Just informed Direct Line I have put on my winter tyres.

 

Guess what ...They wanted to charge me £20 for the policy change and re-issue of the policy documents.  When I protested and told them I had never been charged before they did a one-off waiver  THIS TIME.  I was told that when I did this next year they would charge me.  I was so taken aback that I forgot to ask what happens when I put the normal tyres back on in the spring.

 

Told them when I come to renew I will change insurer.  

 

It's a shame because I like their service.  Over the years I have had two not my fault claims and they have been brilliant.

 

tom

This sort of charge is outrageous. May I suggest NFU at Stratford on Avon for car insurance? They seem to have a more mature approach to dealing with their customers and are good value and good to deal with. I have no connection with NFU.

I don't tell my insurance about winter tyres, as long as they are the standard profile it doesn't matter about the compound, My insurance company have a 45 quid admin fee.

I think the agent at DL has messed up. A mate of mine had this and complained in writing. The reply he got stated that the agent had wrongly selected 'change to wheels' because they couldn't find a 'change to tyres'. You don't need to inform your insurer unless you are changing the wheels too.

Does that cover rim / tyre combo's changes because that could be considered a change of wheel?

The wheel combos are listed in the manual though so are manufacturer recognized!

According to the latest list from the ABI you shouldn't need to inform or be charged by DL for changing to winters.

 

https://www.abi.org.uk/~/media/Files/Documents/Publications/Public/Migrated/Motor/ABI%20guide%20to%20winter%20tyres%20The%20motor%20insurance%20commitment.ashx

 

 

Would be tempted to pen an e-mail to the ABI and ask them why DL are in breech of their commitment  :wonder:

 

 

TP

I don't tell my insurance about winter tyres, as long as they are the standard profile it doesn't matter about the compound,

 

But unfortunately that's not the whole story. If you have 17" wheels then you will struggle to find winter/all-season tyres in the correct speed rating. I found it impossible to find W rated tyres and had to use V rated ones. Yes I know that V (even H rated IIRC) are beyond the maximum speed of even the CR170 Yeti, but technically it's a change from the original manufacturer's fitment specification and therefore it's a grey area. What would you rather do: run the risk of arguing the toss with the insurer's if you do have a large claim pending and they choose to be awkward about this point, or clear it definitively with the insurer in advance? I took the latter option.

But unfortunately that's not the whole story. If you have 17" wheels then you will struggle to find winter/all-season tyres in the correct speed rating. I found it impossible to find W rated tyres and had to use V rated ones. Yes I know that V (even H rated IIRC) are beyond the maximum speed of even the CR170 Yeti, but technically it's a change from the original manufacturer's fitment specification and therefore it's a grey area. What would you rather do: run the risk of arguing the toss with the insurer's if you do have a large claim pending and they choose to be awkward about this point, or clear it definitively with the insurer in advance? I took the latter option.

It should say in the handbook that fitting lower speed rated winter tyres is acceptable, therefore it is within spec.

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It should say in the handbook that fitting lower speed rated winter tyres is acceptable, therefore it is within spec.

 

It does do somewhere, but from memory the wording is not totally unambiguous. As I say, it's a slightly grey area. Yes you should be fine, but that's not necessarily going to stop an insurer being awkward, at least temporarily, if there's a claim that they're looking for grounds to contest.

LV just noted my winter wheel tyre change.

I guess DL operate on a tick box process basis where common sense and good judgement is a disciplinary offence. Sadly this approach is common place.

Oh dear....as the time passes I just get grumpier............

I checked with my insurers just before I renewed in April - phoned up and said, I will be changing to winter wheels/tyres October to March wil this change the premium? Do I need to let you know when I do it? Insurer said no to both and I renewed - I would recommend this approach

Surely if they're the same profile tyre it makes no difference? Are people going to ring the insurance when they fit non-OEM bulbs?

Just been reading the which report on winter tyres. according to the association of british insurers only Covea, eCar, Octagon, southern rock and swift cover require you to tell them you've fitted winter tyres so looks like the direct line 'assisant' was just after your 20 quid :wonder:

Are you sure it's not a standard admin fee they've charged you rather than a cost to fit winter tyres ?

ABI have a list of underwriters you need to inform.

Some of the cheaper insurance outfit get your business on up front price then charge you every time you call and make a policy change regardless whether it affects your premium.

Just been reading the which report on winter tyres. according to the association of british insurers only Covea, eCar, Octagon, southern rock and swift cover require you to tell them you've fitted winter tyres so looks like the direct line 'assisant' was just after your 20 quid :wonder:

This

When I got my winters for the octy spoke to NFU and they said no problem now we know you can swap back and fourth without contacting them again

I have just bought but not yet fitted winter wheels and tyres (16s as opposed to the 17s as standard on our Elegance) and LV want to charge me even though the new wheels are Skoda alloys in the permitted size etc. Not particularly chuffed about this but they say it is a mod!

When I got my winters for the octy spoke to NFU and they said no problem now we know you can swap back and fourth without contacting them again

 

Does NFU have a website or buy on phone?

 

Coz last time I looked, I had to go to local branch to buy....

Agreed NFU Mutual don't have the same admin charges that others apply - but when I asked them for a quote it was literally twice as much as other companies quoted me. I'm sure they're one of the better companies but yopu certainly pay for their excellence if my quote was anything to go by.  Others here have had the same experience (but I'm not going to try to find the relevant posts).

Granted NFU aren't the cheapest around but l personally don't mind they were only about £150 dearer than other reputable providers and the have a local office to me so you can deal face to face, the cheapest quote isn't always the best. Chan110 google your nearest office and give em a call

I won't use DL after they tried to charge me £280 when I put Alloys on my T5 Van. I expected a slight cost, but not as much as the alloys. I cancelled the insurance and whet elsewhere. 

I've compared NFU Mutual's quotes and found them competitive, not necessarily cheapest. Auto Express consistently rate them in the top two or three motor insurers for all round good performance and my experience bears that out.

Moved from Enfield to here earlier this year and the premium for a two car policy went down by a couple of hundred. Haven't asked about 'winters' yet 'cos I haven't found suitable secondhand wheels but they have been very helpful each time I contact the local office.That's the answer :- LOCAL OFFICE!!

This is the page from the handbook for my Pre FL mkII Octavia, pretty conclusive and not woolly as I read it.

 

 

Extremely clear and complete common sense. All the insurance panickers should read this and stop bothering call centre employees who don't understand but are under a general pressure to justify their existence ad charge some kind of bogus fee.

Granted NFU aren't the cheapest around but l personally don't mind they were only about £150 dearer than other reputable providers

 

£150 dearer than as you say other reputable providers does seem to be quite a tidy sum, but the wife does say I'm  tight fisted. :think: