DRLs and insurance

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DRLs and insurance

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Hey guys.

I am thinking of fitting LED daytime running lights to my car. They will be set up as the law requires i.e. Come on with ignition, and dim when sidelights are on.

Just wondering what the legal position is regarding insurance? Sadly the foreign call centre at my insurance company were worse than useless...

Do i fit the DRLs and not declare (saves me the hassle of explaining to someone who doesn't speak english what DRLs actually are)? Or do I forget about the idea?
 
Hey guys.

I am thinking of fitting LED daytime running lights to my car. They will be set up as the law requires i.e. Come on with ignition, and dim when sidelights are on.

Just wondering what the legal position is regarding insurance? Sadly the foreign call centre at my insurance company were worse than useless...

Do i fit the DRLs and not declare (saves me the hassle of explaining to someone who doesn't speak english what DRLs actually are)? Or do I forget about the idea?

Fit them and tell them, persist, unfortunately its the joys of a cheap but crap insurance company.

Who is it out of interest?

Most put them as driving lights as don't have the option for DRLs.
 
Yeah I agree with James - if it didn't leave the factory with them then there's a real danger of a DIY job looking "jolly awfull indeed" (I.e gash) :D but each to there own, I once had a "on a mission" sticker on my old panda and thought it looked the nuts...... Only in time (and old photographs) do you realise the error of our ways :D

Personally if you really wanted to give your lights a bit more bling, how about just replacing the side light bulbs with white/blue LED ones and just drive with them on all the time, that way you won't have to deal with the insurance plus you get all the benefits of LED lighting

And yes the FIATFORUM sorting hat is here and will back with you homeward as soon as I make another meet sometime :) I'll even get it cleaned! :D
 
Personally if you really wanted to give your lights a bit more bling, how about just replacing the side light bulbs with white/blue LED ones and just drive with them on all the time, that way you won't have to deal with the insurance plus you get all the benefits of LED lighting

Not really, as DRLs serve a set purpose, which is what I think Chris Stefani is trying to achieve.

I've yet to come across 'E' marked LEDs for sidelights, meaning they're not technically legal, and in addition to this a sidelight is never going to achieve the same purpose as a dipped beam headlight or DRL. DRLs are not all about being LED imo, although the majority of after market kits are mind.

Im not a fan of the "added drl " strips to bumpers , they just look wrong imo

Agreed, but thats what happens when you fit 'styling lights' rather than proper DRLs.

Covea insurance, who are underwriters for a lot of companies including swinton, AA, RAC, and others.

Never heard of Covea, so they're your under writer or your broker :confused:
 
Covea are the underwriters.

My broker is Yes insurance. I was going to go with RAC, but discovered that Yes were offering the same policy with the same underwriters for less. Don't think I will renew with them though!

I wont touch certain 'bigger' names due to being screwed around - Swinton took money without permission, Admiral (and all the companies in that group, eg diamond/elephant) primarily use foreign call centres.

I was always a fan of CIS (co-op) but they simply aren't competitive anymore. As in, nearly twice the price I am currently paying.
 
What purpose? To emit light?

Yes. It is a bright enough light to be seen in daylight, but must extinguish or dim at night.

Also the LED versions consume much less power than headlights, which makes them preferrable to driving with headlights on all the time.

Personally I just like the look of them when done right. Even some manufacturers get it wrong though, such as the toyota aygo which looks like a cheap afterthought. But when placed carefully they can look good IMO

I admit they are not to everyones taste.
 
Oh ok gotcha :) I'm not totally against them I just think its one of hose things that either look really good or really naff hence why I suggested the LED in the side light idea as you get the best of both worlds - LED brightness without having to fit more lights. Granted they won't switch off when you put your dips on plus your rears will be on aswell. It's something I'm thinking about on my Stilo as I have two sides in each lamp at the front so would work quite well (y)
 
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