Every time I apply for car insurance I lie on the proposal

mushypeaman

Every time I fill in an online car insurance proposal there's one question I always answer with a lie. The question asks if the car has been altered or modified from the original factory specification. The true answer is that since I'm neither a mechanic or a clairvoyant, I don't know. Trouble is that's not an option, I'm only allowed to answer yes or no, and both are lies. I've tried phoning and filling in the proposal with a live operator, but they insist they can only accept yes or no.
I find this really worrying because I'm willing to bet that in the event of an accident, if my car was found to be fitted with some non standard equipment they would, in the time honoured tradition of all insurance companies, wriggle out of paying because I hadn't declared a material fact, and far more seriously, I would have been driving without insurance.
Anybody solved this problem, or got any thoughts?

tasticz

As long as it is not an obvious mod which you didn't declare.. you will be fine

If the windows are tinted, you hve added any stickers, done some remapping, etc. etc. Declare it

Aretnap

The Financial Ombudsman has consistently ruled that provided the modifications are not the sort that would be obvious to the average customer, the customer is not to be penalised for failing to declare them if they didn't realise that the car had been modified when they bought it. So if you have a huge spoiler, a massive exhaust or blue LEDs everywhere then make sure you declare them, but if you're worried that you might have something obscure under the bonnet, calm down. Contrary to popular opinion insurers don't use any old excuse to wriggle out of claims; they're governed by consumer law and accountable to the Ombudsman.

Example Ombudsman case here (case 90/2) - https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/90/90-vehicle-related-complaints.htm&ved=2ahUKEwjwr8O7zq3kAhUBRBUIHWT3D-gQFjAAegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw1S4XGQ2ewnnunDTwngsodz