What kind of modifications (a) affect the warranty, (b) require permission if the car is on HP, or (c) affect insurance rates?

[turnitdown]

Was about to sign a hire purchase deal and noticed the fine print says the vehicle belongs to VW until the last payment and permission is required for any modifications. It made me wonder what counts as a modification for this purpose, and whether modifications affect the warranty and insurance costs.

The main change I have in mind is adding an underslung LP tank, but it's really a general question. From a bit of searching it looks like modifications only affect the warranty for related bits, e.g., remapping will affect the engine warranty but not the paint warranty. I have no idea though about what sorts of mods require approval if on HP or what affects insurance costs. Does anyone have a good sense of this?

 

[Agnes_Cali]

For insurance, anything can affect the price. Every company has its rules. It's all about the cost of potential repair after the accident.

 

[SusiBus]

Comfort Insurance don't allow any wrapping, even a stripe of using wrapping ,

 

[RockinNRollin]

Was about to sign a hire purchase deal and noticed the fine print says the vehicle belongs to VW until the last payment and permission is required for any modifications. It made me wonder what counts as a modification for this purpose, and whether modifications affect the warranty and insurance costs.

Insurance, finance agreements and warranty are totally separate entities, although the general requirements have a degree of overlap. Any change to the vehicle that affects it's performance, operation or value would be deemed a modification, even a temporary one (e.g. putting on aftermarket wheels then putting the stock ones back on again at the end of the HP agreement).

Anything "temporary" or "reversible" like the above example you could chance it without telling either VWFS or your insurance, but you would carry risk in doing that and if a part failed as a consequence of modification and you tried to get it fixed under warranty, it would likely be refused. Anything permanent you definitely want to be asking both parties about, and an underslung LPG tank would certainly fall into that category.

 

[B J G]

It's best to assume that any addition/modification will require permission/clearance from both the Insurance and Financial Owner for that reason always clear your intentions prior to actually doing the work.
An Admin Fee may be all that is incurred.

 

[vmaxkiddy]

Even stickers are counted as a modification.

A Guide to How Car Modifications Affect Insurance

An in-depth car insurance modifications guide, covering what modifications you need to declare and how they affect your insurance policy.

www.keithmichaels.co.uk