Undeclared mod in accident

[Ash6R]

What would happen to my insurance if i changed my grill to a GTI grille and was involved in an accident that wasn't my fault. Thats the only change i did and i forgot to declare it to my insurer. Kinda scared on whats going to happen.

[SRGTD]

Technically, you are probably in breach of the conditions in your insurance policy. Most, if not all insurers will have written into their policy documentation that they need to be told of any modifications, so they can re-assess any increased risk the modification(s) represent and adjust the premium as necessary.

Realistically, I suspect the modifications that insurers will be most interested in are the ones that increase their assessment of the risk, and might warrant them charging a higher premium for, imposing an increased excess, or both;

• those modifications that affect the performance and handling characteristics of the car

• bodywork modifications or custom paint jobs that could mean it would cost more to repair the car affect the car than an equivalent unmodified car in the event of an accident

• modifications that make the car more desirable to the would-be thief; e.g. expensive aftermarket car stereo/hi-fi, expensive aftermarket alloys

Replacing the standard grill with a GTI grill is a minor modification, and I suspect your insurer would've accepted the modification without making an additional charge. I would guess that the cost of the GTI grill is pretty much the same as the standard grill on the SEL model and it should be readily available, so if your car sustained frontal damage and needed a new grille, the cost of repairs are unlikely to be affected. I'd be extremely surprised if your insurer considered your modification was grounds for invalidating your insurance; they might replace the grill with the standard SEL grill, on the basis they weren't advised of the modification, or they might apply an increased excess to your claim.

This is only my opinion though, and you will only know for certain by contacting your insurer and telling them. Good luck; please let us know the outcome.

[Ash6R]

Technically, you are probably in breach of the conditions in your insurance policy. Most, if not all insurers will have written into their policy documentation that they need to be told of any modifications, so they can re-assess any increased risk the modification(s) represent and adjust the premium as necessary.

Realistically, I suspect the modifications that insurers will be most interested in are the ones that increase their assessment of the risk, and might warrant them charging a higher premium for, imposing an increased excess, or both;

• those modifications that affect the performance and handling characteristics of the car

• bodywork modifications or custom paint jobs that could mean it would cost more to repair the car affect the car than an equivalent unmodified car in the event of an accident

• modifications that make the car more desirable to the would-be thief; e.g. expensive aftermarket car stereo/hi-fi, expensive aftermarket alloys

Replacing the standard grill with a GTI grill is a minor modification, and I suspect your insurer would've accepted the modification without making an additional charge. I would guess that the cost of the GTI grill is pretty much the same as the standard grill on the SEL model and it should be readily available, so if your car sustained frontal damage and needed a new grille, the cost of repairs are unlikely to be affected. I'd be extremely surprised if your insurer considered your modification was grounds for invalidating your insurance; they might replace the grill with the standard SEL grill, on the basis they weren't advised of the modification, or they might apply an increased excess to your claim.

This is only my opinion though, and you will only know for certain by contacting your insurer and telling them. Good luck; please let us know the outcome.

Yeah i thought it wouldn't affect me. The grille doesn't have any damage only the front bumper

[Ricmondo]

Based upon bitter experience a good insurer will ignore it, a bad one will either reject your claim or reduce the pay out.

If you are screwed ask for the name of the insurers Chief Executive in order to send a final letter before appealing to the insurance ombudsman. It is likely that such a request will cause them to cave in. If they persist it is likely that the ombudsman will class it as a technical infringement that justifies either a nominal or zero adjustment to your claim.

[iichel]

Just be sure you mount parts that don't brake the Certificate of Conformity (type approval).
Mount parts with either an OEM supply or approved parts.

This way your car will stay road legal (type approved) and will not give any reason for additional damage or injury during an accident.

[RUM4MO]

The risk for you comes from the idea that it makes the car more desirable in that it now looks more like a GTI and a thicket stealing cars for cash might just mistake your one for a GTI, so your risk will have risen in the eyes of the insurer.

Having said that, what is done is done, if possible remove it, if not possible hope the insurer plays fair.

Edit:- insurance assessors are "different" people, my wife was stationary at a roundabout waiting for traffic to clear when a mini drove into the rear of her Fiesta, when I handed that car in for repair assessment by my insurer's assessor, the first things he did where, (1) check the operation of the brake pedal/servo etc, (2) check all four tyres for wear and general condition and pressure settings (3) check the operation of all the lights - that peed me off, but it is how they approach this task! Remember at this point, the third party's insurer had admitted all liability and were covering all costs, our insurer was just managing the repair and probably making a bit of cash as well!

Another Edit:- I suppose that you are wise enough to understand that your annual premium with rise after this event even although you said that you were blameless, this does not mean much in the current insurance world, you have now, due to outside influences, become a higher rated insurance risk regardless of any policy protection that you might have taken out - crap I know!

[Ash6R]

What if we're both with the same insurance company? Thats the situation im in right now. The other party also has a highly modified car eg: spoiler, tinted rear headlights, exhaust and lowered springs.

[RUM4MO]

Maybe strangely, I'd hate to be in that situation, insurance companies do not expect to payout from their treasure chests - and now they "own" both sides of the problem!

Edit:- I've made some "sensible" changes to most of the cars I've owned, and my wife's ones too, other people that change nothing do tend to try to get you worked up, but deep down, you know they have a point!

Another Edit due to terrible spelling/use of words!!

[Ash6R]

Hmm not sure what to do really at this point, i still have the car, its going in on tueday to the body shop so i could take it off and put the stock grill back on, but the other party did take pictures so if he sends the pictures in i might get screwed.

[RUM4MO]

Maybe you could swop things back and the reason that you are doing that is to protect these bits from damage in the body shop?

[Dink]

i had someone reverse into me on the M4 in my 9n3 that was modded (undeclared at the time)

and when it came to getting it repaired the bodyshop wanted to change the FMIC back to stock

but they did say if i supplied them with another FMIC they would fit it and just charge for a stock one (this was a ford dealer)

so i would say they would probably fairly similar

[Ash6R]

i had someone reverse into me on the M4 in my 9n3 that was modded (undeclared at the time)

and when it came to getting it repaired the bodyshop wanted to change the FMIC back to stock

but they did say if i supplied them with another FMIC they would fit it and just charge for a stock one (this was a ford dealer)

so i would say they would probably fairly similar

What insurance company was this with if you don't mind?

EDIT: Im also a young driver.

[Dink]

What insurance company was this with if you don't mind?

EDIT: Im also a young driver.

i was with direct line at the time

[RUM4MO]

I don't know how things are now, but anyone ending up with a claim against a Directline policy holder in the past could look forward to having to put up with lots of problems!

[Ash6R]

What insurance company was this with if you don't mind?

EDIT: Im also a young driver.

i was with direct line at the time

Oh okay, im with Bell so not sure how its gonna play out with them