Ok, i was supposed to install my 4crawler lift today, but my parents have an idea about my insurance not being covered becuase i am not a certified mechanic installing it and if i get in an accident things will not be covered. since it's the long weekend i can't call the insurance company so i figured you guys would be the next best thing! anyone have any problems?

thanks,

Alex

PS i've done a search and it doesn't seem like anyone has ever had an issue. and if it makes any difference i'm in vancouver, bc.

 

In no way am I certain of any of this but I have never heard of this before. It seems like unless the vehicle modification could be pin pointed as a contributing factor to property loss in some way that they would cover you.

If not any modification would void your insurance and this I know is not the case.

Maybe someone with specific insurance knowledge can speak up and set us straight.

Bump for more info....

 

if your insurance has a problem with that, i'd get new insurance.

 

i have no problem with all the lift stuff on my truck. we have farmers insurance if that helps. don't quote me on this but i believe my agent says that kind of thing wouldn't matter. regardless, it isnt specifically filed on insurance. for all someone reading my statement knows, i have a stock tacoma. i guarantee everyone out there with lights, bumpers, brush guards, or even new wheels hasnt filed that stuff on insurance yet theyre still covered.

 

If you get hit hard enough to shear the bolts holding the body to the frame it's a moot point anyways IMO.

 

alot of the techs in the industry arent 'certified mechanics'. lots of younger guys (oil/tire changes) are apprentices...working their way up...but arent 'certified'. does this void insurance? nope. do the BL. its easy. it makes no difference to ICBC (assuming thats who youre using). ICBC or any insurance co for that matter cant go around checking if work done on each and every persons car are from 'certified' techs or shadetree mechanics.

 

its sounds like your parents just dont like the idea of modification, thats the way mine used to be when I was younger

 

i have never heard of any issues here w/ insurance.
with factory warraties - yes

id look into a new co. too if its an issue

 

Nope, he needs to get new parents as they don't have a clue what they are talking about.

 

If it is a SUV then the insurance industry considers it a "private passenger vehicle" just like a car, and in that case the "customization" itself is actually covered automatically. So anything from custom van murals to custom rims to long travel suspension would be covered if the vehicle was totaled.

You just better have some receipts, those adjusters can be pricks

If it is a truck, then the insurance industry considers it a "pickup" and any customization you want covered would have to be specifically added and a dollar amount given for the value of that customization. This includes camper shells/ladder racks/Ryans new long travel/etc

In either case the cause of loss would probably never be a body lift, unless it was some kind of hill billy 6"+ kind that severly affected the control of the vehicle.
Just show your parents this pic of a "modified" 4Runner-

See it is better off than stock!

p.s.-
I'm a licensed insurance agent in CA, for The Hartford.