Winter tyres and insurance

[neil-c]

Anyone had any issues with insurance company when swapping to winters. After a while looking I finally got an official BMW wheel/tyre package through another forum. I called my insurance company beforehand and they assured me no charge to change, just inform us when you do. So I put them on, call again, this time though there's a £20 charge as I'm swapping alloys. I explained all this in the previous call. They are now reviewing the previous call to see if I mentioned alloys as well as tyres (which I did). In the end though I'll have to pay this again next year and quite possibly spring as well when I go back to summers to cover "admin".

Any insurance companies happy to swap back and forth with no charge? Losing the will to live phoning them explaining myself over and over.

[Jon1967x]

There was a thread running which included a link to the insurance industry body (sorry I can't be more specific) but basically all but 2 or 3 insurance companies required no notification so long as the wheels were OEM and of an original/official size for the car so you probably didn't even need to tell them. Sticking M3 alloys on a 318d would be different. Somebody might remember the link or have try having a Google.


edit - found it..
https://www.abi.org.uk/~/media/Files/Documents/Pub...

[RichardM5]

Jon1967x said:

edit - found it..
https://www.abi.org.uk/~/media/Files/Documents/Pub...

Excellent info, thanks.

[neil-c]

Excellent info thanks for that. The problem i'm probably going to have is that the ABI doc only mentions tyres, not wheels. Then there is the issue that the while the wheel/tyres I have bought are the official winter package for the car they are 17" opposed to the 18" standard fitment.

I can see another half hour on the phone to my insurer next winter

[RicksAlfas]

neil-c said:

Then there is the issue that the while the wheel/tyres I have bought are the official winter package for the car they are 17" opposed to the 18" standard fitment.

I don't see this being a problem as they are the manufacturer's recommended size for your car as listed in the handbook, and as supplied by the manufacturer. It's not like you've just dreamed up a size and stuck something on your found on Ebay.

The problem is the insurers being ignorant and their call centre operators sticking to a rigid script.

[ladderino]

Mine had to check with the underwriter when I called - ended up saying that as long as alloys were no larger than the standard alloys used in summer (I.e. were not worth more), all would be fine and no need to further notify. I'm with John Lewis.

This might be the problem you are having - they may be assuming your allots require additional cover.

[neil-c]

I'm pretty sure the info from my second call was correct and if I was changing tyres only it would be no charge. However they seem pretty certain any change of alloys invoked a charge. Even when I told them they were BMW official winter pack for the car and smaller diameter. My M135 looks more discreet now I would suggest and they want me to pay more for it.

As an aside, my insurance company (elephant) were supposed to call me today after they reviewed the recording of my first call to see if I had mentioned wheels. Needless to say no call as I stated clearly more than once exactly what I was putting on the car.

Still disappointed in their take on things though. Will probably move company after this.

[anonymous-user]

neil-c said:

I'm pretty sure the info from my second call was correct and if I was changing tyres only it would be no charge. However they seem pretty certain any change of alloys invoked a charge. Even when I told them they were BMW official winter pack for the car and smaller diameter. My M135 looks more discreet now I would suggest and they want me to pay more for it.

As an aside, my insurance company (elephant) were supposed to call me today after they reviewed the recording of my first call to see if I had mentioned wheels. Needless to say no call as I stated clearly more than once exactly what I was putting on the car.

Still disappointed in their take on things though. Will probably move company after this.

Ridiculous! When I bought my 5 series last March I bought it with two sets of wheels, one with summer tyres the others with winter tyres. It was delivered with both sets, except for one set not being on the car. The wheels are the same diameter. It a different style and the tyres are a different size but of course have the same RR.

I wonder if they'd tell me what they told you.

Typical ignorant phone jockeys.

[Jon1967x]

REALIST123 said:

neil-c said:

I'm pretty sure the info from my second call was correct and if I was changing tyres only it would be no charge. However they seem pretty certain any change of alloys invoked a charge. Even when I told them they were BMW official winter pack for the car and smaller diameter. My M135 looks more discreet now I would suggest and they want me to pay more for it.

As an aside, my insurance company (elephant) were supposed to call me today after they reviewed the recording of my first call to see if I had mentioned wheels. Needless to say no call as I stated clearly more than once exactly what I was putting on the car.

Still disappointed in their take on things though. Will probably move company after this.

Ridiculous! When I bought my 5 series last March I bought it with two sets of wheels, one with summer tyres the others with winter tyres. It was delivered with both sets, except for one set not being on the car. The wheels are the same diameter. It a different style and the tyres are a different size but of course have the same RR.

I wonder if they'd tell me what they told you.

Typical ignorant phone jockeys.

Imagine if you'd bought the car with the winter wheels fitted because of the time of year.. You'd be ringing up asking for permission to fit summer tyres and that would cause no end if issues

Elephant say no notification. The wheels and tyres are OEM. I'd not neither talking to them again and if they'd charged you, I'd be asking them to explain the ABI report

[NorthDave]

I've bought third party winter tyres and also wheels (as they were cheaper than matching the summer width tyres). I had to go alloys as steels were not available. Never thought the insurance would care to be honest.

I was searching my email for the invoice a little while ago and noticed that the insurance stuff was also found when searching for winter tyres but couldn't find the relevant section in the small print.

Looks like I better check.