Parking sensors and insurance

Car_54

ak3lly wrote: »

Hi all
I called to renew my insurance today ....


Or is it all a ploy to keep your premium as high as they can?

On the contrary. If you're calling about your renewal, it is in their interests to keep the premium as low as they can.

Car_54

Mercdriver wrote: »

When I was dropping one of my nephews to a bike shop a few days ago, he asked me why I don't just use the reversing camera in my car when doing a bay park. I tried using it when I first got the Mazda 2 years ago, but decided using my mirrors was more reliable.

Better still, do as the Highway Code says: turn round and look out of the back window.

owen_money

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Not normally. With many insurers, A modification is something that is done to the vehicle after it has been first registered so factory fit options aren't modifications.

I agree with Shaun, a modification is something you add to the car that wasn't a factory fitted option, so if the car came with sensors they are standard, if you fitted them they would be a modification.
A fully loaded car from the manufacturer is standard as they have fitted all the options at the factory, thats how it left the factory. Here's what compare the market has to say...........

A modification is any change you make to your car that alters it from the manufacturer’s standard settings. Modifications tend to fall into two categories: performance or cosmetic.

Altering your suspension, changing the wheels or upgrading your exhaust are all examples of modifications that might improve your car’s performance. Go-faster stripes, speaker systems and sat navs are cosmetic changes.

Nearly_Old

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Not normally. With many insurers, A modification is something that is done to the vehicle after it has been first registered so factory fit options aren't modifications.

I'm not sure that this is correct; e.g. price of basis car £18,000, optional extras fitted value £3,000 these are modifications to the base specification.

One of the lease cars I had at work came with steel wheels as standard but mine was fitted with the optional, extra cost alloy wheels and these were shown as a modification on the insurance schedule. My last car had factory fitted front and rear parking sensors and these were shown as a modification for insurance.

I suppose that a lot of optional extas could mean there is a higher risk; e.g. make stealing the car more attractive.

shaun_from_Africa

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Not normally. With many insurers, A modification is something that is done to the vehicle after it has been first registered so factory fit options aren't modifications.

Nearly_Old wrote: »

I'm not sure that this is correct; e.g. price of basis car £18,000, optional extras fitted value £3,000 these are modifications to the base specification.

But you are talking about an insurance premium based on the value of the car, not on the changes to it. Even though optional extras may increase the insurance value, they are still not classed as modifications for insurance puposes.
Here are just a few examples of what I was referring to. (all taken from the quotation pages of the relevant websites)

Aviva insurance.

A 'modification' is a feature of the car that wasn't there when it was first registered

AA Insurance.

We define a modification as any kind of alteration to a vehicle that wasn't in the manufacturer's standard specification, or wasn't fitted as an option when the vehicle was manufactured.

Tesco Insurance.

My car hasn't been modified in any way from the manufacturer's standard specification. It's OK if you have optional extras fitted by the vehicle manufacturer.

More Than Insurance.

Please let us know if any changes have been made to your car after it was produced by the factory (e.g. engine modifications, body kits, etc.).

Hastings Insurance.

Please note: optional extras fitted at the point of manufacture aren't classed as modifications.

If optional extras that were factory fitted classed as modifications then every single vehicle that was sold with anything added above the base specification would have to be declared as having been modified.
1.4 litre engine instead of 1.0 litre, it's been modified.
Metallic paint instead of flat white, it's been modified,
Etc

forgotmyname

I had a quote from one insurer than asked if my 8 year old car had any factory fitted options or anything non standard.

Should I declare the power socket in the boot was not original, the original was cracked and replaced with another branded item.

How many owners know what their car left the factory with and what an owner could have fitted themselves later or had fitted later.

Cannot remember which insurer, but probably one that gets lots of complaints on here...


PS...
Oh and the silly person could not comprehend my HGV expiring as no my licence had not expired only my HGV category.
Had to ask her when her HGV entitlement started and ended.. I doubt she understood that either.

Apodemus

Interesting discussion. I have always wondered whether I should be declaring the factory-fitted tow bar that is on my Land Rover? I never tow anything, and would alert the insurer if I ever did, but is it a modification?

oldagetraveller

I have front and rear cameras fitted to my car. Hardwired, fitted by me - yes I am competent and more than qualified to install them!
I informed my then insurer, LV, about this. No problem, that qualifies for a £10 premium discount which they applied immediately and refunded to my bank account. They sent new documents with the cameras noted on them.
Come renewal time I decided on SAGA and called them to take out a new policy for renewal date. I advised of the cameras and it was unbelievable the number of questions asked. When were they fitted?(last year) How much did they cost?(not cheap) Where were they purchased from? (Amazon U.K.)Do you have the original receipt?(yes) Who fitted them?(me) Do you have the fitter's receipt? (I refer you to the previous answer)How are they connected to the power supply? (hardwried via a fuse)Are they removable? (yes)etc.. It went on relentlessly! In the end, after they consulted the underwriter, I was told that they couldn't offer insurance.
Renewed then with LV after they matched SAGA.:p
A few years ago, I had a retrofit towbar installed to a car. Phoned insurance, can't remember which and they said, at the time, that's fine, no need to declare a towbar.
I wouldn't expect a "factory fit" to pose any problems.

sheramber

Tesco advised I had to notify them about a tow bar but it did not affect my premium

Nearly_Old

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

But you are talking about an insurance premium based on the value of the car, not on the changes to it. Even though optional extras may increase the insurance value, they are still not classed as modifications for insurance puposes.
Here are just a few examples of what I was referring to. (all taken from the quotation pages of the relevant websites)

Form M&S Terms & Conditions:
The car is modified or changed in any way from
the manufacturer’s original specification (including
but not limited to: optional fit extras, alloy wheels,
suspension, bodywork, engine, audio, video and
satellite navigation equipment).
So if the model purchased did not have alloy wheels as standard and the option was part of the original build then M&S require it to be declared. This was the case with my lease car. On another forum Direct Line, Admiral and M&S have been listed as companies that require options to be declared.