Extra headrest: Do I have to declare this safety mod?

[benawhile]

My Vauxhall Astra J 2015 year reg was purchased used in 2018.

I realised after purchase that with the standard cloth upholstery there is a seatbelt but no headrest provided for the rear centre (5th) passenger, which seems pretty dangerous but was legal at the time.

I was very concerned about this and research revealed that the leather upholstery version does have a centre headrest and pretty soon I found a 60% leather seatback on eBay with the extra headrest and easily fitted it to the car.

But now I find I am asked by insurers if the car has been modified. Does this count as a modification? If I answer “yes” on the online quotes I get a dropdown list but there is nothing like this mod presented as an option to choose, and if I select “body mod “ I always end up being told the car cannot be insured.

Can anyone offer advice? Specifically, if I do not declare as a mod do I risk invalidating the insurance? SAGA helpline were interested in the query but haven’t come back to me yet.

Unfortunately I didn’t keep the old seatback so that one is a non starter, and yes, although the car has since passed several MOT tests, I did fit the seatback myself at home. I will ask my garage about this tomorrow.

Edited by benawhile on Monday 22 April 22:40

[Super Sonic]

As this is a factory fitment to some versions I would describe it as an option rather than a modification.

[IJWS15]

Try calling them on that very old fashioned thing called a telephone. Mobile versions are also available.

[R6tty]

This place is bonkers.

[Panamax]

R6tty said:

This place is bonkers.

Oh, yes.

[Beetnik]

With the naff leather downgrade it's much less desirable to anyone looking to steal it and therefore a lower risk from an insurance point of view so no need to declare it and any claim you make will be fine.

With the additional safety feature it's much more desirable to anyone looking to steal it and therefore a higher risk from an insurance point of view so best declare it or any claim you make will be turned down.

[Mad Maximus]

Your overthinking this way way way way to much.

[MattsCar]

In the absolute worst case scenario...You bought a 9 year old car, you thought the seat looked a bit odd, but it was like that when you bought it.

"SAGA helpline were interested in the query but haven’t come back to me yet." I bet they were, so they can slap £100 on top of your premium.

Should have not told the insurance company.

[Mr Tidy]

I don't see any reason to declare an option as a modification.

I have a car with Xenons and a sunroof that were options but don't declare them as modifications - they were factory fitted!

[Geertsen]

Surely if you declared this you’d have to declare a tow bar, a bicycle rack, furry dice, extra mats, a USB charger in the cigarette lighter, different tyres to the ones supplied by the factory, etc.

[S100HP]

Good of you to put the reg in the post, so anyone searching that reg will get to this page.....

[benawhile]

Thanks for responding, other people are also saying it's an option rather than a mod, I'll go with that one.
S100HP sorry I'm a bit slow, if there's a reason why I shouldn't put the reg in the post I can ask for it to be deleted

[Pica-Pica]

Head restraint, not head rest. They are there to avoid injury.

[smokey mow]

Geertsen said:

Surely if you declared this you’d have to declare a tow bar, a bicycle rack, furry dice, extra mats, a USB charger in the cigarette lighter, different tyres to the ones supplied by the factory, etc.

I have tow bars on two of my cars and both insurers consider it to be a modification and name it on the policies.

[Geertsen]

smokey mow said:

Geertsen said:

Surely if you declared this you’d have to declare a tow bar, a bicycle rack, furry dice, extra mats, a USB charger in the cigarette lighter, different tyres to the ones supplied by the factory, etc.

I have tow bars on two of my cars and both insurers consider it to be a modification and name it on the policies.

Interesting, you learn something every day.

[MattsCar]

benawhile said:

Thanks for responding, other people are also saying it's an option rather than a mod, I'll go with that one.
S100HP sorry I'm a bit slow, if there's a reason why I shouldn't put the reg in the post I can ask for it to be deleted

Click on the pen symbol in your original post and edit out the reg number.

[Pica-Pica]

Geertsen said:

smokey mow said:

Geertsen said:

Surely if you declared this you’d have to declare a tow bar, a bicycle rack, furry dice, extra mats, a USB charger in the cigarette lighter, different tyres to the ones supplied by the factory, etc.

I have tow bars on two of my cars and both insurers consider it to be a modification and name it on the policies.

Interesting, you learn something every day.

I downsized my wheels with an appropriate increase in tyre sidewall height, and informed my insurers. They wanted to know. They were NOT a factory fitment but WERE a recognised alternative size. The change is noted on my policies for the last 4 years. No effect on premium.

[3GGy]

Geertsen said:

Surely if you declared this you’d have to declare a tow bar, a bicycle rack, furry dice, extra mats, a USB charger in the cigarette lighter, different tyres to the ones supplied by the factory, etc.

You don't? I pay 10 grand a month for all my modifications.

Just in case the insurance company send around a forensic inspection squad after I claim for reversing into my gate post.

Better to be safe than sorry.

[Catnip64]

If you really want to declare it, simply tell them that you have fitted a set of leather seats from a later model.

[benawhile]

Many thanks for the comments, good jokes, terrible jokes, weird? jokes, I have reached a consensus with myself and decided that the seat was damaged so I had to replace it with whatever I could get, it has passed M O T, therefore it is not a mod.
Found new insurers.
Saga man decided it WAS a mod and wanted to charge me £120 extra. No way.
Thanks again, problem solved