Declaring optional extras on car insurance quotes

[shark_90]

That is just a joke. ANYTHING that comes from the factory is NOT a modification. What about dealer-fit options? UK MX5's have (or at least used to have) electric windows fitted at the dealers as all the cars came into the country with keep-fit windows. To say something like that would not be covered is total madness!

[shao_khan]

UK MX5 with aircon also used to be dealer fit!!!


I had this with my A3, standard car - £540, Car with Xenon Plus, Nav & Phone - £485 about £60 cheaper - work that one out.

[Merlot]

It may have changed - I binned Admiral a few years ago on this point but they may have had to yield. When I asked if metallic had to be declared I just went away laughing.

[Cupramax]

I've just binned Admiral purely on price, they were way cheaper this time last year, latest quote comes through £175 more than last year (no claims made) So I changed to Morethan and saved over £180. Admiral did try and keep me but kept me chatting on the phonr for 30 minutes only to reduce their quote by £30, I said your having a laugh and hung up

[Sponge]

Car Insurance Explained - Declaring Modifications

What do Insurance Companies class as a Modification?

99% of insurance companies will class any modification to a car after it has been manufactured as a modification. It is worth nothing that some insurance companies will class factory fitted extras as modifications.

I thought we'd discussed this topic before. TSN

I've just been reading a few threads on this subject on the Moneysavingexpert forum. There seems to be two camps on this issue - those that think the insurance companies need to be clearer on what a 'modification' is and if it includes things like metallic paint, privacy glass, even if they are factory fitted; and those that think the exact opposite and that it's 100% the customers responsibilty to know everything about their car, even if it's second hand and several years old and had several owners (possibly altering the specification) and declare all such changes to the insurance company. If they don't, it's their own fault if the policy is declared void or backdated premiums are demanded in the event of a claim.

There's one example of a guy with an old Peugeot where the insurance assessor says the wheels are a modification (and they're demanding several hundred £ in extra premium and increasing his excess) as that particular model didn't come with the size wheels he had fitted. He'd bought it pre-owned, with the wheels, and even the manufacturers couldn't tell him what the standard wheel size was the time the vehicle was made/sold.

[Sponge]

Sheila's Wheels is, so far, the cheapest for my (wife's) car, with the added bonus of cashback from Quidco. However, after all this talk of modifications it now looks like I won't be able to meet Quidco's conditions to claim the cashback, i.e. wholely online. I have to answer no to the question about modifications, so Sheila's Wheels won't quote me online. I have to call them = no cashback.

I fear it will be the same for all insurance companies. So I won't be able to get any cashback, anywhere!

I bet there are literally thousands of people out there with cars they consider to be unmodified, but their insurance companies (would) disagree.

[MiniMadness]

As with most other insurances, this can be a very complicated subject! It's worth looking online for useful information on these topics such as this site on car insurance discount advice and this site on the different types of car insurance. Keep searching and good luck!

[shao_khan]

I actually think the whole system needs changing. For example when you ask joe public 'what is the car worth?' for the majority you are setting an expectation that they are insuring a value and so they are in for a shock when it comes to payout. And I think this needs to be made clearer to all - it caught me out when I had to make a claim when I was young - I honestly thought i'd insured a £6k risk, and was quite shocked to see £4k offer.

Also mods are a tricky issue, I wonder in Law if an insurer could make a policy void for soemthing you could not be expected to know. New TT for example. Give it 10 years, how many people are goign to know if the wheels were standard or not given the 6 or 7 options, plus who is goign to know if they aer oem or replica as most wouldnt tell the difference, I am not sure legally to put the onus onto a car buyer would be fair in contract as you are setting a real standard for expert knowledge which I guess 99% dont have.

[Sponge]

It looks like I'll be going with First Direct now. They guarantee to beat your renewal quote by 10%, so I've played them against my current insurer and managed to add protected NCB and reduce my premium from £393 to £353. Just waiting on the paperwork to check details and then take out policy.

I mentioned the optional extras and they were happy to include them at no extra as they were factory fitted.

I think the only safe thing to do is mention everything, however small, to the insurance company and let them decide whether it's important or not. If it bumps up the premium then look elsewhere. Chances are you can find a company that will offer the same cover, but without an increase in premium. Just as I have done.