Need info on insurance and mods

[SciroccoCW]

Hi,

So I'm 24 and looking to move on from my old Corsa D to a Scirocco, the GT models and above and anything with 2.0L is a bit much on insurance and running costs so I'm settling for a 2014+ facelift model 1.4 petrol TSI but with some extras like the interlagos alloys, maybe pano roof ect. They are anywhere between 12-14.5k from most garages depending on mileage and spec.

I'm trying to find other people around my age who have a Scirocco and that can shed some light on what their insurance costs are and any issues they have had when insuring one with minor mods.

I have found one I want but it has a front splitter fitted (after market) Gocompare asks for if there are any mods, and when I add the splitter the quotes jump up by nearly £200.

Do you guys use any specific insurers? How do you manage the costs being younger and owning a Scirocco? I like to save money, and don't like wasting it when I can research to get a better understanding of how I can save, but I am new to all this. Insurance quotes are about £850 annually for what I'm looking at, I know you can get cheaper calling up so this is a ball park figure.

Edit: Also if doing finance to pay for some of the car, is there any method you would recommend?

[JeffW]

Hi

Although I didn't own a car as good as a Scirocco when I was your age, I've become quite good at getting cheaper insurance. Hope this helps, forgive me if i'm stating the obvious:

Using a comparison site like Confused or Go Compare, try different settings to see what effect changing things has: voluntary excess, annual mileage, job description (if more than one description fits). Try adding an older member of your family to the quote (even if you'll never let them drive it). Don't forget to unselect "allow the five cheapest quotes to contact you". If you can park it off-road or secure parking helps. I assume you'll have to use it for commuting so you can't choose social only.

I think comparison sites will only quote for up to two modifications. Mainstream insurers often run a mile from modifications, but specialist insurers realise that owners of modified cars generally take better care of them than ordinary drivers, and therefore have fewer claims.

Are you thinking of buying a modified car, or modifying it yourself? If you are having it modified yourself, the modifying company may refer you to an insurer which will give a discount. I had mine remapped, and the tuners referred me to Adrian Flux with a discount code (You'll find Flux mentioned a lot for modified cars).

Being a member of an owner's club may give a discount (this forum counts as a club). Insurer's recognise that owners who take an interest in their cars have fewer accidents.

Having a dashcam usually gives a discount as there's less hassle in the event of a claim if there's footage. Try adding this in a comparison site before buying one. (they're also good for recording your laps of Brands Hatch )

Getting an advanced driving qualification may help. The younger you are, the bigger a difference it can make. Pass Plus, Rospa or IAM (I'm with IAM, and thay have their own insurer, but I found cheaper with Flux). Black Box insurance may help, but personally I've never got a cheap quote for black box.

If you have other insurance (house, travel) get a quote from the same company, they may give a discount for an existing customer.

Buying an annual policy is cheaper than monthly if you have the capital. If thinking of paying by credit card check they don't charge extra. It's usually cheaper to buy your breakdown as part of a package deal with the same company than getting it seperately.

If buying over the phone, you can usually haggle it down a bit, or if buying online, try going through a cashback site like TopCashBack. Some insurers give generous cashback for a new policyholder.

Hope that helps

Jeff

[SciroccoCW]

Hi Jeff,

I appreciate you taking the time to reply. Yes I have tried fiddling with the different options on the comparison websites but it doesn't make much of a difference. I have tried most the things you have suggested. I even have 4 years no claims bonus but insurance is still high for me.

I am wanting to mod the car but just having a splitter on the front of the one I'm looking at puts the insurance up a lot. I heard about Adrian Flux I'm going to give them call to see what they can offer me. I have the pass plus qualification, might have to look into the dash cam option.. hopefully these things will help with the quote Adrian flux offer me!

Thanks,
Chris

[SciroccoCW]

Does 14.5k seem reasonable for a basically Mint condition (bar a couple minor bonnet chips) 2014 TSI, 24k miles, interlagos alloys, pano roof, white body, black roof, front splitter?

[Astonbarlow]

I was 24 when i first got my Scirocco and I found and actually renewed with direct line with their young drivers box thing. Its a black box but not a traditional style one where your premium is affected throughout the year. You basically get around a 30% discount straight away to use their box, which just plugs into the OBD port. You then will get marked for your journey and they use the overall score at the end to calculate your renewal, so basically if you drive "badly" in their eyes youll get a low score for renewal, but you can just choose to renew with a different company when the time comes.

Although, as i said ive renewed with them and i tend to put my foot down quite regularly (lots of great country roads around me), the scoring method basically relies on time of day so if you drive at 3am alot, then youll get a low score but everything else seems to be high scoring (even when having a fun drive), which this year ended up giving me a massive discount! Also they dont cancel the insurance due to excess speed which some box insurers do, as i said the scoring is only used for renewal. So its definately worth a look if they come out cheaper - also use same methods as JeffW said about altering job description and what not, also i have found putting lower milage can cause premiums to rise, ive changed mine from 10,000 to 12,000 and reduced my premium by around £30.

[SurgicalProcedures]

I was 24 when i first got my Scirocco and I found and actually renewed with direct line with their young drivers box thing. Its a black box but not a traditional style one where your premium is affected throughout the year. You basically get around a 30% discount straight away to use their box, which just plugs into the OBD port. You then will get marked for your journey and they use the overall score at the end to calculate your renewal, so basically if you drive "badly" in their eyes youll get a low score for renewal, but you can just choose to renew with a different company when the time comes.

Although, as i said ive renewed with them and i tend to put my foot down quite regularly (lots of great country roads around me), the scoring method basically relies on time of day so if you drive at 3am alot, then youll get a low score but everything else seems to be high scoring (even when having a fun drive), which this year ended up giving me a massive discount! Also they dont cancel the insurance due to excess speed which some box insurers do, as i said the scoring is only used for renewal. So its definately worth a look if they come out cheaper - also use same methods as JeffW said about altering job description and what not, also i have found putting lower milage can cause premiums to rise, ive changed mine from 10,000 to 12,000 and reduced my premium by around £30.

Direct Line are not modification friendly at all though

[SciroccoCW]

Thanks for the response Aston,

I might consider it, but I have never liked the idea of using a Blackbox. Calling Adrian Flux today to see what they say!

[Astonbarlow]

Ive always been the same, but my girlfriend had one fitted and then when i read through it properly and asked alot of questions it seemed fine, its my 2nd year with it in and like i said its not changed my driving style. Not sure on their feelings about mods though, im looking at getting mine remapped soon so i suppose ill find out then.

[SciroccoCW]

Just spoke to Adrian Flux, £850pa and that includes mods, such as bumpers, wheels, suspension ect.

Not too bad, better than the quotes on Gocompare. Going to call up again and try talk to someone who isn't speaking faster than a train moves, see if I can discuss any extra things that could lower the cost such as, old moped no claims, in car cam ect.

[Paradox1]

Adrian flux will probably be the cheapest.

But after a year , they boost there prices up for no reason. so will be back to square one again

[SciroccoCW]

Hmmmm, will just have to get on with it I suppose. The price to pay for wanting a Scirocco at 24 lol

[salsajoe]

Hmmmm, will just have to get on with it I suppose. The price to pay for wanting a Scirocco at 24 lol

But next year you will be 25 and no longer a young driver in insurance eyes so will probably get a better deal somewhere. Worth trying LV. They sometimes surprise you but you need to watch for the excess.

[SciroccoCW]

25 this September actually, will be interesting to see if it changes. I've read up on the whole turning 25 theory. As far as I can tell, insurance does not just magically drop at 25, it just incrementally gets better. But then with the way premiums are going up for everyone I doubt I'll see any benefit for a long while! >.<

[adamkicks]

I can't see how the insurance can differ so much from person to person. I purchased my first Scirocco R at the age of 22 with the car being 3 months old (ex demo car) and the price quoted was I believe around £800, and I only had 2 years no claims. And with that being a car that has near to 280bhp standard the same price as you're being quoted for, for a 1.4 TSI.. it just baffles me how the insurers come out with their figures. Now at the age of 24 and with having 4 years no claims, the price has dropped to £600 and that is with protected no claims.
My car insurance is through 1st Central, not sure how they are on modified cars as at the moment my car is standard, however that will be changing in the near future but when I do modify my car and renew my insurance, I think I will look to go with Adrian Flux as lot of people recommend them.

[SciroccoCW]

Must be location, occupation ect. The geographical location makes a big difference I think. Dunno what it is on yours that makes it so much lower.

[lewisheywood]

With comparison sites, job occupation makes a massive difference, I'm 18 with a 177 TDI Rline that I never thought I'd get insured on , checked and Tesco black box insured me for £1800 which is pricey but only a few hundred pounds more than it was for my 1.4 Golf.

Job occupation makes a massive difference, whilst playing around I found that a student nurse dropped my quote by £900!. Stating I was living at my father's address dropped it by £750 (of which I was between mothers and fathers address equally).

This may just be an age thing but another was adding my two parents as non frequent users , dropped it by over a grand easily. Having spent countless hours looking at insurance sites , those are the best I've found.

Only downside to it is that checking by changing DOB , the next two years of insurance are very similar on price, not really budging at all

Of course I didn't use the student nurse option but I did take advantage of the other two. Play around with it but obviously don't use anything that isn't true as risking not being covered isn't worth it by any stretch of the imagination.

In case you were wondering , the best black box company to be with is Tesco, no curfews , no price rises and they do not care how you drive at all, only keen to advise you to drive slower to gain bonus miles and reduce risk of crashing. Not restrictive at all.

I am wanting to mod at some point , (Tesco only allow a change of alloys) I will be looking at Adrian Flux. However I feel that with my age , I will be waiting a few years to get a reasonable quote from them.

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[lewisheywood]

- Oh and if I wanted the petrol variant with the same power , I'd have been looking at around £5000 insurance! Wasn't keen on diesel but for the power , lower running costs in terms of fuel, and the car itself, it was definetly worth it.

[SciroccoCW]

Thanks for your reply,

Hmmmmm well in the end I added my Scirocco to my old insurance for £60 until it runs out in October. I'm going to have a good look into the insurance and how I can get it lower than £850!

[CG8589]

I'm 24 with 4 years protected no claims. This year was £600 on a 2.0tsi

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[SciroccoCW]

I'm 24 with 4 years protected no claims. This year was £600 on a 2.0tsi

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