 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
in process of buying a second had car privately.
Car has had suspension lowered by 30mm (springs replaced).
Is this something I need to tell the insurance company about?
dont want to keep quite and then find out my insurance is void.
Yes and it will significantly increase the premium and will restrict who will touch you - modded cars are getting very hard to ensure....
Depends on the car and the insurer.
Some insurers are happy with lowered suspension and some are not. I had a Mk3 MX5 that I lowered. My insurance co just wanted it noting on the policy and nothing more.
Whatever you do, make sure you tell them as your car would not be insured if you had an accident and hadnt told them. Same as chipping etc.
Just springs ..... Mmmm bet that drives crashy 🙂
Yes, you may be limited to which insurer will take you but it may make little difference to the quote.
If it's just springs and the shocks haven't been revalved I'd be wary (regardless of the insurance co's view).
NB lowering and stiffening a car puts a lot more wear onto other parts - so you go through bushings, top mounts etc much quicker - all in all a very expensive hobby and something I wouldn't do again.
Ford sold a spring only lowering package by Eibach for the Focus (maybe they still do). All factory approved, ride was fine (very fine in fact :D).
As a factory option the insurance company wasn't bothered at all.
TuckerUK - Member
Ford sold a spring only lowering package by Eibach for the Focus (maybe they still do). All factory approved, ride was fine (very fine in fact :D).As a factory option the insurance company wasn't bothered at all.
Eibach do sell some pretty good springs.
I have a set in my BMW and whilst they are 15mm lower than the standard sport springs they deliver a much better ride 🙂
OP - yes, you [i]should[/i] declare your springs to your insurer.
They are audi approved eibach springs. 30mm lower all round. Fitted by Audi.
Should I mention this then?
he is giving me the old springs too, which got me wondering how much would it cost to swap them back vs cost of extra insurance?
insurance company is Aviva if that makes a difference?
Until you get the quotes with and without you won't know.
[i]So I should mention this then?[/i]
If you tell them they can't later accuse you of witholding the information.
organic355 - Member
They are audi approved eibach springs. 30mm lower all round. Fitted by Audi.So I should mention this then?
he is giving me the old springs too, which got me wondering how much would it cost to swap them back vs cost of extra insurance?
You should be looking at 2.5 to 3 hours labour for changing 4 springs.
Given that the springs are Audi approved though, I wonder if you really do have to declare them?
Some websites let you interactively change the modifications you declare and then you can work out the extra you will have to pay. I am sure that Elephant used to do that.
If the car didn't come with them when new then they need to be declared or swapped out for std items.
if they were fitted from new - ie like a 'sports pack' I wouldnt bother.
If they are bright red/yellow aftermarket jobbies then do.
30mm on standard dampers is normally fine.
One thing to remember is if you buy generic model springs from somewhere like GSF/ECP they won't be an exact match for your oem springs anyway. The OEM springs are all very specific to each body shell, engine and model but a lot of standard generic ones are just bodyshell and engine specific to get the ride height about right. So technically they are a mod but you wouldnt declare them. Admittedly 30mm is an intentional drop though so should be declared if after-market.
As for the insurance - it doesnt normally make much difference. You could say it was a dealer fitted sport pack which may help but tbh most people at the insurance company will just tick the box that is easiest for them. Sometimes you can get away with things being noted for no extra cost but they won't be covered - eg tinted windows - no charge but if you break a window they wont get it re-tinted. Some insurers let you insure mods separately under a modification policy so the main policy doesnt change but you just have a separate policy to insure mods if you want them covered against damage/loss.
bugger its got tinted windows too 🙄
Some places insured modified cars cheaper than more mainstream insurers. I had a heavily modified Polo GTI and got that via a company called Brentacre for a fair bit less than RAC (without the mods). TBH, I doubt springs will make much difference at all to an insurance premium.
I had a Mk3 MX5 that I lowered.
Never driven the Mk 3 but I had a Mk 1 that I RAISED as the previous owner had lowered it by just cutting the springs 😯
It was a far better handling car in it's 'factory default' setting and more comfy too 🙂