What constitutes a modification for insurance?

[Dave Hedgehog]

I have wondered do you need to report everything, or are some things ok

such as

1) changing the head unit or upgrading the speakers
2) changing the colour of manufactures badge or adding a nurburgring sticker
3) clear vinyl wrapping a car for paint protection
4) changing the rims
5) getting a dealer to retro fit a factory option like cruise control or sat nav

and thoughts / experiences, or do we have to report every little thing?

[OlberJ]

Anything at all changed from when it left the manufacturer is a modification and should be disclosed.

Even different tyres.

Whether you do or not is another matter but by the letter of the law, there's your answer.

[Dave Hedgehog]

OlberJ said:

Anything at all changed from when it left the manufacturer is a modification and should be disclosed.

Even different tyres.

Whether you do or not is another matter but by the letter of the law, there's your answer.

so they would all give grounds to invalidate your insurance?

[DaveH23]

What would happen if you purchased a car from new that had optional extras?

Bigger wheels
sat nav etc

do these need to be disclosed?

[FisiP1]

Some insurers, such as Admiral(and Elephant and co.), require you to declare even factory options.

[ZOLLAR]

Dave Hedgehog said:

so they would all give grounds to invalidate your insurance?

No.

[Dave Hedgehog]

FisiP1 said:

Some insurers, such as Admiral(and Elephant and co.), require you to declare even factory options.

im with admiral currently, they didn't ask about factory options?

[GreigM]

OlberJ said:

Anything at all changed from when it left the manufacturer is a modification and should be disclosed.

And theoretically in many cases (depending on insurer), even the "options" it left the manufacturer with need to be delared - i.e. anything which deviates from the "standard" specification....so manufacturers:
Upgraded wheels
Upgraded stereo system
sunroof
Metallic paint

etc..etc..

I wonder how many of the "holier than thou" posters on the recent thread about declaring a remap to insurance were in breach of not declaring "modifications" of their own.

[Dave Hedgehog]

ZOLLAR said:

No.

ok so now very confused lol (not hard)

so if they don't invalidate insurance why do they have to be declared?

[FisiP1]

Dave Hedgehog said:

FisiP1 said:

Some insurers, such as Admiral(and Elephant and co.), require you to declare even factory options.

im with admiral currently, they didn't ask about factory options?

They don't(visibly or clearly), but is in the small print. If you go on their quote site and read the info about what constitutes a modification, it states factory options are considered modifications.

Edited by FisiP1 on Friday 23 December 12:13

Edited by FisiP1 on Friday 23 December 12:14

[ZOLLAR]

Dave Hedgehog said:

FisiP1 said:

Some insurers, such as Admiral(and Elephant and co.), require you to declare even factory options.

im with admiral currently, they didn't ask about factory options?

They would have when you setup the policy.

[OlberJ]

If the car leaves the factory with x spec, ANYTHING that is changed should be declared to your insurer.

Optional extras have to be declared.

The reason being, they rate on a basic say "zetec-S" then you have added bigger wheels, extra stereo etc so more attractive to thieves.

The rating figures are a fixed amount for the basic car, anything changed is a modification.

Insurers could invalidate your insurance for not telling them about anything at all you have changed by the letter of the law.

That's it.

[HairbearTE]

If the car wasn't purchased new by yourself then any mods were done by the previous owner and you were unaware of them..

[Dave Hedgehog]

ZOLLAR said:

They would have when you setup the policy.

they didnt, they did ask if there was any modifications but they never mentioned options

so does that mean i have no insurance, im not even sure what options the car has???

[Liquid Knight]

ZOLLAR said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

FisiP1 said:

Some insurers, such as Admiral(and Elephant and co.), require you to declare even factory options.

im with admiral currently, they didn't ask about factory options?

They would have when you setup the policy.

...or have all the information when you gave them your numberplate.

Replacement tyres are a killer. Many people don't realise they need to declare them and there have been a few cases of insurers not paying out because no factory spec' tyres have been fitted to bikes. I told my insurers about the NCT2's I fitted to my Rover to replace the baloon ones fitted as standard and my policy went up £74!

[FisiP1]

Satnav, Leather, Bigger(or even just different style and same size) wheels are some of the main culprits that push up the policy despite being factory options.

As someone said, its because it allegedly makes it more attractive to thieves.

[thinfourth2]

Dave Hedgehog said:

ZOLLAR said:

No.

ok so now very confused lol (not hard)

so if they don't invalidate insurance why do they have to be declared?

so they can charge you more money

oh and an admin fee

And in the spirit of the insurance industry anyone who reads this post will be charged a £20 admin fee

[stowey1984]

Changing anything from the 'manufactors specification' as it left the factory is classed as modifications as far as I recall.

[OlberJ]

Dave Hedgehog said:

they didnt, they did ask if there was any modifications but they never mentioned options

so does that mean i have no insurance, im not even sure what options the car has???

As i say, by the letter of the law it should be declared. There's no getting away from it.

Good faith comes into it though so it is a grey area if it goes to court.

[NateWM]

Different tyres???

OP, the best thing to do is just ring your insurers and say you intend to fit a modification to your car, and they will let you know of any price change.

Personally, it depends what the modification is. I had a Escort Rs Turbo once, with a Zetec Turbo lump running 250hp, and many chassis and braking upgrades. All modifications were declared with the car having an agreed value. I was paying just £8 or so more a month compared to a standard RS, so it made sense to declare the mods.

My current Honda Accord is completely standard apart from a complete stereo build worth about £1000 and anti-theft window film. The reason I have not declared the stereo upgrades, is because im not bothered if it gets stolen, and the window film makes it almost impossible to gain entry to the car without making a load of noise. My insurer also wanted an extra 650 a year for the stereo stuff, which is another reason.