Optional extras and Car Insurance

Paulina_Fortune

Hi,

I'm buying a new car and having some optional extras e.g slightly different alloys (+£70) and sunroof etc.

My current insurers are Admiral and they seem to be saying that these are modifications (even though factory fitted), and they won't cover them. I understand that if my car gets written off, they will give me only the market value and I'm going to get some GAP cover for that.

I'm stuck with Admiral until June as I'm on a multi-car policy. My question is will any company cover me for damage to optional extras? It seems a bit unfair, as I've declared all my optional extras and included them in the value of the the car, to be penalised for having some different bits. It's not like I've souped up the engine or anything - it's mainly cosmetic. I'm willing to pay a bit more to have them covered for damage. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Paulina.

marcellep

Added extra at the time you buy the car as new are classified as modifications as you are changing it from the standard car.

Most insurers will cover you but you will need to ensure you declare all the optional extras and make sure you advise them that the manufacturers done these at your request.

Paulina_Fortune

Hi,

I've listed the optional extras and included them in the value of the car and Admiral are saying that they won't cover them! Needless to say, I won't be renewing this multi-car policy when it falls due for renewal.

Paulina.

jennifernil

We are with Liverpool Victoria. We just got a new car and have about £4000 worth of factory fitted options and £2000 of dealer fitted items. They don't view these as modifications, the only "modification" they wanted to record was that we had a towbar, and that only to record that we had informed them we would be towing a caravan.
The purchase price I gave them included all this and the extras are detailed on the invoice, and they say we are fully covered. But I'm still going to take out the GAP insurance just to be sure!
They were really only interested in modifications to the engine or stuff like flashy wheels.

Astaroth

Extras that dont change the vehicles performance or significant change is desirability to theives (the worst thing you can do is get a body kit of a higher model fitted, with some insurers if you have the bottom of the range model but have the body kit of the sports model you will get charged as the sports model) often do not attract an additional premium other than reflecting their cost in the market value of the vehicle - though obviously you still need to tell them about them.

I am surprised that Admiral are giving cover for the vehicle but not the modifications - normally insurers are all or nothing.

Paulina_Fortune

My thanks to Astaroth and Jennifernil for responding.

The only response that I get from the Indian call centre staff and other Admiral staff are that they won't consider covering anything different at all. They pay market value only in the event of a write off and will not cover anything different to the standard model.

I'm pretty fed up with them and will not be renewing the multi-car policy in June.

Be warned - avoid their multi car policy if you've got any intention of changing your car. You are stuck until renewal and if you want to move a car off it, they will cancel the policy and charge you for it + lose that year of building up some NCD. They can then charge what they like for your new car as they have you over a barrel. Grrr.

Paulina.