Not declaring?

[dejongj]

yes same here, never had an insurer that was interested in official options. I think if that was universally the case then a heck of a lot of us were breaking the law.

However whenever I apply aftermarket modifications I always declare them. Heck when a remap was only £11.70 extra per year why wouldn't anyone?

 

[whitenemesis]

Interestingly, I recently replaced my C220d with a newer C200. The new car had a number of options fitted, so when I called my insurers (LV) to switch over the cover to the C200 I started to inform the young lady about them. She politely interrupted me while I was in full flow and said all LV wanted to know was the value of the car and if any third party options had been fitted - they weren't concerned about stuff from the manufacturer's options list. It would appear that different insurance companies have different approaches to this.

As I added all the upgrade options to my C270cdi I informed Direct Line. They duly noted each change but didn't increase my premiums. As soon as I enquired about braided brake hoses they point blank refused to cover me if I went ahead. My coil-overs took a deal of negotiating before they would sanction the change and then slapped a 25% premium increase on the car ....

 

[Cymruambyth]

The annoying thing is...pond scum like this, usually walk away unscathed after leaving innocent people hurt.

 

[Cymruambyth]

As far as declaring optional extras to some companies....how would I know what`s extra on mine? I know some but maybe not all

 

[whitenemesis]

As far as declaring optional extras to some companies....how would I know what`s extra on mine? I know some but maybe not all

I think second hand owners are generally given the benefit of doubt regarding factory fitted options.

 

[Cymruambyth]

As I added all the upgrade options to my C270cdi I informed Direct Line. They duly noted each change but didn't increase my premiums. As soon as I enquired about braided brake hoses they point blank refused to cover me if I went ahead. My coil-overs took a deal of negotiating before they would sanction the change and then slapped a 25% premium increase on the car ....

This is why I enquired about insurers in another thread. Some companies are specialist and "understand" the cars and so, don`t screw you when you put...for example, braided brake hoses on......which surely is an improvement to a cars performance.

 

[whitenemesis]

This is why I enquired about insurers in another thread. Some companies are specialist and "understand" the cars and so, don`t screw you when you put...for example, braided brake hoses on......which surely is an improvement to a cars performance.

Exactly my argument when I enquired. DL responded by saying it was indicative of a more 'sporty driver' and I would be considered at higher risk. They applied the same argument with my coil-overs but for some reason unexplained they allowed to mod and excepted the "greater" risk by adding 25% premium ...

 

[Cymruambyth]

Exactly my argument when I enquired. DL responded by saying it was indicative of a more 'sporty driver' and I would be considered at higher risk. They applied the same argument with my coil-overs but for some reason unexplained they allowed to mod and excepted the "greater" risk by adding 25% premium ...

Hmmm, this is one of the reasons I despise insurance companies!

 

[dejongj]

As far as declaring optional extras to some companies....how would I know what`s extra on mine? I know some but maybe not all

There is normally a sticker in the car, often in the boot where the spare wheel is that lists the codes of what is on the vehicle. If you have an insurer that is interested in that (I have never encountered one), then you simply take a photo and email it to them Then all is declared....

 

[Oldlae]

I informed LV that I had fitted a tow bar to my c220 Estate car.
They thanked me for the information, said revised paperwork reflecting the tow bar, would be sent to me, and stated they were crediting my card with £ 5,70.
I have been told that this is to do with towing a trailer, makes you drive slower, and therefore you become a better risk!?!
Tony

 

[RonFleet]

I like LV - they seem to be a fair insurer (it's nothing to do with the fact that I'm a Liverpudlian, honest).

 

[Deleted member 6183]

I informed LV that I had fitted a tow bar to my c220 Estate car.
They thanked me for the information, said revised paperwork reflecting the tow bar, would be sent to me, and stated they were crediting my card with £ 5,70.
I have been told that this is to do with towing a trailer, makes you drive slower, and therefore you become a better risk!?!
Tony

Plus if someone rear-ends you they are coming off worse.

 

[Cymruambyth]

There is normally a sticker in the car, often in the boot where the spare wheel is that lists the codes of what is on the vehicle. If you have an insurer that is interested in that (I have never encountered one), then you simply take a photo and email it to them Then all is declared....

Oooooo...I didn`t know that....thanks, I`ll have a gander when I get it

 

[BTB 500]

As mentioned some insurers require factory options to be declared and others don't - the policy varies from one company to another.

 

[John]

As mentioned some insurers require factory options to be declared and others don't - the policy varies from one company to another.

Indeed. I'd never heard of this before I bought a policy with Admiral many years ago.

Since then, I check now what a specific insurance company is interested to know.

 

[Meldrew2]

I like LV - they seem to be a fair insurer (it's nothing to do with the fact that I'm a Liverpudlian, honest).

LV have just mirrored my full 9 year NCB on to an additional car, reducing premium by far more than the 20% "introductory discount" that I was offered elsewhere.

I had a problem a few years ago after a call centre worker gave me the wrong information, LV corrected the situation and sent me £50 as an apology.

There are not many firms around that still care for their customers like this...

 

[flowrider]

LV have just mirrored my full 9 year NCB on to an additional car, reducing premium by far more than the 20% "introductory discount" that I was offered elsewhere.

I had a problem a few years ago after a call centre worker gave me the wrong information, LV corrected the situation and sent me £50 as an apology.

There are not many firms around that still care for their customers like this...

I am with LV for my ML350 car insurance, when I called them to insure my SL500 they wouldn't mirror my NCD.

 

[Druk]

I informed LV that I had fitted a tow bar to my c220 Estate car.
They thanked me for the information, said revised paperwork reflecting the tow bar, would be sent to me, and stated they were crediting my card with £ 5,70.
I have been told that this is to do with towing a trailer, makes you drive slower, and therefore you become a better risk!?!
Tony

I informed LV that I had fitted a towbar to my E350CDi Estate car.
They thanked me for the information...end-of.

I want my £5.70 back

 

[400ixl]

This is why I enquired about insurers in another thread. Some companies are specialist and "understand" the cars and so, don`t screw you when you put...for example, braided brake hoses on......which surely is an improvement to a cars performance.

Or it could be looked at that you race around and brake later and harder being more of a risk in your driving style.

Many ways to look at most things. All goes into a big risk engine which takes many variables into account. Different insurers view risks in different ways so whilst some might see it as a positive, others won't.

 

[219]

I suspect that his insurers do not fancy paying out on the 15 people that he injured along with the other claims that are in process.

That said. The law is the law. Making a false declaration to obtain insurance is breaking that law.

No argument with the above , but if he made the modifications AFTER taking out the insurance , then still guilty of failing to notify insurers of changes , but not of false declaration to obtain insurance - pedantic I know , but so is the law .