Declaring modifications

continualdiamond

Might sound like a stupid q but im really not sure about it.

In terms of car insurance, should every modification be mentioned or only certain ones?

Only asking as buying a 2nd hand car from a dealership who has informed us that the previous owner had a tow bar and parking sensors fitted.

So do i need to mention these to my insurance company?

Kilty_2

Even optional extras must be declared, yes.

My sister has a Vauxhall Astra with the Exterior Pack fitted from the factory and even that is a modification in the insurance's eyes even though it was fitted at factory.

It might depend on your insurance company, though.

caeler

I once tried to explain to my car insurance company that my car was modified, it had a strut brace. After 15 minutes of trying to explain what it was to the call taker, I gave up. They really didn't seem to care.

I would argue in your case that a tow bar and parking sensors are not modifications but standard specification to the vehicle so why would you mention them? But I might be wrong and I'm sure others will be along with more experience of such things than I.

Pete*G_4

I used to work for Adrian Flux and I can assure you mods like that won't put your premium up, so it doesn't matter if you declare it or not. Best to do so to be on the safe side, but in all honesty most insurers won't give two hoots. and probably won't even put it on your insurance docs.

Pete*G_4

Kilty wrote: »

Even optional extras must be declared, yes.

My sister has a Vauxhall Astra with the Exterior Pack fitted from the factory and even that is a modification in the insurance's eyes even though it was fitted at factory.

It might depend on your insurance company, though.

She should have declared it as an SRi XP not ust an SRI, and it wouldn't have made any difference. The only reason they say to mention it is because some are listed as "just" being SRI's on the DVLA database.

Kilty_2

I don't think it's made a difference to her premium but it is declared - it maybe is just registered as an SRI though, yeah.

tonypop

Think it only makes a difference for things like alloys, as that put my insurance up a bit!!!

Kilty_2

tonypop wrote: »

Think it only makes a difference for things like alloys, as that put my insurance up a bit!!!

TBH it all depends on the insurer, the car and the driver's profile - a young driver putting alloys and other cosmetic mods on a Corsa is probably going to be penalised more than an older driver putting parking sensors on a family car, for example.

Some insurers don't charge at all for certain modifications

continualdiamond

Thanks for the replies, might mention them just to be on the safe side, as would be mighty peeved off if i didn't, then needed to submit a claim only to have it void due to the 2 modifications i didn't mention.

I thought that maybe insurers had a list of what needed to be declared and what didn't.

Kilty_2

continualdiamond wrote: »

I thought that maybe insurers had a list of what needed to be declared and what didn't.

When getting a quote from any of the Admiral Group companies online if you click "Yes" to "Has the vehicle been modified?" then Parking Sensors are one of the available options.

computershack

All modifications from the standard manufacturers specification must be declared. Quite a few won't increase your premium, such as parking sensors and a towbar.