Directline !!!!!!?

hotcookie101

I recently changed my standard fit car radio for a sat-nav head unit(bought second hand) and a harman-kardon Drive+play (Ipod thingy) I had it fitted professionally (unfortunately company no longer there now) Should I have informed my insurance company? Or is it as I thought modifications only count if affecting performance etc?

raskazz

hotcookie101 wrote: »

I recently changed my standard fit car radio for a sat-nav head unit(bought second hand) and a harman-kardon Drive+play (Ipod thingy) I had it fitted professionally (unfortunately company no longer there now) Should I have informed my insurance company? Or is it as I thought modifications only count if affecting performance etc?

You should tell your insurer. Anything that changes the spec of the car from standard model should be disclosed.

thescouselander

raskazz wrote: »

No, optional extras are still classed as modifications as they do alter the performance / desirability to theives / value of the car and as such also affect the risk to the insurer. It also doesn't matter whether the non-standard wheels are Peugeot or not - what matters is that they have altered the spec of the car from the standard spec.

You have to declare all modifications or extras added, regardless of whether you made the changes yourself or a previous owner did. The onus is on the policyholder to find out if the car is altered and notify the insurer accordingly.

On the facts, the insurer is dealing with the matter in the right way. This is a case of 'inadvertent non-disclosure' and - in accordance with the FOS guidance - they are offering to deal with the claim subject to the payment of the difference between the premium paid and the premium that would have been charged had the modification been disclosed when the policy was set up.

This really isn't practical. Most cars these days come with a long list of options available and no two cars are the same. I don't give the exact specification including the optional extras to the insurer every time I get a quote.

My OH who has worked in motor insurance for years reckons if it is a standard option that was originally available on the car then it is not a modification. On the other hand if the option. was not available for that exact model and specification of car it would be a modification

puddy

oh, this is worrying me. i bought my first car last september. i saw on the receipt that the first owner had, that he had paid £500 for air con, so its obviously an extra. is this a modification?

redux

raskazz wrote: »

You should tell your insurer. Anything that changes the spec of the car from standard model should be disclosed.

Every time I'm asked if the car is modified, I say a towbar is fitted. Nobody ever asked what make, and no policy document has ever listed it.

raskazz

thescouselander wrote: »

This really isn't practical. Most cars these days come with a long list of options available and no two cars are the same. I don't give the exact specification including the optional extras to the insurer every time I get a quote.

My OH who has worked in motor insurance for years reckons if it is a standard option that was originally available on the car then it is not a modification. On the other hand if the option. was not available for that exact model and specification of car it would be a modification

Your OH is either mistaken or works for an insurer who has a substantially different attitude to the rest of the market.

Eg a car has a body kit, alloy wheels, sunroof, leather seats, spoiler all as factory fitted optional extras. As an insurer, to disregard these simply because they were optional and not aftermarket would be insanity and lead to severely underpriced policies.

It is practical - in fact, this case proves that the insurance market takes a sensible approach to such circumstances as it is willing to cover the claim and forgive the insured's lax approach to disclosure, subject to the extra premium - rather than rejecting the claim full stop.

raskazz

jenner wrote: »

oh, this is worrying me. i bought my first car last september. i saw on the receipt that the first owner had, that he had paid £500 for air con, so its obviously an extra. is this a modification?

You shouldn't be unduly worrried - just call your insurer and tell them!

gebby7323

ok..thanks guys/gals..great help..i was of the mind of some above..i buy the car as seen..i have no idea what is standard or what is not..the alloys in question seem to have been an "option" at the time which the 1st owner decided on..i honestly thought that i only had to tell them if i made any modifications..luckily we have paid the extra...although we were left with little option..and i think we will settle and learn from our experience..still going to complain about the rudeness of the woman dealing with the claim..

i guess the lesson to learn is if in doubt tell your insurer..worst happens is u waste a few pence on a phone call..way cheaper than finding another £183.

thanks again

ihatecharges

In my experience you should declare all options fitted to the car, different colour trims maybe not, but if you choose 18" alloys in place of the standard 16" alloys and top spec Satnav instead of a standard radio then ask yourself is it worth the risk of not declaring it!

I have declared all the options fitted to my car including Premium ICE, leather interior, Xenon Adaptive lighting etc and my premium was not increased!

leehal

I thought they only wanted to know about the things that may make your car stand out from the crowd and make your car more desirable to a thief e.g. alloys,spoiler etc

I have some non-standard things on my Touran (park assist, heated seats etc) but I doubt they would make this car more attractive for a thief.