Insurance

[UH-Matt]

Time of year again for me where my renewal is through from Admiral and its miles cheaper than any other company seems willing to quote, very happy with the price. Infact its so low that it made me question it, and I read through the wording, and found:

""What is not covered:
..any modifications unless they form part of the manufacturers standard specification or are optional extras that we have agreed to cover. See also Extra Conditions (endorsement 11) ""

and

""11 Standard parts replacement
Your policy does not cover any non standard parts (modifications). Manufacturers optional extras are only covered if they have been declared and we have agreed to
cover them.
If you make a claim for loss or damage to your car, we will only pay the cost of replacing parts needed for your car to meet the manufacturer’s specification. ""

=

So basically they are saying that they will not cover any of the factory options on a car unless you detail them and have them agreed - then they put them down as modifications basically! So as it stands if my car was damaged or written off it would come back as a base model, even though it has an options list longer than my arm.

Seems many don't realise that the small print gets insurance companies out of paying/repairing many factory fitted options inside and out the car, its a nasty thing to have found in the policy wording.

So I would like to know who here declares factory options, and also what insurers are good for specialist insurance who understand that our sorts of cars tend to be all about the factory options, and cover the car for what it is? I feel this is the year for me to leave Admiral and buy some proper insurance for a proper car....

[70proof]

thanks for the info..... hoping to need insurance soon too....

doubt anyone reads the small print.... how can a factory fitted option be regarded a mod given people get them added to virtually any car purchased nowadays at any price.

[RevHappy]

I was with them for the dd, listed all the options, the only one they cared about was the upgraded alloys which then went on the docs. I think they only cared about things that made the car more attractive to thieves.

[gbrownlow]

My renewal came through with modifications noted on it although I had not previously specified all the factory options on the car.

They must have picked it up from the chassis number and maybe through DVLA.

I did query it with them as I didn't like the term "modification" as opposed to factory option.

I think it made £30 difference to my premium but at least I know the racing seats, challenge carbon fibre grill etc ...... are all legitimately covered now
but you are right that if you don't declare these type of items the payout may only be based on a base spec vehicle.
That said the lady did say if I hadn't declared the options and there was a claim they may only ask for the premium uplift to cover the extra spec parts but I would not really want to have that potential argument with them.

[famoussas]

Admiral were the only people who would insure me on the LP560 for a decent price.

They were quite clear over the phone anything that wasn't a standard part counted as a modification and I would have to pay a premium, not ideal in a well spec'd car. Ended up costing an extra £750 to make sure everything on the car was fully covered.

[Shmee]

I gave them the entire options lists on both of my cars and then fought about why that shouldn't make the prices higher because that's how they came out of the factory.

In the end the Aston had everything noted (or discussed on the phone...) for no extra premium and the Mini just has the Chilli Pack listed because that's actually a tick box on their form.

70proof said:

how can a factory fitted option be regarded a mod given people get them added to virtually any car purchased nowadays at any price.

That's what gets me, even your £7-8,000 cheapy new thing has factory options on it.

Edited by Shmee on Friday 22 July 10:35

[UH-Matt]

...going to be a long phone call to list everything on mine!

[UH-Matt]

Looks like I will try and run through my options list with Admiral and hope it doesn't make much of a difference.

Brokers not doing a very good job of even getting close, so may be stuck with Admiral for another year at this rate!

[Shmee]

UH-Matt said:

Looks like I will try and run through my options list with Admiral and hope it doesn't make much of a difference.

Brokers not doing a very good job of even getting close, so may be stuck with Admiral for another year at this rate!

I did and then said a whole stream of lines like "This is how it came from a factory, not a single one of these cars doesn't have options, why should it make a difference" and eventually she said I'll go and speak to somebody and that was the end of that.

Likewise I got quoted by a few brokers once and the price started with a 4 against the £1200 with Admiral; so over 3 years lets say I'd have spent almost an extra £10k on my insurance which is more than the extra I'd lose if something goes horribly wrong.

[UH-Matt]

Does your insurance certificate list the options?

My problem is when I spoke to someone yesterday and started goign through my list, she didnt have a clue what to put down "Carbon driving zone" as and just ticked interior modifications... Which it isn't. I want them to take my specific options list so its all covered in the event of a claim, did they write yours down as they are called in the aston options list, and did you get something on paper to say they had noted them all down?

[famoussas]

UH-Matt said:

Does your insurance certificate list the options?

My problem is when I spoke to someone yesterday and started goign through my list, she didnt have a clue what to put down "Carbon driving zone" as and just ticked interior modifications... Which it isn't. I want them to take my specific options list so its all covered in the event of a claim, did they write yours down as they are called in the aston options list, and did you get something on paper to say they had noted them all down?

You don't get anything on paper. All the options they have in front of them are what you see online when you click 'yes I have modified my car', and they just classify it under those 20 or so options.

[Council Baby]

Matt, for direct no BS answers it may be worthwhile PMing Zollar who works for Admiral and is very good at answering all of these questions.

http://web5.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=...

I've pointed this thread out to him anyway,

[UH-Matt]

He has PM's off and specifically asks not to be PM'd about Admiral stuff, hopefully he will chime in... I would be happy to renew and give some hard earned today if i can just get proper clarification, so far not got that with the people ive spoken to there.

[ZOLLAR]

UH-Matt said:

He has PM's off and specifically asks not to be PM'd about Admiral stuff, hopefully he will chime in... I would be happy to renew and give some hard earned today if i can just get proper clarification, so far not got that with the people ive spoken to there.

I did notice the thread I just like to see what direction they go in before I start posting, ok to give me 30 minutes as I'm a bit busy at the moment?.

[Council Baby]

Ah didn't realise, I can understand why, it'd be never ending!! As above I've pointed it out to him, hopefullt he'll be along when he gets a minute.

Good luck getting it sorted. Despite what some people say about Admiral and what if you have to claim etc etc I had a £27k claim settled a few years back with them (fault claim). It took a while but I actually got a better settlement than I expected in the end.

Edit - oh there he is

[UH-Matt]

ZOLLAR said:

UH-Matt said:

He has PM's off and specifically asks not to be PM'd about Admiral stuff, hopefully he will chime in... I would be happy to renew and give some hard earned today if i can just get proper clarification, so far not got that with the people ive spoken to there.

I did notice the thread I just like to see what direction they go in before I start posting, ok to give me 30 minutes as I'm a bit busy at the moment?.

Thanks - appreciate anything you have to add, or even if you could point me in the right direction of someone at Admiral who can help sort this. All my high performance cars for the last several years have been via Admiral/bell/Elephant so you've had some good dosh out of me

I am on the road for an hour now getting some graphics done on my race car, but after that should be around!

[ZOLLAR]

UH-Matt said:

Thanks - appreciate anything you have to add, or even if you could point me in the right direction of someone at Admiral who can help sort this. All my high performance cars for the last several years have been via Admiral/bell/Elephant so you've had some good dosh out of me

I am on the road for an hour now getting some graphics done on my race car, but after that should be around!

No worries,

If you're ok with it could you post up the options your car has on it and I'll have a look to see what they come under.
Alot of the time if the option/mod isn't on our list it's noted on an electronic diary (each policy has one connected to it) so should there be a claim we're aware that you have told us.
If there isn't enough room on the standard document showing modifications you can request a separate letter listing what you have told us is on the car.

If you don't want to post the options up my email is turned on so you can email me but I won't be able to respond till about 9pm tonight.

HTH

[Shmee]

UH-Matt said:

Does your insurance certificate list the options?

My problem is when I spoke to someone yesterday and started goign through my list, she didnt have a clue what to put down "Carbon driving zone" as and just ticked interior modifications... Which it isn't. I want them to take my specific options list so its all covered in the event of a claim, did they write yours down as they are called in the aston options list, and did you get something on paper to say they had noted them all down?

This is a good question; she did seem to be writing them down because I had to repeat a lot of things but I have no evidence beyond believing all calls are recorded. It was much worse when I did it on my Audi S5 that had about 25 optional extra items though.

To be honest I think just about everything is standard on a 4.7 V8 Vantage anyway so I couldn't lose much even if it went pair-shaped.

[ZOLLAR]

Shmee said:

This is a good question; she did seem to be writing them down because I had to repeat a lot of things but I have no evidence beyond believing all calls are recorded. It was much worse when I did it on my Audi S5 that had about 25 optional extra items though.

To be honest I think just about everything is standard on a 4.7 V8 Vantage anyway so I couldn't lose much even if it went pair-shaped.

Shmee if you're unsure about anything you've disclosed just ask for them to send a "non-standard" letter showing what you have advised and listing the Mods you've mentioned

[voicey]

Call Claire @ Locktons. She has just covered me on my 360 with an agreed value that includes all of my (extensive) modifications. The price was 40% cheaper than the next best quote and includes a years subs to the FOC and european breakdown cover with Europ Assist (saves me £90 as I buy their annual policy).

020 7933 2587