Not declaring modifications to insurance companies
Discussion
saaby93 said:
otolith said:
saaby93 said:
Fitting 20" wheels doesnt mean you're going to drive your corsa like a race car, it might indicate you enjoy tarting up your car, take great care in it, and are a lower risk. Or not.
So they look at the statistics and see whether similar people who fit 20 inch alloys to Corsas have a worse than normal claims record...They don't know or care about the mechanisms by which a change in a bit of information changes the likelihood of a claim - there's no logic involved, no risk assessment, just statistics.
What happens after an accident when the assessor comes up to you and says, that's a non-standard air filter no payout. But I didnt know?
saaby93 said:
What happens after an accident when the assessor comes up to you and says, that's a non-standard air filter no payout. But I didnt know?
Where do you draw the line at non-standard though? K&N - yes, but what about a part from a motor factors? Its not OEM, so is it therefore non standard. The only difference is that the K&N is sold as performance enhancingDefcon5 said:
saaby93 said:
What happens after an accident when the assessor comes up to you and says, that's a non-standard air filter no payout. But I didnt know?
Where do you draw the line at non-standard though? K&N - yes, but what about a part from a motor factors? Its not OEM, so is it therefore non standard. The only difference is that the K&N is sold as performance enhancingWhy cant insurance companies take on board there is a risk of a second car having an air filter, battery, wheels from another model which no-one knows about (or maybe they do) and judge risk accordingly. Maybe they do and this is all a red herring.
Just to add my 2 pence.
I parked my car at a friends when I was on a night out. The next day I returned to find his neigbour had reversed into the rear drivers side causing a big dent and paint damage.
Anyway we sorted it through the insurance and nwhen the inspector came round he started questioning me on my lights. I had made no modifications but he was looking closely at my front lights. Anyway he pipes up they are angle eye lights ad I had to explain to him that they weren't declared on my insurance, I told him they were xenons actually and even put them on to show him. Bearing in mind this had nothing to do with bump he was trying his best to catch me out.
So if I ever modify cars I will be declaring it.
I parked my car at a friends when I was on a night out. The next day I returned to find his neigbour had reversed into the rear drivers side causing a big dent and paint damage.
Anyway we sorted it through the insurance and nwhen the inspector came round he started questioning me on my lights. I had made no modifications but he was looking closely at my front lights. Anyway he pipes up they are angle eye lights ad I had to explain to him that they weren't declared on my insurance, I told him they were xenons actually and even put them on to show him. Bearing in mind this had nothing to do with bump he was trying his best to catch me out.
So if I ever modify cars I will be declaring it.
what happens if someone has put some mods on a car and you dont know when buying it?
Factory suspension not made anymore nitrons on it.
exhaust is not standard but looks standard (though I suspect its not easy to get past that one some TVRs sound loud to start with)
bulbs have been changed from halogen to xenon so you can see better but thought it was standard.
Etc...
Factory suspension not made anymore nitrons on it.
exhaust is not standard but looks standard (though I suspect its not easy to get past that one some TVRs sound loud to start with)
bulbs have been changed from halogen to xenon so you can see better but thought it was standard.
Etc...
young_bairn said:
Just to add my 2 pence.
I parked my car at a friends when I was on a night out. The next day I returned to find his neigbour had reversed into the rear drivers side causing a big dent and paint damage.
Anyway we sorted it through the insurance and nwhen the inspector came round he started questioning me on my lights. I had made no modifications but he was looking closely at my front lights. Anyway he pipes up they are angle eye lights ad I had to explain to him that they weren't declared on my insurance, I told him they were xenons actually and even put them on to show him. Bearing in mind this had nothing to do with bump he was trying his best to catch me out.
So if I ever modify cars I will be declaring it.
Firstly that's a third party claim, it seems always best to sort it out with the third party's insurers rather than your own, in which case it makes no difference what your car is like the TPs insurers have to see it repaired to pre acccident condition.I parked my car at a friends when I was on a night out. The next day I returned to find his neigbour had reversed into the rear drivers side causing a big dent and paint damage.
Anyway we sorted it through the insurance and nwhen the inspector came round he started questioning me on my lights. I had made no modifications but he was looking closely at my front lights. Anyway he pipes up they are angle eye lights ad I had to explain to him that they weren't declared on my insurance, I told him they were xenons actually and even put them on to show him. Bearing in mind this had nothing to do with bump he was trying his best to catch me out.
So if I ever modify cars I will be declaring it.
As far as your own insurers go if you didnt know that whatever type of lights were non-standard then I think we're saying from above that you're hardly likely to be able to tell your insurers about it.
If the inspoector spots theyre different that's his problem. It's part of the risk insurers take on. However if you did know they were non standard bulbs it seems you have to tell even if they came from halfords, just in case.
I remember my first "shunt in the lanes" with this stupid woman who was driving on the wrong side of the road.
She was going for Knock for Knock and the first thing I was asked was "is your car fitted with a stereo of any sort?"
No Morris Minor came with a fitted stereo.
Following that, I ask for the following with insurance companies.
Since they are scum of the highest order, I expect nothing from them. I also expect to pay next to nothing for the privilage.
s, they try and wiggle out of paying you anything or doing anything. It's legalised robbery.
When I had the old mini on the road, it was getting regularly played with and I said "look, it changes, just tick all the boxes and assume the worst".
Don't have high expectations with these vermin.
You can get some very cheap deals out there with mega-vermin who will try and rip you off, but really, you are far more likely to get in trouble with the gestapo than needing to actually use your insurance.
She was going for Knock for Knock and the first thing I was asked was "is your car fitted with a stereo of any sort?"
No Morris Minor came with a fitted stereo.
Following that, I ask for the following with insurance companies.
Since they are scum of the highest order, I expect nothing from them. I also expect to pay next to nothing for the privilage.
- I want my car back at all costs after it has been scruitinised/found/etc
- I want to drive other people's cars legally
- I want to have the relevant paperwork/data entry to pass a police inspection
s, they try and wiggle out of paying you anything or doing anything. It's legalised robbery.When I had the old mini on the road, it was getting regularly played with and I said "look, it changes, just tick all the boxes and assume the worst".
Don't have high expectations with these vermin.
You can get some very cheap deals out there with mega-vermin who will try and rip you off, but really, you are far more likely to get in trouble with the gestapo than needing to actually use your insurance.
Just went to renew mine today and asked about the the plug in diesel economy/power box and in general its a 10% loading. So not bothering.
The big issue is if you mod and don't tell them and you have serious accident causing injury to another driver and you are paying for ever, probably loose the roof over your head .
The big issue is if you mod and don't tell them and you have serious accident causing injury to another driver and you are paying for ever, probably loose the roof over your head .
if an insurance company can avoid paying out they will do so
BUT
99% of reasonable mods eg brakes/tyres/suspension will never even be picked up - you need an engineer who is a real 'marque' specialist
most mods are actually safety enhancing
and 99.9% of engineers can not detect chips - not even dealers
BUT
99% of reasonable mods eg brakes/tyres/suspension will never even be picked up - you need an engineer who is a real 'marque' specialist
most mods are actually safety enhancing
and 99.9% of engineers can not detect chips - not even dealers
jbi said:
out of curiosity what cosmetic changes need to be declared to insurance?
I'm talking things like... seat covers, steering wheel covers, cd player, painting the interior etc etc etc
When I called up to transfer my Direct Line policy onto my E30 they asked me if it had any modifications. I jestfully said "It's got different wheel trims" and the chap on the other end of the line was really thrown aback by this, asking me the value of them etc. I couldn't believe it.I'm talking things like... seat covers, steering wheel covers, cd player, painting the interior etc etc etc
With this thread in mind, yesterday when I phoned up to change the car on my policy I stated "I think the new car has a lot of optional extras fitted, do you need to know about them?"
Reply was:-
"no, if it is dealer or factory fit then we don't need to know, we are only interested in aftermarket items".
Thats was Lloyd's.
Reply was:-
"no, if it is dealer or factory fit then we don't need to know, we are only interested in aftermarket items".
Thats was Lloyd's.
Herman Toothrot said:
With this thread in mind, yesterday when I phoned up to change the car on my policy I stated "I think the new car has a lot of optional extras fitted, do you need to know about them?"
Reply was:-
"no, if it is dealer or factory fit then we don't need to know, we are only interested in aftermarket items".
Thats was Lloyd's.
Which one of the dozens of different Lloyd's syndicates was it? Reply was:-
"no, if it is dealer or factory fit then we don't need to know, we are only interested in aftermarket items".
Thats was Lloyd's.
Herman Toothrot said:
With this thread in mind, yesterday when I phoned up to change the car on my policy I stated "I think the new car has a lot of optional extras fitted, do you need to know about them?"
Reply was:-
"no, if it is dealer or factory fit then we don't need to know, we are only interested in aftermarket items".
Thats was Lloyd's.
Elephant listed every single extra i had specified(sunroof Xenons etc) when buying mine. Standard for them was base spec apparently!Reply was:-
"no, if it is dealer or factory fit then we don't need to know, we are only interested in aftermarket items".
Thats was Lloyd's.
Dave_ST220 said:
Elephant listed every single extra i had specified(sunroof Xenons etc) when buying mine. Standard for them was base spec apparently!
I've heard Elephant do this to BMW Mini's and since the base model comes with sweet F.A, it's almost impossible to not spec anything when buying one. So when insuring you have to declare a very long list of "modifications" such as sunroof, xenon's etc etc!Just an interesting point.
I've known a few people drive for a remap for their car, in a few cases several hours, to find out it is already remapped.
They clearly don't know it is remapped, because no one drives for hours and hours on a Saturday morning for nothing.
So how would they go on if they honestly thought their car was standard, but had a claim and it was discovered it was remapped?
There must be loads of cars out there that are 'modified' in some way shape or form without that being declared, simply because the owners are not into their car enough to know?
Lastly, as per the whole 'optional extra' stuff. Why don't insurers get the full spec from the VRM off the manufacturer, rather than relying on the customer to KNOW what spec their car is?
My car for instance has cup holders. They are not standard (apparently)... I didn't know that, and I am a car geek. How would an average owner who just liked 'the silver bmw convertible' so bought it know!?
If insurers were as bad as many on here make out, 90% of people wouldn't get paid out imho.
Dave
I've known a few people drive for a remap for their car, in a few cases several hours, to find out it is already remapped.
They clearly don't know it is remapped, because no one drives for hours and hours on a Saturday morning for nothing.
So how would they go on if they honestly thought their car was standard, but had a claim and it was discovered it was remapped?
There must be loads of cars out there that are 'modified' in some way shape or form without that being declared, simply because the owners are not into their car enough to know?
Lastly, as per the whole 'optional extra' stuff. Why don't insurers get the full spec from the VRM off the manufacturer, rather than relying on the customer to KNOW what spec their car is?
My car for instance has cup holders. They are not standard (apparently)... I didn't know that, and I am a car geek. How would an average owner who just liked 'the silver bmw convertible' so bought it know!?
If insurers were as bad as many on here make out, 90% of people wouldn't get paid out imho.
Dave
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