Factory fitted Alloy wheels and insurance!!

sw67

Did the owner spec the wheels. My s-line is a le mans special edition and comes with the 19 inch wheels. It is insured as a s-line special edition and insurance didnt care it had bigger wheels

Trebor16

raskazz wrote: »

Well, I'm not going to apologise to you if you want to take offence on someone else's behalf.

I wasn't taking offence, just merely pointing out that there was no need for such an aggresive response to the OP.

raskazz wrote:

I have no idea what your point is here. We are not debating whether a factory fitted option is a "modification" in some sort of general semantic thought exercise. What is important here is whether the insurer requires factory fitted options to be disclosed. Hence why I said:

"if the OP's insurer asks for all changes from the standard specification - which will include changes in or out of the factory - then the alloys need to be disclosed."

No mention of the word modifications there.

What exactly is a standard specification nowadays? And whilst you hadn't mentioned "modifications" it was certainly implied.

raskazz wrote:

The OP was regarding alloy wheels but surely even you can see that the topic of discussion has somewhat broadened since then. I was illustrating why some insurers do require disclosure of factory options.

You were taking things to extremes, especially when the initial post in the thread related to alloy wheels and nothing else.

raskazz wrote:

Co-ordinated rules on modifications would be anti-competitive. If some insurers think they can gain a competitive advantage by asking for more information than others then they should be allowed to do so.

Just how would it be anti-competitive for the ABI to agree a SOP for all insurance companies on how to deal with factory fitted options? They already have procedures in place for insurers and there have also been rulings from the FOS which insurers have to comply with. That isn't anti competition, it is common sense.

sam1970

Thank you all for the healthy discussion and sorry that some people can only put their points of view in an aggressive way. My issue is that when I apply for insurance online, some policies mention that a factory fitted alloys is a modification while others do not state any thing and just say modifications. I ma thinking if I choose a policy of the last group considering that factory fitted option is not a modification I should be safe!!! It is not my job to write policy wording for the insurers and they should have made the effort to clarify their policies.

Hintza

Most folk wouldn't know what was standard spec versus factory fitted options anyway.

I can't see wheels as a reason to reject a claim either but I could see it as a reason to perhaps reduce any claim to "standard" spec payout.

You can't insure a car for £30k andd then claim it was worth £40k when it is nicked.

redmalc

Sam i purchased a Vauxhall Corsa for my son it had factory fitted wide wheels and a Irmscher body kit,to cut a long story short i waqs unable to get it insured and we had to sell it at a loss two months later,be careful

neilmcl

redmalc wrote: »

Sam i purchased a Vauxhall Corsa for my son it had factory fitted wide wheels and a Irmscher body kit,to cut a long story short i waqs unable to get it insured and we had to sell it at a loss two months later,be careful

Big difference between a factory-fitted customisation job such as that and someone choosing from the standard options list. How old was your son, and what was hs driving history? Maybe that had more to do with the fact that such a boy-racer mod was uninsurable for him.

System

As others have said, different motor insurers have different rules for what they deem to be a modification that you must disclose.

Also as others have said, if you buy a car 2nd hand, it is not always possible to be sure what was fitted at the factory and what was fitted after delivery (by the dealer or the 1st owner)

So, to be sure that you are covered, if you know that the car has factory fitted options, contact the insurer before you agree to the policy and tell them. If they want to increase the premium for factory fitted options, go elsewhere, there are companies who do not charge.

If it is not obvious what was fitted at the factory, then you can truthfully answer any questions since you do not know and cannot be held responsible, and if you answer all questions truthfully, then the insurer should not have any reason to complain. (And I'm sure the FOS would support you)

Trebor16

Hintza wrote: »

You can't insure a car for £30k andd then claim it was worth £40k when it is nicked.

Why insurers ask the question as to what you think the car is worth is totally worthless as they will always use Glass's guide or CAP to determine the value of the car in the event of a total loss claim. The only time you will get a specified value is when there is an agreed value, which has to be evidenced before the insurers will accept it.

Trebor16

redmalc wrote: »

Sam i purchased a Vauxhall Corsa for my son it had factory fitted wide wheels and a Irmscher body kit,to cut a long story short i waqs unable to get it insured and we had to sell it at a loss two months later,be careful

The Irmscher body kit is not a factory fitted option though.

Strider590

sam1970 wrote: »

I am looking for an insurance quote for a 6 months old car I am buying. This car normally comes with 18 inch alloys as standard but the previous owner have paid for the optional 19 inch alloys. Do I need to tell the insurers about this? does it count as modification even though it was factory fitted?

If they're car manufacturer branded, just plead ignorance..... How are you to know that a 2nd hand vehicle has upgraded wheels if they've got the car manufacturers badge on them?