Insuring car with factory options

[Tan]

Hi

I got a quote from elephant for the new car and was suprised to hear that they will not cover the options such as the AMG wheels or the Parktronic.

They will insure the car, but if it has a wheel stolen then it will be replaced with a standard one or if the bumpers are hit the parktronic won't be covered.

Is this normal?

Regards

Tan

 

[Guy]

Hi

I got a quote from elephant for the new car and was suprised to hear that they will not cover the options such as the AMG wheels or the Parktronic.

They will insure the car, but if it has a wheel stolen then it will be replaced with a standard one or if the bumpers are hit the parktronic won't be covered.

Is this normal?

Regards

Tan

No, it's not normal, [except for Elephant policies] its just a way of keeping costs down - all cars treated as standard model regardless of extras - makes repairs cheaper!

 

[Tan]

Looks like its time to give someone else a call.

 

[Brett]

I've wondered about this a few times. "Is your car standard" - my answer is always "yes, it is as it left the factory". Will be interesting to see their reaction if I ever have to make a claim as my answer is 100% accurate.

 

[Rory]

except for Elephant policies

and their associated companies - Admiral etc etc.
You'd be pretty dismayed if you didn't realise this and someone nicked your COMAND unit

For what it's worth i found Liverpool Victoria (aka Frizzell) best value, bearing in mind their cover, excesses and NCD guarantee.

 

[Tilly]

I dont know if its the same for you guys it might just be cos im so young... but norwich union have been cheaper on both my BM coupe and the Merc than other insurers by £300!!! (but remember my quotes vary so much because im only 18 so I doubt you'll save quite that much unless you want to drive for free? )

 

[Fady]

Yer - I'm with Admiral....well at least until my policy expires. Quite a kerfuffle trying to get my insurance transferred over from my previous car. I bought the car privately and, bearing in mind there are about 80 possible options on top of 1 of (the then) 3 standard specs, I did not know what the complete list of options was (and neither did the previous owner). Having only test driven the car, I had to demand to be put through to a supervisor so that I could at least pick the car up, drive it home and then get back to them with the options.

Imho, not a company to be with unless your car comes in one single and unvaried spec (as did my 406 Coupe). I'm going somewhere else. I would have even cancelled, but I don't want to give them the pleasure of the totally unreasonable £50 cancellation charge (I cancelled an AON policy and was charged a fiver).

 

[Flash]

Its not normal at all - with my w203 it had quite a few factory options and the inusrance premium was not increased at all and it had PTS, bi xenons, upgraded alloys/sports suspenion, wood/leather steering wheel etc...

 

[Rory]

I dont know if its the same for you guys it might just be cos im so young... but norwich union have been cheaper on both my BM coupe and the Merc than other insurers by £300!!! (but remember my quotes vary so much because im only 18 so I doubt you'll save quite that much unless you want to drive for free? )

I think *MB's* own insurance is underwritten by Norwich Union - I liked the MB packages cover, but it was £200 dearer than LV's £400 quote.
Norwich Union underwrite a lot of other brand names, and I believe they have over 20% of the car insurance market in the UK.

 

[Shude]

Its not normal at all - with my w203 it had quite a few factory options and the inusrance premium was not increased at all and it had PTS, bi xenons, upgraded alloys/sports suspenion, wood/leather steering wheel etc...

The insurance company have no idea what options you have, I suppose it is your duty to declare them if you want them insuring too.

Directline thought my previous W202 was a manual for some reason, and Elephant think my car is an E220 if you put the licence plate in. Not exactly perfect is it?

 

[Flash]

I think *MB's* own insurance is underwritten by Norwich Union - I liked the MB packages cover, but it was £200 dearer than LV's £400 quote.
Norwich Union underwrite a lot of other brand names, and I believe they have over 20% of the car insurance market in the UK.

Norwich Union do underwrite MB Insurance and will always quote lower than MB. Norwich Union is part of the Aviva Group and they own/have links with a number of insurers and own a number of inusrance companys' under different names....

 

[Fady]

The insurance company have no idea what options you have, I suppose it is your duty to declare them if you want them insuring too.

Directline thought my previous W202 was a manual for some reason, and Elephant think my car is an E220 if you put the licence plate in. Not exactly perfect is it?

Conversely there are some insurance companies that have no interest in what you options are as long as they are factory fitted.

Whereas it seems sensible to have to declare your larger than standard factory fitted wheels or your sat nav, if you are asked to specify ALL of your factory options you have list seemingly inconsequential items such as electric front seats or illuminated vanity mirrors (that is once you have deciphered whether or not this is a standard or an optional item for you level of trim). The insurance company will then decide if any additional loading of the premium is applicable.

My beef with Admiral was that they refused point blank to insure my car unless I gave them a comprehensive list of options up front. When I got to speak to a supervisor, I asked what sort of factory fitted options might render a car uninsurable. She thought about this for a good couple of seconds and then said......a roll cage. OK, right - on a diesel estate???...!!!

 

[Tilly]

when it comes to insuring extras is it not up to the discretion of the people on the other end of the line for their commission purposes?

Try this... I did, now i know this is not factory fitted and is aftermarket BUT privacy glass is a factory option on many cars. Anyway, ring up your insurer:

"hi, im thinking of fitting privacy glass to my car, will it affect my policy?"

1st answer, "yes it will increase your premium £180 a year" (remember im only 18 so thats why the increase is so large)

I rang a few days later...

"It won't affect your premium but your would have to declare it"

 

[Dave Kerr]

Hi

I got a quote from elephant for the new car and was suprised to hear that they will not cover the options such as the AMG wheels or the Parktronic.

They will insure the car, but if it has a wheel stolen then it will be replaced with a standard one or if the bumpers are hit the parktronic won't be covered.

Is this normal?

Regards

Tan

Not normal with Direct line either, I told them about all the factory mods on my car and they told me if it came from the factory like that then its not counted as a mod.

Dave

 

[grober]

Factory spec sheet.

Factory fitted options codes should be listed on your vehicle data card at the back of your service book. If not then if you write to MB UK with your chassis number and proof of identity (driving licence) and ownership( copy of Registration document) they should be able to send you a copy of the build spec. Your MB dealer might be able to do this for you actually ??. Send this to your insurance company with a letter stating this is the factory specification of the vehicle you are insuring. That way they cant dispute it later. Unfortunately the onus is on you to inform them of all facts which may materially effect the policy.

 

[DieselE]

Not normal with Direct line either, I told them about all the factory mods on my car and they told me if it came from the factory like that then its not counted as a mod.

Dave

I think it depends on the luck of the draw when you ring in. I'm with Direct Line and had a devil of a job getting through to them what options are on the car in a way that fits their listing system. Initially there is no problem as they would replace the car if stolen or damaged by more than 60%. Now it is over one year old I'm going to be asking searching questions of them and the alternatives.

 

[Dieselman]

Some companies are reasonable about declared options and others are awkward.
They know what they are insuring if the car is standard, so it fit's into an easy catagory, and repairs are straightforward. If the car is modified then there can be issues to value of modified parts and availability.

I was insured with NU Direct, who said if I modified the engine output then they wouldn't insure me, whereas my current insure is Ok about that.

Just shop around and make sure you are honest, just in case.

 

[Tan]

Admiral have given me a quote £300 less than everyone else but they won't insure the AMG wheels.

Thankfully I have the free Mercedes insurance for a week to find better quotes.

 

[Thmsshaun]

and their associated companies - Admiral etc etc.
You'd be pretty dismayed if you didn't realise this and someone nicked your COMAND unit

For what it's worth i found Liverpool Victoria (aka Frizzell) best value, bearing in mind their cover, excesses and NCD guarantee.

You would be stuffed if your Comand was nicked anyway as most companies only cover £750 in audio.

 

[glojo]

You would be stuffed if your Comand was nicked anyway as most companies only cover £750 in audio.

That is an interesting point and once you describe what has been stolen there is no going back.

I wonder if we should describe it as simply part of the electronic system of the car?? After all the audio side is just part of the system.

John