[Spacer]

Just a quick one for all the UK members.... when I go to get car insurance, the company always asks do you have any modifactions. Now, if you say yes, it brings up a list like Max Powers back pages. If you ask the insurance company direct, they will say that anything that is not manufacturer standard spec is a mod (therefore any cost option is), but we all know that they want to know about mods you've done yourself. I've queried some companies, and they want to know about everything, and one company even put my Xenons down as Rally/Spot lights on my policy, because they had no other category. So, my question is: How/Do you tell your insurance company about the options that were factory/dealer fitted?

[booforty]

My insurance co are aware of my 18" alloys and sports suspension (external features) but not leather, sports steering wheel, sports seats etc. Seems crazy to list every single option!

[Spacer]

That's what I thought... imagine trying to explain high beam assist!

[ShereKhan]

I have a friend who used to drive a Mazda 3 Turbo (import) its already a rare car, he decided to modify many parts. When he went for a quote he just told them that everything was non standard on his car (it never made any difference if he specified anything in particular). It was a far lot easier come quotation time as he didn't need to reel off a list of whats been done.
So he could mod to his heart's content.

[SRT]

I suppose a vehicle option is technically "factory fitted"
It's usually after-market performance-orientated modifications that interest insurance companies (don't quote me on that), or any external feature that increases the attraction to the car (alloys, fat exhausts etc)

[xrrr]

My last car had optional bigger wheels. When the insurance co asked me I said that they are a standard option. They told me that the car is insured but the optional extras are not. Therefore any payout is based on the base price of the car minus the usual "deductions".

I switched to BMW Insurance a few years ago (amazingly they gave me the lowest quote) and they said the same thing I seem to remember.

[E92-Mark]

I'm with BMW insurance and they asked about any mods to the performance or appearance of the car, so I declared the upgraded wheels, sunroof and leather interior. It only added about 30 quid to the total, and I can feel comfortable that I am properly insured. If you spend that much on a car, why risk loosing the lot over such a small amount.

[Spacer]

Yea, I agree with disclosing everything, but there are companies (Elephant & Admiral) who make you disclose everything, but make it very clear they won't cover any options if you get hit. They will only return the car to manufacturer's standard spec

[mjh93sa]

Another with BMW Insurance.

I went through all the options from the original order with them when originally sorting cover. Then a phone call regarding how they catagorised things on the resulting paperwork, and sent a letter enclosing a copy of the original order form clearly stating that they had told me everything on the order was covered.

[NFS]

So - does this mean that - If I bought a car with Navigation - the insurers will value it as if it did not have navigation?

(nb My insurance is through my work - and that did not ask about options or modifications).

[Spacer]

Eh, it depends on the company. Elephant and Admiral certainly make that clear in their policys that they won't cover any options. Although, if I cracked a Xenon and claimed, the car simply couldn't be repaired with a normal headlight, so I don't know what they'd do. I also don't know if it would stand up in court, if you'd declared everything to them.

[Chris33]

Tesco would load me for everything but I always declaired all my factory fit options.

I'm now with the RAC for my insurance and they do not load you for factory fit options. They will replace like for like as long as you can prove it was factory fit.

So, if I wrote my car off or it got stolen etc RAC would replace it like for like with all the options my current car has.

If I was still with Tesco and wrote the car off or it got stolen etc and I did not declaire the factory options I would only get a stardard replacement car.

Hence I have always declaired everything as you never know whats round the corner...................

[Chris33]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

So - does this mean that - If I bought a car with Navigation - the insurers will value it as if it did not have navigation?

(nb My insurance is through my work - and that did not ask about options or modifications).

When my M3 was written off the insurance company valued the car with all the extras as I had declaired them.

I have no doubt if they could of prevented paying out, they would of found any excuse including none declaired options. They even took my ECU away?!

The payout was based on finding an identical car with the same spec at the current market value.

We agreed a figure and I managed to get all my money back less the £500 excess.

[Spacer]

Thanks for the tip with RAC. I'm moving to them when I get the new car

[Chris33]

Originally Posted by Spacer

Thanks for the tip with RAC. I'm moving to them when I get the new car

I was with Tesco for years and this year shopped around a little.

The RAC were so good, so good in fact that I didn't believe them, I phoned them 3 times to make sure they had got the information correct and there was no hidden "extras".

They even saved me £163.00 on my premium compared to Tesco's.

[Spacer]

Chris, was the M3 with Tesco? I've just got a great quote from RAC, and since my new car has ~£3k of extras, I'd rather go with someone who'll cover them!

[Chris33]

Yes it was.

You have to have a minimum of 2 years NCB to insure an M3 with Tesco.

Barclays car insurance is good for M3's aswell.

[Spacer]

Not bad! I'm only going for a 320d, so most will take me. I actually had an operator from Elephant tell me (on two separate occasions) that they wouldn't cover any options on the car, and they would return it to BMW standard spec (SE only). I don't think that would hold much water in court. Oh well, thanks for the tip with the RAC! Its all set now for the change

[Chris33]

Thats what I have, a 320d M Sport.

I put loads of factory extras on it so, god forbid, if anything happens to it at least RAC will put it right!

Glad the RAC can help, I'm well pleased with them and I'm sure you will be.

Chris

[SoYank]

A friend of mine had a US spec car ($30K+) insured by a UK insurance company. When the car was destroyed the insurance company would only pay out about 10% of the value because it wasn't a UK spec even though they knew that going in and the premiums were paid accordingly.

When I was looking for insurance about a dozen years ago I was given a good quote, monetarily. When I related my friend's experience I asked the agent if the underwriter would prejudice the car if it were stolen or destroyed. She said she had never heard of this but would ask. The answer came back that, yes, the insurance company would do this.

I declined to buy the insurance from them for that reason and went with a different company with specific language in the contract. I've since changed to a even better company for my situation.

[Spacer]

Car insurance is such a black art! Lol

[Ninjaneer]

Woops! I guess I wasn't paying attention when I opened this thread. Accidently voted then noticed I stumbled upon a UK thread I voted NO, so you can knock -1 off

My bad! *runs back to the general forum*