Factory fitted Alloy wheels and insurance!!

vikingaero

Get the quotes and call up the companies afterwards.

If you were born in 1970 then I don't see this as a major problem as you are an oldie and especially if you have a clean driving/claims record and live in a reasonable area. Insurers are far more likely to load if you are a new/young driver.

neilmcl

Factory ftted options are not classed as modifications. There's no harm mentioning it to your insurer though if you wish to.

Trebor16

This is what nationwide Building Society say about factory fitted options:-

Are factory fitted options classed as modifications to my car?
No factory fitted options are not classed as modifications. A modification is anything made after the car leaves the factory that alters the standard specification or the appearance of the car.


http://www.nationwide.co.uk/insurance/car_insurance/qanda.htm

It could of course differ from company to company though.

Trebor16

But Direct Line say this:-


"You

must tell us what modifications you intend to make and obtain our agreement prior to making them. Modifications are changes to your car’s standard specification, including optional extras.These include, but are not restricted to, changes to the appearance and/or the performance of your car (including wheels, suspension, bodywork and engine)."

Taken from page 32 here:-

http://www.directline.com/pdf/motor/M6b_1211_web_pdf.pdf

And this site

http://www.carinsuranceexplained.com/car-insurance-explained/declaring-car-insurance-modifications.html

says this:-

What Do Insurance Companies Class As A Modification?

Insurance companies will class any change to a car after it has been manufactured as a modification. Some insurance companies will also class factory fitted extras as modifications, so always check this with your insurer.

Stephen_Leak

molerat wrote: »

Why's that ?

The overall diameter of the wheel and tyre may now be bigger than the car was designed for. Therefore, for a same distance, things won't go around as far. Think of an old-fashioned Penny Farthing bicycle. The speedo' usually counts the number of turns of the driveshaft or axle and then converts this into your speed.

Therefore, to compensate for this, you should also fit a lower profile tyre, so the overall diameter of the combination stays the same.

vaio

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

......Therefore, to compensate for this, you should also fit a lower profile tyre, so the overall diameter of the combination stays the same.

Which I'm pretty sure is exactly what Audi do when they sell the 19" wheel package

sam1970

I am sure if ring the insurer to tell them about the wheels they will pump up the premium..I think I will take my chances and consider this as factory fitted option...it is unfair that my premium goes up by over £100 for this and I am not a boy racer..I am a 42 years old professional

oscarward

sam1970 wrote: »

I am sure if ring the insurer to tell them about the wheels they will pump up the premium..I think I will take my chances and consider this as factory fitted option...it is unfair that my premium goes up by over £100 for this and I am not a boy racer..I am a 42 years old professional

Shop around, my car had extra's such as audio, parking camera and blind spot monitoring fitted. Churchill wanted an extra £80 to cover whereas Direct Line didn't.

Sgt_Pepper_2

sam1970 wrote: »

I am sure if ring the insurer to tell them about the wheels they will pump up the premium..I think I will take my chances and consider this as factory fitted option...it is unfair that my premium goes up by over £100 for this and I am not a boy racer..I am a 42 years old professional

And if the worst should happen and they come after you for third party liabilities?

Trebor16

sam1970 wrote: »

I am sure if ring the insurer to tell them about the wheels they will pump up the premium..I think I will take my chances and consider this as factory fitted option...it is unfair that my premium goes up by over £100 for this and I am not a boy racer..I am a 42 years old professional

Have you seen the T's and C's for the insurer to see how they regard the issue of factory fitted options?