Likely insurance write off, how to keep ownership of wheels
Discussion
(apologies if this has been discussed before, my search didn't find anything)
A friend [most likely] wrote her car off this morning (a smart-looking R50 MINI Cooper)
She has aftermarket wheels that she wants to keep (let's assume they weren't itemised in insurance policy).
A general Google suggests that the car remains hers until the insurance pays out, and if she talks to the insurance company, they will most likely let her return the car to standard before they value and pay out.
Assuming that's correct, is there anything else to be aware of here?
A friend [most likely] wrote her car off this morning (a smart-looking R50 MINI Cooper)
She has aftermarket wheels that she wants to keep (let's assume they weren't itemised in insurance policy).
A general Google suggests that the car remains hers until the insurance pays out, and if she talks to the insurance company, they will most likely let her return the car to standard before they value and pay out.
Assuming that's correct, is there anything else to be aware of here?
Edited by SnipsSt on Wednesday 13th March 10:36
SnipsSt said:
(apologies if this has been discussed before, my search didn't find anything)
A friend [most likely] wrote her car off this morning (a natty '03 MINI Cooper)
She has aftermarket wheels that she wants to keep (let's assume they weren't itemised in insurance policy).
A general Google suggests that the car remains hers until the insurance pays out, and if she talks to the insurance company, they will most likely let her return the car to standard before they value and pay out.
Assuming that's correct, is there anything else to be aware of here?
Depending on the category, she should have the option to retain salvage of the car herself when she can either repair it to put back on the road or sell for spares / repair.A friend [most likely] wrote her car off this morning (a natty '03 MINI Cooper)
She has aftermarket wheels that she wants to keep (let's assume they weren't itemised in insurance policy).
A general Google suggests that the car remains hers until the insurance pays out, and if she talks to the insurance company, they will most likely let her return the car to standard before they value and pay out.
Assuming that's correct, is there anything else to be aware of here?
However, assuming that the wheels have not been declared then in theory her insurance is invalidated.
wilbo83 said:
Depending on the category, she should have the option to retain salvage of the car herself when she can either repair it to put back on the road or sell for spares / repair.
OK, thanks.wilbo83 said:
However, assuming that the wheels have not been declared then in theory her insurance is invalidated.
OK, then let's assume they were declared 
Why not change them now? I was in a similar position years back. Simply went to the storage yard, was allowed access to my car and proceeded to put the standard rims back on and take my alloys away.
Waiting for them to make a payout is a bit silly as they might then decide as they weren't listed that the car wasn't insured
Waiting for them to make a payout is a bit silly as they might then decide as they weren't listed that the car wasn't insured
Snowboy said:
As I understand it; it would only invalidate the insurance if the wheels were a factor in the accident.
Which is unlikely if they were normal size wheels.
Thanks, that's my understanding too. Personally, I declare everything, but I like to assume common sense prevails where necessary.Which is unlikely if they were normal size wheels.
Denis O said:
Unlikely it ever did but my suggestion still stands.
Still stands but ignores the point that it still technically invalidates her insurance. Depending on the company they can be incredibly pernickety... payouts minimise profits.If you leave the wheels on then you're uninsured regardless of whether the wheels were a contributing factor to the crash, if you take them off and switch to standard you have to hope that investigators don't realise. My advice? The latter.
SnipsSt said:
Thanks all.
It's all moot at the moment, as she may well have declared them, I just don't know at this time.
If they're declared then technically she'll need to leave them on. Your insurance policy covers your car as described to the insurance company.It's all moot at the moment, as she may well have declared them, I just don't know at this time.
Any deviation from this will make it possible for the insurance guys to wiggle out. Technically you've not supplied correct data ... similar to lying about points etc.
Changing the wheels on a car in no way invalidates the insurance in terms if a crash.
If anyone can find any case where new (normal) wheels invalidated the insurance I will buy them a bottle of Cognac.
It just doesn't happen.
It 'might' make a difference in terms of theft.
If it makes it more attractive to thieves, but that's clutching at straws.
If anyone can find any case where new (normal) wheels invalidated the insurance I will buy them a bottle of Cognac.
It just doesn't happen.
It 'might' make a difference in terms of theft.
If it makes it more attractive to thieves, but that's clutching at straws.
Snowboy said:
Changing the wheels on a car in no way invalidates the insurance in terms if a crash.
If anyone can find any case where new (normal) wheels invalidated the insurance I will buy them a bottle of Cognac.
It just doesn't happen.
It 'might' make a difference in terms of theft.
If it makes it more attractive to thieves, but that's clutching at straws.
I've been told directly by my insurance company that failing to declare changes to the wheels will invalidate the policy.If anyone can find any case where new (normal) wheels invalidated the insurance I will buy them a bottle of Cognac.
It just doesn't happen.
It 'might' make a difference in terms of theft.
If it makes it more attractive to thieves, but that's clutching at straws.
There was a whole thing in the news about winter tyres invalidating policies too.
I don't like Cognac though so don't worry
Snowboy said:
Changing the wheels on a car in no way invalidates the insurance in terms if a crash.
If anyone can find any case where new (normal) wheels invalidated the insurance I will buy them a bottle of Cognac.
It just doesn't happen.
It 'might' make a difference in terms of theft.
If it makes it more attractive to thieves, but that's clutching at straws.
What if shes gone into the back of someone or off the road and crashed because all her tyres are bald ditch finders, but she wants to keep her pretty wheels so its ok that she swaps them to the standard ones in her garage is it?If anyone can find any case where new (normal) wheels invalidated the insurance I will buy them a bottle of Cognac.
It just doesn't happen.
It 'might' make a difference in terms of theft.
If it makes it more attractive to thieves, but that's clutching at straws.
Granted she is still insured but it does change things doesn't it.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff