Insurance for Modified Car

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi, hoping someone can give me some advice. I have just bought a second hand Vauxhall Zafira. The dealer mentioned he had swapped the wheels and put alloys on from another Zafira he had taken in part-ex.

I knew I would have to mention this to my insurer but Direct Line have quoted me almost £200 more because of the modification!!! They wanted to know the value of the wheels and because I didnt have a clue they put them in the £250 to £1000 value bracket. Looking on ebay you could pick up a set for £100 so maybe this should be lower. But would it make much difference?

I havent rung anyone else yet but this seems utterly ridiculous.

kingstreet

Adrian Flux is specialist broker for modded vehicles;-

http://www.adrianflux.co.uk/

YORKSHIRELASS

Thanks Kingstreet. Have just been on Argoscompare which allows you to put in the modification before you get quotes and its coming out with several Companies who will do the insurance for around £250. This is a bit of a difference to the £437 that Direct Line quoted me.

I obviously need to speak to the Insurance Companies first to check that I am getting the same cover and make sure they have factored in the alloy wheels but this looks a bit more sensible.

SammyS1987

Are the new wheels Vauxhall ones or where they aftermarket ones that came of the other Zafira?

mikey72

Swop them back.
The other option is to declare them, but agree that if they are stolen, they won't be covered, or oif the car is stolen or written off, they cost it as having steel wheels, usually the insurance is reasonable this wway.
Or buy a set of steel wheels of ebay, and sell the alloys.

YORKSHIRELASS

The dealer says that they are genuine Vauxhall ones, the other Zafira was a higher spec and had alloys fitted as standard. Thats why I was surprised at the price Direct Line gave me.

I did ask Direct Line what would happen if we didnt declare it (or hadnt known the wheels had been swapped) and she said we just wouldnt get paid out for the alloys if we made a claim. I just wouldnt feel very comfortable doing this but I was just interested to know.

mikey72

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

The dealer says that they are genuine Vauxhall ones, the other Zafira was a higher spec and had alloys fitted as standard. Thats why I was surprised at the price Direct Line gave me.

I did ask Direct Line what would happen if we didnt declare it (or hadnt known the wheels had been swapped) and she said we just wouldnt get paid out for the alloys if we made a claim. I just wouldnt feel very comfortable doing this but I was just interested to know.

Shop around.
Direct Line are well known for trying it on at the moment.

meer53

My son had a Seat Ibiza which we bought from a Seat dealer when it was only a year old. He had a bump, when the car went in the garage and the insurers went to assess it they called us to tell us that we hadn't advised them of the modification. When we asked what modification, they said that the alloy wheels weren't standard on his car and had been fitted when the car was first sold. They upped my sons insurance and backdated the increase in premiums to the start of his policy, it cost us another £1100 !! He was only 18 at the time. We never even thought to question the fact that this was classed as a modification as the dealer had never mentioned that this car didn't come with alloys as standard. A lesson learned the hard way !! The insurers wouldn't agree to the repairs until we'd agreed to pay the backdated premiums.

mikey72

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

The dealer says that they are genuine Vauxhall ones, the other Zafira was a higher spec and had alloys fitted as standard. Thats why I was surprised at the price Direct Line gave me.

I did ask Direct Line what would happen if we didnt declare it (or hadnt known the wheels had been swapped) and she said we just wouldnt get paid out for the alloys if we made a claim. I just wouldnt feel very comfortable doing this but I was just interested to know.

Maybe. maybe not.
It's easy to say when they're taking your money, which they'll keep if you don't make a claim.
But if you do, that's when they say you haven't declared the mods, cancel your insurance, and give you your premium back, rather than several thousand pounds for the car.
Always best to declare, and agree they will/won't pay just for the wheels.

YORKSHIRELASS

Thanks Meer53, thats a scary story! I remember a work colleague had a second hand car and it was modified in some way (I cant remember the exact details) but I do remember she needed to make a claim and there was a problem over the modification. She also hadnt a clue that the car wasnt standard. You would think that any modifications would need to be recorded somewhere and that any dealer selling a modified car would legally have to pass the info on.

Anyway, I wouldnt risk not telling the insurers. I have gone with Direct Line until my policy expires in mid April which gives me time to shop about. Mikey72 I will take your advice too. I dont mind paying a little bit more and I accept that car insurance is going up anyway but the prices Direct Line were quoting were just silly.