Insurers and optional extras

[vimto2000]

Hi guys,

My bro is looking for insurance and he needs it asap.

Thing is he has a car with lots of optional extras (some very expensive) and would like to know if there is an insurer who will insure them and if anything happened would pay for the optionals as well.

A lot of them ask for them to be declared and only play for the standard items in a claim. :thumbdwn:

Let me know if any come to mind.

Thanks

[sheep_go_baa]

When you get a quote from any Insurance Company and declare the optional extras they take these into account for the value of the vehical and in an accident would cover the costs of repair/replacement of these extras in with the cost of normal repairs.

All the normal "high street" insurance companies (e.g Tesco, Norwich Union etc) will cover the extras in the event of a claim. Always declare these extras when getting quotes because in the event of a claim the insurers will find these extras and apply the additional premium that should have been paid in the first place. BUT if the extras make the car a vehicle that they would not have insured if they knew about the extras at policy inception then they would be entitled to void the policy and therefore not pay out on the claim. (I added this paragraph just to explain about extras - I did read your initial post that your brother is going to declare the extras)

Hope this makes sense and is of help.

[vimto2000]

Thanks

But the problem he is encountering, he wants to declare all optional extras which is not a problem as he is ok with the premium hike if there is one...just wants to make sure that they will pay out for the same options if an accident happens.

Some companies have asked him to pay extra, but will only pay out for a standard car. Example you fully loading a VRS adding up to 20K+ and you declare the optional extras. When its time to claim, they pay out for a standard VRS for about 4-5k less even though they took premiums for optional extras.

[Babs]

Yes, optional extras would be covered, you may be misunderstanding, most companies will cover, but not payout for modifications rather than optional extras.

Think about it, it would be like if you had a front end crash in your little city car (with the factory option of air con) and your insurance wouldn't replace the compressor, radiator etc. due to them being an "option" (rather than a modification).

[vimto2000]

He is thinking more of a full payout rather than repairs.

Ie a BMW with 15k worth of extras, if they were to write of the car..they would not take into account the optional extra's.

He has been specifically told by some insurers on a total write off that they would not pay out for the options, if it was repair then they would have to fix it.