Car Insurance- Is an 'option' a modification?

zebidee1

If a car is bought new from a showroom and there is an option to choose what wheels you want i.e basic ordinary wheels or basic alloy wheels when the car is manufactured for you, is this a modification?

I've had conflicting advice on this.

Any insurance people around who could clarify?

DrFluffy

No - modifications are non-standard/optional changes you make to the car after purchase... i.e putting in a big !!!!!!y engine...

nickmack

DrFluffy wrote: »

No - modifications are non-standard/optional changes you make to the car after purchase... i.e putting in a big !!!!!!y engine...

Options fitted during manufacturing are *usually* considered part of the spec for insurance purposes. If they are dealer fitted they *may* be considered modifications depending on what they are.

Safest option is to check with the insurer.

dunstonh

If you buy official options (like improved stereo, better wheels, sat nav etc) then you need to declare these to the insurer. If you dont, the insurer will base the value of your car on the standard model features.

i.e. you buy a car that is the SE model. All the standard feature that come with the SE are fine. However, you also include xenon lights, bigger wheels and sat nav. You declare those extra three to the insurer. You probably wont pay any more but you have had them logged.

vikingaero

Most insurers use a phrase like:

"Is the vehicle modified from the manufacturers standard specification?"

So if the base vehicle doesn't have a/c and you spec it with a/c then technically it is modified. Same if you add a turbo-nutter-engine.

Most insurers are fairly sensible but others like the Admiral Group (Elephant, Admiral, Bell Direct, Hastings etc) are quite harsh in the application of terms in their claims procedure