Insurance - "modifications"

HomeBuyer

Hoping someone can help me with this.
I have taken the time to read the stickies and its not clear.

Called the insurance company and nobody I spoke with can clarify.
When the insurance company asks has the car been modified in anyway, would this include factory extras?

In particular, a VW golf with "sports pack" which includes a sports suspension.
I don't believe this is a "modification" but wanted to get some feedback.

Thanks,

MidlandsM

no, you're grand

Renegade Mechanic

HomeBuyer wrote: »

Hoping someone can help me with this.
I have taken the time to read the stickies and its not clear.

Called the insurance company and nobody I spoke with can clarify.
When the insurance company asks has the car been modified in anyway, would this include factory extras?
In particular, a VW golf with "sports pack" which includes a sports suspension.
I don't believe this is a "modification" but wanted to get some feedback.

Thanks,

IMO if its factory fitted, then you just have to give the reg. Theyll know the rest. All they really care about is aftermarket suspension kits, fat exhausts, braking system upgrages and anything done to modify the engines performance that was,done after the car left the factory.

Del2005

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

IMO if its factory fitted, then you just have to give the reg. Theyll know the rest. All they really care about is aftermarket suspension kits, fat exhausts, braking system upgrages and anything done to modify the engines performance that was,done after the car left the factory.

I wouldn't be too sure. There'll base their quote on a standard spec for the car. If it's been modified, even in manufacture, than it's not to the same spec as their standard car and the fact it's a sports pack would indicate it'll increase the performance of the car.

OP call back your insurance company and ask them to contact their underwriters, as they are the ones who'll be paying out if it comes down to it.

MugMugs

Del2005 wrote: »

I wouldn't be too sure. There'll base their quote on a standard spec for the car. If it's been modified, even in manufacture, than it's not to the same spec as their standard car and the fact it's a sports pack would indicate it'll increase the performance of the car.

OP call back your insurance company and ask them to contact their underwriters, as they are the ones who'll be paying out if it comes down to it.

To be honest, this is a little dramatic.

OP - Can you confirm what modifications were made to your vehicle? Was it a Mod or was it an extra. There's a difference.

dar83

Extras on a stock car aren't modifications, that's why they also ask you the value of the car to insure it. A "sports pack" these days generally means slightly different trim and potentially different alloys or bumper/sideskirts. Usually nothing to do with performance at all really, just exterior/interior styling.

HomeBuyer

MugMugs wrote: »

To be honest, this is a little dramatic.

OP - Can you confirm what modifications were made to your vehicle? Was it a Mod or was it an extra. There's a difference.

An extra - sports pack simply included a different suspension on the car (along with Alloys and privacy glass).

I know the question seems a little stupid but my concern was the fact that the insurance company had no idea. I just wanted to clarify as I don't want to run into a situation where they can find an excuse should I need to make use of the policy if something happened.

Anan1

HomeBuyer wrote: »

An extra - sports pack simply included a different suspension on the car (along with Alloys and privacy glass).

I know the question seems a little stupid but my concern was the fact that the insurance company had no idea. I just wanted to clarify as I don't want to run into a situation where they can find an excuse should I need to make use of the policy if something happened.

How exactly do they phrase the question? The car has not been modified from its original specification.

MugMugs

HomeBuyer wrote: »

An extra - sports pack simply included a different suspension on the car (along with Alloys and privacy glass).

It's an extra, not a mod.

You shouldn't worry about it.

If you continue to be concerned however, when you receive your proposal form from them, return a copy of it to them and enclose a spec listing of your vehicle.

They'll file it under the "really not relevant to anything" pile and should anything ever happen, it's there in black and white for them to see. Could also speed up any potential settlement for you too

Magnos

Hi all.

I have just bought a uk car as i will be working over here. I am bringing my irish car home soon and have 3 weeks left on my policy.

So i am kinda stuck for 2 weeks, would an irish insurer cover a uk reg for the last 2 wks of my policy?
I cant get a uk policy with my irish no claims if the irish policy is still running

Advice?

Anan1

Magnos wrote: »

Hi all.

I have just bought a uk car as i will be working over here. I am bringing my irish car home soon and have 3 weeks left on my policy.

So i am kinda stuck for 2 weeks, would an irish insurer cover a uk reg for the last 2 wks of my policy?
I cant get a uk policy with my irish no claims if the irish policy is still running

Advice?

Ask your current insurer?

endacl

HomeBuyer wrote: »

I know the question seems a little stupid but my concern was the fact that the insurance company had no idea. I just wanted to clarify as I don't want to run into a situation where they can find an excuse should I need to make use of the policy if something happened.

Should you not be asking the insurance company to go away, get an idea, and get back to you?

Magnos

Anan1 wrote: »

Ask your current insurer?

I already asked them to cover me in the UK on my irish car.

they would only if it was only for 30 days.

So i wonder will alarms start going off is all

Eric Cartman

On thos topic, would retrofitting oem extras to a 2nd hand car count as a modification ?

Anan1

Magnos wrote: »

I already asked them to cover me in the UK on my irish car.

they would only if it was only for 30 days.

So i wonder will alarms start going off is all

Look, you need cover and they're your current insurer. Ask them, they'll either say yes or no. They're not going to bite you.

Anan1

Eric Cartman wrote: »

On thos topic, would retrofitting oem extras to a 2nd hand car count as a modification ?

Yes.

HomeBuyer

endacl wrote: »

Should you not be asking the insurance company to go away, get an idea, and get back to you?

They don't seem capable of that. Never getting call backs - called twice in last 2 weeks - never returned calls.