Just read an article in the Daily Telegraph about a couple who had, initially, their insurance cancelled and not paid out following an accident when the company. Flow, found out they had a tow-bar fitted, even though this had no bearing on the accident.

 

Here's the link: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/six-figure-claim-rejected-crashed-mercedes/

 

It's probably behind a paywall so here's the gist.

 

‘My six-figure claim was rejected after I crashed my Mercedes’

"Katie Morley Investigates: our reader faces a monumental bill – thanks to a tow bar"

 

 

...the Ombudsman’s final decision went in favour of Flow. It said we were careless for not declaring the tow bar.

He referenced the Consumer Insurance Disclosure and Representations Act, which states that the information the consumer provides to the insurer can be described as “misrepresentation” where it is “incomplete or misleading, either carelessly, deliberately or recklessly.” 

 

It all ended happily for the couple after the 'consumer champion' intervened, but:

 

 

"While I’m pleased for you I’m left feeling deeply curious as to why Flow had a sudden change of heart when I started demanding to see evidence. It’s rare for companies to overrule the FOS in such cases, as they really don’t have to.  Meanwhile, drivers with tow bars and roof racks and the like may well be ringing up their insurers pronto. And they’d be right to be cautious."

 

Raises some questions, such as if you have a factory prep towbar option, does this count as a 'modification' or indeed any of the other option packages such as the 'performance pack'?  When taking out insurance, I'd thought most usually don't see factory fitted options as modifications, and to most insurance companies a Karoq or other model, after taking into account the engine size, fuel type, etc. presumedly would be considered the same.

 

So, does anyone on here list their factory options as 'modifications'? 

42 minutes ago, Ooopnorth said:

Just read an article in the Daily Telegraph about a couple who had, initially, their insurance cancelled and not paid out following an accident when the company. Flow, found out they had a tow-bar fitted, even though this had no bearing on the accident.

 

Here's the link: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/six-figure-claim-rejected-crashed-mercedes/

 

It's probably behind a paywall so here's the gist.

 

‘My six-figure claim was rejected after I crashed my Mercedes’

"Katie Morley Investigates: our reader faces a monumental bill – thanks to a tow bar"

 

 

...the Ombudsman’s final decision went in favour of Flow. It said we were careless for not declaring the tow bar.

He referenced the Consumer Insurance Disclosure and Representations Act, which states that the information the consumer provides to the insurer can be described as “misrepresentation” where it is “incomplete or misleading, either carelessly, deliberately or recklessly.” 

 

It all ended happily for the couple after the 'consumer champion' intervened, but:

 

 

"While I’m pleased for you I’m left feeling deeply curious as to why Flow had a sudden change of heart when I started demanding to see evidence. It’s rare for companies to overrule the FOS in such cases, as they really don’t have to.  Meanwhile, drivers with tow bars and roof racks and the like may well be ringing up their insurers pronto. And they’d be right to be cautious."

 

Raises some questions, such as if you have a factory prep towbar option, does this count as a 'modification' or indeed any of the other option packages such as the 'performance pack'?  When taking out insurance, I'd thought most usually don't see factory fitted options as modifications, and to most insurance companies a Karoq or other model, after taking into account the engine size, fuel type, etc. presumedly would be considered the same.

 

So, does anyone on here list their factory options as 'modifications'? 

No, factory fitted options aren't classed as changes to manufacturer's standard specification. A change to manufacturer's standard specification is anything made after the car leaves the factory.

 

https://www.lv.com/car-insurance/are-factory-fitted-options-classed-as-changes-to-my-car

I've certainly declared my towbar as it was fitted after purchase.  It had no effect on the premium but is at least now noted by the insurers

Searching this question more widely (e.g on Money Saving Expert, and elsewhere), it seems that Admiral, for one, are an insurance company that asks you to list the optional extras too, that came with the car from new, as well as after- market modifications.

 

One post, on another forum, also quoted AXA as voiding their insurance as the car had "paint protection film" added to it.

 

I do remember some 15 - 20 years ago when winter tyres were becoming more wide spread in their adoption, that some insurance companies required notification of this, and one or two increased the premium as a consequence, which seems counter-intuitive. 

 

Hey ho.  

Not sure how you'd identify options on a second hand car...

1 minute ago, skomaz said:

Not sure how you'd identify options on a second hand car...

 

Especially on BMW and Mercedes were you rarely see two used cars the same on spec.

On 10/01/2025 at 21:23, skomaz said:

Not sure how you'd identify options on a second hand car...

A VIN decode might shed some light on this, but I think you'd need to know what the original spec was to see what the difference was.

I didn't know my heated front seats were an option until I saw an SE-L without them and double-checked the spec.