I had a really interesting conversation the other day about motorcycle insurance and modifications. I won't say who or what their job was, let's just say they, or their Colleague, could be the one dealing with you!
Many of us have changed something on our bikes over the years. Some modifications are purely cosmetic, like different mirrors, luggage, screens or graphics. Others go a little further with performance air filters, de-cat pipes, aftermarket exhausts, fuel controllers or even engine modifications.
What surprised me is that whenever I've looked at these parts on dealers' websites, I can't remember ever seeing anything that says, "Check with your insurance company to make sure this won't affect your cover."
It turns out that insurance companies don't all treat modifications the same.
Some are quite happy with them, some will cover certain modifications as long as they're declared, while others have a much stricter view. The worrying part is that many riders don't find out there's a problem until they need to make a claim.
Imagine you've been involved in a road traffic collision, or your bike has been stolen and later recovered. The loss adjuster inspects the bike and finds an undeclared modification. Depending on your insurer and your policy, they could refuse your claim because the bike wasn't insured as it was being used.
Now imagine you're stopped by the police because they believe your bike has an illegal or excessively loud exhaust after you've removed the catalytic converter. If they make enquiries and discover the modification wasn't declared to your insurer, things can quickly become much more serious.
If your insurer decides that the undeclared modification means your policy is invalid, you could find yourself treated as riding without valid insurance. That could potentially lead to the bike being seized, a possible IN10 conviction for using a vehicle without insurance, and your insurer cancelling or voiding your policy. Having a policy cancelled or voided can also make it much more difficult—and often much more expensive—to get insurance in the future.
The point is, most riders aren't trying to hide anything. Many simply don't realise that even relatively minor modifications may need to be declared.
So, if you're thinking of modifying your bike, it's worth giving your insurance company a quick call first. Five minutes on the phone could save you a lot of money and heartache later.
If you've already made changes and you're not sure whether they're covered, it might be worth ringing your insurer now. Tell them you're thinking about fitting those modifications and see what they say. You may find they're happy with them, they may charge a small additional premium, or they may say they won't cover them at all.
It's far better to know now than to find out when you're standing beside your damaged bike—or watching it being loaded onto a recovery truck—wondering why your insurance isn't helping.
Just thought I'd share—it might save someone a lot of grief.
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