Vehicle Modifications

artbaron

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

why would you declare that you'd refurbed your wheels? it's not a modification but a repair, you wouldn't declare that you'd t-cutted a scratch out of the wing.

Because I changed the colour from dark anthracite to very dark anthracite, so I thought I'd be on the safe side and declare it. Odds are if you don't declare a mod, not matter how small, they'll use it as an excuse to deny a claim.

Gloomendoom

vinylmusic wrote: »

I think I may have got my answer using comparison site although the results seem to be rediculous
Adding all three modifications : Tow bar, drl's and Parking sensors increased the resulting premiums by around £50
I then removed tow bar and got it down by around half that
then I removed DRL's and it came down slightly more with some insurers but not all
I noticed that without tow bar and DRL's some insurers dissappeared from the list and others appeared instead
I find such results defy logic
A tow bar I can somewhat understand Since I could dent another car in the unlikely event of reversing into it
But how am I supposed to be more at risk with DRL's and parking sensors? Surely such additions increase safety

I pay around £150 extra for lighting mods, a tow bar and an engine remap. Without those mods, I could insure the car for less than £200.

As the MSE motor insurance guide advises, don't modify your car if you want cheap insurance.

Edit: When I was insured with Elephant/Admiral, they missed the tow bar off the list of mods on the policy docs. I rang them up to check why and they told me that they don't regard a tow bar a notifiable modification.

Gloomendoom

artbaron wrote: »

Because I changed the colour from dark anthracite to very dark anthracite, so I thought I'd be on the safe side and declare it. Odds are if you don't declare a mod, not matter how small, they'll use it as an excuse to deny a claim.

Yet it's perfectly OK to run non-standard wheels if you have winter tyres wrapped around them... or is it?

Rolandtheroadie

vinylmusic wrote: »

I'm sure about that but did it have any effect on the premium?

Just checked again, it was Compare The Market and it makes no difference to the quotes I get through them with or without the towbar.

mad_rich

Iceweasel wrote: »

And some silly sods of Insurance companies don't like you fitting winter/snow tyres apparently.

Totally ridiculous.

There is at least now some clarity on this:

https://www.abi.org.uk/Insurance-and-savings/Products/Motor-insurance/Winter-tyres

You can find out which insurers require notification and which don't.

scheming_gypsy

vinylmusic wrote: »

A tow bar I can somewhat understand Since I could dent another car in the unlikely event of reversing into it

I think the tow bar would have more to do with you actually towing something..

artbaron wrote: »

Because I changed the colour from dark anthracite to very dark anthracite, so I thought I'd be on the safe side and declare it. Odds are if you don't declare a mod, not matter how small, they'll use it as an excuse to deny a claim.

got you, by 'almost exact' i thought it was a repair with the colour just being a bit different than original as it's the closest you could find.

Gloomendoom

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

I think the tow bar would have more to do with you actually towing something.

As far as I am aware, every motor insurance policy I have ever had has included cover for towing, regardless of whether my car has had a towbar, or not.

oldhand

vaio wrote: »

"None" might well apply to the insurance company Rapished runs but for all the other companies out there you need to answer the questions they ask about modifications and they will tell you the effect (if any) on your premium.

Correct,you need to notify your insurance if you make any additions to the car which varies it from standard spec,if you dont and have an accident it will give the insurance company if not an actual "get out clause" then certainly a good argument against you.

Strider590

Tell them about everything you do to your car, it's really not worth the hassle if they turn around and cancel your insurance after an accident.

Most recent for me was a twin air horn, it shouldn't make any difference but I told them anyway just to be safe.

artbaron

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Yet it's perfectly OK to run non-standard wheels if you have winter tyres wrapped around them... or is it?

Don't ask me, my car won't go three feet in snow or ice, winter tyres or no.