Vehicle modifications can affect your insurance premiums so before you get your car modified talk to your car insurance broker and find out how much it will affect your car insurance rates.
(NC)—Every day we see them on our streets—customized vehicles with non-stock spoilers, enhanced engines, raised suspensions and the like. Needless to say, the post-manufacturer auto modification business is booming.
But while adding performance parts and ‘styling’ features to your vehicle can give it a distinct appearance and improve performance, it may also impact your auto insurance. So before you add a turbo-charged engine or even tint your windows, it is a good idea to contact your insurance broker or insurer to make certain you have the right coverage.
Even modifications you would expect to better the insurance risk of your vehicle, like an improved brake system, may still increase the cost of insurance for the following reasons:
• The modifications might increase the value of the vehicle, therefore increasing claims costs.
• Modified vehicles often are more attractive to thieves increasing the risk of theft.
• Vehicles with performance modifications generally mean that the performance of the vehicle is improved which can lead to more severe accidents.
Remember an insurer could refuse to pay a claim and even leave you uninsured if you have not disclosed modifications to your vehicle. So before you invest time and money on a project that could raise your premium, call your broker or insurance company and verify that your insurance will remain valid.More information is available from your insurance broker or online at www.avivacanada.com.