Insurance & modifications

[Vertigo]

Quick random question - are immobilisers or dashcams classed as "modifications" for the purposes of insurance.

I always assume that by "modifications", they meant remaps, bodykits and other physical modifications but not things like dashcams/immobilisers.

 

[Shadowness]

Surely the two you mention would lower your premium - you'd think anyway in any logical world, which the insurance industry does not operate in.

So why not declare them?

 

[Kenai]

Surely the two you mention would lower your premium

Unless the statistics say that people who fit dashcams have higher accident rates (hence their desire to have a dashcam) and people fitting immobilisers are at more risk of theft (hence their desire to have additional security).

 

[kefkef]

Don't most insurers ask if an aftermarket immobiliser has been fitted as part of the standard questions asked? It becomes an integral part of the car. However dashcams i wouldn't as they can be removed/disconnected easily.

 

[Vertigo]

As @Kenai says, it's a double-edged sword as it can put you in a different statistical demographic.

They sometimes ask about dashcams and, if so, then I declare it.

Immobilisers are tricky as I've only ever seen them explicitly ask about Thatcham-approved ones so, if yours isn't, do you declare it separately as a "mod"?

 

[Armageus]

Immobilisers are normally covered under aftermarket alarm/security questions - rather than as a "modification".

Dashcams are normally covered in terms of personal belongings/in car entertainment equipment, but if asked about them you would have to declare it, as it may affect your risk profile (whilst in theory it helps protect you against 3rd parties, there are also the dashcam "throbber" minority who go looking for trouble purely to record on dashcam)

 

[Vertigo]

Immobilisers are normally covered under aftermarket alarm/security questions - rather than as a "modification".

That's the thing though - I've only ever seen them ask about Thatcham approved ones so, if your isn't, do you declare it separately or not?

 

[kaku]

Most car insurance quote forms I've filled in have asked specifically if I have a dashcam fitted.

An aftermarket alarm/immobiliser I would personally consider 'a modification' (and it's declared as such on my car that has one).

 

[Fr0dders]

I think most insurers ask the question as to whether you have an alarm or immobilizer fitted and if it's factory or aftermarket, separate to any questions about modifications.

I renewed with LV recently and they didn't ask about dash cams. But I wouldn't declare a dash cam in the modifications section - id' class it as vehicle contents for the purpose of insurance unless they specifically ask.