Insurance Query

Hi,

I am thinkin about putting an A-bar with some spots on the front of my Disco
and light protector bars on the rear lights.

Should I tell my insurance company about this? I had a friend who fitted
standard Peugeot fog lights to his 406 and didn't even think about telling
his insurance - next thing he knows, they won't pay out on a knock-for-knock
claim because he hadn't told them about the fogs!

Is it likely to put my insurance up? Can I just claim they were on there
when I bought the car?

Richard Wilkinson wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am thinkin about putting an A-bar with some spots on the front of my Disco
> and light protector bars on the rear lights.
>
> Should I tell my insurance company about this? I had a friend who fitted
> standard Peugeot fog lights to his 406 and didn't even think about telling
> his insurance - next thing he knows, they won't pay out on a knock-for-knock
> claim because he hadn't told them about the fogs!
>
> Is it likely to put my insurance up? Can I just claim they were on there
> when I bought the car?

Depends how you feel about it. You could inform your insurance company
and depending how they feel, they'll either say no probs and no
increase, some increase or even cease cover. If the items are standard
Land Rover and could of been fitted at time of purchase, then in my
opinion I'd stick to that story should the insurance company at any
stage query the fitment. I've got an A frame, spots, mud flaps and
side steps, all genuine items. As far as I'm concerned, I bought the
car second hand, they were already fitted, assumed it came from dealer
as such (ahem). I guess even dealer fitted they are classed as a
modification though, but where do we stop having to tell the insurance
company we've added something? A set of car mats, an air freshener?

Alan C

> Depends how you feel about it. You could inform your insurance company
> and depending how they feel, they'll either say no probs and no
> increase, some increase or even cease cover.

Yep - you should tell them, and as above they will decide what to do.
Most will just say "ok" with no increase in policy, but if you are
with someone like Direct Line et al who don't want anything but
absolutely bog standard spec, low risk clients then they might say
they no longer wish to insure you.

If the items are standard
> Land Rover and could of been fitted at time of purchase, then in my
> opinion I'd stick to that story should the insurance company at any
> stage query the fitment. I've got an A frame, spots, mud flaps and
> side steps, all genuine items. As far as I'm concerned, I bought the
> car second hand, they were already fitted, assumed it came from dealer
> as such (ahem). I guess even dealer fitted they are classed as a
> modification though, but where do we stop having to tell the insurance
> company we've added something? A set of car mats, an air freshener?

Anything that differs from standard should be mentioned, even if
dealer supplied and fitted - obviously mats and air freshener are
taking it a bit far! Alloy wheels that are non-standard should be
mentioned, even a badge on the back - e.g. if you have a 1.4 Golf
and stick a GTi badge on the back you should tell the insurance
company because it makes the vehicle more attractive to thieves -
not to mention the driving attitude of someone who thinks they
are driving a GTi! it makes it more likely that they will have to
pay out.

Matt

"Matthew Maddock" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
> Anything that differs from standard should be mentioned, even if
> dealer supplied and fitted - obviously mats and air freshener are
> taking it a bit far! Alloy wheels that are non-standard should be
> mentioned, even a badge on the back - e.g. if you have a 1.4 Golf
> and stick a GTi badge on the back you should tell the insurance
> company because it makes the vehicle more attractive to thieves -
> not to mention the driving attitude of someone who thinks they
> are driving a GTi! it makes it more likely that they will have to
> pay out.
>
> Matt

A collision with an A bar will also be more likely to frig your chassis and
affect the air bag deployment (assuming you have them).

I fitted a Bull bar on a 1983 RRC and a few insurance companies didn't want
to know. I seemed at the time to settle with NFU.

Lee D

On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 23:58:26 +0100, Lee_D
<[email protected]> wrote:

> ...
> A collision with an A bar will also be more likely to frig your chassis

really? they don't seem solid enough to pass on the impact forces. Maybe
I'm thinking of the more traditional bull-bar type thingie.

> ...
> I fitted a Bull bar on a 1983 RRC and a few insurance companies didn't
> want
> to know...

I can sorta understand that - there's a load of FUD surrounding their use.

--
William Tasso

Land Rover - 110 V8
Discovery - V8