imported_gatherer

they are not idiots the insurance adjusters are trained to spot mods and deny coverage then you have to get a lawyer and go through all that crap....

they can deny you coverage on a few basis after you've done a swap.

1) the car is worth more and therefore will result in a higher pay out you haven't been paying premiums on.

2) the car is now not stock and therefore there is no crash test data on it so they cannot properly judge the risk involved in insuring your car.

kwikb16a2

They can check vin numbers on the car and see if they match the ones on the motor. And most appraisors will probably know if this motor comes with this car

1niceSi

So if you have a swap and get into a car accident, the insurance will not offer you what they would if the car was stock?

I still don't think that the insurance company would be able to tell if I had a swap in my car.

imported_gatherer

well in some cases thats true I know someone (not going to say who) but they had a ZC swaped in (SOHC version) the appraisor couldn't tell... but the insurance company still didn't want to pay out to him simply because the car was lowered and they didn't know or have crash test data on the car like that ....

it's simple with insurance these days modify your car and your not covered... simple as that

SilverCRXSi

Nova Dust: The reason I did a swap was because it was cheaper for me to swap then to fix up my engine (strange I know)
My insurance company told me that if I did swap, I could tell them and its something that they could consider if i got in an accident. But i'm not sure if I should or not, especially of how things are nowadays.

gatherer: my car has the same engine as a JDM Si, so couldn't the insurance use that data?

1niceSi: you would think that, thats how they would do it, but I doubt it...

imported_94EG6HB

I know who that was..

This time last year...





Bottom line is this..

Be prepared to pay the going rate of insurance on the vehicle the swap came from.

or

If the vehicle was purchased used plead ignorance..

The engine bay is a black box for 95% of drivers anyway..

If you have major cosmetic mods expect more scrutiny..

imported_gatherer

no because Japan data is irrelavant in Canada....

1niceSi

Wouldn't it be easier for the insurance company just to not insure you? I think they would find it very confusing to charge the insurace rate of a GSR on a Civic.

imported_94EG6HB

But Canadian Honda dealership regularily use used Japanese engine , transmissions, suspension, interior components,etc...

So if they did the work and swapped in those parts the average consumer wouldn't know..

This would place the customer in default.

The customer has done nothing wrong..

The dealership has maximixed their profit margin with a cheap functional replacement..

Consumer gets screwed.

What happens then?

Nova_Dust

Aaron, does the insurance know what you just said? If you know something they don't, I think it is time to keep them up to date, isn't it? To avoid being screwed over by insurance.

imported_gatherer

I dunno I ain't an insurance adjuster...

I guess if you had the receipts to prove a dealership did the work the insurance company wouldn't have a leg to stand on...

imported_Joker

i heard any mod u do they wont cover, so if u lower your car and get in an accident then they can say it wasnt safe and not cover u

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

Insurance is such a joke... don't they HAVE to cover your ***... I mean by law. You HAVE to buy insurance by law, right? So if something happens, do they not HAVE to pay out?? Cuz then if they don't HAVE to pay out, what's stopping them from denying every claim there is and just keeping the money? **** insurance, they can eat my ****!

Nova_Dust

Law: you have to insure your car for you to drive it

Aftermarket: our products are approved by-law

Insurance: you have to buy me but I am saying no to aftermarket stuff even the law says they are ok and they are safe for the car. Take it or leave it.

User: ....

shlammed

you could always anonymously call an insurance company and ask them what they think because you had a motor that blew and got a better one for really cheap...see what they say...worth a shot

bdotdan

they may say one thing, then change their story after you get in an accident

SilverCRXSi

I did ask once (before I got my swap) and they told me that IF i did swap (because it was cheaper to swap then to fix my engine) that they would consider it if I got in an accident.
Thats what the broker said, what the claimspeople and dude at the head office is another story though...

Rice Burner

No body spends more time in there car more than me, I'm sure of that... I've considered and built many project motors for my car but never put them in. I like do everything right, meaning legally, didn't want the hassle of getting the car appraised with a "MODDED" engine and payin through the nose for it.

You don't need to have a B 16 to go fast or a b20 for torque. My little D 16 is the might B killing D! You can make a torqey/ fast D series if you know what your doing and there is many little tricks one can do to help shave time off of there 400m timeslips.

It basicly comes down to what each individual wants to achieve and what they like. If you want to do a swap all the power to you, if you want a show no go car again all the power to you. We all can't be fast and we all can have a nice looking ride. I merly pointed out some pros and con's to some of the people I was talking to.

I've enjoyed doing all the upgrades to my car over the 14 years of owning it and if I where to do it all over again I would do it the same.

Oh and on that car that had a ZC swap in it with the accident.... I'm pretty sure it was a single overhead ZC. Just be quick glimpse one can't tell the diff. between that a a D series. Had it been a B 'series that is a very visible difference that would be noticed imediatly and ins. would turn around a say it's a race mod we insured you for a civic not a corvette better!

shlammed

a verbal agreement with an insurance company is still a binding contract. If they say they will cover it and in the end they don't they are at fault not you. If they say they will cover it, put it on paper.

Insuranceman

If you have in any way misrepresented yourself or your vehicle... and not telling them something as important as an engine swap is misrepresentation, they CAN deny your claim based on that, it in the statutory declarations of every auto policy ... that being said, I have handled a claim with a car that had an engine swap, and the guy had all the proper papers, so it was handled as usual.... now, the apprasier notified our underwriting department and I am sure they either increased his premium to cover the added expense or the cancelled him pro rata .... either way, make sure you have all the proper and "legal" papers ... cause the first thing a company thinks is the engine is stolen ...