There are insurance companies using certain underwriters that will not insure vehicles with any sort of modification.

 

To improve my Mk.3 Octavia's comfort I wanted to change the 17" wheels for genuine 16" Octavia wheels. I checked with the insurers (well known supermarket) who refused to continue to insure the car if I changed the wheels. It gets worse because I then checked if my after market window tinting would cause problems and I was told that this would also invalidate my insurance. A company representative explained that this was nothing to do with my personal profile; i.e. age, experience, type of car, etc. but it was a requirement of their underwriters.

 

I now have several choices:

i)  Re-insure the car with a company that does allow modifications - this will increase my premium considerably (I've checked) and lose money if I cancel my existing policy (cancellation charges)

ii) Do nothing and hope the insurance company doesn't find out - not a sensible option!

iii) Remove the tinting - this will also cost money. I know there are lots of 'how to' internet instructions but I'm not too keen on this idea.

 

Obviously I will change my insurers at renewal time (December) but I'm afraid that the tinting will have to come off and I'll forget the wheel change for now.

 

However, this affair does pose the question 'How many people haven't informed their insurance companies about modifications?' TBH I think that this would be asking for trouble in the event of a claim.

 

 

Hi bertJ, if you'd like a quote for comparison, including your mods, I'd be very happy to arrange that for you when the time comes.

 

best,

Nick

Insurance companies will always try and find a way to get out of paying up, always been the way. Basically, if it's not a standard fit factory part, then yes they can refuse. However, this opens a grey area, as what about dealer fit options? Are they classed as standard, or a modification? For example, if you bought a standard Octavia, and asked the dealer to fit a vRS rear spoiler, is that classed as a modification, event though it's a dealer fit part?

Personally, I always tell them everything, better to be safe than sorry. You can imagine the fun and games I had insuring my Landrover.......(lifted, bigger tyres, big intercooler, snorkel etc....)

Definitely try one of the sites insurance options if not already done so.

 

On the wheels it still beggars belief this still goes on... I had it one year with winters when I was with a known but cheaper provider. Ironically for engine mods they were fine, just visual ones. 

 

On your choices...

 

Is option 3 less than option 1?

 

Maybe push them to consult the underwriter, sometimes agent Joe on minimum pay just wants an easy day.

 

It not only raises questions of changes, some argue adding a dealer sticker is a mod, let alone a go faster one... I've read about tyre's too... it's all skimpconmics.... or as my elders say, buy cheap, buy twice... Clearly the 'lowcost' cut throat providers of supermarket status have to protect margin in service and the offering... only you will suffer.

 

Personally depending on finances, I'd say sack it, my comfort and tint sec. is worth more than some cheap policy that's worthless to me in reality. Treat it as a life nutkick cost and move on, life is too short.

 

Now that said I've no idea if you cancel your insurance, how it stacks with the next one of the have you canceled or been refused insurance question... 

Hi bertJ, if you'd like a quote for comparison, including your mods, I'd be very happy to arrange that for you when the time comes.

 

best,

Nick

Thanks for that - will do in December

It's worth calculating changing policy. When I got the vRS, my current insurer wanted a total of £65 to change the car on the policy, £25 admin (For typing the change of plate on the computer) and £40 something for the actual insurance. As it is completely standard, I used a comparison site, and took out a new policy for £35 deposit, cancelled the old policy, which with a refund for unused policy time totalled £15.50, so cheaper. I lost a years worth of NCB, not a major hassle as I already have over 20 years anyway.

Edited 27 April, 201610 yr by octyal

Definitely try one of the sites insurance options if not already done so.

 

On the wheels it still beggars belief this still goes on... I had it one year with winters when I was with a known but cheaper provider. Ironically for engine mods they were fine, just visual ones. 

 

On your choices...

 

Is option 3 less than option 1?

 

Maybe push them to consult the underwriter, sometimes agent Joe on minimum pay just wants an easy day.

 

It not only raises questions of changes, some argue adding a dealer sticker is a mod, let alone a go faster one... I've read about tyre's too... it's all skimpconmics.... or as my elders say, buy cheap, buy twice... Clearly the 'lowcost' cut throat providers of supermarket status have to protect margin in service and the offering... only you will suffer.

 

Personally depending on finances, I'd say sack it, my comfort and tint sec. is worth more than some cheap policy that's worthless to me in reality. Treat it as a life nutkick cost and move on, life is too short.

 

Now that said I've no idea if you cancel your insurance, how it stacks with the next one of the have you canceled or been refused insurance question... 

Thanks for that. The whole thing is a can of worms. I've pretty much decided to remove the tint (approx £60) and sort out the insurance in December.

Have you tried us for modified insurance? If not please feel free to drop me a line.

 

Regards

Dan

Edited 27 April, 201610 yr by DAN@ADRIAN FLUX

Have you tried us for modified insurance? If not please feel free to drop me a line.

 

Regards

Dan

Thanks for that but I will wait until December because I will lose too much money in cancellation fees from my existing insurer.

Had you just tinted the rear windows or the fronts as well?

 

I ask this as tinting the fronts would almost certainly make them illegal and I doubt any company would insure you under those circs.

 

If it's just the rears ignore this post 

Thanks for that but I will wait until December because I will lose too much money in cancellation fees from my existing insurer.

 

Okay great, look forward to hearing from you when you're ready.

 

Regards

Dan

Edited 28 April, 201610 yr by DAN@ADRIAN FLUX

I have to say both Adrian Flux and Chris Knott were very competitive with all my mods and I got a like for like policy for not much more than standard, this was lowered, big brakes, alloys and a full body wrap.

I've now, reluctantly, had the tinting removed.

I was in conversation with the manager of the firm that did the work and he said that insurance companies are really cracking down on drivers who do not declare modifications to their cars. One example he quoted; a friend fitted 'angel eyes' to his BMW and was unfortunate to have a relatively minor collision with a police car. The insurance assessor spotted the undeclared modified lights and the company promptly voided his insurance. He had to pay a total of £4,000 for the damage to the police car and his own car. Apparently he was lucky not to be prosecuted for driving without insurance. BTW, one of the most 'popular' modifications, non factory fitted xenon and/or led headlights, will almost certainly be turned down by most insurers 

Another point made was about declaring modifications that had been fitted by a previous owner of a vehicle - even if you do not know the car has been modified and the insurance company finds out, then the insurance may still be voided; ignorance is no defence. 

BTW, one of the most 'popular' modifications, non factory fitted xenon and/or led headlights, will almost certainly be turned down by most insurers 

Another point made was about declaring modifications that had been fitted by a previous owner of a vehicle - even if you do not know the car has been modified and the insurance company finds out, then the insurance may still be voided; ignorance is no defence. 

 

A proper retrofit wouldn't be noticeable, you'd need to go to the dealer and get a build sheet for the car form them (if thats possible), how would the owner 2 or 3 owners along suppose to know if the lights were fitted from the factory or from a previous owner? 

 

I think a large dollop of common sense is needed you can only go so far in ascertaining what has happened when. If they were an option on the car anyway then you'd have to declare them anyway but the majority wouldnt have issue with that. 

A proper retrofit wouldn't be noticeable, you'd need to go to the dealer and get a build sheet for the car form them (if thats possible), how would the owner 2 or 3 owners along suppose to know if the lights were fitted from the factory or from a previous owner? 

 

I think a large dollop of common sense is needed you can only go so far in ascertaining what has happened when. If they were an option on the car anyway then you'd have to declare them anyway but the majority wouldnt have issue with that. 

 

 

Over 99% of the retrofit Xenons are going to be non-homologated kits of dubious quality - I can't see why a generalist insurer would want to go near any of them trying to find the <1% who had genuine Xenon headlights, controllers, headlight level sensors, headlight washers, etc retrofitted.  Far easier to just blanket exclude.  Who needs that business?

I've been with Aviva (formally Norwich whatever) & have insured several modified cars with them ..declared all mods & only had a slight add on charge for some of the mods. Their attitude is mechanical ie bigger brakes, lower, engine mods. etc body kits, different wheels to what it let the factory with. In my case bigger alloys & custom made CAI for the engine.

 

Not bothered with TUV approved stainless exhaust designed for car, or grooved discs, or fast road pads, poly bushes etc as these items are same sizes as original but better/stronger than OEM, so less likely to fail.

 

Shop around, sounds like they need the heave-ho...

Over 99% of the retrofit Xenons are going to be non-homologated kits of dubious quality - I can't see why a generalist insurer would want to go near any of them trying to find the <1% who had genuine Xenon headlights, controllers, headlight level sensors, headlight washers, etc retrofitted.  Far easier to just blanket exclude.  Who needs that business?

 

Clearly plenty do because I had no issues in the past insuring with after market retro fits. As I said, later owners could often be non the wiser if their xenons are factory or retro fit.