Warning: your towbar could invalidate your car insurance

[Buckman]

As I understand it anything that is not fitted as standard, even if its on the factory fit options list (and involves additional cost from list price) is viewed by insurance companies as a modification and must be declared.

I would think that in many cases when buying a 2nd hand car you have no idea what factory added options have been added. How would a buyer know if the car has accessories added by the original owner or even if the car has had one of those tune up jobs?

 

[GaryB]

I would think that in many cases when buying a 2nd hand car you have no idea what factory added options have been added. How would a buyer know if the car has accessories added by the original owner or even if the car has had one of those tune up jobs?

A few years ago there was a program on TV about insurance fraud. One of the cases shown was a guy with a mk2 Vauxhall Cavalier 1300cc. He had an accident and the assessor came out to check the car and discovered that a previous owner had swapped the 1300 engine for a 1600. The owner was mortified and had no idea as the V5 still said 1300cc. The assessor was quite relaxed and said he’d seen this several times and let the claim go through as outwardly both engines were identical.

This was around 20 years ago though when things appeared a lot more relaxed.

 

[Mr Plodd]

But how is standard fitment defined if factory fitted options are classed as modifications? Some factory fitted options may be mandatory for certain markets, so the customer would never be aware that they aren't standard fitment as far as the manufacturer is concerned. I guess it all depends on how the invoice is written. The one for my car shows a number of items as factory fitted options at no extra cost. Would these be treated as modifications?
Quite often, an upmarket "deluxe" model is nothing more than a base model with a whole host of mandatory factory fitted options.

A factory fitted option is an addition (modification) to the basic specification , so I would certainly declare it. See above re the ally wheels on an MX 5.
If in doubt tell your insurer, it's highly unlikely to effect the premium, but quiete possible it might affect any claim. Like I said, if in doubt, declared it, why take the risk?
Any deluxe model has extra items as standard, and such items, (sun roof, leather upholstery etc) is included in its original specification. No passenger car that I can think of comes with a towbar as standard (except perhaps a Disco or similar?) So as such any towbar is a modification from the original specification, and thats the attitude most imsurers adopt which is why it should be declared.
To quote that old Athna poster of the young lady playing tennis "If in doubt, check!"

 

[Lutz]

I would think that in many cases when buying a 2nd hand car you have no idea what factory added options have been added. How would a buyer know if the car has accessories added by the original owner or even if the car has had one of those tune up jobs?

If insurance companies are going to be as petty as indicated in Mr Plodd’s post, one would be well advised to request a copy of the original manufacturer’s invoice listing all the factory fitted options when buying a used car.
A deluxe model may have alloy wheels whereas the base model has steel wheels. If the deluxe is only a base model plus a number of factory fitted options then presumably one would have inform the insurance company even though it may not be possible to order a deluxe with base model steel wheels. Conversely, would one have to inform the insurance if you order a base model with deluxe leather seats?
In other words, what constitutes “standard specification”? I recall, many years ago, as a factory fitted option, one could specify a particular make of tyre to be fitted on Vauxhall models if one didn’t leave the choice open to the manufacturer. I ordered my (UK spec) Viva at the time with right hand dipping headlights because I knew when I bought it that I would be spending an extended period with the car abroad. Is that something that one would have to let the insurance company know? It all seems very absurd to me.

 

[Buckman]

A factory fitted option is an addition (modification) to the basic specification , so I would certainly declare it. See above re the ally wheels on an MX 5.
If in doubt tell your insurer, it's highly unlikely to effect the premium, but quiete possible it might affect any claim. Like I said, if in doubt, declared it, why take the risk?
Any deluxe model has extra items as standard, and such items, (sun roof, leather upholstery etc) is included in its original specification. No passenger car that I can think of comes with a towbar as standard (except perhaps a Disco or similar?) So as such any towbar is a modification from the original specification, and thats the attitude most imsurers adopt which is why it should be declared.
To quote that old Athna poster of the young lady playing tennis "If in doubt, check!"

Some people buy cars second hand and have no idea that it has a towbar? On our Volvo unless told you would not have known it had a towbar and that was way back in the early 2000's.

 

[Buckman]

If insurance companies are going to be as petty as indicated in Mr Plodd’s post, one would be well advised to request a copy of the original manufacturer’s invoice listing all the factory fitted options when buying a used car.
A deluxe model may have alloy wheels whereas the base model has steel wheels. If the deluxe is only a base model plus a number of factory fitted options then presumably one would have inform the insurance company even though it may not be possible to order a deluxe with base model steel wheels.

Due to Data Protection Acts regarding privacy etc, I doubt very much if you could obtain that information.

 

[otherclive]

Due to Data Protection Acts regarding privacy etc, I doubt very much if you could obtain that information.

The data protection act is to safeguard personal data not car specifications 😂

 

[otherclive]

We bought a recent model pre owned car last week and I got on the showroom floor and gave it a good looking over underneath especially at the rear. I didn’t want to see any off roading gouges and certainly wouldn’t entertain a car used for towing. Albeit it might only have had a towbar for carrying bikes or towing a mini trailer to the HRC. 🙈.

 

[GaryB]

Some people buy cars second hand and have no idea that it has a towbar? On our Volvo unless told you would not have known it had a towbar and that was way back in the early 2000's.

I've had the same with retractable tow bars, even my current Audi (which has a detachable tow bar) has absolutely nothing visible when the ball is removed.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Why are some people so reluctant to let their insurance company know they intend to tow? what so private about it?

We all complain when th e insurance premiums keep going up, and one of the reasons are fraudulent claims, so I'm all for the companies to take a strong hand to weed out the fraudsters, and the first line of defence has to to ask proposers to define the vehicle and any modifications it has over its standard specification.

Historically declaring to have a tow bar has not changed premiums, but as it is a modification over the standard vehicle it should be declared, as legally the proposer is obliged to declare any modifications made to it.

 

[Buckman]

The data protection act is to safeguard personal data not car specifications 😂

I am well aware of that, but the options were ordered by an individual and anyway the manufacturer or supplier are not obliged to reveal the information. Anything else you would like to nit pick today?

 

[Lutz]

I am well aware of that, but the options were ordered by an individual and anyway the manufacturer or supplier are not obliged to reveal the information. Anything else you would like to nit pick today?

I am sure that if you quote the VIN to manufacturer he will supply you with a complete list of options that were applied during the build. Such a list wouldn’t contain any private data that would justify protection.

 

[otherclive]

I am sure that if you quote the VIN to manufacturer he will supply you with a complete list of options that were applied during the build. Such a list wouldn’t contain any private data that would justify protection.

My Skoda Superb had a label behind a side panel in the boot. The label had loads of codes which defined the full build specifications of the car including factory fitted extras.

 

[Buckman]

I am sure that if you quote the VIN to manufacturer he will supply you with a complete list of options that were applied during the build. Such a list wouldn’t contain any private data that would justify protection.

That is correct, but I am sure that they do not list options requested by the dealer or supplier? Only the basic trim for that car whether it is a limited, deluxe or premium. Some options are dealer only fitments so towbar may not be on the list?

 

[Lutz]

My Skoda Superb had a label behind a side panel in the boot. The label had loads of codes which defined the full build specifications of the car including factory fitted extras.

Yes, that is quite common, but the vast majority of the option codes shown don’t affect the risk to the insurance company in any way. However, with the way things are, it seems to be up to the insurance company to decide what constitutes an additional risk and what doesn’t. An example would be a particularly expensive non-standard but ex-works paint finish. When I ordered my current car I specified optional 6-way electric seats with memory function as a factory fitted extra. Would I have had to notify the insurance company?

 

[Lutz]

That is correct, but I am sure that they do not list options requested by the dealer or supplier? Only the basic trim for that car whether it is a limited, deluxe or premium. Some options are dealer only fitments so towbar may not be on the list?

They have to keep a complete ledger of all options that were fitted to the vehicle. That’s necessary in order to fulfil their product liability obligations.

 

[Buckman]

They have to keep a complete ledger of all options that were fitted to the vehicle. That’s necessary in order to fulfil their product liability obligations.

If it is a dealer only fit option, then it probably will not be on the VIN list? Many previous vehicles had tow bars etc fitted by the dealership.

 

[Lutz]

If it is a dealer only fit option, then it probably will not be on the VIN list? Many previous vehicles had tow bars etc fitted by the dealership.

But that’s a completely different issue to the one raised in Mr Plodd’s post which only concerned itself with factory fitted options and the way insurance companies handle them.

 

[RogerL]

I am sure that if you quote the VIN to manufacturer he will supply you with a complete list of options that were applied during the build. Such a list wouldn’t contain any private data that would justify protection.

Some of those options will be standard for a particular market - I obtained a list of the build codes for my VW Touareg - as well as the options I specified when I ordered, it included things like B0N Component parts set for Great Britain and 7MM Emission standard EU6 plus, without which the car couldn't be sold in the UK

 

[Lutz]

Some of those options will be standard for a particular market - I obtained a list of the build codes for my VW Touareg - as well as the options I specified when I ordered, it included things like B0N Component parts set for Great Britain and 7MM Emission standard EU6 plus, without which the car couldn't be sold in the UK

All the more reason to question the insurance companies’ interpretation of what is a “standard” model.

 

[Buckman]

But that’s a completely different issue to the one raised in Mr Plodd’s post which only concerned itself with factory fitted options and the way insurance companies handle them.

I was replying to your post concerning purchasing a second hand vehicle and requesting the VIN details from the manufacturer?

 

[otherclive]

That is correct, but I am sure that they do not list options requested by the dealer or supplier? Only the basic trim for that car whether it is a limited, deluxe or premium. Some options are dealer only fitments so towbar may not be on the list?

My Skoda Superb label inside the car listed a Winterisation pack which I particularly remember. That probably would have been ordered by the original owner at the time of purchase. But it didn’t get notified to the insurance as I only found it well after purchasing the car and I wouldn’t have considered it a modification But the towbar and MAD spring assisters were notified to the insurance but no premium increase

 

[otherclive]

Some of those options will be standard for a particular market - I obtained a list of the build codes for my VW Touareg - as well as the options I specified when I ordered, it included things like B0N Component parts set for Great Britain and 7MM Emission standard EU6 plus, without which the car couldn't be sold in the UK

What are BON component parts please?

 

[RogerL]

What are BON component parts please?

VW use a 3-character code for options/features,

 

[otherclive]

I have just changed the insurance to cover a new car, and also with the recovery company too. Both asked has the car been modified. My answer was " I am not aware of any modifications" and as the phone calls are recorded and archived I will live with that. What else can one say?