Do you tell your insurance company of mods?

[clanny]

Everyone on here knows that insurance companies trawl these forums for reasons not to pay out don't they?

 

[CharleyNokia]

Is it true that in some cases, if you have non factory standard tyres fitted, even only one, then that could invalidate your insurance if it was your fault?

 

[MB-BTurbo]

No. As long as they are the same spec. For example, if your car took 225 40 18 Continental Contact sport 2 and put on 225 40 18 Contact Sport 3 on then you are fine. Manufacturers often discontinue lines so if there was a problem fitting alternatives cars would have a life of around 5 years.

If you stuck 235 40 18 Contact Sport 2 then you would invalidate your insurance as the spec has been altered. If you only had one 235 and the others were 225 then you would have greater things to worry about than just insurance...that tree in the first corner for example.

 

[WLeg]

Also worth noting that dealer fitted options (say, parking sensors) are treated different to factory fitted ones.....

My concern here (especially when buying a 2nd hand car) is that how do we KNOW what is factory, dealer, or previous owner ? As an example, some cars have factory tinted rear windows, some are done by the supplying dealer to make them look like a more expensive model, some are done buy owners, for various reasons...but could you tell the difference ?......Technically de-badging COULD invalidate your insurance, as it is changing the appearance from standard......

I wonder if you can give the insurance company the VIN, and ask them what equipment they understand the car has on it ?

 

[Charles Morgan]

You can only represent what you know in good faith. I always say what mods I know to be on the car. I think tints and similar things unknown would not be considered grounds for voiding your insurance, unless you chose to drive at night in winter with sunglasses on!

(I did see someone do just that in heavy winter rain. Fruitcake).

 

[grober]

The one that hasn't been mentioned yet is the installation of heavy duty and expensive non factory sound systems costing several thousands of pounds? How does increased risk of theft, lots of high current cables etc figure?

 

[219]

Not sure that valid MoT is a requirement for the policy to be valid.

If you let your MoT lapse and drive the car, you would be uninsured.

Lack of an MOT does not invalidate insurance - it has to remain valid so that you can drive to a pre-arranged MOT test appointment .

 

[219]

The one that hasn't been mentioned yet is the installation of heavy duty and expensive non factory sound systems costing several thousands of pounds? How does increased risk of theft, lots of high current cables etc figure?

Since Mercedes never used to fit any radio as standard , leaving the owner to choose his own , I never viewed fitment of any audio system as a 'modification' and have never declared any of them .

Insurers usually just put an upper limit on the amount they will pay out for car audio items ( which usually does not cover even the cheapest components of my systems ) .

With my systems there is nothing more visible from the outside than with any other system ( head unit in the centre console with front panel removed ) , all other electronics in the boot , speakers under factory grilles . All wiring routed through factory channels and appropriately fused etc . So no additional theft or fire risks .

 

[baxlin]

Quote: Lack of an MOT does not invalidate insurance - it has to remain valid so that you can drive to a pre-arranged MOT test appointment .

Surely that's an exception?

 

[E55BOF]

Is it not generally a requirement of insurance that you maintain your car in a roadworthy condition? If so, could/would not lack of MoT be used by the insurers as an indication that your car was not in such a condition?

And following on from Baxlin's post, does that mean that if I take my car for a pre-arranged MoT test when the MoT has run out, I only have Third Party cover?

 

[219]

Pre 1960 cars , and certain other vehicles , are exempt from needing to be MOT'd .

Those of us who have multiple cars just MOT them as and when we decide to use them ; it does not mean they are unroadworthy when laid up .

 

[johnkyte]

Non MOT,d motors are likely to be better maintained than MOTd ,,,because it is the owners responsibility to keep in roadworthy condition,,which takes more time and care than an annual MOT

 

[CharleyNokia]

MB-Turbo, my sister had to get a couple of tyres for her BMW a couple of years ago, and she told me the guy said she must get the same Brand tyres, keeping to the same size, cos her insurance could invalidate if she put different branded tyres on. She had Goodyears all round, the rears needed changing, I told her either get Michelins or Contis, and she rang me from the tyre place saying the guy said she MUST get Goodyears.

 

[Kris-H]

Lack of an MOT would not invalidate insurance. Its a general requirement of the insurance policy that the car is maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition, but just because the MOT has expired doesn't mean the car is unsafe ..it could be take to an MOT station and pass with flying colours

BUT .... if you write your car off and the MOT has run out, then expect the value to be a lot less