Winter tyres and Insurance price increase
Discussion
A friend of mine has taken the decision to fit winter tyres to his car for the bad weather we have benn experiencing over the last few weeks.
he had the tyres fitted in accordance with the car manufacturers specification and with an exact make that the Germans use every year by law.
he contacted his insurance company, asked them if this constituted as a "Modification"??.... they said yes and that will be another £125 for the pleasure!!!. he reluctantly paid and questioned why as it was making him a lesser risk to them. they just said it was not standard equipment!!.
was he right to contact the insurance?, this increase in cost was roughly 30% of his original policy...madness... does anyone think that in case of an accident the insurers would refuse to payout?? if he had not told them, surely not...
he had the tyres fitted in accordance with the car manufacturers specification and with an exact make that the Germans use every year by law.
he contacted his insurance company, asked them if this constituted as a "Modification"??.... they said yes and that will be another £125 for the pleasure!!!. he reluctantly paid and questioned why as it was making him a lesser risk to them. they just said it was not standard equipment!!.
was he right to contact the insurance?, this increase in cost was roughly 30% of his original policy...madness... does anyone think that in case of an accident the insurers would refuse to payout?? if he had not told them, surely not...
Even so, some call centre staff appear to have been telling customers that winter tyres require higher premiums.
Insurance companies may have been treating the tyres as a modification to the manufacturer's specifications.
The ABI said providing tyres are fitted by a reputable garage, and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, motorists should not be charged a higher premium.
"The confusion may be through call centres, where that information is not getting through," says Malcolm Tarling, of the ABI.
"The fitting of winter tyres should not affect the risk," he insists.
If anyone is told they do in fact have to pay more when they fit those tyres, they are advised to contact their insurance company's head office directly.
From here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11969958
Insurance companies may have been treating the tyres as a modification to the manufacturer's specifications.
The ABI said providing tyres are fitted by a reputable garage, and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, motorists should not be charged a higher premium.
"The confusion may be through call centres, where that information is not getting through," says Malcolm Tarling, of the ABI.
"The fitting of winter tyres should not affect the risk," he insists.
If anyone is told they do in fact have to pay more when they fit those tyres, they are advised to contact their insurance company's head office directly.
From here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11969958
This topic has been done probably once a day since September.
You've obviously missed the other 500 threads, so here's the answer in a nutshell:
If he just changed his tyres, there was no need to tell the insurers. Otherwise you'd end up telling them every time you had a flat and replaced it.
If he changed tyres and wheels, then yes, it's classed as a modification, even if he's downgraded from factory fit alloys to steel wheels.
[/thread]
You've obviously missed the other 500 threads, so here's the answer in a nutshell:
If he just changed his tyres, there was no need to tell the insurers. Otherwise you'd end up telling them every time you had a flat and replaced it.
If he changed tyres and wheels, then yes, it's classed as a modification, even if he's downgraded from factory fit alloys to steel wheels.
[/thread]
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