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Installing optional extras yourself, dodging insurance premium for 'modifications'

7.7K views 64 replies 36 participants last post by  Stu  
#1 ·
If I were to swap out for example the standard 16" rims on a ZR for the optional 17" straights I take it the insurance company would consider it a modification, but would you be able to get away with it since the optional rims could have been installed when the car was built? Is it possible (or likely) they would check that sort of thing?
 
#4 ·
Yes you will have to declare them.

The assumption by the insurer is that unless told otherwise they are covering the risk of a car with no optionl extras fitted.

Any taken (even when bought new) must be declared. Usually it makes no difference to the premium.
 
#5 ·
How for example, would an insurer know whether or not you have the restricted throttle body on a 25 ?? Most garages don't even know about there being 2 versions, & when I told one all you do is swap the throttle body they laughed at me, so where this modification would actually increase the power of your vehicle would they be able to tell ??
 
#6 ·
I can't believe that all optional extras have to be declared to the insurance. The vast majority of everyday drivers buy used cars, are you saying that all the people who do not personally find out what was standard and what was optional when the car was manufactured, and then check their car for every possibity before arranging insurance and declaring everything have invalidated insurance?
 
#9 ·
prepare to bend over though, i told my insurance company my car has optional leather seats, they just put it down as a modificication and it cost me ÂŁ55, its full spec to so i have to declare all the optional extras, ironic since they dont cover modifications if you crash even if they are optional rover extras.
 
#11 ·
what about if you have a scratched panel? that is a modification that wasnt there when it left the factory. should i declare it?

what about a dirty car? it never left the production line covered in mud?

what about tyres? is using a different brand/tread pattern to what was present when new considered to be a modification?

putting uprated speakers in the doors/parcel shelf? will that invalidate insurance?

How anal do you want to be about this?

p.s. my golf is modified and major mods are declared - i.e. wheels, exhaust, lowered. why declare my debadged grille and chrome gear knob?
 
#14 ·
what about if you have a scratched panel? that is a modification that wasnt there when it left the factory. should i declare it?

what about a dirty car? it never left the production line covered in mud?
Obviously not.

what about tyres? is using a different brand/tread pattern to what was present when new considered to be a modification?
If the tyres were of a lower rating then yes, that'd invalidate your insurance.

putting uprated speakers in the doors/parcel shelf? will that invalidate insurance?
I don't think internal mods really count, you'd need to ask the insurance co.

what about an air freshener hanging from the rear view mirror?
Now you're getting far too silly, you forgot about notifying your insurance if you put a jacket in the boot! obviously things like air fresheners and dirt don't count as modifications...
 
#17 ·
amusingly although they tell you include optional extras, i guarantee many a people A : dont know they have to declare them
B dont know whats optional and whats not.
I know someone who works in insurance and a policeman neither knew the had to declare, for example alloys if they were an optional extra as they said they wouldnt know if it was optional or not, they just looked at me as if i was stupid and said no you dont have to delcare them !. So i reckon a fair few people must have invalid insurance. on another note im definately declaring my air freshener WOOOO
 
#21 ·
I told Direct Line that I got 16" Hairpins on my 200 along with trophy lights. I explained that because MG Rover has gone down, trying to find like for like parts has been difficult. Because of this, I said that I was forced to purchase the parts as they are still OE and are from newer versions of what essentially the same car. The lady went off to talk to her supervisor and agreed that it was my only option. I’m not really being dishonest, I just didn’t try very hard to find them. Plus she went to check with her supervisor :D
 
#23 ·
If your going to do mods, then just get modified insurance with a company like adrian flux. everything on my car is declared. and its under ÂŁ500 fully comp, and when i add to it it doesnt cost me any extra, unless it increases power (except exhaust & filter) then the premium goes up at the same rate as power increase. ie 10% power increase = 10% more premium. Which aint bad.................:cool:
 
#24 ·
The last insurers on my old 214 were actually confused when I tried to declare the added leather interior and alloys, I finally got put through to the Underwriting manager, who admitted that it was the first time he had been asked!

He asked "Does the car go faster with the additions?" No, ok then don't worry about it.

Pity they aren't all like that....
 
#26 ·
it must be all insurance policy dependant, as im sure some peoples preminums will increase when declaring things like alloys even tho it does not effect the power of the car!
if in doubt just ask your insurer.....

im currently building a kit car and kit car insurance policies just want to know the value and power of the car nothing else specific to the car! im finding the insurance of kit cars very cheap when you look at cars of similar spec and speed :)
 
#27 ·
I think this depends very much on the insurer. I've had 2 claims on modified cars where the mods were undeclared - both insurers took the attitude that the mods had no bearing on the incident and paid out without fuss. My A3 suffered an electrical fire - unlikely to have been caused by a lowering kit, leather seats and a S/S exhaust, and a 205 Gti that slid on black ice on a corner and barrel rolled into a field - the undeclared cage and 4 points probably saved my life.

Incidentally, most modified insurers (flux etc) wont cover for the replacement cost of modifications (well worth checking out), so the exorbitant premium you pay will, in the event of an accident, net you a standard car in return. Worth a mention that :lol:
 
#31 ·
Incidentally, most modified insurers (flux etc) wont cover for the replacement cost of modifications (well worth checking out), so the exorbitant premium you pay will, in the event of an accident, net you a standard car in return. Worth a mention that :lol:
When I called Adrian Flux for a quote about a month ago I was told that they would replace mods like for like, which I thought was very generous!


Paul12345 said:
if you modify it with the back of a bus should you tell em???
hahaha:lol:
 
#28 ·
t'is all in the wording.

For example. My 160 back box burst. Got me a magnex SS back box to replace it.

Phones the insurance. Tell them that the OE part is really expensive and I have found a 3rd party manufacturer who make exhausts for the car. It looks different but does the same job. Ok Mr Marshall thanks for phoning, we shall make anote of that on your poicly. ÂŁ0 on top.

Anyone who is scared of declaring mods though shouldnt be. My last vehicle was highly modified and I think the difference in the premium was ÂŁ100 more expensive. This was, dump valve, remap, larger intercooler and induction kit.

I recently declared a mod on the civic. A replacement grill which isnt honda OE for the type r. Told them it was a mugen part who worked with honda. Does it make the car faster. "No". ÂŁ0.
 
#29 ·
what you reckon about stretwise seats in my rover 200, i havent declared them but im usure whether to because they are made by rover. and ive got the uprated brakes on it off the (once again rover) rover 600 and it actually improves the braking so shouldnt that lower my premium? oh and my last thing is the zr spoiler its still a genuine mg rover part.
 
#30 ·
what you reckon about stretwise seats in my rover 200, i havent declared them but im usure whether to because they are made by rover. and ive got the uprated brakes on it off the (once again rover) rover 600 and it actually improves the braking so shouldnt that lower my premium?
just tell them you changed the seats for a different 25 model as the others were worn. Rover streetwise seats. prob not cost extra.

doubt your brakes will lower the premium but cant see them increasing it much

oh and my last thing is the zr spoiler its still a genuine mg rover part.
yes its a genuine part but its a part which will make the car more attractive and thus more likely to be stolen. This is the reason that Mgs are usually 2 groups higher insurance than their rover equivalents :sad2:
 
#32 ·
Braking upgrades, along with uprated suspension, are not particularly liked by - the theory being it allows you to drive faster and therefore increase your risk of crashing. You will most definitely void your policy by not declaring any upgrades - especially those involving larger calipers and discs.

On the subject of the Streetwise seats, I would err on the side of caution and declare them. I am insured with Admiral and have declared my SEi interior under 'Interior changes' on their website. AFAIR, it didn't increase my premium, nor did the 'exterior decorative changes' that I declared.
 
#33 ·
My insurer asks "Have you modified the car in any way?"

I added alloy wheels to my old car and declared them. on my Streetwise SE they came as standard, they have the exact trim of my car listed as an option and should know what is and what is not on them. So I will not be declaring alloy wheels/leather seats etc as they were already there.

However swapping anything from standard yourself is a modification and your best off getting it sorted with the ins. I fitted the manufacturers alloy wheels to my last car and still informed them.
 
#34 ·
Well my ZR 105 i bought brand new last november came with aircon and front fogs. The MGR spec says they dont have this so i bought the car from a dealer in good faith assuming it to be the spec for that model. It is a very grey area and unless it was a performance enhancing mod or very different wheels then I would not worry too much.
 
#37 ·
at college my mate rolled his metro and to make sure they didn't pay out the insurance company collected it from the garage and went through what was left with a fine toothcombe. They refused to pay based on the fact two tyres were of a lower speed rating to the vehicle manufacturers listed specification when supplied. Not that a A-series Metro could ever hope to do over 100mph+ anyway, it was all a load of rubbish ! Any excuse not to pay, they won't.