Need to declare factory fitted options on a new car to insurance companies?

muon said:
Say you write your car off and ask for market value, are you going to claim for that £5k optional extra you added on that the insurance company had no idea about?
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If your car differs so much from the standard specification, then I was under the impression that was what GAP insurance was for.

Other than the screenshot above, I have never seen any insurer that needs factory options to be declared.

As others have said - how can a 2nd, 3rd, 10th owner know that the 18" wheels fitted were an optional extra (or even that set of manufacturer wheels from a different model, swapped by a previous owner) aren't the original spec?


As for declaring the value, it makes very little difference, and is not used when paying out - that is normally just done on market value e.g. by glasses price guide. I assume it is just some kind of "sanity" check.


As above, every time I've had a windscreen replacement on cars with multiple options, they have specifically asked what colour tint, heated, auto wipers etc, and replaced regardless of answer/cost.
 
Like I said, I'm not saying all companies suddenly care, or that any company has in the past.

However, going forwards on the face of it it seems Admiral may actually care. So may others, I haven't checked their questions.

I'm sure confused.com ask about it now as well?

As you are probably aware a glasses price differs by options selected. So I can see why an insurance company wants to know about it when setting a price.

How much is a new Porsche Cayman?
 
Jokester said:
Confused asks:-
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The problem here is that the comparison sites define it in one way, but it doesn't necessarily match the definition used by the companies that you get quotes from.

For example, Ensure appear on confused, but they define modifications as:

A modification is any alteration or change to the manufacturer’s standard specification for your car, including optional extras fitted to the car when new by the vehicle manufacturer or dealer, which improves its value, performance, appearance or attractiveness to thieves. This includes, but is not restricted to, changes to the engine, engine management or exhaust system, changes to the wheels or suspension system, changes to the bodywork, such as spoilers or body kits, paintwork or changes to the windows, such as tinting. It also includes any modifications or changes made by previous owners.
Please see below for the full list
Accessories
• Air Conditioning/Climate Control
• Altered Pedal Configuration
• Bull Bars
• Car Phones
• Dashboard Changes
• Hand Controls
• Locking Wheel Nuts
• Parking Sensors
• Removal of Seats
• Replacement Seats
• Roof Rack
• Satellite Navigation
• Sports Steering Wheel
• Sunroof
• Tinted Windows
• Towbar
• Upholstery Changes
• Wheelchair Clamps/Straps
• Wheelchair Lift/Ramp/Winch
Engine/Transmission
• Air Filter
• Blueprinting
• Bored-out Engine
• Chipping - Engine Management System Changes
• Exhaust System Changes
• Gearing Change
• LPG Conversion
• Miscellaneous Engine Alterations
• Nitrous Oxide Kit
• Non-standard Engine - different engine to original
• Standard Engine Replacement - same engine as original
• Supercharging
• Transmission Changes
• Turbocharging
Lighting
• Driving Lights
• Fog Lamps
• High Level Brake Light
• Rally Lights
• Spot Lights
Paintwork/Stickers
• Badges Indicating Increased Performance
• Decals/Stickers
• Murals
• Non Standard Paint Work
• Non-standard Re-spray
• Sign Writing
• Stripes
Spoilers/Body Modification
• Additional Windows fitted to side/rear panels
• Body Kit
• Bonnet Bulge
• Flared Wheelarches
• Flared Wings
• Front Spoiler/Airdam
• Rear Boot Lid Spoiler/Aerofoil
• Rear Roof Spoiler
• Rear Valance
• Roll Cage
• Side Skirts/Sills
• Strengthening Brackets
Suspension/Steering/Brakes
• Dual Controls
• Suspension Changes
• Uprated Brakes
Wheels/Tyres
• Alloy Wheels - aftermarket addition
• Alloy Wheels - manufacturers option
• Wheel Spacers
• Wheel Trims
• Wider Tyres
• Wider Wheels
Other
• Other - Not listed

And this certainly includes manufacturer's options
 
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Jokester said:
You're supposed to, it impacts the renewal cost.
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Often wondered how one is meant to estimate such a cost, surely that is the point of the insurance companies and their databases, they would know, the genral public punter would have no idea of the absolute value of their vehicle, yet is expected to declare.
 
Jokester said:
Indeed, just looking at an Audi A3 has about 80 options beyond engine and gearbox - even assuming these are all just binary options results in a total of 1.2x10^24 possible option combinations. Do you think insurance companies have these each individually costed?
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Also pondered when you enter your car reg, they tell you make and model, do they have access in the same DB to factory fit spec, or just v basic info?
 
Hikari Kisugi said:
Also pondered when you enter your car reg, they tell you make and model, do they have access in the same DB to factory fit spec, or just v basic info?
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What comes up in the insurers website exactly matches what my V5 says as the model of the car (including trim level). I doubt they get any more info beyond that.
 
Basically, 99% of people don't declare any optional extras which is enough that you could plead ignorance and there be no dramas.

Oh noes, they won't pay out because I forgot to mention that specced folding rear seats!
 
Hikari Kisugi said:
Often wondered how one is meant to estimate such a cost, surely that is the point of the insurance companies and their databases, they would know, the genral public punter would have no idea of the absolute value of their vehicle, yet is expected to declare.
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you wont know absolute, but you'll have a general idea by either using an online valuation service, or simply seeing what similar cars are selling for.

the thing that gets me with "modifications" is that there's a massive gulf between swapping to some different OEM wheels or putting in an after-market radio as fitting lowering springs etc.

too many insurers seem to just go for the flat out no option which explains why so many folk tend to not bother declaring even extensive mods, surely it should be a simpler level of "any permanent modification that adversely affects the performance of the vehicle such that it would fail or require special conditions in an MOT"

after all, they don't ask what kind of tyres you have on the car and yet putting on the cheapest possible ditch-finders is going to raise the likelihood of a crash much more than say a sports exhaust.
 
adolf hamster said:
you wont know absolute, but you'll have a general idea by either using an online valuation service, or simply seeing what similar cars are selling for.

the thing that gets me with "modifications" is that there's a massive gulf between swapping to some different OEM wheels or putting in an after-market radio as fitting lowering springs etc.

too many insurers seem to just go for the flat out no option which explains why so many folk tend to not bother declaring even extensive mods, surely it should be a simpler level of "any permanent modification that adversely affects the performance of the vehicle such that it would fail or require special conditions in an MOT"

after all, they don't ask what kind of tyres you have on the car and yet putting on the cheapest possible ditch-finders is going to raise the likelihood of a crash much more than say a sports exhaust.
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Because most people working for the large car insurers are clueless about cars and probably drive to work on ditch finders themselves. Also how many people keep the OEM tyres on their car? Changing that is also a "mod".

If you go to a specialist like Greenlight or Skyinsurance, you get a different level of service entirely. They won't charge extra for things like exhaust mods and moderate power gains.
 
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When looking for quotes for my e38, I was told factory options are classed as standard items given they are part of the original models design and therefore specification, a fully loaded example is not regarded as modified as modified by definition is going beyond the manufacturing design and specification, case in point, a 3rd party tow bar is viewed as a modification because it wasn't designed by nor fitted by BMW for the vehicle in question where the factory option one isn't viewed as a modification as it's designed to fit the vehicle specification by the manufacturer.
 
Options dont always add the equivalent value to the car price tho do they? for eg, if thaat uprated alloy or audio system cost 2k when the car was ordered new, that doesnt mean that the same car is 2k dearer on the used market than the model without it? How do insurers take this into account, there must be some sort of calculation/ reference? or is just based on Glass's valuation?
 
Scania said:
When looking for quotes for my e38, I was told factory options are classed as standard items given they are part of the original models design and therefore specification, a fully loaded example is not regarded as modified as modified by definition is going beyond the manufacturing design and specification, case in point, a 3rd party tow bar is viewed as a modification because it wasn't designed by nor fitted by BMW for the vehicle in question where the factory option one isn't viewed as a modification as it's designed to fit the vehicle specification by the manufacturer.
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But that is the whole point. You might have been told that by one or more insurers, but they can't speak for all of them.
 
Tinders said:
Options dont always add the equivalent value to the car price tho do they? for eg, if thaat uprated alloy or audio system cost 2k when the car was ordered new, that doesnt mean that the same car is 2k dearer on the used market than the model without it? How do insurers take this into account, there must be some sort of calculation/ reference? or is just based on Glass's valuation?
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Having had a car written off, purely a valuation based on model and mileage - optional extras (or anything else like main dealer service history) don't come into it.
 
Armageus said:
Having had a car written off, purely a valuation based on model and mileage - optional extras (or anything else like main dealer service history) don't come into it.
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Actually optional extras do come into it. You have insured the car as a whole. Everything must be covered as long as you haven't misrepresented.

If your car has a £2k sat nav system then your payout needs to ensure you can get something like for like (obviously with the relevant depreciation).

It can be unreasonable to expect the exact same specs but it cannot leave you out of pocket as far as payout/compensation is concerned.
 
muon said:
Actually optional extras do come into it. You have insured the car as a whole. Everything must be covered as long as you haven't misrepresented.

If your car has a £2k sat nav system then your payout needs to ensure you can get something like for like (obviously with the relevant depreciation).
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Aye, and I think insurance companies prey on punters ignorance on the value of their car. Generally, don't accept the first offer if you can demonstrate it undervalues your car.
 
I found only companys like Admiral (Good to go with if you have a bad record but otherwise rubbish) ask for that. After having my some of my cars lightly modded or exras add i found a lot didn't really care unless its Something to do with performance, or visuals that make it stand out more than the model of your spec. Although if its a expensive extra its worth saying.

I would alwasy awyas ask but i wouldnt think they would hold a pay out for factory extra. Maybe give you a rubbsh price but they will always do that.
 
Nasher said:
Because most people working for the large car insurers are clueless about cars and probably drive to work on ditch finders themselves. Also how many people keep the OEM tyres on their car? Changing that is also a "mod".
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yeah, this is why its so nonsensical, hell if i wanted to go about trying to make a car as unsafe as possible (without doing something stupid like a knife pointing out the steering wheel) i'd start by finding the cheapest set of part worn ditch finders to put on it.

it's just annoying that for minor things that don't really have any real effect on performance tend to get a flat out no from insurers.
 
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