Here is a link to the Association of British Insurers list of insurance companies and if notification of changing to winter tyres is needed.

https://www.abi.org.uk/.../ABI%20guide%20to%20%20%20The...https://www.abi.org.uk/.../ABI%20guide%20to%20%20%20The...

linky no worky :(

Link doesn't work

I wonder how they define 'winter tyres'? I have some "all season" tyres on mine, designed for year-round use but with the official snowflake mark to satisfy winter tyre use abroad.

Here is a working link

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

Thanks berniebloke I was just looking for a working link.

The final sentence of the following related ABI link is also relevant.

 

https://www.abi.org.uk/News/News-releases/2011/12/ABI-ISSUES-REASSURANCE-TO-MOTORISTS-FITTING-WINTER-TYRES

^^^ What he said.  In my opinion, people who fit winter WHEELS (i.e. rims and tyres together) shouldn't be penalised either.  I voted with my feet and left Direct Line when they wanted another £77 from me for switching to VAG winter wheels (went to LV who are fine with that).

E-mailed the ABI a year or two back about the confusion between tyres and wheels and they suggested then it referred to both, as many people use an extra set of rims. However the last statement seems to reverse this logic and makes the statement almost pointless IMHO.

 

 

TP

^^^ I remember seeing your post.  And couldn't agree more re. the pointlessness.

Some people never cease to amaze me. It's not about what ought to be the case or how the wording of these statements should be interpreted. It's about reality. And the reality is that some insurance companies, especially the heavy discounters, will potentially use any ambiguity in the wording of the policy to query and delay a claim. You may well win out in the end (as indeed you should of course - no dispute about that) but do you really want to lay yourself open to the hassle of a major delay in settling a serious claim?

 

The only safe course of action (in my view of course) is to check back with the insurance company, especially if the change does involve some change of specification from the standard fitment for that version, which may be wheel size or may be eg speed rating. By all means, lay into the them if they do try to charge for what ought to be a free service. But if you don't have a record that you're raised the point then you're potentially open to a dispute in the event of any claim about whether you've complied with the strict detail of the policy.