Aftermarket stereo and insurance

SnakeFighter

Hi everyone

I've posted this on the motoring section of the forum, but thought it might be a good idea to share here as well. Hope that's OK.

I have fitted an aftermarket head unit (a touchscreen Pioneer with Android Auto) to my 2012 Mondeo, and I'm trying to figure out the insurance implications. Looking on the comparison sites and a couple of insurers, I can select "Yes" to the "has your car been modified" question, but I can't see any category that quite fits, which was a surprise. There's one for "Car Phone", and a bunch of other stuff, but no stereo!

So, I'm not sure what I'm mean to do. Do I even need to declare it as a modification? Is it in some sub-menu somewhere that I haven't found? Or perhaps I'm just meant to ring round all the insurance brokers like we did in the olden days?!

Any tips gratefully received.

KR

Charlie

user1977

Not sure why that would be considered a modification any more than hanging some fluffy dice from your mirror. It's not going to make the car faster / more dangerous.

SnakeFighter

I think the suggestion is that the new stereo would make the car a more attractive target to steal / break into. I take your point, though, and it's not even like the new kit was that expensive or exciting!

Sandtree

It is a declarable modification but its about finding the most appropriate section to put it under... with Confused.com it would appear to be Accessories/Interior Changes. Its certainly one to check when you get through to the insurers site to make sure there isnt a more specific category and may have to switch to phone.

Dont know if its an age thing or a popularity thing but remember in the 90s that loads of people had 3rd party head units etc but cannot remember the last time I've seen one. 

SnakeFighter

Thanks, Sandtree

I think that there must be quite a few aftermarket audio systems being sold- they're still a significant feature in Halfords, after all! Will see what I can do...

Aretnap

user1977 said:

Not sure why that would be considered a modification any more than hanging some fluffy dice from your mirror. It's not going to make the car faster / more dangerous.

In many cases the most important thing about a modification is not that it makes the car faster or more dangerous, it's that it makes the driver the sort of person who drives a modified car.

With things like stereos and alloy wheels, it can also be that it makes the car more attractive to thieves/more likely to have bits of it stolen. 

In any event if the insurer asks you to declare modifications, you have to declare modifications. You don't get to decide which ones are relevant and which ones aren't.