car insurance

[cyberstar]

what happens to the car nsurance if i have a diffrent spec to the one i get cover for

e.g i have alloys but i have told the insurance i have not ??

thanks

[spaced]

you insurance will be null and void. You MUST advise the insurers of everything, even if the alloys are standard to your car. If you car was stolen and it had alloys on it and you didnt tell them, your alloys would not be included in any pay out. Therefore honesty is the best policy, trust me. If you get caught out it would be marked against you and you wil find it hard to get any other insurers to insure you.

[Jay70]

Insurance companies will do anything to get out of paying up so if you do not declare any modifications to the cars original spec when getting cover then I'm sure they will try and get out of paying up if you had to make a claim. I found spaced's comment about having to to declare standard equipment interesting I always thought they based their premiums on the standard spec and knew what was fitted as standard given the trim level and yr etc when getting cover.

[Impret-Sir]

I have some alloy wheels fitted to my Scooby that are standard, but on a later model than the one I own. I advised my insurance company who told me that yes, had I not done so they would have been 'unhappy' had they found out about it if the car or the wheels had been stolen, then recovered. They didnt charge me any more on the premium, they just made a note of it, so I was glad I had told them. As jay has said, if they can find a way to do it then insurance companies will avoid paying out, so telling them everything is always the best policy, IMO.

[Loosehead]

Your insurance will not be "void" it just means they will assume you have standard wheels and will pay out accordingly if stolen/damaged etc. You do not have to declare "standard" features, not sur what Spaced is on about.

Insurance will be void though if you do not tell them about non cosmetic modifications, although in practice you won't be prosecuted, the insurance company will just use it as an excuse to not pay.

You should tell them anyway so it gives them one less excuse to not pay up should the need arise.

[spaced]

Jay 70, I must have explained incorrectly - if your alloys, for example, are standard to the care there will be no extra premium as they come with the car, but you must tell them. They usually ask anyway.

Not all insurers charge extra for modifications, but it is always best to advise them of everything, incase of a claim.

Loosehead some insurers see that false or undisclosed information renders the policy null and void, trust me.

[si.mullins]

insurance companies try everything to not pay up in event of a claim, touch wood you wont ever have to make one.

if you do, change the wheels back to rims and trims play dumb or just tell the insuance company you bought the car like that and you thought that the car was made we them on. before your try the last part of that saying its was made thatt way, make sure the alloys are branded to the car, i.e ford on ford etc, not like fox alloys or some other brand on it etc.

[bigdaddycain]

I dont know if insurance companies have changed much,but i recall an article about a company refusing to pay out on a policy because of a non standard decal on a car when it was stolen! apparently, the sticker made it more appealing to theives.Also,beware upgrading your brakes,it can cost you more in premiums if your car stops quicker! Insurance companies argue that increased confidence in braking causes you to drive faster!?