Tyre and Alloy wheel insurance

beachBOYken · 1 Dec 2019 at 17:32

Hi

Does anyone get cover for the alloys and tyres when they purchase a new car?

I will soon have a new car, well nearly new, 600 miles on the clock, it has 18" alloys, so Im wondering it I should look at getting some wheel cover.

I'm quite careful but do have a few scuffs on my current cars 16" alloys, just never bothered getting them repaired, but seen as my new car has 18" alloys I'm thinking they may get damaged easier if i drive over a pothole for example.

Can anyone recommend any insurance cover?

My dealership where I am purchasing the car offers it, which also covers bodywork dents and scuffs but its pricey at £399 for 2 years cover or £499 for 3 years. The bodywork cover might come in handy as I have dents and scuffs on my current Ford Focus by no thought of my own doing.

Nasher · 1 Dec 2019 at 18:28

Doesn't seem worth it for that price tbh.

A full wheel refurb is cheaper than that. Some tyre fitters (like ATS) will cover the tyres for only £10-15 extra per tyre, for the life of the tyre.

Extras from dealers are always a rip-off. Don't buy GAP insurance from them either because that is also 3x the price it is online.

Haze · 1 Dec 2019 at 18:33

Does car insurance not cover alloy wheels? Presumed mine were already insured

Nasher · 1 Dec 2019 at 18:37

If stolen or damaged in an accident maybe. They won't cover wear or minor cosmetic damage, unless you paid for some kind of extra cover.

stoofa · 1 Dec 2019 at 19:23

There seem to be any number of companies offering Alloy Insurance - so probably worth shopping around.
But as said, work out the average cost of a "Smart Repair" first and then decide how often are you going to need the services?
I've got Diamond Cut alloys which makes life a little more difficult - as repairing even minor knocks is the wheel onto a lathe as they skim the whole wheel down.

My two nearside wheels are immaculate, I've got a tiny mark on the front offside, the rear offside however took a nasty knock - but having to fork out £100+ for the repair just makes me sad.

Armageus · 1 Dec 2019 at 19:52

Haze said:
Does car insurance not cover alloy wheels? Presumed mine were already insured

It likely does, but you aren't generally going to want to pay your excess or increased premium just to repair a kerbed wheel.

DarkHorizon472 · 1 Dec 2019 at 20:03

Best to compare the actual cost of doing the repairs you think you may need against the total cost of the insurance offers you can find along with the detail in the insurance policies.

beachBOYken · 1 Dec 2019 at 20:51

stoofa said:
There seem to be any number of companies offering Alloy Insurance - so probably worth shopping around.
But as said, work out the average cost of a "Smart Repair" first and then decide how often are you going to need the services?
I've got Diamond Cut alloys which makes life a little more difficult - as repairing even minor knocks is the wheel onto a lathe as they skim the whole wheel down.

My two nearside wheels are immaculate, I've got a tiny mark on the front offside, the rear offside however took a nasty knock - but having to fork out £100+ for the repair just makes me sad.

DarkHorizon472 said:
Best to compare the actual cost of doing the repairs you think you may need against the total cost of the insurance offers you can find along with the detail in the insurance policies.

That’s my thinking as well, but not having got any alloy scuffs repaired, I’m not sure the rough price, I’ve got some on my focus front passenger side, all quite small at most 5cm across, I’m generally quite careful unless it’s a pothole I don’t see.

DereksDontRun · 1 Dec 2019 at 22:04

tyre and alloy insurance - tbh, not heard of it before.

Tyres - surely they'd argue wear and tear unless it's next to new and the damage is from a pot-hole and can be claimed against that?

Alloys - just be careful parking

I got my last car brand new, and after 2.5 years all alloys were still pristine. then got new tyres fitted and they damaged all 4 alloys - got them repaired at the tyre-fitter's expense, so wasn't after the cheapest option. Was about £350ish (can't remember exactly) for all 4 to be stripped and re-done (so more than just a smart-repair). So, £400(+) seems too much to me. unless, you plan to treat curbs like a bowling-lane guide and claim each year (and presumably the premium will go up to reflect that).

Finglonga · 2 Dec 2019 at 10:33

Money maker for the salesman along with all the other crap they try to sell you.

beachBOYken · 2 Dec 2019 at 10:55

Finglonga said:
Money maker for the salesman along with all the other crap they try to sell you.

Yeah I think I will leave it then, not having ever got an alloy repaired I wouldn't know the exact costs involved, does anyone have a rough idea who has had alloys refurbed, (minor scuffs nothing too bad)?

keylion · 2 Dec 2019 at 11:03

At that kind of money I wouldn't bother, keep the cash in the bank in case something happens. I'm very careful with my alloys but any fairly minor scuffs I've always repaired myself. Some wet and dry, paint that matches the alloy colour, some lacquer and a bit of cutting polish can make a lot of scuffs almost invisible.

HoneyBadger · 2 Dec 2019 at 11:11

I fell for this on the VW Amarok when we leased it. An additional £32 a month for wheel and tyre insurance, what a mug I was.

Never used it and the conditions of it, which I admit to not checking properly at the time were quite limited.

Never again.

beachBOYken · 2 Dec 2019 at 16:40

Guys what about GAP insurance

dealership offered it at £297 for 3 years

Looking at independent companies like ALA its roughly the same price.

I don't think I would bother though.

Nasher · 2 Dec 2019 at 16:41

I got 4 years GAP for £120 from ALA. Compared to the £300 for 3 years the dealer tried to sell me.

Even though my car is now 6 years old it would get me back to invoice price if it's written off (current market price for the car from insurer, plus the gap cover which still takes it to the price I paid for it). So it's useful.

FlapR · 2 Dec 2019 at 16:50

Parents got free alloy cover for 2 years when they bought their last car. Was quite good as my mum isn't the best of drivers when it comes to curbs. Think you got 4 repairs a year, just had to send a picture of the damage via email and they'd organise someone to come out to you and sort it.

beachBOYken · 2 Dec 2019 at 17:00

Nasher said:
I got 4 years GAP for £120 from ALA. Compared to the £300 for 3 years the dealer tried to sell me.

Even though my car is now 6 years old it would get me back to invoice price if it's written off (current market price for the car from insurer, plus the gap cover which still takes it to the price I paid for it). So it's useful.

If it was that price I would likely do it, guess it depends on value of car, ALA also do alloy insurance cover but they don't seem to be offering it at present.

beachBOYken · 4 Dec 2019 at 12:53

Get my car shortly and Im tempted to get the GAP insurance, due to the cost of the car I would like a little peace of mind.

I was going to get it from somewhere like ALA insurance but my dealership is selling it for almost the same price, at my Ford dealership its £297 for 3 years, with ALA its £293.

If I got it from dealership I would drive my new car away knowing I have it in place I guess.

Does that price sound steep? I was expecting ALA to be a lot cheaper.

The Ford GAP is called Ford Asset Protection, has anyone got this from Ford's ?

Bickaxe · 4 Dec 2019 at 14:31

I negotiated the price of my Focus and then asked if GAP and wheel/alloy repair and the paint repair could be added on as well.
Deliberately left it until after, would have gone elsewhere if the sales guy didn't include it.

Drumroll · 4 Dec 2019 at 15:20

For the alloys, I would say it's useful, if the price is right. For tyres, not sure, never had a damaged tyre to need a replacement. Body repair, more often than not not worth. Won't cover bigger panels where the only solution is a full respray (bonnet, roof). Even some areas of the wheel arch isn't covered.