Mini Pepper Pack - Insurance Increase?

Laura_uk

Hi Everyone!

I am new here. I have been trying to Google my problem with not much luck.

I have a Mini One Graphite with a Pepper Pack. I bought it second hand and it's now nearly 4 years old. I love it! Anyway, today I found a screw in the run-flat tyre which thankfully they repaired but they said in the not too distant future all 4 will need replacing, which I am fine about as I thought that too. I will hunt round for a good price, may even contemplate putting normal ones on.

It got me thinking about the insurance, I am insured with quotemehappy.com. When insuring the car they asked if it had any modifications, which I said no as it stated it was anything that had been done to the car after manufacture. It didn't give me the option to put the Pepper Pack on (comes with 16 inch alloys, a black stripe down the bonnet, bluetooth, AC etc). Now do I need to declare this to them or not? I have emailed them asking do they judge alloys as a modification despite them being standard for the car. I also tried doing a separate quote with them and put the alloys, sticker and bluetooth on and it came back with 'we are unable to insure your car'. Now I'm a bit worried now it will invalidate my insurance or it'll rocket. It's £400 for the year, I'm getting married in Nov, just bought a house before xmas and with needing 4 new tyres on the horizon I'm feeling a bit queasy!

Quotemehappy also make it very hard to actually find their bloomin' email address!

Any help would be greatly interested! Many thanks,

Laura

shaun_from_Africa

If your insurance does go up a lot then shop around a few other companies.

Early last year I bought an ex-demo Focus, and the garage had tarted it up so it looked better for prospective purchasers.
One of the things they added was a sports pack, and this included different alloys and tinted windows. (rear and back passenger windows).

I declared this to my insurers (AA Insurance) and they told me that provided that the mods were factory fitted and didn't alter the performance or handling then there was no extra charge.
They added these extras to my policy document so I know that they are fully aware of the changes from standard.

Laura_uk

Thanks for the help. The extras that mine came with don't enhance the car's performance at all. I'm hoping it doesn't go up stupidly or at all fingers crossed!

Does it matter that I paid my insurance premium in one go? I had a complicated email from them saying they will refund pro-rata etc. I've never been insured by a company that is all online.

gilbert_and_sullivan

There's hundreds of equal and better insurers out there.

If your present mob won't play ball just put your details in one of the many comparison sites including the extras (which i think shouldn't make a difference anyway as fitted by the maker) and loads of good quotes will appear.

My group 18 Mercedes with aftermarket alloys and an LPG conversion all declared online just cost me £280 renewal.

I do however only choose an insurer i've heard of and who has a real telephone landline number.

Laura_uk

Thanks for the advice! Appreciate it! Next time I will definitely go with an insurance company that is on the end of the phone thanks again

atrixblue.-MFR-.

anything aftermarket is modifaction, as your car has factory standard and factory fittted extra's then this shouldnt apply as a mod.

i thought the mini's were registered on the v5 as mini pepper or mini chilli anyway wich indicate to the insurers wich trim level you have.

mattyprice4004

If it came out the factory with it fitted, it's not a modification.

vaio

I suspect it's a bit more a grey area than just being fitted in the factory.

For example....if you went for every extra available on a new car they would all be fitted in the factory but could also double the cost of the car meaning it would cost more to repair or replace if you made a claim and the insurer would rightly want an enhanced premium to reflect this.

forgotmyname

It will depend on your choice of insurer. You NEED to declare it anyway.

Some may not cover cars with that upgrade which will leave you in a heap of trouble. Others may charge double the base premium.
Some may say OK we noted that no problem.

But it needs to be mentioned. I have had insurers ask if a car has any factory fitted extra's or options. These are the ones that will say ahh bird poo on the window. Your not covered because you didnt declare that.

paddedjohn

You say you bought the car second hand, did the previous owner have the kit fitted after they bought it?

malky39

It will also depend on the wording of the question. I know the admiral groups as if there are any modifications inc. factory fitted options and when you tick yes for a mini they have the different packs thats are avaliable e.g pepper and chilli pack some insurers may word they question differently