Any legalities to gutting interior?

[b1lk1]

I am seriously considering gutting my interior, installing a cage and 2 race seats with proper seat belts, any legalities on public roads? I would assume that as long as I have safety equipment and such I'd be fine. I will be leaving the full dashboard and heaterbox as I don't want to lose defrost capabilities. Thoughts?

[Stephen06GT]

With a cage you will be severely limited to your choices of insurance provider. Most won't touch them.

[RedSN]

Insurance company will likely drop you with a cage.

...unless you agree to wear a helmet all the time. :D

[TheMustangShow]

Insurance company will likely drop you with a cage.

...unless you agree to wear a helmet all the time. :D

LoL!

[b1lk1]

Well, I only have the most basic insurance, I would likely have a memory lapse considering I already told them it was unmodified. If I wreck my car/get hit I won't get crap anyways unless it is 100% the other person's fault which is probably not likely in good ole no fault Ontario. Not really worried about that, more worried if I can get a ticket. I also realize I'd be a more likely target for the cops, but since I am 47 years old, I have some restraint in public.

[MEANMCHN]

My insurance company simply wants me to get an appraisal of the vehicle, however I asked whether they had any problems insuring my Jeep and if they could give me an insurance quote on a Porsche 911 GT3 before I asked about my Mustang (both of which come with a cage). She said they'd have no problem, they just need to classify it in the hot rod/special use class.

[b1lk1]

Any idea on how much more it costs for the special insurance?

[ZR]

In many cases, cage determines if they'll insure for even just liability or not. Their take, full coverage or not, they are still on the hook if your injured in the car via accident benefits.
Mines with Hagerty, will drop all coverage if caged.

[MEANMCHN]

Any idea on how much more it costs for the special insurance?

I pay $81/month total. No additional charges, but it's a secondary vehicle so it's not insured to drive to work, park at high theft areas (GO stations) or out of the country for more than 6 months at a time.

[b1lk1]

Can I use it for transportation? Are there mileage restrictions? You're paying only about $200 more a year than I am now so the legality of the coverage as far as liability would be nice. Besides that, after I sell my interior I'll have the extra cash, lol.

EDIT: I don't work as I stay home to take care of my disabled wife. I would be parking in grocery stores/stores in general and taking it to the track.

[Canadianii]

Insurance company will likely drop you with a cage.

...unless you agree to wear a helmet all the time. :D

That's another thread and site.

[b1lk1]

My friends do say I am sorta "special", lol.

[TheMustangShow]

I think the challenge with ANY ambiguiity on an inusrance policy is if anything major happens, like going off the road into someone's living room and setting the place on fire or killing someone is that the Insurance Co., when faced with MAJOR Claim Exposure, will immediately start looking for ways NOT TO PAYOUT and a review of your car in relation to what was signed for on thepolicy/appraisal/etc. will occur and any discrepancies will result in COVERAGE DENYED and the dude who's house you hit and burned down will OWN you, for the rest of your days.

Also, knowingly omitting info or misleading on an Ins. application is a believe a criminal offense now, which opens up a whole other can of worms. http://cdn8.staztic.com/app/a/2181/2181235/can-of-worms-lite-1-l-48x48.png

Fckin around with Insurance with blatant lies about your ride or BS info about your residential address, is just not worth the risk now.

[MEANMCHN]

Can I use it for transportation? Are there mileage restrictions? You're paying only about $200 more a year than I am now so the legality of the coverage as far as liability would be nice. Besides that, after I sell my interior I'll have the extra cash, lol.

EDIT: I don't work as I stay home to take care of my disabled wife. I would be parking in grocery stores/stores in general and taking it to the track.

It really depends on your insurer. I've been at-fault accident free with no claims for the life of my policy and driving record with no tickets in the last 8 years. Basically I've just been open with my insurer, she knows I take the car to the track and the car is only insured from the time it leaves home to the track. It's a special use vehicle, I don't take the car anywhere but to and from the track, it's not a cruiser. I don't think I have it in my insurance that it's ok to park it basically anywhere. But if you're gutting your interior and adding a cage you're probably in the same boat. I'm sure if I told my insurer that I wanted to get groceries in it or go for a cruise it wouldn't be a big deal, at this point I'm the easiest money she's ever made. All depends on your driving record and how well you know your insurer. If you're with State Farm or something it's probably different, but I've always used an insurance agent that I know personally.

[MEANMCHN]

I think the challenge with ANY ambiguiity on an inusrance policy is if anything major happens, like going off the road into someone's living room and setting the place on fire or killing someone is that the Insurance Co., when faced with MAJOR Claim Exposure, will immediately start looking for ways NOT TO PAYOUT and a review of your car in relation to what was signed for on thepolicy/appraisal/etc. will occur and any discrepancies will result in COVERAGE DENYED and the dude who's house you hit and burned down will OWN you, for the rest of your days.

Also, knowingly omitting info or misleading on an Ins. application is a believe a criminal offense now, which opens up a whole other can of worms. http://cdn8.staztic.com/app/a/2181/2181235/can-of-worms-lite-1-l-48x48.png

Fckin around with Insurance with blatant lies about your ride or BS info about your residential address, is just not worth the risk now.


Exactly.

[RedSN]

But if you're gutting your interior and adding a cage you're probably in the same boat.
This.

You gut the interior and put a cage in it, it will become a special use vehicle (a race car). Nobody will insure that as a daily driver.

+1 on being up front with your insurance co., not worth the risk of being denied a claim.
It took me a solid month of back and forth with my broker to find the right policy for me.

[tulowd]

In my opinion you should leave the OEM seatbelts fully functioning; add the harnesses separately. If the cops see you driving with a harness, they can fine you for improper seat belt usage at the very least; pull your plates if they really wanna be dix.
Roll cage tubing needs to be fully covered in foam - but even in that area, there is no certainty about how dangerous that can be to you with out a helmet on.

Seat mounting should also be re enforced - the rears 2 mounts at least anyways. Harness bar also needs to be solid, since it is going to hold you and the seat in place if, heaven forbid, you ever should crash.

[b1lk1]

I'm with StateFarm but with the sellout not sure if my agent is gonna have the same options, looks like I have some phone calls to make.

No rear seats, only front. Padding sounds logical too. I'm willing to accept my own risks, but I understand that it doesn't work that way. Good tip on the seat belts, will do that for sure.

[Not4you]

Ins companies are more worried about risks to others. If you are in a wreck with another vehicle and it is determined that the cage caused damage/injury, you'll be sunk. I have read about cages, and even subframe connectors, altering the factory crumple zones engineererd into the car. If the car does not crumple in an accident the way it was designed to because of the cage, you can be liable for damages/injury to others. there are too many ways that mods can void warranties so it is a big risk, especially if it comes down to paying out for injuring someone else.

also, be careful when calling insurance companies. some may drop you just for inquiring or it could end up on your file that you asked.

[RedSN]

also, be careful when calling insurance companies. some may drop you just for inquiring or it could end up on your file that you asked.
Never use an insurance co. agent.
Always use a broker. A good broker is on your side, and acts as a middle man.

My broker worked his ass off finding me the right policy.

[Not4you]

yup. I use a broker too. well, usually his assistant, but ...

[shakin]

Be prudent, I may know a person that is with a major well known ins company, and going through a claim, and they have gone over everything with a fine tooth comb looking for ways to get out of paying anything. They start with making sure your policies are paid on time and not delinquent(ever). Then whether the vehicle is exactly as described using a third party professional appraiser (they look for modifications, condition of tires, fluids, etc). They do their best to limit their liability, and they don't care if you are a 30 yr client with no prior claims and are all in with them as far as insurance policies go (house, cars, life, liability policies).
You say that you don't work, but for those that do, remember to up your salary replacement to what you are actually making (it's only about 50- 100 extra for the year) or you'll be lucky to see 400 a week for salary replacement if you are able to claim it and prove that you are qualified for it. They will nickel and dime every thing you try to claim (it doesn't met our criteria, we have a minimum, we have a maximum, there is no code for this, etc...), then only pay you about 50 cents on the dollar for what you do get by them. They will constantly stall, refuse benefits regularly, make you submit them through a professional numerous times (Dr's hate you for this and will refuse you if they can), then have you meet with their specialists. Physiatrists, Physiologists, Psychiatrists, Orthopedic Surgeons, Occupational therapists, Rehabilitation therapists, etc....) they will spend over 100,000 on not paying you up to your 5,000 or 50,0000 (they get to decide and also make up the criteria for these maximums). And this is your insurer, not the one from the person that caused the injuries. In no fault Ontario, it is your insurer that gets to screw you. And they will anyway they can, they will wear you down until you are ready to give up. Their pockets are deep from pillaging their insured clients. And they always pay last when/if they do and again rarely 100% of whatever is the amount you paid (they have guidelines that they have created for themselves). OHIP first, work insurance and benefits next, then when all other avenues are exhausted you get to deal with the magic that is Ontario Car insurance. Doesn't matter if you use a broker or not. You need a good lawyer to help guide you through how to proceed or your insurance will deny, deny, deny!
Whatever you say they will find a way to use it against you. Phone you up, ask how you are, "I'm ok I guess", they will log that as Mr or Mrs so and so was ok on this date.
I am living this dream at the moment, so sorry if I sound a bit bitter, but it's challenging to raise a family while you're trying to get better after an MVA (the other party pleaded guilty in court to careless driving and is with another insurer). I'm fit from just jumping through hurdles, dogging knives, and being constantly available to attend yet another meeting to see how I am (and these meetings with their Drs. and Specialists don't happen in your town, you are always driven in a taxi to them and spend another hr each way travelling. And refuse or don't attend just one and you are documented as being a hostile claimant.
Of course this is all theoretical and any similarity to what someone might actually be going through would be coincidental.
DON"T LEAVE OUT ANYTHING OR FALSIFY ANYTHING when dealing with your insurance. Fill out everything correctly.(yrly mileage, purposes of use, etc) They check that the i's are dotted and t's crossed when it's claim time.
YMMV

[TurboFox]

I would love to put a cage in my car but am not for insurance purposes. I drive it on the street way too much and am insured with hagerty (properly).

[Lips]

A cage that occupies the passenger area of a vehicle only.will in no way affect the crumpled zones of said vehicle. Crumple zones are designed to take energy away from.occupants and the passenger compartment.the passenger compare is.designed to not crumple. Sub frames don't usually.extend beyond the underside of.the passenger compartment either. However a cage that exits.the passenger area and say ties.the front end together is a whole different story.

And never let an ins company tell you " a cage makes it harder to cut someone out in a wreck". This is bs. They tried that line on my dad.when hemail wanted to cage my ranger.my brother is a fire captain.and said.jaws of life won't be affected by any cage.there is a reason tracks have them on hand for rescue crews.

It.is.however a danger when not padded properly.

[b1lk1]

I'm more curious as to why it is OK for a Jeep (I understand why it makes it safer of course) and cars such as Mercedes 2 seat convertibles with their retractable roll bars to have them but for us to install them it is now bad. I'm sure any company will state that factory installed stuff is fine, so that will be what is said.

As far as my car being a daily driver, that is not my intention. I drive my motorhome (Dodge B250 extended) mostly since when my wife travels we need that for her. In fact, the Mustang will likely see little road time. I would be alone in it 99% of the time too. Wife can't get into it now, and only one of my kids is brave enough to drive in it with me. I just need daily driver status because my motorhome insurance is only $350 a year when listed as secondary. Even my car insurance is cheap as hell, but that is because right now my car has no mods outside motor/subframe connectors.

I also understand never giving more info than needed to the actual insurance company, had our house insurance cancelled a few years back by merely inquiring if some water damage was covered.

Mustang is strictly my toy. It is not meant to serve as family transportation in any way. I'll post back the advice my agent gives me, they won't rat me out. WHen our house insurance was cancelled we were warned by them not to call the insurance company but my wife insisted to my dismay.

[TheMustangShow]

I'm more curious as to why it is OK for a Jeep (I understand why it makes it safer of course) and cars such as Mercedes 2 seat convertibles with their retractable roll bars to have them but for us to install them it is now bad. I'm sure any company will state that factory installed stuff is fine, so that will be what is said.

As far as my car being a daily driver, that is not my intention. I drive my motorhome (Dodge B250 extended) mostly since when my wife travels we need that for her. In fact, the Mustang will likely see little road time. I would be alone in it 99% of the time too. Wife can't get into it now, and only one of my kids is brave enough to drive in it with me. I just need daily driver status because my motorhome insurance is only $350 a year when listed as secondary. Even my car insurance is cheap as hell, but that is because right now my car has no mods outside motor/subframe connectors.

I also understand never giving more info than needed to the actual insurance company, had our house insurance cancelled a few years back by merely inquiring if some water damage was covered.

Mustang is strictly my toy. It is not meant to serve as family transportation in any way. I'll post back the advice my agent gives me, they won't rat me out. WHen our house insurance was cancelled we were warned by them not to call the insurance company but my wife insisted to my dismay.

....Because those bars and cages are factory installed and those vehicles have been Crash Tested with the bars/cages.

[ZR]

^ Response I got from ins co way back when.

[b1lk1]

I have not doubt as to why, just one of those things. I also understand why they don't like insuring race cars for the street, just hate to build a trailer queen.

[ZR]

I hear you brother, would love to have a cage in my own car.