Car Insurance declairing modifications

Biggie

My car has leather interior and an upgrade to the alloy wheels so these are manufacture optional extras.

I use to be under the impression that if I didn't declare these to my insurance then the extras wouldn't be insured. But when I rang a couple of insurance companies last year they said I had to declare them else I would invalidate my insurance.

Is this true or are they just trying to sponge more money out of me ?.

It's just that if I say I have modifications then on usual comparison websites most insurers refuse to quote me and I'm only left with a small number of uncompetitive quotes.

FlameCloud

No, its true. Amazing I know but insurers arn't normally in the habit of lieing to customers!

If the modifications affect the risk of a vehicle then they need to be declared. You are correct, it might be that they refuse to insure the vehicle, in which case you would need to get it elsewhere. Certain insurers- Adrian Flux for example specialise in modded cars whereas alot of the mainstream people like churchill/direct line wont touch them at all.

For something as obvious as a different alloys they will then look further at the car, so I would declare them.

Biggie

But them my argument is that surly 90% of cars have a modification (Optional extra) that must be delared.

BTW the mods on my car aren't obvious I have sligtly upgraded BMW alloys and BMW leather interior.

raskazz

Biggie wrote: »

But them my argument is that surly 90% of cars have a modification (Optional extra) that must be delared.

BTW the mods on my car aren't obvious I have sligtly upgraded BMW alloys and BMW leather interior.

They will certainly be obvious to a motor engineer.

John_3:16

Ok

Tow bar?
New radio?
New speakers?
Car seat covers?
Dog Guard

Differant ariel?
When do you start? or stop telling them?

Biggie

raskazz wrote: »

They will certainly be obvious to a motor engineer.

But i'm no motor engineer i'm just your average joey.

When I brought the car I only knew the allows we're an add on becuase the paperwork had an invoice for an upgrade.

What if the upgrade was simply a different style of alloys, how can the joe public be expected to know exactly what type of allow is standard with a specific model and make.

Also does everyone who has leather interior expected to tell their insurers. I wonder how many of you have

raskazz

John_3:16 wrote: »

Tow bar?

Yes

John_3:16 wrote: »

New radio?

Yes

John_3:16 wrote: »

New speakers?

Yes

John_3:16 wrote: »

Car seat covers?

No, they are accessories and not fitted to the car.

John_3:16 wrote: »

Dog Guard

Ditto, it's not permanently fitted to the car.

John_3:16 wrote: »

When do you start? or stop telling them?

You could take the fairly obvious course of action and disclose everything, then you won't have any problems.

Quentin

You never stop telling them - and keeping a record that you told them.

(That is if you don't want to risk a claim refused because you didn't comply with the conditions.)

raskazz

Biggie wrote: »

What if the upgrade was simply a different style of alloys, how can the joe public be expected to know exactly what type of allow is standard with a specific model and make.

If someone is not sure they can go to a garage for advice. If you answer the question 'Has your car been modified or had any optional extras added' without (a) knowing whether it has been or (b) bothering to check if you are unsure, then you deserve everything the insurer throws at you.

Biggie

raskazz wrote: »

If someone is not sure they can go to a garage for advice. If you answer the question 'Has your car been modified or had any optional extras added' without (a) knowing whether it has been or (b) bothering to check if you are unsure, then you deserve everything the insurer throws at you.

Not sure I agree.

Firstly not everyone is aware of the fact you won't be insured most people assumed modifications are for cars that have been supped up. i.e Turobos big after market alloys. Secondly I bet most people simply think that the alloys won't be insured if they don't tell their insurance company. Most people will have no idea that their insurance had been invalidated.

Secondly it appears to just be one big insurance scam, I personally think it's not clear enough that you have to specify these little extras to have a valid insurance policy so they use this to their advantage. If you do tell your insurance company then they slap on a inappropriate hike on your policy compared to the price of the extras.

Also of the main stream insurers refuse to quote for a car with MODS.

Quentin

In return for a fraction of the cost, insurance covers you for multi thousands of pounds worth of damage to people and property.

All they ask you to do is read the policy and stick to its terms.

Bearing in mind the financial mess you would be in if they were able to quite correctly not pay out for a massive claim, it's much easier just to comply with the contract (which we agree to do anyway when buying it in the first place).