Dear All Backroomer
My free years insurance is coming to a end on the corsa, been searching for quote usual places. However I want your thoughts on the following - when a purchases the car I chose the option of the sport pack 1 - which upgraded the alloys to 16" from 15" and included darker rear windows and tailgate. Do you need to class this as a modification.
Thanks
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Its not a modification in the nromal sense of the word, so for that part you need to mention it.
However, it might be considered material so if I was you I would mention it anyway and ask for it to be noted for the avoidance of future difficulties.
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"Its not a modification in the nromal sense of the word"
Of course it's a modification - it's a departure from the cars standard specification. It doesn't matter whether the modification comes from the manufacturer or Halfords, it's no longer a standard car.
Chris M
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>>it's a departure from the cars standard specification.
Really ?
How do you feel about aircon, leather seats, metallic paint, electric rear windows, heated front windscreens etc. etc. ? Are those modifications if they step away from the bible of "cars standard specification" ?
Or do modifications typically NOT mean something that the manufacturer has done and is normally intended to mean after market modifications ?
Nonetheless, it may be material and should be disclosed.
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i would most certainly tell my insurance company and i would most certainly call it a modification from the standard manufacturers spec
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I tend to agree with No FM2R.
IMO When you give your details to an insurer you don't need to tell them every detail about your car surely? For example, a 3 Series BMW has all manner of options including alloys of different sizes but these aren't modifications from the manuafacturers specification, they *become* the specification once selected. If you bought them from Halfords then *that's* a modification away from the manufacturers as they could not possibly be fitted as standard.
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If your spec deviates from standard then I'd have thought it in your interest to tell insurers, even if not strictly a modification. I can think of one good reason why.
e.g. you buy say a VW Passat and then add factory fit options of sat nav, leather, solar sunroof, upgraded stereo, Bluetooth phone kit, larger wheels, ... the list could go on. Then the car is stolen or written off. If you'd said it was a standard VW Passat then you'd get a payout based on the value of that car. You'd not get money for sat nav, etc. back.
I'd hope upgrading a car doesn't increase the premium too much if at all, depending on options.
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I've been through this with my insurers.
You do need to tell them. But, if it is a factory modification, then it is not a modification in the sense that they will change your premium. If it can come out of the factory in that spec, and was first registered in that condition, then nobody I spoke to wanted to take it into account. (Mine was 17" alloys instead of the standard 16" by the way).
Gord.
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So why do you need to tell them? Do they make a note of it on file or something?
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Because it affects the book value of the car (as noted above). If you've added £600 of extras to the car, it isn't 'modified' in the normal insurance sense, but it is worth a bit more.
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IMHO, you need to tell your insurers everything about your car and let them decide what is relevant. That said, if you buy a car and it comes out of the factory and into the showroom in a condition which you accept and drive away unchanged then it isn't 'modified'
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Maybe I wasn't clear....
I would not consider this a modification and would answer the question "any modifications ?" as - No.
However, separate to that, things which affect visibility and the wheels could be considered material to the risk so I would make sure that the insurer made a note. As to why, essentially if you ever had an accident which was deemed to have been caused by having unsuitable wheels on teh vehicle, you'd want to be damn sure that your insurer not only knew about them, but that he knew he knew.
With all factors, if in doubt disclose. And if you isclose, make sure they note it and confirm it to you, or that you confirm it to them in writing.
It all seems excessive and unneccessary until the day you wish you'd done it.
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Based on my experience with two different insurers:
1) Is the Sport pack a modification? No, its a factory fit option.
2) Should I tell my insurer? Yes. It affects the alue of the car, and that's a material fact.
You'll be asked what model Corsa you have and what engine size it is. Be specific - "its (for example) a Corsa SRi 1.2 petrol 5 door manual fitted with the Sport Pack 1 option". My last insurer asked for this level of detail - they rated 3 and 5 door versions of the same model differently. Let the insurer decide
As mentioned above, having a factory fit option matters because it changes the value of the car in the unfortunate event that the insurer has to compensate you for damage to the car. It should not cause them to increase your premium, however, in the same way as aftermarket modifications do.
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When my Suzuki Wagon R was written off they made an offer for it, when I pointed out that it had the optional dealer fitted A/C worth £1200 they upped the offer by £1,200! Sorted.
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What happens if you buy a second hand car that may have modifications that you're not aware of. My Audi A3 was ordered with amongst other things an armrest, auto headlamps, interior light pack, Bose, half leather, metallic paint and different style alloys. As a second hand puchase the alloys and seats may be obvious extras but the rest may not be. If the vehicle was stolen and not recovered and you tried to replace the vehicle you could end up losing out significantly.
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yes i agree and those ten park drive in the glove box youve been keeping for years irreplaceable,
probably best to give the insurance company a fair valuation at first proposal then and explain that it has extra trinkets you dont find on normal examples?
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Why do insurers ask you what the value of the car is?
If it's unmodified by you, surely they know far more accurately than you what it's worth?
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Why do insurers ask you what the value of the car is?
Because you may accept less than they were going to offer.
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