Alloy wheels invalidate insurance - advice needed

dacouch

BlueC wrote: »

spacey2012 has summed this up nicely i think

Sort of.

Relevant case law for the OP being "Adams v Dunne"

Insurance Regulators are the FCA.

The Insurer can void a policy due to non disclosure which will normally mean they pay third party claims but have the right to recover their outlay from their (ex) policyholder.

The path of complaint and Ombudsman is correct although a well worded (Polite and Concise) complaint letter will often avoid the need to go to the Ombudsman which can literally take years. If the OP can find out the relevant answers to questions. The letter of complaint may be able to include arguements which will make the Insurer realise they are on a losing wicket.

Ultrasonic

usignuolo wrote: »

I asked about my Skoda's wheels, as in looking for examples of similar cases to nephew's friend, I found one of a young woman who had bumped her modest skoda on a wall and had insurance claim refused in similar circumstances. It turned out her alloy wheels were fitted as factory standard on that model. She appealed to FOS and won her case as it was determined she had made claim in all honesty not knowing that alloy wheels must be declared even if, it seems, they are fitted as standard.

Really? I find that hard to believe. If they were an option not covered by standard spec then OK (e.g. she has an 'SE' spec car, which doesn't come with alloys, but then paid extra for them to be fitted from new). Could you provide a link to the details please?

My car has alloy wheels, as do all other (unmodified) cars of the same spec. I have not declared this to my insurers and don't believe for a second that I need to. The question asked when taking out insurance is if is unmodified from the factory spec for the model that has been specified. Otherwise every driver would need to declare every option specific to the spec of their car, which would be daft.

usignuolo

Well I have popped outside to have a look and my Fabia def has alloy wheels. Are they factory standard or were they fitted later by one of the previous owners? I have absolutely no idea as I do not have original paperwork. I have had a look on the web and cannot tell if they are standard fit or optional extra at time of purchase.

rs65

usignuolo wrote: »

not knowing that alloy wheels must be declared even if, it seems, they are fitted as standard.

Not true. Only modifications need to be declared. If in doubt about yours, ask a skoda dealer.

Ultrasonic

usignuolo wrote: »

I have had a look on the web and cannot tell if they are standard fit or optional extra at time of purchase.

Have you tried https://www.parkers.co.uk?

To be certain, check with a Skoda dealer though. My money is on them being standard fit if the car isn't very old.

DaveF327

It's bad enough that insurance companies find every possible way to wriggle out of a claim, but to report someone to the police beggars belief! Is that how "customer service" works nowadays? :mad:

usignuolo

Ultrasonic- this is the case where there was an argument with the insurers over a claim because the skoda involved came with alloys as standard but the insurers argued they should have been declared. It is on the skoda owners forum. http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/153266-insurance-company-refusing-to-pay-due-to-alloy-wheels/

arcon5

dacouch wrote: »

If two young drivers identical in every way asked you to pay any claims they make for accidents (Not theft) in return for them each giving you £2200. In return (Assuming you were very rich) you agree to pay out unlimited amounts.

However one of the drivers hot hatch was exactly as it left the car manufacturer but the other driver had spent hundreds of pounds on changing the original wheels to alloy wheels.

Which young driver would you accept the £2200 from in return for your guarantee of paying unlimited amounts for any fault accidents they have?

To turn that on its head....

the second driver having changed the wheels clearly values his motor enough to warrant spending money on keeping it looking good and could be less likely to drive like an idiot.

(Although possibly a logic that can be turned on its head again when you look at all the idiots that fit new exhausts without a silencer and drive like idiots.)

arcon5

Ops [STRIKE]nephew[/STRIKE] nephews friend does have my sympathy if the alloys was fitted before he bought the car. In such a situation i'm betting a significantly percentage of people wouldn't realise it was a modification, let alone inform the insurer.

Out of curiosity, would buying non-OEM parts also need declaring? If say, my exhaust cat.c was shot and I fitted a generic part? Or if say I replaced my water pump with a non-OEM? Or to go a little further, if my brake pads and discs wasn't OEM?

smashingyour...

arcon5 wrote: »

Ops nephew does have my sympathy if the alloys was fitted before he bought the car. In such a situation i'm betting a significantly percentage of people wouldn't realise it was a modification, let alone inform the insurer.

Out of curiosity, would buying non-OEM parts also need declaring? If say, my exhaust cat.c was shot and I fitted a generic part? Or if say I replaced my water pump with a non-OEM? Or to go a little further, if my brake pads and discs wasn't OEM?

This thread is about the friend.;)