I was wondering how the legalities work out on a full decat car in the event of an accident?

Running full decat is surely not legal as the car would not pass an MOT? Therefore if you crash and the insurance company investigate are you screwed?

Also, aside from accidents, what do you tell the insurance company about your car when it has been de cated? Eg just for quote, or modification to exisitng policy?

Next "toy" is a centre decat to go with the SS b/box. So curious.

Cheers

Matt

 

I think it goes along the lines of 'insurance policy invalid' due to the car not being road legal! A specialist insurance company may cover you, but it's a fine line due to the MOT issue.

One of the conditions of insurance is that the car must be road legal (small print).

 

Absolute Shower, by your definition, if one of my tail lights failed and I had an accident, my un-roadworthy car would not be insured

 

Wouldn't take it to that extreme Pete. I think the law (and the insurance company) would view it as you've made a modification to the car which caused it to become un-road worthy - different to a light buld or even a bold tire. I'm no insurance expect mind, so don't know for sure but reading the small print on insurance conditions, they've got mods as a condition of policy - and it can make it invalid.

 

If an insurance company intends to dismiss an accident claim due to you not having a legal exhaust, you could argue that it in no way contibuted to the accident. It's been done before. So long as you declare it to your insurance company you should be covered.

 

Good point, I've heard of that before too...

What would you say to the insurance company to declare the exhaust? Would stainless exhaust fitted be enough?

 

Most of the time they are happy with 'non-standard exhaust'. Which is good, because that means you can change the manifold & all the way back! (must be the best insurance cost/power mod )

 

But....,just being Devils advocate for a moment.

Declaring "Non standard exhaust" is one thing, but do insurance companies realise that in the case of a decat system this means the car is not road legal?

 

A car does not require a Cat to be road legal!!!!!!!!!

 

So, as long as you tell the insurance Co you have a "non standard" exhaust, you have nothing to worry about if you were involved in an accident and they investigated the car? The car is legal. The cover is valid. Everything is in order?

 

Many companies ask "how much more power" (roughly will do, but don't lie big time!). Some ask "what is it called and how much did it cost" - mine even want a photocopy of the receipt for any mods.

Apaarently some will insure you with a new exhaust etc, but won't replace your mods in the event of a claim - you'll only get a standard car back.

 

My ins company has classed my exhaust as Performance Exhaust.

 

1) An MOT is only valid on the day it is issued anyway.

2) As stated, a car does not legally have to have a cat in the UK. It has to pass an emissions test, and of course as debated on here on several occasions in the past, it almost certainly won't pass an emissions test without a cat.

So, insurers are not stupid, despite what some on here think , if it wasn't insured with no cats there would be an exclusion to tell you so.