Insured by Direct Line - Under 25 With Metalic Paint? You're Insurance may be VOID!

rhoran00

First post - i've been browser for a while but thought this needed posting....

I've had an interesting morning. I phoned Direct Line up to ask a question about my car insurance quote I obtained online. I wanted to know if my Factory fitted Options will be covered as I noticed tucked away in one of the FAQ's on the site that they don't cover modifications to drivers under 25 Years old.

I've been told that because my cars isn't completely standard (I added a Bluetooth Phone kit and upgraded the size of the wheels - all from the factory and in Vauxhalls Options list) they couldn't insure me. I asked the person on the phone if that would even cover, for instance specifying Air conditioning on an otherwise completely standard car - "Yes" I was told. I informed her i thought it was rediculous and ended the call.

I then had a think about it and thought that technically this will include metallic paint that was specified as an option (like it is on maybe 99% of cars except where the car only comes in one colour!?!).

My girlfriend is 22, has a metalic silver car and is insured by direct line. She's phoned up this morning and been told that, because she had to pay extra for the paint, it's not a standard car and her policy is void, leaving her with no insurance on her car.

Short story being - anyone under 25 insured by DirectLine with a car with metallic/pearlescent/optional paint that was specified as an option at the factory (even if the car's years old!), technically has a policy that could be void in the event of an accident!

The world has actually gone mad...

dunstonh

I'm not sure what your issue is here. Any modification or options supplied by a manufacturer or third party need to be disclosed to the insurer. Many options wont interest them but the ones which impact on performance or appearance usually do.

Even then they do necessarily increase the premium. It depends on your risk level to the insurer.

Zapp_from_Planet_Zogg

Possibly one of the most bizarre things I have read for quite some time!

I provided Direct Line with details of manufacturer fitted options like sat nav, bluetooth phone prep, leather, tinted windows and zenon headlights.... didn't tell them specifically about metallic paint though!

I can understand performance enhancing or 'cost' enhancing options or modifications being relevant as they will either increase the risk group or increase the costs of repair / replacement. But voiding a policy because of metallic paint is just absurd.

There must be a distinction between 'no cost' options and 'additional cost' options. For many cars, metallic paint is a no cost option to one of, probably, 2 or 3 solid paint finishes. You may also have a no cost choice of alloys, trim finishes, chrome detailing etc.

Interesting question arises here, does that mean the the OP's girlfriend has been driving without insurance, as a result of possible misrepresentation of the motor insurance policy terms by Direct Line? (Would be a very interesting argument to have in court!)

leviathan

You spoke to an idiot.
Call them again.

Manufacturer options are quite different to modifications and most of the time do not incurr extra premium loading.
Ceraintly not anything as ridiculous as a bluetooth kit.

If you took the optional handling package on say a Porsche then that might well be a different story.

Specifically when I tell an insurer about modifications my my cars they state "other than manufacturers original specification", that covers the options. They want to hear about after market suspension, chipped ECU's etc.


Unfortunately you're talking to a monkey in a call centre.
A friend of mine just bought himself a new car which is a personal import from Japan.
He was told they couldn't insure it because the computer said it was a "grey import". All his cars including the previous one with same said company have been "grey imports", but the person on the phone line unfortunately doesn't have the permission to use their brain. For his previous car the computer just said "import".
There is zero difference...
Policy cancelled and found a better deal elsewhere.

raskazz

leviathan wrote: »

Manufacturer options are quite different to modifications and most of the time do not incurr extra premium loading.

No, not really. Alloy wheels and a spoiler is alloy wheels and a spoiler, regardless of who it was made by or where it was fitted. Most insurers do use optional extras or modifications to load the premium, and there are some insurers/insurer schemes that accept no modifications whatsoever, in the same way as Direct Line for under 25's.

leviathan wrote: »

Specifically when I tell an insurer about modifications my my cars they state "other than manufacturers original specification", that covers the options. They want to hear about after market suspension, chipped ECU's etc.

That may be the case for your insurer, or even some insurers, certainly not all insurers. The manufacturers original specification is exactly what is says - the bog standard car of that model with no changes whatsoever, be it factory fitted extras or aftermarket extras. Thus, factory fitted extras must be disclosed if that is the wording of the question.

If you are asked the question then answer it accurately. Trying to be clever and defining the question in your own terms is a dangerous game to play.

tinkerbell84

leviathan wrote: »

You spoke to an idiot..

Ironic

leviathan wrote: »

Specifically when I tell an insurer about modifications my my cars they state "other than manufacturers original specification", that covers the options. They want to hear about after market suspension, chipped ECU's etc.


Unfortunately you're talking to a monkey in a call centre.

"Manufacturer's original specification" is WITHOUT OPTIONS.

Anything you pay more for should be declared - different insurers class different items differently, but you should DECLARE THEM ALL. If the previous owner added options or modded the car, you still have to declare it. It's not rocket science. :rolleyes:

The monkey in the call centre seems to have the right idea. The muppet on the internet that calls themself levathian on the other hand.............. :rolleyes: :whistle:

aliasojo

leviathan wrote: »

You spoke to an idiot.
Call them again.
Unfortunately you're talking to a monkey in a call centre.

I'm afraid what the OP states is true. I had an interesting conversation with Direct Line about my son's car when he first passed his test.

I was so incredulous about what I was being told, I called back and asked to speak to a Manager to go over the same conversation to confirm.

Direct Line do seem to be one of the more 'extreme' insurers and take a much harder line than some of the other companies.

Direct Line are only suitable for under 25's if their car is a completely standard basic unchanged model I'm afraid.

exup

I know on my direct line policy that if the modifications increase the performance or value of the vehicle then it must be declared or the insurance may be void. which would include larger wheels - and maybe to a certain extent the blue tooth system - would someone be more likely to break into your car if they knew it had a bluetooth in it?
Thats how the insurance company would see it anyway, and they would use any excuse not to pay out

oramgepekoe

aliasojo wrote: »

Direct Line are only suitable for under 25's if their car is a completely standard basic unchanged model I'm afraid.

If you bought the car second-hand you probably wouldn't know what was standard and what were extra options.

tinkerbell84

exup wrote: »

I know on my direct line policy that if the modifications increase the performance or value of the vehicle then it must be declared or the insurance may be void. which would include larger wheels - and maybe to a certain extent the blue tooth system - would someone be more likely to break into your car if they knew it had a bluetooth in it?
Thats how the insurance company would see it anyway, and they would use any excuse not to pay out

More likely that they've got statistics showing that having a bluetooth car kit means you are more likely to make phone calls and hence not be concentrating 100% on the road and therefore a higher risk of causing an accident

tinkerbell84

oramgepekoe wrote: »

If you bought the car second-hand you probably wouldn't know what was standard and what were extra options.

Not the insurer's problem. If you don't check it out, or don't declare it, the insurers can void your policy.

Ignorance is no excuse.