ChrisB Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Has anyone else been asked by the NFU to get a garage to certify that all modifications to the vehicle "have been done properly"? I've just asked them for a quote, hoping they would be cheaper than Adrian Flux, but they won't quote without a garage to inspect and certify my truck. What worries me is I could get anyone to do that, but they probably won't have any idea what they're looking at. I wonder if it's just so that if I crash it, the NFU can blame the modifications, and then pass the liability to the certifying garage as they said it's ok! I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has been asked to do this... Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Freak Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Nope.... Mods on my truck are not extreme though. Rear brakes changed to disk and a "small" 4.6 litre engine dropped in. (although it was originally a V8 so no structural / fitings changed) They also noted that I had replaced/renewed all the suspension (Not lifted) and that the majority of the truck was new as I had systematically replaced a "few" of the parts.... They flitted through the pile of invoices for the parts.... I pay a premium for the engine but still competitively insured. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbarton Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Only in respect of the LPG installation, and the garage included the phrase "without prejudice" in its letter, whether or not this has any legal standing I wouldn't like to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smo Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Only in respect of the LPG installation, and the garage included the phrase "without prejudice" in its letter, whether or not this has any legal standing I wouldn't like to say. Yes, sensible garage, makes it non admissable in court! As for the NFU thing, they never asked for any evidence/certification of mine with its full roll cage, winch & bumper, suspension mods etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Al Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 My Unimog is insured with NFU. I discussed my modifications with them, and they said, ok, just get an engineers report. I said I'm an engineer, so could I do my own report ( ), they went away to consider it, and then said its a conflict of interest, but just get an MOT on it to check its reasonably roadworthy and thats good enough (the vehicle doesn't normally require an MOT). That was a good day. Sorry I can't help you more, but there does appear to be flexibility in the system! Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrfarmer Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 i've never had that problem with them thay had to sort it with the under wrighters when i fitted the tdi engine but thay didn't need me to prove any thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b101uk Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Both my Td5 90 & my Unimog u1600 are Insured with NFU Both fully comprehensive including use for work etc, they even gave me 65% NCB for the Td5 even though it was “new business” and all my NCB’s were used up on other vehicles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Perhaps NFU stands for No F Use I doubt you would get anybody with half an ounce of sense to certify that a conversion which they hadn't done was safe because the liability would pass straight back to them in the event of anything happening and it really wouldn't be worth that for the 20 quid they might make out of it... if its just a paperwork exercise then it isn't worth the paper its written on anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike4444244 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 They refused to quote me as I dont have any qualifications for working on Land Rovers Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbocharger Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 NFU asked for an engineer's report on my car after swapping to 300Tdi. I asked what constituted "an engineer" and apparently a chartered engineer with thirty years engine development experience was sufficient - so I wrote the report and Dad signed it This time round I'm insured with "another" company - I read out my mods over the phone, they quoted me quite competitively and sent me some paperwork to sign. This paperwork had 'no modifications from manufacturers spec' written on it, so I rang them back and they said that it "didn't matter" and I should sign it anyway. Needless to say, there are now more crossings-outs, initialled changes and additional amendment sheets than there are original documents... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nas90 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I think it probably depends on which branch you contact. I insure the nas through the Meopham office in Kent. I tried to tell them that the nas was a V8 and left hand drive and had a winch and all sorts of nice bits They were only interested in whether it was a Land Rover! It's a Land Rover - fine. Over the years I have told them about the LPG conversion and they were happy with the certificate from Arun Gas and the suspension lift and the hydraulic winch and the .................... Try another branch of NFU like you would try another insurer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 I've found NFU in Henfield (West Sussex) brilliant! Exceptional service - and good prices. For some reason they seem to trust me so far as mods are concerned! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSD Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 NFU wanted a report for my Ibex when I installed the 2.8TGV in place of 300Tdi. When I asked, they didn't seem to know what constituted a report, or who was qualified to do it. Local MoT guy was happy to issue a fresh MoT, and then write 'New engine installed to good standard' on a headed receipt, which NFU accepted without question. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Interesting commment nas90. Exactly what I've found. The local to me NFU office wouldn't even give me a quote. I went to R A Siggs at Edengridge in Kent,,,not a problem. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Similarly, Price and Imber in Chippenham are friendly, helpful and do not ask silly or awkward questions. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roverdrive Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 My RRC is insured with the Knutsford branch of NFU. All mods have been declared, and the only thing they wanted to see was the installation ticket for the LPG. When the winch was fitted the underwriters were a bit confused, but chilled out when told it was for self recovery. Not sure if they thought I had turned it in to a recovery truck. The previous vehicle was also with the NFU, and I ran in to the " AH its a 3.5 ltr land rover" description. I couldn't quite get accross to them what a 101 was, and they weren't really bothered. They even gave me free public liability cover for a school fair when it was used to give kids a ride around the school field sitting on bales of hay in the back of it.! Each branch varies in its efficiency, so try another branch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmatt Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 I'm insured with the NFU they asked for an engineers report after the Hydraulic install, I didn'y mind as its used by employees to so can constitute equipment under employers liability too. I will never have a bad word to say about the NFU after I parked my 90 on its roof they couldn't have been more helpfull and handled everything quickly and effiecently. I dare say I could find cheaper insaurance but I belive you get what you pay for to a degree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeyw Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 I have dealt with NFU in Oxted for many years. They have always been competitive and helpful. No big drama with an LPG conversion, just wanted to see an installation certificate. Equally they weren't concerned about the winch, the rock sliders etc, so long as I had told them what was fitted. My only very, very minor beef is that when my mother's 110 was written off she only got a Corsa as a courtesy car. Not allowed to put dogs in it and must be returned spotless, mother is a sheep farmer with several collies! All this said I think this matter was more down to the insurance assessing company that NFU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest diesel_jim Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Similarly, Price and Imber in Chippenham are friendly, helpful and do not ask silly or awkward questions. Chris ^^^^ This is who we use at work for our fleet policy, and i use them at home for my modified 110 (and house insurance!) I told them the stuff i'd done to the 110 and they were fine about it, and it's all marked down on my policy too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 I actually went through their central call handling operation (somewhere above Hadrian's Wall judging by their accents) and didn't have any problems for either the Discovery or the Defender. The only snag was having to go to the underwriters with the larger tyres on the Discovery - for some reason they thought: wide tyres = go faster! All amendments have been made over the phone with no problems. They even call you back when they say they will! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share Posted November 9, 2008 Great - thanks chaps. Sounds like the Marlow office is just a bad choice then! I'll try Price and Imber tomorrow and see if I get a better reception there! Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 I'll second/third/fourth the office dependent thing... In the days when I was doing Hill Rally navigation we raced a highly modified Lightweight - coil sprung, lowered roof line, full space frame with fabricated body panels hung off it etc... and NFU were happy to insure it fully comp for years. When my driver changed to a 110 he transferred the insurance to the new vehicle. The 110 was a much more standard vehicle than the lightweight at the time, in fact it was pretty much completely standard apart from the roll cage. About 3 months into the new insurance policy he got a letter from the NFU advising him that they would be cancelling his policy within 2 weeks due to the roll cage being fitted. Letters and phone calls were exchanged during which time the NFU head office explained, in writing, that they do not insure vehicles with roll cages and that their local office had been incorrect to issue a policy on the vehicle. Needless to say, neither of us have insured vehicles through NFU since. I have no idea if the policy has been changed at the head office these days as this happened about 6 years ago but be aware that just because a local office issues a policy doesn't mean that NFU head office will accept it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OilIT Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 I have just renewed my D90 (with no mods mind you - but they did offer a section about mods so suggests they may accept some) with LV for 139.00 fully comp with 70.00 cashback = 70.00 for me and the wife with 4000 miles per annum (this was cheaper than with Lancaster who I was with last year!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 Quick update - Spoke to NFU Price & Imber today - much better experience! (not least because I did not require a working knowledge of Polish to converse with them!) They quoted me £480 for my Disco, compared to Fluxes £656! The NFU have started a different scheme for breakdown cover though, so need to find out a bit more about it before handing over the dosh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JST Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 Perhaps NFU stands for No F Use I doubt you would get anybody with half an ounce of sense to certify that a conversion which they hadn't done was safe because the liability would pass straight back to them in the event of anything happening and it really wouldn't be worth that for the 20 quid they might make out of it... if its just a paperwork exercise then it isn't worth the paper its written on anyway! thats a bit harsh BM, they have been brilliant with me and it seems quite a few above have a good rapport with them, have paid up in full on a stolen vehicle too. i had to get an engr report on a 2.5 petrol to 300tdi change and the local LR specialist did it but that was a while ago, the last couple of engine changes i have done when i have written to inform them of the change i have sent a copy of a new MOT certificate with it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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