Telling your insurer
Insurers generally ask you to declare modifications that change a vehicle's performance, and an ECU or TCU remap usually falls into that category. Failing to declare a modification can give an insurer grounds to reduce or refuse a claim or cancel a policy. Tell your insurer about a proposed remap before going ahead and obtain their acceptance in writing where possible.
Some insurers will accept a declared remap, sometimes with a change in premium; some will not insure remapped vehicles at all. Specialist insurers may be an option. Shopping around before the work avoids surprises.
Manufacturer and extended warranties
Modifications may affect manufacturer or third-party warranty cover. A manufacturer may decline a claim for a component it considers affected by a modification, and many extended warranty policies exclude modified vehicles. Some dealers can detect that software has been changed, even after the original file is restored.
Read your warranty terms or ask the provider directly before a remap. If your vehicle is still under a manufacturer warranty you value, it may be sensible to wait.
Lease, finance and company vehicles
If the vehicle is leased, on certain finance agreements or provided by an employer, you may need permission to modify it, and you may be required to return it in original condition. Check the agreement and ask the finance or lease company before booking.
Keeping records
Keep a record of the work: the date, what was changed and that the original software was saved. It helps with insurance declarations, future servicing and selling the vehicle. When you sell, a remap should be disclosed to the buyer.
What to send us before booking a remap
The quickest way to get useful advice is to send the registration and a short description by WhatsApp or through the quote form. Support and suitability vary by engine, gearbox, control unit and software version, so a registration lets us check the right information instead of guessing. Any estimate given remotely is provisional until the vehicle has been seen and the required checks are complete.
- 01Vehicle registration and approximate mileage
- 02Make, model and engine size, if known
- 03Any warning lights, messages, symptoms or fault codes
- 04Existing remaps, tuning boxes or hardware modifications
- 05How the vehicle is used — commuting, towing, short trips or heavy loads
- 06Whether the vehicle is currently in limp mode or will not start
Visiting the workshop for a remap
All work is carried out at our single workshop at Unit 2, Lancaster Works, Kingsbridge Road, Manchester M9 5SP. We do not run a mobile remapping service and we have no other branches, so every a remap enquiry is booked into the same Manchester workshop. Visits are by arrangement: please call or WhatsApp before travelling so we can confirm the vehicle, the time and what the visit will involve.
Access is through the black gate. Call when you arrive so we can let you in, then keep left towards the rear of the site. We are open Monday to Friday 8am–6pm and Saturday 8am–1pm, and closed on Sunday. If the vehicle is in limp mode, showing a serious warning or will not start, tell us before setting off so we can talk about whether it is sensible to drive it or whether transport should be arranged.