Elephant Insurance

InsideInsurance

You would need to declare anything that wasnt part of the base model including factory fit optional extras.

Mine was a prebuilt car I bought so didnt get to choose the options exactly and so it came with lowered suspension, different alloys, body kit, internal kit, metallic paint, glass roof, enhanced brakes, altered transmission, automatic parking, interior lighting, enhanced leather seats, adaptive cruise control, adjusted climate control, reversing camera and probably a few extras that I've forgotten about.

After declaring it all they noted it all down but only was bothered about the lowered suspension and had a small premium loading for this and nothing for the rest but without declaring it a total loss would exclude these from the settlement.

It was annoying for me as most of this forms part of the "sports package" and both before and since the cars with the sports package were registered with the DVLA as "sport" and thus it doesnt need to be declared. For 6 months they stopped doing this and so mine isnt registered as "sport" and so has to declare them all. If I do a quote without the reg and so can pick the sports version from the drop downs I have no premium increase despite it incl the same lowered suspension. Thats life though and for £30 a year not worth messing about with (plus my current insurer isnt interested in factory fit options so no impact)

vikingaero

InsideInsurance wrote: »

They are fine with modified cars too, from my experience.

Though on that point, Admiral group count ANY change from the base model specification to be a modification even if it was done in the factory at time of build (eg metallic paint, leather seats, cruise control, satnav etc). DL on the other hand only count changed made post manufacture

Let's try and clear up the ambiguity on modifications:

Some people say that factory fitted options from the factory aren't modifications. Some people say that dealer fitted options aren't modifications. Some people think that if you buy a car already modified it's OK. Some people think that only performance enhancing modifications need to be declared.

Some Insurers want to know about every modification. Some don't care. Some Insurance Agents give out wrong advice. Some Insurance Underwriters contradict the telephone agents. So the answer is to declare anything and everything and get it in writing.

What matters is the question being asked. Generally most Insurers ask something along the lines of: "Is the car modified from the manufacturers standard UK specification?"

If you add metallic paint to the factory order then technically the car is no longer a standard vehicle - it is a standard vehicle plus metallic paint. So if you order say a MINI with £4,000 of options you should declare them all (utmost good faith etc.) As previously said some Insurers don't care, especially if you are a good risk. Technically you could argue that a set of floormats is a modification. It is but there is a level of reasonableness.

Admiral Group which comprises Elephant, Admiral, Bell, Diamond and Gladiator do care about modifications. You are presented with a tick box menu. Sometimes they charge an additional premium sometimes not. Being charged an additional premium by them only ensures they accept the risk and maintain cover. It does not mean they will insure the specific modification because of their dreaded Standard Parts Replacement Clause (SPRC).

What is the SPRC? Let's say you buy a Focus ST with standard 18" Ford alloys but you decide to fit a set of 20" alloys. You get a quote from one the Admiral companies and tick the box for larger alloys. You are charged an extra £100.

A week later you're out driving and you swerve to avoid a badger. You total the front of your Focus ST. The car is collected and Admiral call you to say that they will only pay for 2 standard 18" Ford alloys as per their SPRC. So your car will be left with 2 18" alloys at the front and 2 20" alloys on the rear. It's up to you to pay the difference between the 18" and 20" alloys which could be a huge amount because the 18" alloys could have been bought at trade prices. In paying the additional £100 with Admiral you maintained cover and not insured the wheels or any other modification.