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Car insurance - do you declare all optional extras?

2K views 19 replies 10 participants last post by  jparkin486 
#1 ·
Hey everyone,

It's renewal time and I'm just wondering what you guys do when it comes to answering that question about whether your car has been modified in any way including optional extras (eg. parking sensors or air conditioning).

I spotted this today with esure and admiral and a few others and I'm concerned that if I input all the extras my Alfa has i.e. radio nav, climate control, heated seats and so on my premium will be through the roof!

How do you guys feel about this?
 
#2 ·
Interesting question. When I first insured my G I asked the people at Admiral this as I have the RadioNav and 18" alloys added and they told me it doesn't need declaring if the manufacture adds them on when the cars built. Since then I've added DAB and have never declared any modifications.

I'm curious of others experiences now??
 
#4 ·
Sure enough I'm in the same boat as you, renewal up with Elephant (aka Admiral) and their wording for the modifications incl. optional extras is very interesting.

"Has your car been modified in any way? With the tooltip of "This is a cosmetic or performance change to the car away from the manufacturer's standard specification (including optional extras)."

Like you, I also have 18" alloys, radio nav, carbon spoiler and wing mirror caps etc. but this was all done at the factory "to the best of my knowledge".
 
#3 ·
As above, if it was included at sale by the manufacturer then no problem.
Other question is when you fit uprated but basically OEM parts, for example Eibach springs on a factory lowered car (ie no extra drop), groved discs etc
 
#5 ·
I have always used the premise if it came with the car its not an extra to declare.

I recently reinsured my Cooper S mini. The list of what constitutes an extra was endless. Even things like stripes and stickers in the windows had to be declared. Don't know how much difference it would have made. Got charged £28 extra for the stainless sports exhaust though!! The strut brace and improved air intake where on it when I bought it!
 
#6 · (Edited)
I also work on the aussumption that standard = how it was sold.

Eibach springs, Bilstein B6 dampers and groved discs I would class as upgrades and would notify the insurance.

Standard replacements like plated plain discs, Bilstein b4 dampers and different bits of trim from other models I would be tempted not to say anything.

I fitted Silver mirror caps on my Lusso from a Veloce, but I didn't tell the insurance.

I can't see how it would affect the likelyhood of my car having an accident or the car being stolen. Same with the small Italian flag badge on the back.
 
#8 ·
Stickers on windows "advertising" things like Alpine or Ansa etc... or bigger wheels may make your car more attractive to thieves who will smash windows to steal what they think is in your car.

Ultimately, I guess, the insurance company could say the car is not the same as that insured and nullify the cover!

My exhaust is very very obvious when the engine is running!!!
 
#9 ·
I think it depends how you interpret their wording. When they say

the manufacturer's standard specification (including optional extras)."
I would take that to mean that they don't need to know about optional extras.

Saying that though, I've just had a remap because the 159 was at 136bhp. So I had it changed to 170bhp. That's kind of thing they probably mean. It isn't something they are likely to check our can see at a glance so I'd be reluctant to report it.

I want to change my stereo though and once done, I'd be likely to inform them of that, if someone stole the stereo, I'd want it replaced

Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk
 
#11 ·
I think it depends how you interpret their wording. When they say



I would take that to mean that they don't need to know about optional extras.

Saying that though, I've just had a remap because the 159 was at 136bhp. So I had it changed to 170bhp. That's kind of thing they probably mean. It isn't something they are likely to check our can see at a glance so I'd be reluctant to report it.

I want to change my stereo though and once done, I'd be likely to inform them of that, if someone stole the stereo, I'd want it replaced

Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk
Declared my Bhp upgrade as if I was in an accident I thought I'd be screwed if the insurance found out as they would probably say insurance was invalidated.
 
#10 ·
I don't think they can just nullify the cover for trivial stuff like decals or mirror caps.

Performance enhancements, or things which make the car look like the faster models such as a body kits are different.

But as Cue says they may just refuse to pay for non-declared extras if they are stolen.

Not even sure if the 17" wheels on my car are original or not. I think they are but I wouldn't want to put money on it.
 
#20 ·
The trouble comes when using comparison sites or filling in forms on the internet when it just becomes a tick list and from that there may be a "standard" list of extra costs. :thinking:

If I modify my mini further I'd be looking to talk directly to a human at a specialist form who would have a bit more knowledge of the various upgrades and potential BHP increases. :nervous:

Hopefully they would be more pragmatic than a internet tick list! :thumbu p:

My Giulietta has to remain as the garage sent it out as its a lease job.

Julian
 
#18 ·
Wheels are an interesting one, if you went out and purchased a set of 18" wheels to fit your car with 16", you would probably not need to declare if they are Alfa Romeo Wheels, but would if they were another brand. If you bought the car second hand there would be nothing to say they were optional extras.

In the case of Eibachs, I was very careful to state it was with the already lowered Ti, definitely an extra for a Lusso.
 
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