Yeah, I’ve been running into the same thing while trying to figure out my first policy. It’s kind of wild how much the details matter—like, I always thought insurance was just “pay and you’re covered,” but apparently not if you’ve got mods. The whole “if you didn’t tell us, we won’t pay” thing makes me nervous, especially since I’m not even sure what counts as a big enough change to mention. Like, is a cold air intake a big deal? Or just stuff like lifts and turbos?
I’ve heard mixed stuff about State Farm too. Some people say they’re super strict, others say it depends on your agent. Progressive seems more laid back, but I guess that could just be luck of the draw. I’m in Louisville and a buddy of mine had to fight with his insurer over some aftermarket wheels after a fender bender—he said it was a pain, but they eventually paid out. Still, he had to jump through hoops because he didn’t list them up front.
Honestly, I get why people skip telling their insurance about every little thing, especially if it means paying more. But at the same time, the idea of getting denied after an accident freaks me out way more than paying a few extra bucks each month. I’d rather just be upfront and not have to worry about it later.
It’s kind of a headache, though. Feels like you have to be part lawyer just to buy car insurance these days. But yeah, thanks for sharing what you found—it actually makes me feel a little better knowing I’m not the only one confused by all this fine print.
Man, I totally get what you mean about feeling like you need a law degree just to pick a policy. I remember when I first started looking into insurance, I thought it was just “pick the cheapest one and you’re good.” Then my cousin told me about his nightmare with a claim after he swapped out his headlights for some aftermarket LEDs. Didn’t even cross his mind to mention it, but apparently that was enough for his insurance to drag their feet on paying out after a deer ran into him (seriously, only in Kentucky...).
I’ve heard the same mixed stuff about State Farm. My uncle swears by them, but then my friend had a totally different experience—his agent was super nitpicky and kept asking about every little thing he’d changed on his truck. Meanwhile, another buddy has Progressive and says they barely blinked when he told them about his new exhaust. Maybe it really does depend on who you get stuck with.
About mods, I always wonder where they draw the line too. Like, is a sticker technically a mod? (Kidding... mostly.) But yeah, stuff like cold air intakes seems pretty minor, but I’ve read stories where people got hassled over less. I guess if it’s something that could affect performance or value, it’s probably safer to mention it—even if it feels like overkill.
I’m with you though—paying a bit more upfront is way less stressful than worrying about getting denied later. The fine print is brutal, but at least if you’re upfront, you don’t have to sweat it every time you hear a weird noise from your car.
Honestly, half the time I feel like I’m just guessing and hoping for the best. But hearing everyone else’s stories makes me feel better about not having it all figured out yet. At least we’re all confused together, right?
Man, insurance is such a headache. I’ve bounced between State Farm and Progressive myself, and honestly, it really does come down to the agent you get. My last State Farm guy was super chill about mods—didn’t care about my aftermarket wheels at all—but the one before him wanted photos of everything, even my floor mats. Go figure.
I totally agree about just being upfront, though. I’d rather pay a little more and know I’m covered than have them pull some technicality later. The fine print is wild—sometimes it feels like they’re just waiting for you to slip up. I’ve started just calling and asking directly if something counts as a mod, even if it seems dumb. Saves me the stress.
Honestly, nobody really has it figured out. Every time I think I do, something new pops up. At least we’re all in the same boat trying to make sense of it... Kentucky insurance is its own beast sometimes.
I get what you mean about being upfront, but I’ve actually had better luck NOT mentioning every tiny mod unless it’s something major or safety-related. Sometimes bringing up every little thing just gives them a reason to jack up your rate or nitpick stuff that doesn’t matter. I keep receipts and photos for my own records, but I only volunteer info if it’s something that would actually affect coverage. Maybe I’m playing with fire, but so far it’s worked out. Kentucky insurance is definitely its own weird puzzle...
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. Kentucky insurance can be a headache. As long as you’ve got good records and aren’t hiding anything major, you’re probably fine. Some companies really do nitpick the little stuff, it’s true. Just gotta find that balance, you know?
