Insurance - Modifications??

[jonflower]

Slightly confused on this one...i've got a number of optional extras on my Scirocco that should be arriving this week. Do I need to declare these as modifications when I arrange the insurance??

[wigit]

i've had to declare factory options (deemed modifications) with both the companies my roc has been insured

[Deacon]

i've had to declare factory options (deemed modifications) with both the companies my roc has been insured

Yep, what wigit said has been my expereince with most of the cars I've had recently - the insurance co's wanted all options declared, even factory fitted.

Deacon

[Evil Derboy]

Slightly confused on this one...i've got a number of optional extras on my Scirocco that should be arriving this week. Do I need to declare these as modifications when I arrange the insurance??

Depends on your insurer. Ask them! My insurer is only interested in whatever its had put on since it left the factory. Whereas my last one wanted all the options as well.

[trix]

better to mention jon, i'm with zurich connect this year who cover factory fit options as standard but want to have a record of what you have got fitted at the factory.

S

[ReubenGT]

Heya,

This is great timing for this topic:
I called Admiral and the lady seemed very confused! She asked for options (and I, thinking she meant additional), explained that everything was factory fit. She seemed confused by this and sort of brushed over it. But she also didn't seem to be able to find 'shirocca' on the cars list!

Not sure I trust her advice, will be calling back to clarify later...

[Downtown_two]

I'm insured with admiral, didn't declare any of my extras though. I resent paying extra for parking sensors that lower the risk of me reversing into something and costing them money.

"Hello, Admiral? Yes, how much to insure my car mats please"

[Deacon]

I'm insured with admiral, didn't declare any of my extras though. I resent paying extra for parking sensors that lower the risk of me reversing into something and costing them money.

"Hello, Admiral? Yes, how much to insure my car mats please"

An insurance company I used to work for counted mats that were'nt just a standard part of the cars specs as a modification! It went under 'interior decorative changes' (and no, I'm not kidding )

Deacon

[Downtown_two]

Where will the madness end!?

[ReubenGT]

The madness ends soon after changing from a ten year old estate worth about £1k to a brand new sports coupe worth 25 costs only £26 extra on my policy (3%)! Though I am definately not complaining!

I was of the same attitude as you, downtown, till you imagine the hassle if something ever went wrong and the insurance co. Decidied to kick up a fuss about 'modifications'

[SeventySix]

Hmm. It's all a little confusing. Punching the details into Money Supermarket, it asks for any 'car modifications', explaining them as 'anything added to the car after manufacture, like alloy wheels or air conditioning...'.

So does that include factory fitted options or not? Sounds not to me.

However, when the results come back with Admiral towards the top, the following wording appears under 'Significant and unusual exclusions or limitations' of their key features document: 'The Motor 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.'

So sounds like a call is required but it's still unclear as to whether or not the premium will be affected. You'd think that factory fit options would be a relatively straight forward thing for quoting engines to handle.

Just as a footnote, the only 'Modifications' I can declare on Money Supermarket are 'alloy wheels'(!), 'tinted windows' and 'sunroof' (none of the other options I've ordered are available to select). Doing this bumps the premium up by 11%.

[trix]

some companies will class factory fit items as modifications, some will cover without additional charge its worth getting down to 3 or 5 best quotes for a standard car & then ringing round to check.

also I recall reading somewhere that some companies (can't recall who off the top of my head) will not replace factory fit options & will only provide with the standard even if declared [this needs to be checked/verified as it may be the sleep talking]

S

[Deacon]

Trix is right, companies like admiral and elephant will only return the car to standard factory spec not to the options or mods fitted spec.

Deacon

[Ibanez33]

Trix is right, companies like admiral and elephant will only return the car to standard factory spec not to the options or mods fitted spec.

Deacon

Is that even if they are declared? that sucks!

I've never declared the options fitted to any car I have had and have never been asked too. This is shocking news...

Do I have declare my air fresher? Its in the shape of surfboard and I'm under 25, bet my premium will sky rocket

[maisbitt]

A modification by definition is a post-build addition. Factory fitted options should not be classed as modifications, nor should they affect the risk factor of the car and bump up premiums significantly (beyond the risk attached to slightly increasing the car's replacement value), although a dealer fitted option like an official bodykit might (The MK5 Golf had a dealer fit front bumper option). An insurance company should only need to know about factory fit options in advance so that if they have to replace your car or pay out on a total loss then they include the option values in their settlement.

Saying all that though, some insurance companies are a law unto themselves - Elephant (and by association, Admiral) come to mind. Don't know any other company that would be cheeky enough to double an annual premium for a 100% non fault claim that was fully paid up by the 3rd party - Elephant tried this with me.

[mordred1973]

Ah someone else who has had the "pleasure" of making a claim under an Elephant policy! I had my TT stolen whilst insured by Elephant, it was just oin 3 years old they tried sending it to a small back street repairer, then they said I only got a courtesy car provided by them for 2 weeks after that it was the repairers responsibility to provide one (which they said they couldn't as they didn't have any) they took 4 week to inspect the car, andother 5 to repair it.....then because I sold the car they cancelled the policy with no return premium because I'd made a claim and said I couldn't put the policy on hold until I purchased a new car.

you pays your money and takes your choice, but you'd never get me close to Elephant again.....

[wigit]

if you use confused.com you can select a load of modifications, was quite surprised, what i loved about bell/admiral/elephant is they charge you a premium for rear parking sensors as the bumper is more expensive to repair, it did make me smile

admiral had some stupid rule that they will only allow a certain number of mods too

[maisbitt]

Mordred: Elephant is definitely one to avoid, they took great pleasure in charging the bus company £460 a week for my courtesy car through their legal arm. £460 a week for a 1.9TDI SE Golf, 8 weeks without my car. They say that the reason car insurance is going up is down to false whiplash claims, but clearly, the insurance companies are out to extort each other when they can too.

The Canadian call centre employee I contacted when I got my Joke renewal was amazed that I didn't want to renew at £850 per year, up from £430 a year for a fully paid up, non fault claim that didn't affect my no claims, they kindly knocked £110 off the renewal, but I still didn't want to throw away £310 needlessly, so I went to Esure for £440.

[ukgazman]

Elephant and admiral are the same company, play their quotes against each other. If youre with elephant get a quote from admiral and it will most likely be cheaper as to admiral youre a new customer... Saved me about £240 in renewal costs with elephant.

[trix]

we get it guys, elephant & admiral aren't the greatest, I didn't mean for it to start this length of debate.
please can we get back on the op's discussion.

S