Being 86 is not a popular age for car insurers. I have recently purchased a Karoq, and wanted to change wheels from 18 to 17, rs plus to change dampers to Bilstein B6.The AA tried their insurers, who refused these changes. I then tried two well known brokers. One quoted £1242 pounds and the other over £2000. My current price is  £526. Looks likeI am stuck with a standard vehicle. I have good driving record.

 

They whoever they were if not a Bot /AI likely know nothing about fitting Winter / All Weather Tyres / Wheels.

?

Are 17" not the Size Specced by Skoda for the cars wheels if using Snow Chains, so not a Modification, just an option that is sensible even in the UK.

Should not require declaring as a modification.

But then modifications should always be declared.  

If your policy includes / allows travel in the EC you're legally obliged to carry/fit snow chains in many areas of the Alpine region and if Skoda suggest / sell 17" wheels for the job then I don't even see why you need to ask the insurance Co?

I wonder if it's the fitting of B6's that sets the alarm bells ringing for the insurance Co?

 

Edit: BTW, £526 is a very good price all things considered.........

Edited 12 December, 20241 yr by Berisford

I think the answer is don't use brokers, get direct quotes. Both aviva and lv allow to use manufacturer fitted wheels (as in you can get the wheels separately but the wheel/tyre size must be a manufacturer option for the car model, not random alloys). They even have an option in standard online quotation form to select these, premium does not change significantly (I think it was £1 or £2 higher for my car for £1000 worth of alternative alloy wheels, and they did refund purchase cost of 2 new ones when I claimed as I had to get them myself from Czechia due to UK stock shortage at the time)  I'm sure there are others that also treat this sensibly.

 

With respect to Bilstein B6 shocks, so long as fitted with standard suspension and not lower etc, this is just a replacement of stock shock with a premium quality part, and as such need not be declared any more than replacing a plastic water pump with a metal one, a popular service upgrade on many VW engines. If you lower suspension eg using B8s, or get B12 kit etc, it's a different story altogether.

 

Our 4 Skodas so far, have been insured with either aviva or lv for 20+ years (aviva was norwich union back then), I only switch when price differential becomes noticeable, in recent years lv was less expensive, but I am sure it will change given time.

Edited 13 December, 20241 yr by dieselV6

Hi.

Did you try ourselves at all for insurance?

Regards,

Dan.

I'm with Aviva & changed my the alloys on my Karoq from 19" to 17" Skoda rims & Aviva insisted on an increase in premium even though 17" rims are cheaper to replace than 19" ones. Insurance companies are just grasping shysters.

 

You'd be extremely unwise to follow the advice of anyone who say don't declare any changes - they will look for the most minute of reasons to deny a claim. Fitted  dashcam? You'd better check it's not a declareable modification.

Insurance costs seem to be going through the roof. Last year my Fabia (and an off-road MX5) cost me £465 with the NFU. I have just received their latest bill and it has gone up to £1268 - 173% increase. Someone suggested that the repair costs for electric cars are so high that all insurance bills are going up, but this seems excessive. NFU have been very reasonable in the past.

Try LV

 

tom

14 minutes ago, Sanqhar said:

Try LV

 

tom

 Good suggestion Tom. I renewed my Karoq with LV last month. Premium had fallen by 10% compared to the previous year.

My daughter has a Renault Captur and her renewal for the new year has gone down £20. Maybe she crossed an age threshold.

2 hours ago, OldKaroq said:

 Good suggestion Tom. I renewed my Karoq with LV last month. Premium had fallen by 10% compared to the previous year.

And their breakdown service LV Brittania is highly regarded

I had stock 19" wheels shod with Bridgestone 'rubber bands' on my Karoq 1.5TSL DSL Sportline and recently changed them to 17" alloys (NOT from Skoda) shod with Michelin all season tyres (package deal from a well-known alloy wheel supplier). I phoned my insurer LV to let them know make of alloy and tyre and they simply updated their records and sent out new paper work to me via email to me - no charge whatsoever - I was gobsmacked!

Edited 24 December, 20241 yr by Duncs1961

I was with LV for may years, including m/cycles. They wanted from £476 2023/4,but on renewal £736. AA was about £200 cheaper. Recently tried a quote with LV. Insurancere but refused as over 85. I have been driving since the age of 17, and passed the IAM m/cycle test in 1977. Obviosly I  now drive very carefully, as the roads are now so busy. I can still handle a car well, and in the past have been on a skidpan. I have also driven Goodwood in a Ferrari and Volvo. They don't know that, and  assume at 87 now I should be off the road.