Factory fit options.

[WRumbled]

Hi all,

I'm picking up my new motor on Saturday and was just about to 'phone my insurers to advise them of the change but thought better of it.

Before I 'phone them I want to know if I should declare factory fitted accessories? My car has been fitted with additional front splitter and rear wheel-arch deflectors plus a boot spoiler. As mentioned they are all from the factory options list; do I declare them as modifications?

Any help appreciated.

Cheers.

[milly]

declare them as it is not "standard" even if fitted by the factory

[russ]

Pretty much as milly says.

Yep they should ask whether the vehicle has been modified in any way from the manafactures original specification.

Obviously as you say that are fitted as original but it`s always best to let them know just in case.

If they say that there is a charge extra it`s always worth an argue to see if they wil allow them for free. Even speak to a supervisor.

Good luck :)

[WRumbled]

Cheers for that.

Better go and 'phone them now... :-|

[Zizi]

Would be intrested to see what they had to say mate.... :)

[WRumbled]

Would be intrested to see what they had to say mate.... :)

I declared them - then they asked me for an additional £517.42 for the remaining 7 months of my policy...

As you can imagine I 'phoned around and ended up going with another insurer who on their website, on the modifications section, have an option for 'Bodykit - OEM'.

So to confirm what the guys have said above you are expected to declare them.

[Zizi]

£517 for 7 months..... :o :o

Which company was that!? :x

[WRumbled]

£517 for 7 months..... :o :o

Which company was that!? :x

Direct Line; I was going from a Honda Civic Type R (group 17) to a Honda S2000 (group 20) with a front lip spoiler, rear arch skirts and boot spoiler.

I'd already paid £630 for the Civic for the full year so doing the sums it would have been just over £1500 a year they wanted off me!!

I'm now with Admiral and paid £850 for the full year, which with the refund from Direct Line cost me less than DL wanted for the 7 months!!

The only thing I've lost is another years no claims which is no loss at all as I've already got 10+ years.

[Zizi]

10+ years.... *jealous*

/me looks at his big fat 0 after losing 2 last year :|

[Turboderv]

It's always wise to mention anything that is not standard.

When I renewed my insurances I asked if fitting alloys to my car would make any difference, I'm glad I did because thy wanted an extra £164 if i fit alloys !!

There reason being that if the car is nicked they would have to cover the cost of the alloys and in fitting the alloys I would be making my car more desireable, hence more likely to be nicked ! ! !

Reading between the lines, if i fitted the alloys without telling them and the car was nicked, they would probably use it as an excuse for not paying out !

[Zizi]

Someone I know bought a Golf which had alloys on (she didnt know they were non standard) and hence she had them down as standard alloys on her insurance policy.

She was then involved in a 5 car pile up on the motorway, to which the insurance company refused to pay out because the alloys were non standard.

I can understand from the insurance companies point of view whereby a car with alloys is more likely to get nicked, but in her case its a bit crap because they had nothing to do with the accident, but they were used against her so they didnt have to pay up.

But hey, insurance companies are here to make money, afterall. :bang:

[russ]

Hmmm, as a normal person i would have challenged that all the way to the insurance ombudsman.

There is likely to be some other information as well that they refused to pay up on.

How long ago was this ?

[Zizi]

It was about 6 years ago.

I, obviously, dont have the full story but thats just what I was told.

Probably a bias opinion too ;)

[Turboderv]

I'm gald I asked because I was planning to have some fitted, nothing OTT just some smart wheels :)

IFAIK the same car with the alloy option fitted is the same insurance group as mine without them !!

I've never been asked if mine has alloys - think i'll stick with the steelies for now ;)

[russ]

Nope we don`t ask directly, that would be too easy !!

Something along the lines of " does your vehicle have any modifications from the manufactures orignal specification".

That would def cover alloys.

If you want to see the actual q you were asked just look at your proposal form.

Russ

[Turboderv]

LOL! I have no idea whatsoever what bits on my car are standard or not :) I have assumed that it is standard because it doesn't have all the toys LMAO

It was six months old when i got it.

So, as with the alloys, if say air con wasn't standard fitment does that mean i'm not insured :?

[Zizi]

Id say youd be ok with Air Con. I think its more things like alloys, bodywork, and toys like Sat Nav....

[Turboderv]

Agreed Zizi :)

A little bit of sacasim on my part ;-)

[G-Rich]

Sorry to dredge up an old topic but this is pertinent to myself.

My car is a 'special edition' and as such comes with OE Alloys, body coloured bumbers, lowered suspension, spoiler etc.

The car is insured with this special edition name written on the policy document. Does this mean I am covered for all the OE extras, or should I declare them anyway?

[Mice_Elf]

Declare them anyway. The insurance company might not be bothered, but it's best not to give them a chance to wiggle out of paying should you ever be involved in an accident.

[russ]

Declare them anyway. The insurance company might not be bothered, but it's best not to give them a chance to wiggle out of paying should you ever be involved in an accident.

We never wiggle out of anything! , why wiggle when a blunt no go away usually works ;-) ;-)

Only kidding. You might as well let them know, as long as you told them it`s a special edition when insuring it then it`s fine. If you did tell them that it`s a special edition and they try to charge you for more when you let them know about the rest then complain.

Russ

[fallmonk]

Just to pick up on a point "turboderv" made HOW DO U KNOW WOT BITS ARE "STANDARD"? on a second hand car?
never mind 3rd/4th hand car?
does anyone have a answer ?
thanks

[Mice_Elf]

Any modified bits would normally be in the sales blurb of the car. While you might not know if there's an uprated turbo fitted from just looking at it, it's fairly easy to hear and see things like exhausts or alloys.

If it's a performance car, chances are it's been modified, but hopefully the person you are buying it off will declare everything. You could always ask them to sign a receipt upon which it says that the car has not been modified or that lists the bits that have.

It's not a complete get-out clause, but it might help.

[fulcrum]

With alloy wheels they could argue that it can alter handling of a vehicle, I agree with you its not relevant but a company thats there to make money would use that point no doubt :/

[russ]

Yep alloy wheels can alter the handling, both ways. they can also change the steering if too heavy, rub against arches or change the speedo reading if they are not the same diameter as the original.

If unsure declare anyway. as long as they know they can`t use it against you.

Good point, but i though that most companies are there to make money ?? :)

Russ

[wazza]

Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2004 9:17 am

ooooh errrrrr have i been to sleep too long is it realy 1st dec already!

Its amazing what mods people do have on their cars, I have seen grown men cry after accidents and after Mr insurance man has been to see them. Mr car driver and also Mr bike rider tell me, there payout was reduced because of these mods. It is important to tell insurance companies, they may not increase your premium but may reduce your payout.

[Medders]

Yep - a guy I know with a mini cooper works thingy just rammed a barrier and is now ever so slightly worried as he didn't declare his wheels, brakes, or decals..... :oops:

[Erica]

My car is a 'special edition' and as such comes with OE Alloys, body coloured bumbers, lowered suspension, spoiler etc.

The car is insured with this special edition name written on the policy document. Does this mean I am covered for all the OE extras, or should I declare them anyway?

G-Rich, my car is a Limited Edition too (aren't they all? :rock:) which came with special alloys as standard, so I declared this to the insurer when I first signed up with them, giving them the name of the edition.

Mind you, this insurance company are affiliated to the MX-5 Owners Club, so they will definitely know all about the different editions.