Page 1 of 1

Insurance and alloys.

Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:37 pm
by J_hutchison
My insurance is due and I've changed to Portago 16" alloys from 15" (cant remember style name) do I put these as a mod on insurance or not?
I'm thinking not as the new alloys are still VW alloys for the polo just not the ones that came with it when j bought it.

Any help would be appreciated

Re: Insurance and alloys.

Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2021 11:37 pm
by SRGTD
I’d say better to be safe than sorry and declare them to your insurance company. They’ll probably not charge you much if anything at all by way of an increased premium.

I’ve changed the alloys on my current VW and previous 2 VW’s. There’s a requirement in the small print in my insurance policy booklet that requires any modification to be declared so I did. I think that pretty much all insurance companies will have a similar requirement to declare modifications, and most insurers consider a change from the factory build spec of the car to be a modification.

As for being charged any additional premium for changing my wheels;
- the first change on my mk6 Golf (replaced original VW alloys with a different set of VW alloys) there was no charge.
- the second change on my 6c Polo (again, replaced VW alloys with VW alloys) I was charged (I think) and extra £18 per year.
- the latest change on my AW Polo (changed the original VW alloys with a set of aftermarket alloys) there was no charge.

Re: Insurance and alloys.

Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 9:40 am
by Gee40
With 20 years as a senior manager for a very large UK insurer managing motor claims, I've waited years for a post I'm qualified to comment on and SRGTD has beaten me to it (and annoyingly pretty much hitting the nail on the head LOL!)

The only thing I'd add is the every insurance company I've ever dealt with does have a clause requiring proposers/policy holders to declare any modifications/changes from manufacturer's specifications (this does not include changing brands eg Tyres providing the specifications are the same)

Providing the car was originally specified with alloys some insurers would not increase premiums for the change you have mentioned as its unlikely you will affect the handling/stability/ safety of the car.

If you don't declare the change and you need to make a claim, some insurers may dispute the claim on the grounds that you have not declared what is according to the letter of your insurance contract a modification ( this would be even more likely if your car was stolen as they could reasonably suggest your have made the car more desirable and so a greater target for theft.) Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of insurers are not looking to decline claims ( as it often costs more in admin costs/legal costs dealing with protracted claims and the associated arguments etc ) but want to be fair to those who are honest and follow the requirements of the policy.

For peace of mind and as SRGTD suggests, I would declare the change as I'd be surprised if anything other than a minimal charge was made if at all

Re: Insurance and alloys.

Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 10:12 am
by RUM4MO
Also, it might be handy to have winter tyres on these old 15" rims for winter use, and again advise your insurance company that you will be swopping wheels over every year.

Re: Insurance and alloys.

Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 10:38 am
by Bepis
Gee40 wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 9:40 am Providing the car was originally specified with alloys some insurers would not increase premiums for the change you have mentioned as its unlikely you will affect the handling/stability/ safety of the car.
Changed the steelies for a set of VW alloys on my previous Polo with no extra charge from my insurer even as a brand new driver. However, they did have a distinction between "alloys" and "alloys-aftermarket" when declaring them.

Re: Insurance and alloys.

Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 10:43 am
by SRGTD
Gee40 wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 9:40 am With 20 years as a senior manager for a very large UK insurer managing motor claims, I've waited years for a post I'm qualified to comment on and SRGTD has beaten me to it (and annoyingly pretty much hitting the nail on the head LOL!)
@Gee40; apologies for stealing your thunder! With you having the ‘insider knowledge’, it’s good to know that my advice is consistent with your view 🙂.

Re: Insurance and alloys.

Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 1:21 pm
by J_hutchison
RUM4MO wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 10:12 am Also, it might be handy to have winter tyres on these old 15" rims for winter use, and again advise your insurance company that you will be swopping wheels over every year.
I thought about that but I'm selling my 15s as I use a work van monday to Friday.

Thanks everyone else, I'll phone the quotes I have to see and tell them that they are VW alloys just different to the ones I bought the car with

Re: Insurance and alloys.

Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 4:44 pm
by J_hutchison
I know this will seem daft but am i correct in selecting YES and then NO as my alloys were £600?

Re: Insurance and alloys.

Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 5:09 pm
by SRGTD
J_hutchison wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 4:44 pm I know this will seem daft but am i correct in selecting YES and then NO as my alloys were £600?
If the only modifications to your car is the alloy wheels, then I’d say you’re correct in answering ‘Yes’ to the first of those two questions (your alloy wheels worth less than £1,000 is an acceptable mod to the insurers you’re getting your quotes from) and ‘No’ to the second.

Re: Insurance and alloys.

Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 5:57 pm
by J_hutchison
SRGTD wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 5:09 pm
J_hutchison wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 4:44 pm I know this will seem daft but am i correct in selecting YES and then NO as my alloys were £600?
If the only modifications to your car is the alloy wheels, then I’d say you’re correct in answering ‘Yes’ to the first of those two questions (your alloy wheels worth less than £1,000 is an acceptable mod to the insurers you’re getting your quotes from) and ‘No’ to the second.
Thought so thanks :mrgreen: doesn't change the price at all that way

Re: Insurance and alloys.

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 11:39 am
by Gee40
Great to read that you've got peace of mind at no extra cost. You often find that the bigger traditional insurers (who often have slightly higher initial premiums) are more flexible with their underwriting policy as their margins are not "cut to the bone" compared to the cheapest on the market. Data is kept on the percentage of claims paid/declined by each insurer which makes interesting reading with some insurers regularly appearing at the top end of claims declined. Not because they have failed to meet the requirements of the policy but because they apply the letter of policy more rigorously when policyholders fail to follow the policy requirements.

One thing to be careful on is that you mentioned that you had already made the change and were asking whether you should tell your insurance company because it was due for renewal. If people want to be safe on this, they should tell there insurer of any notifiable change (modifications, convictions, medical issues etc) when they happen not at renewal . If these are significant changes and you wait for renewal and a claim is made before renewal, it could result in the claim be rejected.

Just a thought

Re: Insurance and alloys.

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 12:33 pm
by SRGTD
Gee40 wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 11:39 am Great to read that you've got peace of mind at no extra cost. You often find that the bigger traditional insurers (who often have slightly higher initial premiums) are more flexible with their underwriting policy as their margins are not "cut to the bone" compared to the cheapest on the market. Data is kept on the percentage of claims paid/declined by each insurer which makes interesting reading with some insurers regularly appearing at the top end of claims declined. Not because they have failed to meet the requirements of the policy but because they apply the letter of policy more rigorously when policyholders fail to follow the policy requirements.

One thing to be careful on is that you mentioned that you had already made the change and were asking whether you should tell your insurance company because it was due for renewal. If people want to be safe on this, they should tell there insurer of any notifiable change (modifications, convictions, medical issues etc) when they happen not at renewal . If these are significant changes and you wait for renewal and a claim is made before renewal, it could result in the claim be rejected.

Just a thought
Good advice on declaring mods and any other changes at the time rather than wait until renewal.

I’d also recommend anyone thinking of making modifications to speak to their insurer in advance to make sure;
  • the insurer is able and willing to continue to provide cover, especially where the modifications represent an increased insurance risk (be aware there may be some insurers who won’t accept any modifications)
  • any premium increase the insurer requires is affordable.