Car insurance & reverse parking sensors

Autonomous

Currently insured with Bell Direct, good price. However when I took out the policy, I mentioned that I had rear parking sensors, they made a note of it, but said it would not increase the premium.

I have since received a letter, stating that during their vehicle checks, they note that an existing policy quote, referenced an "External Modification" to the standard vehicle. This was because Elephant listed the item as such. Crazy they charge you for having a saftey aid!

I phoned them up today, explained the situation, they wont budge, they gave me a whole list of excuses, stating "Image Enhancing", "Performance Enhancing", "Non Standard Extra" etc. They informed me that their underwriters (Admiral) make the call. I requested that they speak to the underwriters, expresing my dissatisfaction.

Bell phoned me back, and said that Admiral state that "Customer may rely too much on the device, it may fail, and i might crash!" For gods sake!!! I asked if they also need to know about Blind spot mirrors, people may rely on them too much!

the extra premium is only about £35, but it just seems stupid, you buy these things (From the dealer, Nissan manufactured/sold) with the intention of improving safety, then you just get penalised for having them.

I feel like taking them off, and reversing straight through a wall, or how about an even more expensive Car, theres a Ferrari Garage and Masaratti garage down the road! I'm sure some damage could be done, After all I have a protected NCB (for what there worth) (<Disclaimer> only kidding Bell, cos you make me angry! I dont think i will really do that, I may remove the device though! </disclaimer>)

Its getting to the point where you have to tell them everything. Air freshener, Bottle of water in boot! Type of music your listening to, they are all non standard parts, and they may all impair your driving ability

Arghh, makes me so angry, this insurance

tiger

take it off then

scheming_gypsy

and stop blaming Bell.. it's Admiral that's hiked the price up

isayoldchap

Autonomous wrote:

Currently insured with Bell Direct, good price. However when I took out the policy, I mentioned that I had rear parking sensors, they made a note of it, but said it would not increase the premium.

I have since received a letter, stating that during their vehicle checks, they note that an existing policy quote, referenced an "External Modification" to the standard vehicle. This was because Elephant listed the item as such. Crazy they charge you for having a saftey aid!

I phoned them up today, explained the situation, they wont budge, they gave me a whole list of excuses, stating "Image Enhancing", "Performance Enhancing", "Non Standard Extra" etc. They informed me that their underwriters (Admiral) make the call. I requested that they speak to the underwriters, expresing my dissatisfaction.

Bell phoned me back, and said that Admiral state that "Customer may rely too much on the device, it may fail, and i might crash!" For gods sake!!! I asked if they also need to know about Blind spot mirrors, people may rely on them too much!

the extra premium is only about £35, but it just seems stupid, you buy these things (From the dealer, Nissan manufactured/sold) with the intention of improving safety, then you just get penalised for having them.

I feel like taking them off, and reversing straight through a wall, or how about an even more expensive Car, theres a Ferrari Garage and Masaratti garage down the road! I'm sure some damage could be done, After all I have a protected NCB (for what there worth) (<Disclaimer> only kidding Bell, cos you make me angry! I dont think i will really do that, I may remove the device though! </disclaimer>)

Its getting to the point where you have to tell them everything. Air freshener, Bottle of water in boot! Type of music your listening to, they are all non standard parts, and they may all impair your driving ability

Arghh, makes me so angry, this insurance

Tell them you drive with a parrot on your shoulder that gives very good hand signals if your indicators stop working-you know what I mean :eek:

scheming_gypsy

just tell them you had it removed. If you crash then pull it off.

Autonomous

Yep really useful advice guys, thanks. :-)

Yes i could just take them off, great, lost £300 quid but saved £30. I could tell them i have taken them off but leave them on there, come any claim, they'd be straight down looking over the car.
With that in mind should i just completely lie and tell them the car is really a C2 or some other car of group 1 insurance and that i live somewhere else and that the car is only parked in a garage, and only does 1000 miles a year?
My point being if i lie then i dont really have a leg to stand come any claim. I only told them coz having speant £30 K on the car, you are going to be damn sure you are fully covered.i wouldnt be quite so annoyed if the blasted things was covered under the insurance, but nope

So i have done the best thing and changed insurers that arnt so anal about such things, and realise that the devices are safety and no way affect the acceleration, looks etc in any way.

As for being Admirals fault, well yes and no, Bell are a trading name of Admiral The policy I had was with Bell, I have a contract with them, not admiral. Anyway I blame the entire company. They should be encouraging people to get safety and security devices fitted to cars.


However, Apart from the issue with the sensors, Bell & Elephant had been great. The customer service was good and a very friendly attitude. I just think there policies on modifications need to be investigated.

BenL

Are the sensors official Nissan parts????

If so you shouldn't have to declare them, its just something off the options list.

Insurance companies want things all the same way.

I haven't told them that I picked Metallic paint which will cost more to repair.

I recently changed my tyres from Continetals that Ford fit to Vredesteins.

My non manufacturer approved tyres will cause a stink (same size etc).

I think you've been a little too honest and I doubt many other people have stated details in as much depth as you.

My mates rear view mirror keeps falling off and won't stick, he should tell them about that I guess as well incase of an accident, i think not

Ben

LittleJo

Hi,
I pay nothing extra for such things, give them make, model and year of manufacture.
They are not mods. standard fit. Modern cars have so many gadgets anyway. Most are safety related.
Jo

Autonomous

Yep offical nissan parts. One of the optional extras on the 350Z. Fitted by dealer, yes i agree there are so many different options and modifications, but it appears some insurance companies want to know everything that is extra, that is not on the base model, even if the dealer has added them for you as part of the deal, I repeat the insurance want to know.
Porsche Boxsters have 35K worth of optional extras! Imagine the extra on premium there. And the withthe lotus you can have a window winder as an extra.

I have no problem declaring them, and paying for them providing they do enhance performance in some significant way, or they actually provide issurance for the item in the event of total loss. With the case of rear parking sensors, none of the above is true.

Moved to Privelige, they made note so that its on my cert, and have assured me they make no charge for such items.

dunstonh

Autonomous wrote:

Yep offical nissan parts. One of the optional extras on the 350Z. Fitted by dealer, yes i agree there are so many different options and modifications, but it appears some insurance companies want to know everything that is extra, that is not on the base model, even if the dealer has added them for you as part of the deal, I repeat the insurance want to know.
Porsche Boxsters have 35K worth of optional extras! Imagine the extra on premium there. And the withthe lotus you can have a window winder as an extra.

I have no problem declaring them, and paying for them providing they do enhance performance in some significant way, or they actually provide issurance for the item in the event of total loss. With the case of rear parking sensors, none of the above is true.

Moved to Privelige, they made note so that its on my cert, and have assured me they make no charge for such items.

Hold on. These are official supplied optional extras in the manufacturers sales book. These do not need to be declared and would not be considered an after sale extra.

Autonomous

dunstonh wrote:

Hold on. These are official supplied optional extras in the manufacturers sales book. These do not need to be declared and would not be considered an after sale extra.

Well with my old insurnace co, and the entire Admiral group it appears you do! Doesnt matter what you and I think, they believe you have to tell them and pay for them