Last year I contacted Esure to advise that I was changing the wheels & tyres on my VRS for the winter from the 18inch down to a 16inch with a winter tyre. They noted it on my file & said there was no charge.

Doing the same thing this year has resulted in a full question & answer session about make & size of wheel & tyre resulting in them deciding to charge me £30 for the change to the policy.

The best bit is that when I take them off they want to be advised again & to charge me another £30 .

Anyone else having this problem?

Edited 7 November, 201213 yr by A6TDH

Hmm, seems like a clueless person on the other end of the phone.

I called my insurers (having put winters on steels on both our cars) and Admiral initially interrogated me similarly to you, but I got them to check with their supervisors and when they came back off hold I got a 'yep, thats fine, no need to tell us'.

The other insurer said they don't need to know either, which I suspected as they imply they recommend them on their site.

Things appear to be moving forward. In your situation I would have been tempted to not do anything, then call them back again later hoping to get someone else with a clue.

Speak to their complaints dept and don't stop until you get it in writing there is no charge.

If they don't do it, tell them you're going to take it to the insurance ombudsman and get details from the insurer of this (or find it online if they won't tell you even though they have to).

They've already clearly stated this shouldn't be a charge, although this way, you might just be better off putting 18" winters on and saying sod it.

It looks like the ABI Winter Tyre Committment http://www.abi.org.uk/Information/Consumers/General/Winter_Tyres__The_Motor_Insurance_Committment.aspx has been updated this year.

Esure are listed as committing to not charging for this, so you should be able to get a refund. As above, complain. Though there looks like some wiggle room around fitting alloys.

I did check with my insurer (Co-op) when I was thinking abot putting on winter tyres / wheels a couple of years ago. Their answer was simply a polite thank you for letting us know!

As it turned out, I just went for the 4Season tyres instead, which have been great.

I think those insurers asking for money, for what is really a no-brainer safety measure, are just being money grabbing fools. I do think though that there needs to be some specific and concrete decision, made by whatever governing body the auto insurance companies use to regulate, that defines the fitting of winter wheels / tyres as "NOT" being a modification and actually encourages it.

I've never understood why you should pay to change your wheels as even if stolen most standard alloys cost more to replace than aftermarket one.

But then anything to fleece people for a little more cash.

I would take Esure to court if they insist asking money for making my car safer.

It looks like the ABI Winter Tyre Committment http://www.abi.org.u...ommittment.aspx has been updated this year.

Esure are listed as committing to not charging for this, so you should be able to get a refund. As above, complain. Though there looks like some wiggle room around fitting alloys.

We had this problem last year. The trouble with teh ABI winter tyre commitment is that covers just that - i.e. tyres. If you decide to fit smaller wheels then some insurers class that as a modification. Last year Elephant charged an admin fee for this 'modification' and Priviledge tried to but backed down when pressed. This year both insurers have been fine and just noted the change (though having said that we renewed with Elephant while the winters were still on so non-standard wheels show up on the schedule)

Just another way these Companies (Vultures) take the proverbial

Most will try and wriggle out of any claim house, pet, life they make me sick!!!

Here we are spending extra money on tyres to stay safer and protect other motorists...

whilst other dont even pay insurance and get rubbish fines.

Come the revolution brothers and sisters!

Hang on - if you are fitting a tyre and wheel combination that is available from the factory as standard fit on the model then you haven't made a modification?

If you put larger alloys on, or alloys on a car that came with steelies, or non-OEM wheels of any kind then you have made a modification.

Skoda list in the handbook winter tyre sizes and specifications that are permissible on your vehicle - as long as you fit these then you haven't made a modification.

Just my 2 penneth worth!

Just contacted e-sure to inform them winter wheels and tyres are being fitted and was told "thanks for letting us know we have made a note on your policy" was also reminded to let them know when i swap back, no charge at all.

Direct line want to know when the winters go on and off again. Hopefully it wont incur some admin charge...