Car insurance query - advice please

LMH

Mar 14, 2005
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Hi

I had a bump in my car the other week (decided to park it on the concrete gate post at home).

Bad damage along the passenger side. Anyway, I scuffed the alloys quite badly too. I bought the car used and it had low profiles and really nice alloys on it when I bought it.

The insurance company told me to take it into a garage which does work for them to get a quote. As I was claiming for work on the alloys too, the mechanic said the alloys wern't a standard fit and were classed as a 'modification'. Long story short, I had to ring the insurance company, declare a 'modification' and pay nearly 50% of my whole premium to cover the 'modification'. If I didn't pay this extra amount, the car was not insured and no work could be done. Needless to say, I paid it. The insurance company also charged me £60 administration cost.

I had no idea that the alloys were classed as a 'modification'. Could I have people's opinion please. I suppose what I am asking you is, is the insurance company correct? If I contacted Ford, would they be able to tell me if the vehicle left the factory with the alloys?, and if so, how do I stand? How can a set of alloys increase my premium by nearly 50%?

Any replies would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Lisa.
 
May 25, 2005
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Hi Lisa

When you took out your insurance what question(s) were you asked:

Is the car new/second hand?

Has it been in an accident?

HAS IT BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY?

etc, etc, etc........

I bet you weren't. Have a word with Trading Standards (informing your insurance company about this if you wish) and see what they have to say.

Insurance companies will 'cop-out' on anything they can when it comes to paying out. Paying in your money for insurance protection is a completely different thing.

Hope you have a satisafactory outcome.

Ann
 

LMH

Mar 14, 2005
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Hi Ann

Thanks for the reply, appreciated.

They did ask if it had been modified when I took the insurance out but I never for one moment thought that the alloys would be classed as a modification, so I said no.

Lisa
 
Aug 28, 2005
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Lisa,

Your not the only one this has happened to; I remember someone I used to work with who had a Sierra with a very discreet rear spoiler fitted, they purchased the car new from a Ford main dealer who had "modified the car" so to speak by fitting the device as a "cosmetic enhancement" to cut a long story short they had an accident and the insurers flatly refused to pay out for any work -
 
May 12, 2005
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LMH,

The answers simple, when asked a question tell the truth, lie and pay the price.

Did you think the alloys where standard on that model when you bought it?

Or did you think like alot of others, I`ll play the odds.

Which everway you look at it, you have given them the excuse to hammer you and they will.

As for having no idea the alloys were a modification. anything other than standard has to be a modification.

Hard luck mate.

Tony A.
 

LMH

Mar 14, 2005
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Tony

I'm certainly not a liar, after swapping my MG for this mondeo (bought for towing), I couldn't believe how cheap the insurance was compared to the MG and phoned the insurance company to double check the quote.

I thought the alloys were standard when I bought the car, someone pointed out a few weeks later that the alloys were not standard. I had absolutely no idea the alloys would be classed as a 'modification'. On discussing this with several male colleagues they were unaware too that one had to declare upgraded alloys as a 'modificationn'.

Anyway, how on earth can the insurance company justify putting my premium up by nearly 50%? That's what I'd like to know. I could understand it if it was a performance car, but it's a mondeo for gods sake.

Lisa.
 
Mar 14, 2005
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Lisa, to answer your first last question it is 'because they can' and they had you over a barrel. Don't get misled by those nice friendly adverts on the tele - you could trust the Krays more than you can them.

I think it is impossible when buying a second hand car to know exactly what was standard when it was new. Manufacturers are alway loading cars with extras if the model is due for a revamp or coming to the end of manufacturing life.

What does modified mean. Does it include fitting an air freshener or a uprated audio, or sat nav? I don't know the answer but ask your insurance company to define 'modification'. If they do please let me know their response. Remember this is 'rip of Britain' and learn to accept this sort of thing.
 

LMH

Mar 14, 2005
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Lisa, to answer your first last question it is 'because they can' and they had you over a barrel. Don't get misled by those nice friendly adverts on the tele - you could trust the Krays more than you can them.

I think it is impossible when buying a second hand car to know exactly what was standard when it was new. Manufacturers are alway loading cars with extras if the model is due for a revamp or coming to the end of manufacturing life.

What does modified mean. Does it include fitting an air freshener or a uprated audio, or sat nav? I don't know the answer but ask your insurance company to define 'modification'. If they do please let me know their response. Remember this is 'rip of Britain' and learn to accept this sort of thing.
Ray

Thank you for the reply. I'm going to contact Ford with the chasis number, reg etc and see if it left the factory with 'extras'.

I'll let you know. (I have seen a lot of mondeos the same colour and model as mine with these alloys).

Lisa.
 
Sep 7, 2005
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Air freshener no, Uprated audio yes, satnav yes, look up "moral hazard" on google to explain the upgraded alloys issue.

Insurance COMPANYS don't normally charge Admin costs, check out it is not being charged by your broker for making the phone call, 60 quid seems a bit steep to me.

Insurance companys these day will try and wriggle out of far more than they would 10 years ago, costs.

Some insurance employees struggle with the basic principles, language barriers don't help, neither do foreign call centres.

Your best weapon is the small print, it binds the insurance companies to the contract, use it, it's contract law.

See what your options are eg alloy wheel repair is cheaper than replacement and they may go for it, same with windscreens, Mr Dent etc and you MAY not get hit with an excess.

I could bang on for hours but won't, good luck and even Insurance people have caravans!
 
Nov 1, 2005
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Ray, I was told by an insurance company that any additional part fitted to a car after the vehicle model had been homologated was a modification, right down to a simple pin stripe. I know that because I used to run some heavily modified cars. However,it surely is impossible to know in the case of a 2nd hand car. I think the case would rest on whether you were asked if the car was modified, or if it had any known modifications.
 
Mar 14, 2005
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. If anyone ever doubted my opinion (as an IFA) that Insurance companies were not to be trusted this thread should underline what I say.

The reason why aftermarket alloys are classified as a modification is that they can throw the caster and camber angles out thereby significantly altering the handling.

If the inset of the new wheel is less - i.e. to give that wider wheel look then extra load on the wheel bearings can cause problems.

Also some after market wheels will "fit" but the specs are outside of the parameters on which your car has been set up at the factory.

If you have aftermarket wheels you should (in my opinion) go for wheels made by your car makers and then send off your receipt and invoice for fitting to the insurer with a completed "modified car form".

Fitting a tow bar is a modification - how many caravanners have had one fitted and never bothered to tell their insurance company?

Will they be insured in the event of an accident?

The answer is NO if what Lisa has experienced is anything to go by.
 
Dec 12, 2005
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. If anyone ever doubted my opinion (as an IFA) that Insurance companies were not to be trusted this thread should underline what I say.

The reason why aftermarket alloys are classified as a modification is that they can throw the caster and camber angles out thereby significantly altering the handling.

If the inset of the new wheel is less - i.e. to give that wider wheel look then extra load on the wheel bearings can cause problems.

Also some after market wheels will "fit" but the specs are outside of the parameters on which your car has been set up at the factory.

If you have aftermarket wheels you should (in my opinion) go for wheels made by your car makers and then send off your receipt and invoice for fitting to the insurer with a completed "modified car form".

Fitting a tow bar is a modification - how many caravanners have had one fitted and never bothered to tell their insurance company?

Will they be insured in the event of an accident?

The answer is NO if what Lisa has experienced is anything to go by.
Clive, I went to my insurer, the AA, last week, asking where I stood if I had had an accident while towing my van, was told I would be covered for 3rd party only for any damage caused by the van. I then asked about the towbar and was told they no longer consider it as a "modification" as it obviously has to be there to make it possible to tow a van.

Tankie
 
Mar 14, 2005
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I meant to add that I use a specialist insurance broker - Adrian Flux - because of the use I subject my 4x4 too, and my old Range Rover had the following modifications:-

Towbar, LPG conversion, Auto Gearbox (was manual originally) Discovery front bumper and valance (better entry and exit clearance), 5 spoke LR Alloys, 60/40 split rear seat, Upgraded Australian Spec Air filters (The dust at harvest time would pack the originals in a day or so) De Carbon shocks all round with uprated Springs.

Quite a list on the Modified car form but it made NOT A PENNY difference to my premium as all mods were Land Rover "options".

And I KNEW I was insured because everything was documented.
 
Mar 14, 2005
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Dear All,

While we're on the subject of Insurance Co's and modifcations, does anyone have any recommendations re Insurance companies that insure performance enhanced 'chipped 'vehicles.

My Mk1 C5 is chipped but gives no more performance than the newer Mk2. However I get caned by the insurers (or at least, the ones I ring.)

Its coming up to that time of year again when I have to explain to some recently pubescent insurance 'expert' what the chip does and try to explain that at 57yrs old and the owner of a C5 Estate I am hardly 'boy racer' material.

A list of understanding Companies would at least be a start.

Thank you in advance.
 
Sep 7, 2005
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Dear All,

While we're on the subject of Insurance Co's and modifcations, does anyone have any recommendations re Insurance companies that insure performance enhanced 'chipped 'vehicles.

My Mk1 C5 is chipped but gives no more performance than the newer Mk2. However I get caned by the insurers (or at least, the ones I ring.)

Its coming up to that time of year again when I have to explain to some recently pubescent insurance 'expert' what the chip does and try to explain that at 57yrs old and the owner of a C5 Estate I am hardly 'boy racer' material.

A list of understanding Companies would at least be a start.

Thank you in advance.
A Citroen C5 I presume, not the Sinclair version? LOL.
 

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