Declaring optional extras on car insurance quotes

[Sponge]

It's one thing that confuses me: It may well be that extras do not add anything to resale value and it's all about 'market value', but as I see it we're not talking about resale, we're talking about insurance. Insurance should put you in a position equivalent to that which you were in before any claim. So if you haven't declared tinted windows, then they won't pay out to enable you to get a car with tinted windows.

Not to forget many companies will use extras as a reason to increase premiums due to increased risk. It's this consideration that makes getting quotes all the more difficult: which companies need to know and which don't?

But I think the most important consideration is as Merlot suggests: if you don't mention something when you take out a policy they'll do their best to use it as an excuse to pay out less, or not at all.

[Cuprabob]

I agree that insurance payout and resale should be different and the former should allow you to replace like for like but the majority of policies I have read refer to "market value" .

As said before if you're buying 2nd hand or a demo not everyone knows what is standard factory fit, dealer fit etc...

[JonC]

There are some insurers out there who insure like-for-like. All my mods are covered like-for-like and all the optional extras are not classified as modifications. God forbid, if my car was stolen, then I would get the value for the car that was stolen back. Future mods I have planned (ARB's) are not seen as extra to the premium, but future mods such as the stage 2 tune will be: 40% more power (over stock) = 40% more on top of the premium. Adrian Flux was the best and most economical for me.

[Rustynuts]

There was a situation (on another forum) where a member had a small bump on the front offside, which resulted in a new headlight being required. The insurance company refused to agree that optional factory fit Xenons were not a modification, and the repair resulted in the car having the original nearside Xenon headlight, partnered with the new standard offside headlight.

The interesting thing was that even if it was declared on the insurance they still would've fitted the standard headlight, as modifications (declared or not) are not covered.

[Tarmac_Terrorist]

Originally Posted by Rustynuts

There was a situation (on another forum) where a member had a small bump on the front offside, which resulted in a new headlight being required. The insurance company refused to agree that optional factory fit Xenons were not a modification, and the repair resulted in the car having the original nearside Xenon headlight, partnered with the new standard offside headlight.

The interesting thing was that even if it was declared on the insurance they still would've fitted the standard headlight, as modifications (declared or not) are not covered.

Can you remember which cowboy outfit that was Rusty. I've never advised any insurer of factory fit options - only aftermarket.

[Avus_Bub]

Originally Posted by Rustynuts

There was a situation (on another forum) where a member had a small bump on the front offside, which resulted in a new headlight being required. The insurance company refused to agree that optional factory fit Xenons were not a modification, and the repair resulted in the car having the original nearside Xenon headlight, partnered with the new standard offside headlight.

The interesting thing was that even if it was declared on the insurance they still would've fitted the standard headlight, as modifications (declared or not) are not covered.

This is a joke right? What sort of two bob insurance company/bodyshop would even try to pull that one off?!! Let alone what sort of customer would sign the completion note?!!

Working for a large RBS bodyshop for nearly 3 years I can say that the only time the estimators will query something is if it's obviously not factory fit - IE Bean can exhaust, dropped on the deck, Chav lights (but we normally just refit OE anyway) K&N air filter the size of a dustbin.... Then the engineer will get involved and sort things out accordingly -
IE You can have a 14" steel wheel on your 1.2 Corsa not an 18" spinner

I could spend all day telling you peeps horror stories about the cars we see day in day out but I really haven't got the time or typing skills!!

My tip for the day would be use an RBS or NU company, you don't want your car glued back together do you?

BUB

[Rustynuts]

Originally Posted by Tarmac_Terrorist

Can you remember which cowboy outfit that was Rusty. I've never advised any insurer of factory fit options - only aftermarket.

I'm not sure. But it was something like Admiral or Elephant. The sort of cheapjack companies who ram those annoying adverts down your neck at every available opportunity.

[pontyslapper]

The way Admiral deal on the phone is misleading then. I'll rip the 'welcome pack' to bits and post scans here if anyone wants!

They talk about modifications NOT factory fit options - just let the bastards refuse any claim, should I be unfortunate to have to make one.

I'll end up down their bleeding offices ranting like a banshee, then I'll hunt down the top bloke, some guy called Engelhart or something and he'll be sorry he ever set up business in Cardiff!

That said, £445 for both the Passat and the Mondy was was too tempting at the moment due to the work/money situation (I'm on supply and wifey's gone 'part time' due to the nipper) after the renewal for the Passat was £440 on its own and the Mondey would be around £340.

The lady on the phone from Admiral explained that I fitted the underwriters 'most wanted' profile at the moment - hence the 'stupid' cheap price. So they are obviously after families in their 30's with one 'quite nice' standard estate and one 'tip runner' estate with a kid or two!!

To be honest - I'm more concerned with the Passat getting 'fixed' should anything happen as thats the missus's car that the nipper uses while the Mondey is what I use to troll about in and is at that point were fixing it would cost more than 'its worth', while replacing would be cheap as chips.

[Nelson_R32]

Looks like I won't be renewing with Admiral then!!

[Ska]

Niether will I, paying a £1100 fully comp for my 11 year old A8! WTF