one other thing - can't remember if it was HIC or Flux but I did have hassle one year with a girl who had no idea what an Mi16 was and couldn't find it on the system, even asking if it was a diesel, and could then only find 2.0 on the system. We got there in the end though.

[number2301 1 1 Cars]

I usually end up with Flux due to them being the cheapest, and I've not had a single problem with them during either of my 2 write offs. Flux also don't add any extra on for an Mi in a 1.9 shell due to being the same capacity.

[Baz 421]

Funny all this talkof Flux and HiC, they're the same company and hav never been anywhere near competitive for me on both standard and modified cars.

[GLPoomobile 958]

Cos they heard you're a bastid

[Jer309GTi 3]

Funny all this talkof Flux and HiC, they're the same company and hav never been anywhere near competitive for me on both standard and modified cars.

 

Who do you recommend Baz? I'm just sorting out my insurance for my E30, it has a 3.5 in it now so quite a big % bigger engine than standard!

[skyinsurance 2]

Feel free to give my guys a go, we insure many engine converted cars and a fair few Mi16 conversions

 

http://www.skyinsurance.co.uk/car-club-insurance.html