- Thread starter ukracer
- Start date
Very interesting. I suppose unless it is factory fitted from new, technically speaking it is a modification over the standard spec…
Looking on one of the comparison websites, selecting yes for modifications and scrolling through the list tow bar is one of the options. There are others which was surprising such as roof rack, air conditioning, car phone, sat nav, tinted windows and various others.
Installing a dash cam wasn’t on the list even though some basically a permanent installation…
Definitely one to be weary of!!
Thanks for posting
Looking on one of the comparison websites, selecting yes for modifications and scrolling through the list tow bar is one of the options. There are others which was surprising such as roof rack, air conditioning, car phone, sat nav, tinted windows and various others.
Installing a dash cam wasn’t on the list even though some basically a permanent installation…
Definitely one to be weary of!!
Thanks for posting
But where does it stop, to me it is just get out options for insurance companies.
A tow bar/ball I can understand you don't fit one unless you intend to pull/tow, that will have insurance implications.
But 2nd hand how many would know if one was fitted retrospectively.
Tyres another, they need to be replaced, what's to stop an insurance company saying, different brand from manufacture, so is a modification, so deny claim, that's stretching it a bit but I'm making a point.
Dash cam's another, roof rack another, is that really modifications? it's the bells, whistles, hoops and pitfalls insurance companies come up with, their net to deny a claim.
A tow bar/ball I can understand you don't fit one unless you intend to pull/tow, that will have insurance implications.
But 2nd hand how many would know if one was fitted retrospectively.
Tyres another, they need to be replaced, what's to stop an insurance company saying, different brand from manufacture, so is a modification, so deny claim, that's stretching it a bit but I'm making a point.
Dash cam's another, roof rack another, is that really modifications? it's the bells, whistles, hoops and pitfalls insurance companies come up with, their net to deny a claim.
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Perhaps not the roof rack as such, but the fact you are now potentially sticking sheets of ply on the roof that might come off and sail into the car behind?
@Mark 5 i agree, seems any excuse not to pay out. Even things such as baby and child car seats, not standard fit so technically a modification. Don’t forget about your magic tree either!!!
I can only surmise that in this particular situation it could be the tow bar that directly caused the accident… maybe a trailer fell off or something.
I can only surmise that in this particular situation it could be the tow bar that directly caused the accident… maybe a trailer fell off or something.
It was actually a bike rack I believe.
Thousands of drivers may have invalid insurance because of common change
Motoring experts are calling for a change in the rules after one driver was told his insurance would not pay out
www.lancs.live
But this is also reported..
"Rosamond added: “The driver who got in touch with us told us that he is at his “wit's end” adding that, following a routine vehicle collision, his insurer “refused to honour my insurance at the last minute, leaving me with a potential six-figure cost and the incredible stress and anxiety this has caused me and my family."
colnerov
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It's not just that it can also unbalance the vehicle, and it's surprising how low the weight capacity of the roof is.
Yes but there lays questions, if in an accident, if no ply sheets being carried, the fact a roof rack has been fitted might invalidate insurance.
Insurance companies have to be transparent, not try to cover all angles with inappropriate vague wording but specifics, what is, what isn't covered.
Any excuse for the insurance companies not to have to pay out! It does beg the question of would they decline if non-manufacturer fitted replacement parts were used during routine maintenance and repair? Say brake discs and pads? Battery? Tyres? Where does it stop? Old Joe public, busy trying to get the best insurance deal, isn't going to be reading the small print on every possible policy that they're offered!!
PhillipM
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If you saw what goes into modifying vehicles to fit some towbars you wouldn't be surprised.
Motorhomes for example need a type approved towbar. But you don't have to then bolt that type approved towbar to anything that's approved. You can hang it off some 2x4's if you want. Or bolt some brackets up through the plywood floors. But if you weld up your own towbar it's illegal. It's insane.
Towing A-frames are just as bad, the crash beams that are supposed to collapse and absorb impact energy get either modified, removed, or replaced/added to with solid beams to tow from. Massive difference in accident dynamics.
Motorhomes for example need a type approved towbar. But you don't have to then bolt that type approved towbar to anything that's approved. You can hang it off some 2x4's if you want. Or bolt some brackets up through the plywood floors. But if you weld up your own towbar it's illegal. It's insane.
Towing A-frames are just as bad, the crash beams that are supposed to collapse and absorb impact energy get either modified, removed, or replaced/added to with solid beams to tow from. Massive difference in accident dynamics.
premmington
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The following was from 2018.
Loading for mods.
Turbo/Supercharging+132%
Transmission or Gear change+63%
Complete body kit+57%
Wheel arches+41%
Roll Bars/Roll Cages+41%
Uprated brakes+36%
Replacement of seats+27%
Exhaust changes+26%Car phone kit+26%
Air Filter+25%
Suspension+25%
Spoilers/Skirts+23%
Sunroof+17%Tinted windows+16%
Dashboard changes+16%
LPG conversion+15%
Satellite navigation system+15%
Specialised paintwork +15%
Air conditioning+13%
Light changes+12%
Stripes & badges+9%
Alloy wheels+8%
Tow Bars-20%
Parking sensors-13
Loading for mods.
Turbo/Supercharging+132%
Transmission or Gear change+63%
Complete body kit+57%
Wheel arches+41%
Roll Bars/Roll Cages+41%
Uprated brakes+36%
Replacement of seats+27%
Exhaust changes+26%Car phone kit+26%
Air Filter+25%
Suspension+25%
Spoilers/Skirts+23%
Sunroof+17%Tinted windows+16%
Dashboard changes+16%
LPG conversion+15%
Satellite navigation system+15%
Specialised paintwork +15%
Air conditioning+13%
Light changes+12%
Stripes & badges+9%
Alloy wheels+8%
Tow Bars-20%
Parking sensors-13
Surprised to see towbars as one of the few negative adjustments.
I’m always very explicit with my insurance,in my declaration with Adrian flux on my old camper,I explained some crash bars I’d fitted in the front of my knees as there’s no bonnet or engine,they weren’t going to list it,I kept persisting,they just reassured me it’s “noted down”. They were however very good at paying out for two of my fault incidents where I reversed into cars that were parked within 2 weeks of each other,my renewal 8 months after was £4 less!
I think thats 90% of the point to be honest..
More Amps
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People forget that insurance companies are not charities - they are in business to make money, not to make life easier for the motorist. Having said that, there is a balance to be struck with too many people hoping/wishing/choosing to believe that if there's the tiniest bit of a grey area or a potential ambiguity in the wording, then rather than asking the company for clarification, they choose to proceed on the basis of "well I thought it meant abc not xyz"...and then the moaning starts when they don't get the full payout they wanted/expected.
I'm not pretending it's all one-sided, but if you want to save a few quid on your premium, and then lose thousands when you're in an accident and the insurance won't pay out in full...go right ahead and don't bother checking. For the avoidance of any doubt, I also strongly recommend putting any such queries in writing and getting confirmation in writing!
I'm not pretending it's all one-sided, but if you want to save a few quid on your premium, and then lose thousands when you're in an accident and the insurance won't pay out in full...go right ahead and don't bother checking. For the avoidance of any doubt, I also strongly recommend putting any such queries in writing and getting confirmation in writing!
That puts me at 219%
That is impossible to do. There should be legislation that forces the insurance company to put in writing any changes they want to know about.
Having a tow bar fitted to a car that has a tree fall on it is totally different to using the towbar and rope to move a tree and get dragged into a culvert.
It's even worse when the company does not load the premium for having a tow bar fitted but gets out of the claim because they were not told.
What you write above is exactly what insurance companies do.....any grey area 99% of the time in the smallprint on page 133 and they will usenit.
