Performance exhaust

[Luton Town]

When getting a quote from an insurance company do you have to tell them when they say any modifications?I am getting the perf exhaust on my a45 and was just wondering where I would stand.Do they mean if I was to go and get an aftermarket one?

 

[John]

Generally, they mean any changes to the car since it left the factory such as aftermarket exhaust, remap etc.

Admiral, for one, are different and include any options you chose before the car was built, as well as any changes to the car since it left the factory as above.

If you change anything, you should tell them.

If not, they could void your insurance and / or the first party element of your insurance (i.e. your claim!) should you come to make a claim and they find out.

 

[TheFoX]

That 'get out' clause is more hassle than it is worth. How does the second or third owner know what their predecessor has done to the car in their care?

Unless you have a precise list of the factory options available, as a second or third generation owner, you'll not know what is fitted and what has been changed, especially if you are new to that make and model.

I wonder how many people have been caught out because a previous owner made a modification that they didn't declare upon selling the car?

I also wonder whether someone could claim ignorance in a court of law should they need to sue their insurer for failing to honour the insurance policy. Voiding a policy because the alloys aren't the original factory fit is one thing, if the current owner had changed them, but if they came with the car when it was purchased second hand by the current owner, could an insurance company justify voiding an insurance policy? I think not.

 

[brucemillar]

That 'get out' clause is more hassle than it is worth. How does the second or third owner know what their predecessor has done to the car in their care?

Unless you have a precise list of the factory options available, as a second or third generation owner, you'll not know what is fitted and what has been changed, especially if you are new to that make and model.

I wonder how many people have been caught out because a previous owner made a modification that they didn't declare upon selling the car?

I also wonder whether someone could claim ignorance in a court of law should they need to sue their insurer for failing to honour the insurance policy. Voiding a policy because the alloys aren't the original factory fit is one thing, if the current owner had changed them, but if they came with the car when it was purchased second hand by the current owner, could an insurance company justify voiding an insurance policy? I think not.

In short: Yes you can claim ignorance. There have been several well documented test cases.

Beware: If it is an "obvious modification" then you would most likely fail in court as "ignorance" is not considered a defense when you could reasonably be expected to now that your car did not come as standard with a huge stainless exhaust and a set of Carlos Fandango 26" rims. That has also been proven in law. The obvious point being that if you modified it in your ownership? Then you should have declared it.

 

[brucemillar]

Duplicate Post:

That 'get out' clause is more hassle than it is worth. How does the second or third owner know what their predecessor has done to the car in their care?

Unless you have a precise list of the factory options available, as a second or third generation owner, you'll not know what is fitted and what has been changed, especially if you are new to that make and model.

I wonder how many people have been caught out because a previous owner made a modification that they didn't declare upon selling the car?

I also wonder whether someone could claim ignorance in a court of law should they need to sue their insurer for failing to honour the insurance policy. Voiding a policy because the alloys aren't the original factory fit is one thing, if the current owner had changed them, but if they came with the car when it was purchased second hand by the current owner, could an insurance company justify voiding an insurance policy? I think not.

In short: Yes you can claim ignorance. There have been several well documented test cases.

Beware: If it is an "obvious modification" then you would most likely fail in court as "ignorance" is not considered a defense when you could reasonably be expected to know that your car did not come as standard with a huge stainless exhaust and a set of Carlos Fandango 26" rims. That has also been proven in law.

The obvious point being that if you modified it in your ownership? Then you should have declared it.

 

[brucemillar]

OH. I know this as I took my insurer to court and won on exactly this type of case.

 

[Benzmanc]

OH. I know this as I took my insurer to court and won on exactly this type of case.

Did you take them to court twice ??

 

[John]

That 'get out' clause is more hassle than it is worth. How does the second or third owner know what their predecessor has done to the car in their care?

Unless you have a precise list of the factory options available, as a second or third generation owner, you'll not know what is fitted and what has been changed, especially if you are new to that make and model.

I wonder how many people have been caught out because a previous owner made a modification that they didn't declare upon selling the car?

I also wonder whether someone could claim ignorance in a court of law should they need to sue their insurer for failing to honour the insurance policy. Voiding a policy because the alloys aren't the original factory fit is one thing, if the current owner had changed them, but if they came with the car when it was purchased second hand by the current owner, could an insurance company justify voiding an insurance policy? I think not.

I think with the Admiral thing, you just wouldn't be insured on the options (rather than being uninsured - which is why I worded my first post as a I did) you chose but as we know - they make very little difference to the value of a car as time goes by.

I guess it is more relevant on a new car where the cost between options and not is significant. So on our Juke bought from new, I do it but on my car, I only declare the things I have done. It makes no odds it came with Parktronic and COMAND as my car is getting on for 12 year old.

It is daft.

 

[BTB 500]

As I understand it (could be wrong) the OP is getting a new A45 with the performance exhaust option specified. This isn't in the standard spec. for the car, so would need to be declared for insurance. If you are the first owner it's difficult to claim you didn't know it was there

 

[John]

As I understand it (could be wrong) the OP is getting a new A45 with the performance exhaust option specified. This isn't in the standard spec. for the car, so would need to be declared for insurance. If you are the first owner it's difficult to claim you didn't know it was there

Post 4 (and 5!) clarified that unless you are just posting generally (as you didn't quote anyone)?

 

[BTB 500]

I was posting generally ... the OP wasn't 100% clear (to me anyway!).

 

[Bewva]

I have quoted the drivers pack as an option. As it is new with the car I would not expect to declare it as it came with the car. If however I fitted 20" rims which clearly are not an option I would expect to declare.

 

[BTB 500]

Factory options which affect the value and/or performance of the car (or make it more desirable from a theft POV) would change the insurance risk and so should be declared, IMHO. If in any doubt ask the insurer as it's possible that policy changes from company to company.

Gocompare.com

In our quotes process you'll be asked whether your car been modified, adapted and/or fitted with any optional extras. If your car has been changed in such a way, you should answer 'Yes' and then specify all of the modifications from our easy-to-use drop-down menu.

 

[John]

It doesn't / wouldn't surprise me that more insurers are jumping on this.

I guess the difference in price of options on some cars could be 5 figures.

Although if you don't declare factory options, I understood they would give you the value of the car without the options on a total loss.

This is different to voiding the insurance if you don't declare a modification after the factory.