A-Bar Blues

[Crowman]

I heard that fitting a Bull-Bar or A-bar can invalidate your insurance as it's regarded as a modification.

As I was thinking of adding some extra lights, I wrote to Direct Line to ask if fitting a small A-Bar (no higher than the bumper on my RAV4) would invalidate my comprehensive insurance.

They replied that such a fitting would add £136 pa to my premium!

Needless to say I won't bother !

So.........beware if you have fitted any kind of bar on your 4x4, you may have invalidated your insurance!!

[TheNissanMan]

I always thought that the 'A' Bars were the bars at the front either side of the windscreen, B-Bars the next back, so usually back of the door, working back through the alphabet depending on how many bars you've got....

A few years ago the government tried to ban Bull Bars or Nudge Bars as it was alleged they did more damage although further testing proved this only to be on small children.

I guess this alleged increase risk in causing damage would increase the premium as if a payout was required it could be a much larger payout than without the bars....

[Crowman]

Thanks for your fast reply. According to my 4x4 accessories catalogue an A-bar is not as wide or high as a Bull-bar, and is like a flattened letter A that just covers the front bumper across the width of the rad. grill. See attached Pic.

Anyway, the my main concern was that somebody might inocently fit such accessories, have an accident, and find their insurer refuses to pay out.

[TheNissanMan]

Agree withthe comment, it's worht reminding people that no matter how small oor insignifcant the change to your vehicle, insurance companies can ask for more money. Obviously not always the case but definately worth checking first before having a bump and the insurance being void due to unmentioned modifications....