Warning: your towbar could invalidate your car insurance

[RogerL]

Warning: your towbar could invalidate your car insurance | Auto Express

Drivers could be in hot water if they don’t declare if a towbar is fitted when buying car insurance

www.autoexpress.co.uk

This is a worrying trend if other insurers follow suit.

 

[Jcloughie]

Scary.

I have only been declaring a tow bar for about 20 years. Previously, I did not give it a thought. Since I have been declaring a tow bar. It has made zero difference to my premium.

There have been a number of topics on this forum advising members to declare. This topic will reinforce that message.

John

 

[Beardy]

On my insurance a towbar was on the list of modifications I didn't need to declare, but it wouldn't increase the value of my car. Definitely worth checking though.

 

[Buckman]

I don' think that the insurance company will get away with it as the towbar had nothing to do with the accident. Secondly if the car came from the factory with the towbar already fitted, is it a modification? Same if bought new and the tow bar is fitted before delivery as it is an optional extra. I have always declared our to bar as most insurers do not regard the tow bar as a modification.

 

[otherclive]

Scary.

I have only been declaring a tow bar for about 20 years. Previously, I did not give it a thought. Since I have been declaring a tow bar. It has made zero difference to my premium.

There have been a number of topics on this forum advising members to declare. This topic will reinforce that message.

John

Plus 1 for always advising, but I’ve never purchased car insurance on line.

 

[AndrewAventura]

I don' think that the insurance company will get away with it as the towbar had nothing to do with the accident. Secondly if the car came from the factory with the towbar already fitted, is it a modification? Same if bought new and the tow bar is fitted before delivery as it is an optional extra. I have always declared our to bar as most insurers do not regard the tow bar as a modification.

As reported, the story is rather worrying:
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) decision found in favour of the insurance company. The Ombudsman cited the Consumer Insurance Disclosure and Representations Act on ‘misrepresentation’, which applies when information provided by the consumer to the insurer is incomplete or misleading, be it “carelessly, deliberately or recklessly”.
It would seem exceptionally easy for an insurance company to reject a claim if it chose to - baby seat fitted? seat covers? dog guard? With vague wording in the quotation form, any of these could constitute 'modifications'.
I just hope that there's more to the story, maybe something like a tow bar fitted to a vehicle that isn't homologated with a towing capacity or something like that.

 

[Buckman]

As reported, the story is rather worrying:
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) decision found in favour of the insurance company. The Ombudsman cited the Consumer Insurance Disclosure and Representations Act on ‘misrepresentation’, which applies when information provided by the consumer to the insurer is incomplete or misleading, be it “carelessly, deliberately or recklessly”.
It would seem exceptionally easy for an insurance company to reject a claim if it chose to - baby seat fitted? seat covers? dog guard? With vague wording in the quotation form, any of these could constitute 'modifications'.
I just hope that there's more to the story, maybe something like a tow bar fitted to a vehicle that isn't homologated with a towing capacity or something like that.

If you really think about it, having your vehicle done with a paint protection system is in effect modifying it. Adding washer water using a different type of fluid to the one used by the manufacturer is in effect modifying the vehicle. Fitting new tyres that are a different brand to the vehicle is modifying it. The list is endless!

 

[otherclive]

As reported, the story is rather worrying:
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) decision found in favour of the insurance company. The Ombudsman cited the Consumer Insurance Disclosure and Representations Act on ‘misrepresentation’, which applies when information provided by the consumer to the insurer is incomplete or misleading, be it “carelessly, deliberately or recklessly”.
It would seem exceptionally easy for an insurance company to reject a claim if it chose to - baby seat fitted? seat covers? dog guard? With vague wording in the quotation form, any of these could constitute 'modifications'.
I just hope that there's more to the story, maybe something like a tow bar fitted to a vehicle that isn't homologated with a towing capacity or something like that.

Things such as described in your post don’t really constitute modifications. But on a Pajero I fitted non electcally controlled OEM shock absorbers and higher springs. No extra premium. On a Forester XT I swopped the coilover shocks and springs of the self levelling and installed non self levelling coil overs. Again no extra premium.

On travel insurance it’s not uncommon for the insurers to look for non compliance. In my case I now have to declare a cancer which was found as a result of a totally seperately procedure. In reality it has absolutely no effect on my lifestyle and requires nothing at the moment other than period blood tests. So in reality I’m no different to before my procedure, but since I’m on a “pathway” it has to be declared. Nett result…. premium increase from my normal travel insurer. Insurers don’t like risk☹️

 

[RogerL]

Things such as described in your post don’t really constitute modifications. But on a Pajero I fitted non electcally controlled OEM shock absorbers and higher springs. No extra premium. On a Forester XT I swopped the coilover shocks and springs of the self levelling and installed non self levelling coil overs. Again no extra premium.

On travel insurance it’s not uncommon for the insurers to look for non compliance. In my case I now have to declare a cancer which was found as a result of a totally seperately procedure. In reality it has absolutely no effect on my lifestyle and requires nothing at the moment other than period blood tests. So in reality I’m no different to before my procedure, but since I’m on a “pathway” it has to be declared. Nett result…. premium increase from my normal travel insurer. Insurers don’t like risk☹️

Travel insurers particularly don't like risk - I was quoted over £7,500 insurance premium for a two-week trip to the USA, so we didn't go!

Having survived cancer earlier in my life I find it particularly annoying that it didn't qualify as serious enough for an enhanced pension but serious enough to bar me from life insurance and make travel insurance prohibitively expensive.

 

[ProfJohnL]

To save the day and prevent situations like the one raised in the OP, it's worth the effort to just tell your insurers you have a tow bar fitted, and you intend to tow a caravan, then they know, and can't wriggle out of claim on a technicality.

Normally insurers do not charge extra for having a towbar, so for the cost of the time to write a letter or email to tell them if or when a towbar is fitted and to warn them you will be towing a caravan, it's worth the effort.

 

[Buckman]

To save the day and prevent situations like the one raised in the OP, it's worth the effort to just tell your insurers you have a tow bar fitted, and you intend to tow a caravan, then they know, and can't wriggle out of claim on a technicality.

Normally insurers do not charge extra for having a towbar, so for the cost of the time to write a letter or email to tell them if or when a towbar is fitted and to warn them you will be towing a caravan, it's worth the effort.

Good advice. If doing it Online normally then is a drop down list for added options like tow bar. As said is it a modification if the vehicle comes from the factory with a fitted towbar?

 

[toad a caravan]

Certain points covered in previous posted in April under "towbars"

 

[toad a caravan]

Check "ultimate towbars" website for useful info

 

[audiorob]

I would like to think that if I was rear ended that any damage to the car would be repaired and the towbar replaced under the insurance policy as I have informed my insurer that the towbar is fitted using their drop-down list of 'modifications' .

 

[GTPete]

Having a fitted tow bar may cause more damage to the body shell if rear ended, so insurance repairs may be more costly as a result.....we always declare a tow bar is fitted, factory or aftermarket...