Have you declared your mods?

[jamesdt]

ive declared every single one of them...........as i havent done any yet but after i wrote my 1st ever car off not thinking they would pay out due to the mods luckily they did but after that ive always declared to save me the worry papped my pants for about a month i was young and dumb then

 

[scout]

Yes the insurance companies may well want a higher premium as the car and its shiny wheels may get stolen, but surely it is over stepping the mark to tow it away?

So I suppose someone stealing £200 is less a criminal than someone who takes £1,000,000.

The rules are in black and white and you sign up to abide by the rules when you take out your insurance (that's the small print no one reads). If you break the rules by changing your car without informing the insurance company then why should they cover you? You lie (sometimes by omission) to them and then expect them to honour an agreement you've invalidated, doesn't sound very fair to me.

The best policy, as I said above, is to declare everything however small and insignificant. Let them tell you it doesn't need to be declared, all it would have cost you was 5 mins and a phone call, but at least you'll be covered.

 

[Big Black Stilo]

But an insurance company wouldn't normally decide that over the phone though as they'd have to much to loose if they've messed up on that instant decision. Making a policy invalid isn't a choice made by one person or dept normally.

The theory is sound, but its very unliky to happen.

some insurers wont have to decide that over the phone as their small print states its invalid by not declaring them, therefore automatically uninsured.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

some insurers wont have to decide that over the phone as their small print states its invalid by not declaring them, therefore automatically uninsured.

So what about the other situation I've advised where they've (insurance company) made the mistake and the person who setup the policy on the phone forgot to add a mod, meaning the insurance company have to look into the policy quote / inception call? It does happen.

Its not impossible for a policy to be void there and then over the phone, but not nearly as common as make out. Then again the staff at some of these places seem to always take the 'muck the customer about and worry about it later' approach, so then it could be down to luck of the draw and if you're with a decent insurance company, or a crappy budget one.

 

[LeighJet150]

So what about the other situation I've advised where they've (insurance company) made the mistake and the person who setup the policy on the phone forgot to add a mod, meaning the insurance company have to look into the policy quote / inception call? It does happen.

Its not impossible for a policy to be void there and then over the phone, but not nearly as common as make out. Then again the staff at some of these places seem to always take the 'muck the customer about and worry about it later' approach, so then it could be down to luck of the draw and if you're with a decent insurance company, or a crappy budget one.

This is how it works for car mods, they add it to the computer system, the computer will tell you if it is acceptable or not. If its not acceptable and you have it on the vehicle you have to cancel it there and then (or find another underwriter who will accept if possible if they use a panel of underwriters, but that means a new 12 month policy). Easy. Thing is when people get told this they lie and say its not actually on yet they just wanted a quote for it. Both these happen on a day to day basis, thing is you have to work in the right department to see it.

Agree about the quality of staff is an issue when it comes to the customer service side of it, what they SHOULD say and what they DO say can be two totally different things, which only ends badly in every situation, honest is the best policy, some people just done get that.

 

[Caravadossi]

Basic Law of Contract – if the insured misrepresents their car to the insurer when negotiating the contract, then you can hardly expect the insurer to pay-out when the insured makes a claim. No contract > no insurance > offence. But it’s not that simple.

The insurer may waive voiding the contract over a trivial matter – as the insured would most likely put-it to the ombudsman to have insurance up-held. The insurer could offer to re-negotiate terms – advise the uninsured to amend the misrepresentations.

The insured can argue a case for the contract to hold – but they’d be little point going that route if they’ve made several misrepresenations. They may get away by arguing they made a genuine mistake if it was a one-off – but clearly they’re in deep-doo-doo driving round in Punto Prestigio-cum-Lancia-Integrale 200HP misrepresented as Punto Active 60HP.

121222

 

[pooroldcodger]

So I suppose someone stealing £200 is less a criminal than someone who takes £1,000,000.

The rules are in black and white and you sign up to abide by the rules when you take out your insurance (that's the small print no one reads). If you break the rules by changing your car without informing the insurance company then why should they cover you? You lie (sometimes by omission) to them and then expect them to honour an agreement you've invalidated, doesn't sound very fair to me.

The best policy, as I said above, is to declare everything however small and insignificant. Let them tell you it doesn't need to be declared, all it would have cost you was 5 mins and a phone call, but at least you'll be covered.

I agree - best to declare the modifications, no question.

No, the person that steals £200 is no less of a criminal than the person that steals a million, but that is not the issue here is it? Yes it is the same in that you have broken the contract, but if you commit murder, or ride your bike without lights (at night obviously!) you have also committed an offence, but would you expect the punishment to be the same? As in, alloy wheels / or 200BHP power hike, both borken the contract, but are they both worthy of the car being towed away? That's my point.
Best let the computer decide perhaps?

 

[scout]

I agree - best to declare the modifications, no question.

No, the person that steals £200 is no less of a criminal than the person that steals a million, but that is not the issue here is it? Yes it is the same in that you have broken the contract, but if you commit murder, or ride your bike without lights (at night obviously!) you have also committed an offence, but would you expect the punishment to be the same? As in, alloy wheels / or 200BHP power hike, both borken the contract, but are they both worthy of the car being towed away? That's my point.
Best let the computer decide perhaps?

The problem with that argument is that in the case of the insurance the 'crime' is the same. Whether you add different wheels or engine. It's not what you have done that invalidated the insurance its what you haven't done (not told them you've done it) that is the issue.

 

[sludgeguts]

Cracks me up that some simply refuse to look at this from the insurer's point of view.
You want them to insure your 'stock' car worth £x
The car is stolen & suddenly you want compo for £x PLUS £xx for the stereo, £xx for the alloys etc etc.
And all this "it's not fair that they are towing away" - having the major inconvenience (and possibly embarrassment) of waving your beloved car off on the back of a tow truck whilst you & your mates stand there in the freezing rain MIGHT be the kick up the backside that makes you do it all legal and above board next time.

 

[dave]

z
Its not impossible for a policy to be void there and then over the phone, but not nearly as common as make out.

i dont get why you keep saying phone? they didnt phone no one that check it on their computer and take the car away, they phone no one.

 

[ChrisUK]

The only thing that's logged on the computer is the fact it's insured, the company and the name of the person insured. Nothing to do with mods, conditions imposed blah blah.

 

[AndyRKett]

i dont get why you keep saying phone? they didnt phone no one that check it on their computer and take the car away, they phone no one.

The national insurance data base does not list modifications that every car does or doesn't have, so if a car is stopped with 'undeclared' modifications then the police will have to contact the insurance company to establish the terms of the insurance policy.

Suffolk police are often involved in joint operations in Ipswich at the beginning of December they were cracking down big style on un taxed cars in partnership with the DVLA

Now that said you say VOSA where involved in this instance which suggest that the operation was nothing to do with 'undeclared modifications' but more likely unsafe modification, wrong sized wheels miss matched tyres, lights where lights shouldn't be, and illegal number plate lettering, in these circumstances VOSA can insist that the car be recovered from the road and taken for the appropriate repairs before requiring an safety assessment before allowing the car back on the road.

From what's been said I think this is far more likely than having anything to do with undeclared modifications. I work in Ipswich I know just how many badly modified dodgy cars litter the streets, have seen loads of untaxed cars and suspect many of these cars are also uninsured as well heavily modified cars are probably too expensive for a lot of these kids to insure which means the police just take the car away


They could also be seizing the cars under a section 59 as detailed on the Suffolk police website http://www.suffolk.police.uk/safetyadvice/roadsafety/knowthelaw/modifications.aspx
maybe these drivers are already well known

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

The only thing that's logged on the computer is the fact it's insured, the company and the name of the person insured. Nothing to do with mods, conditions imposed blah blah.

:yeahthat:
LeighJet150 yeah I know about the different systems some companies use, some where X mod on its own would be ok, but if X with with Y & Z it tots up beyond a max mods point score and then wouldn't be allowed etc, and like you say there is then those with the 'I'm just thinking of adding X', only to then be told no that particular mod isn't allowed when they've already done it - I'm not on about your allowed (if declared) mods though.

Again some companies, not all, would rather you cough up the extra ££ for the mod over the phone (if its an allowed mod) than void your insurance, more ££ in the bank for them (on top of some of the horrific admin fee's which some companies charge).

 

[dave]

The national insurance data base does not list modifications that every car does or doesn't have, so if a car is stopped with 'undeclared' modifications then the police will have to contact the insurance company to establish the terms of the insurance policy.

Suffolk police are often involved in joint operations in Ipswich at the beginning of December they were cracking down big style on un taxed cars in partnership with the DVLA

Now that said you say VOSA where involved in this instance which suggest that the operation was nothing to do with 'undeclared modifications' but more likely unsafe modification, wrong sized wheels miss matched tyres, lights where lights shouldn't be, and illegal number plate lettering, in these circumstances VOSA can insist that the car be recovered from the road and taken for the appropriate repairs before requiring an safety assessment before allowing the car back on the road.

From what's been said I think this is far more likely than having anything to do with undeclared modifications. I work in Ipswich I know just how many badly modified dodgy cars litter the streets, have seen loads of untaxed cars and suspect many of these cars are also uninsured as well heavily modified cars are probably too expensive for a lot of these kids to insure which means the police just take the car away

nope they checked the little computer thing and said to the woman you only have alloys declared as modifications, not induction, exhaust or suspension. so they took the car with the reason of invalid insurance

 

[AndyRKett]

nope they checked the little computer thing and said to the woman you only have alloys declared as modifications, not induction, exhaust or suspension. so they took the car with the reason of invalid insurance

So why do they need VOSA? and as several people have already pointed out the "little computer" doesn't list modifications. Also for you to know this to be true you would have to be stood there from the moment they pulled the car till they loaded it up, why would you hang around like that ?

 

[dave]

So why do they need VOSA? and as several people have already pointed out the "little computer" doesn't list modifications. Also for you to know this to be true you would have to be stood there from the moment they pulled the car till they loaded it up, why would you hang around like that ?

mrs dave was there she picked the woman up and had it explained to her as the woman was in tears

i assume vosa is there as its a joint operation also they know what is standard and what isnt more than police do

 

[dave]

i must apoligise having spoken to the woman my self today i seems the police who spoke to mrs dave got it wrong.
police pulled the car in ipswich and escorted it 3 miles to portman road where vosa had a mobile inspection thing set up a bit like a mot station, vosa then checked car over a bit like a mot test, they wrote report and gave it to police, police did phone the insurers the co-op who said there and then insurance was void because of the mods vosa had put on the report.
woman has handed her licence over to police for an instant 6 points but has not paid the fine.
the vosa report has the wrong name on it, so could this mean the case is void? i reckon it is have said go get legal advice.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

If she's legal cover on her insurance it may well cover her as it'll normally cover motoring convictions depending upon what company coop sub contract it out to. Let us know how she gets on.