Declaring extras when buying/renewing car insurance?

[Adrian E]

On the factory spec stuff I believe it has less to do with the inherent risk and more to do with making sure any claim that might result isn't massaged after the fact for a much higher spec car than you started off with - by listing it there can't really be much argument.

Other insurers don't seem to care, and tbh I can always produce a copy of the options spec by popping into any dealer and asking for it - they're usually happy to oblige

[Meoricin]

tom6195 said:

Just running a fake quote on admiral and the exact question asked is Has your car been modified in any way? With the tooltip of "This is a cosmetic or performance change to the car away from the manufacturer's standard specification (including optional extras)."

With the way that's written, doesn't it imply that the optional extras do not need to be declared, as they are included in 'the manufacturer's standard specification'.

To read otherwise would surely need to be "This is a cosmetic or performance change (including optional extras) away from the manufacturer's standard specification."

[dacouch]

tom6195 said:

Just running a fake quote on admiral and the exact question asked is Has your car been modified in any way? With the tooltip of "This is a cosmetic or performance change to the car away from the manufacturer's standard specification (including optional extras)."

If you used your real name and / or email address and / or reg plate, Admiral will cross reference the information you supplied on this quote against your existing date

Admiral are very very on the ball with regards techonology

[tom6195]

dacouch said:

If you used your real name and / or email address and / or reg plate, Admiral will cross reference the information you supplied on this quote against your existing date

Admiral are very very on the ball with regards techonology

Well I did put in my name or email but I did put the registration in order to reach this point.

I'm really uncertain as to whether I should declare my built in sat nav or just leave it and hope for the best.

[rscott]

Checking the policy wording or calling them is the only way to confirm ...

Unless Zollar is about - I believe he has an Admiral connection.

The insurer I used for my Saabs said anything installed in the car when it left the factory (whether standard fit or optional extras) didn't need to be declared. Very useful as the second had every single option except Bluetooth & sunroof!

[juggsy]

I remember having this 'discussion' when I got my Cayman. After the nice call centre lady got Porsche confused with Peugeot, she proceeded to ask me to list every optional extra (not modifications, but all optional extras in addition to standard spec). After arguing this would take ages and they are factory optional extras. she insisted, so the first extra I listed was 'Sports Chrono Pack'.

"That's not on my system sir" - ok so you tell me what options you have on your system and I'll tell you if it has it. "Ok - does it have dual controls?". On a Cayman...

Let me speak to your manager.

[Ninja59]

dacouch said:

If you used your real name and / or email address and / or reg plate, Admiral will cross reference the information you supplied on this quote against your existing date

Admiral are very very on the ball with regards techonology

To be fair most of them are and more and more insurers are bringing Master Data Management in as a global hub to sit above all the silos (as well as the ability to Data Mask various information depending on seniority and access rights). Furthermore, with MDM it brings the ability to create a single view/golden view from all records (and depending on setup is done in real time from those silos, hybrid or as a hierachy).

Hence why the likes of LV for example when they access one record can cross reference it against other policies at one address (for example my parents cars and house insurance is all brought up as soon as they access one policy of theirs) or using policy numbers find information under different addresses (for example when I am insured on one of my parents cars for x period the information is copied across).

That is before we start talking about cross referencing it against externally sourced databases such as CUE and DVLA information for DL's.

Also having seen the setup of Direct Line Group it is scary about the level of information that is taken in, for reference Direct Line have spent around £30 million (if my memory serves) on new MDM technologies so far since 2013.

NB I work for a company in Information Management and most of our customers are financial services or Insurers (or government).

Edited by Ninja59 on Tuesday 25th October 09:30

[Ninja59]

Meoricin said:

With the way that's written, doesn't it imply that the optional extras do not need to be declared, as they are included in 'the manufacturer's standard specification'.

To read otherwise would surely need to be "This is a cosmetic or performance change (including optional extras) away from the manufacturer's standard specification."

From their policy booklet on definitions:

"Modifications - Any changes to your cars standard specification, including
accessories and additional parts; optional extras and after
market alterations; trade related changes and parts. These
include, but are not restricted to, cosmetic and/or performance
changes or changes related to your business or profession."

[tom6195]

Ninja59 said:

From their policy booklet on definitions:

"Modifications - Any changes to your cars standard specification, including
accessories and additional parts; optional extras and after
market alterations; trade related changes and parts. These
include, but are not restricted to, cosmetic and/or performance
changes or changes related to your business or profession."

That's pretty clear to me, but BS nonetheless. So tempted to call and cancel today but not sure what the alternatives are.

[tom6195]

Ah man, just looking at esure, and they also want you to list all non-standard options even air con!

[Sticks.]

Isn't the issue the type of insurer you're looking at? Sounds like cheapest is best, so you get offshore call centres and uncertain advice, although the cars are presumably quite expensive.

[somejohn]

Very relevant experience here as the owner of an all-options-ticked Giulietta Sportiva Nav.

I'm insured with Hastings, when I filled in their online form to shift the policy coverage over from the old car to this, it asked me to list every optional extra. However, when they hadn't actioned the policy change on the day I was due to swap the cars over, I called them up, spoke to a very friendly Scottish chap who laughed when I offered to give him details of the optional extras on the car and told me it wasn't nessecary. They only cared about anything that might have changed since it rolled out of the factory.

Of course, your experience may vary. As others have said: your best bet is to speak to your insurers directly.

Coincidentally - and just to muddy the waters a little futher - those carbon wing mirrors and spoiler may be dealer-fit (or owner-fit) and have come out of the Alfa/Ricambi Accessories catalogue, they are not factory options, however.

Edited by somejohn on Tuesday 25th October 13:09

[ging84]

Ninja59 said:

From their policy booklet on definitions:

"Modifications - Any changes to your cars standard specification, including
accessories and additional parts; optional extras and after
market alterations; trade related changes and parts. These
include, but are not restricted to, cosmetic and/or performance
changes or changes related to your business or profession."

Every insurer has some total bullst like this, but if you ask about the rear window sticker from the dealer that you see on almost every car on the road, or the number plates that every single car on the road has to have, they say you are being silly and obviously you don't need to declare them.

[Monkeylegend]

Apparently if you fit a tow bar it brings your premium down.

[LeoSayer]

I gave up when one insurer classified optional xenon headlights as rally-style spot lights.

[C70R]

SteveR1979 said:

C70R said:

No. What on earth makes you think that?
Unless they are aftermarket modifications, you keep a note of them and make sure that they are replaced 'like for like' in the event of any claim. You would be able to verify your car's complete spec from the VIN with either a dealer or an online 'decoder' tool.
In general, few options would make a significant difference to the overall value of the vehicle, therefore the risk level is quoted on that basis.

Never insured with the thieving bds at Admiral then??

That would be a negative. Life lesson learned...

[dacouch]

Ninja59 said:

To be fair most of them are and more and more insurers are bringing Master Data Management in as a global hub to sit above all the silos (as well as the ability to Data Mask various information depending on seniority and access rights). Furthermore, with MDM it brings the ability to create a single view/golden view from all records (and depending on setup is done in real time from those silos, hybrid or as a hierachy).

Hence why the likes of LV for example when they access one record can cross reference it against other policies at one address (for example my parents cars and house insurance is all brought up as soon as they access one policy of theirs) or using policy numbers find information under different addresses (for example when I am insured on one of my parents cars for x period the information is copied across).

That is before we start talking about cross referencing it against externally sourced databases such as CUE and DVLA information for DL's.

Also having seen the setup of Direct Line Group it is scary about the level of information that is taken in, for reference Direct Line have spent around £30 million (if my memory serves) on new MDM technologies so far since 2013.

NB I work for a company in Information Management and most of our customers are financial services or Insurers (or government).

Edited by Ninja59 on Tuesday 25th October 09:30

Interesting reading.

Data really is the king for Insurers in so many different ways