Another Moan About Insurance Companies...

[alanbradley]

The insurance on my Yaris is up at the end of the month so this afternoon I was smurfing the net looking for quotations.

I was on confused.com and, having filled in all my details with excruciating truthfulness only 2 insurers could give me a quotation - one of which was almost double the other! Why was this? My innocent little set of 14" Toyota supplied and fitted alloys are classed as "modifications" and 12 insurers refuse to quote for "modified" vehicles!

Why is this sort of thing never simple?

Advice/recommendations/abuse welcomed... ;)

Cheers,

Alan

[Chappers]

Don't tell them they are mods.. Get a quote for a standard Yaris [insert model].

Just state that you have standard alloys (?)

[Demonic Angel]

Well since I've had two accidents (neither of which were my fault or anything) I'm now classed as an "at risk" driver - go figure!

What - am I at risk because of the big neon sign on my car saying "PLEASE CRASH INTO ME" I dont think so!

Anyway, since I've had 2 or more accidents in a three year period, apparently some major insurers wont even touch me with a bargepole - these include Norwich Union Direct, which I was really shocked about!

I mean, I'm the innocent victim in 2 accidents, one in which I was forced off the road by a lorry, the second I am hit head on by a stolen vehicle travelling on my side of the road - I understand its all about claims, not fault, but come on!

How can I be a risk to insurance companies? Its not me whos causing the :censor: ing accidents! :ffs: :ffs: :ffs:

Ok, rant over! Sorry Alan!

Back to your problem.... I thought most insurance companies DID insure for mods as lets face it they are really popular!

What about your current insurer? Have your had the renewal quote from them yet? Who were the insurance companies who refused to quote you - I think you should name and shame!

[kimi]

I had a few words with my last insurance company about wheels,

they said my Tsport had alloys yes standard..but you never told us,

But their standard i argued gave up trying( indian call centre)

few days later i got my new certificate that said standard manufactuer

alloy wheels !!! no charge.

insurance companys are hard work to say the least

[alanbradley]

Well since I've had two accidents (neither of which were my fault or anything) I'm now classed as an "at risk" driver - go figure!

What - am I at risk because of the big neon sign on my car saying "PLEASE CRASH INTO ME"  I dont think so!

Anyway, since I've had 2 or more accidents in a three year period, apparently some major insurers wont even touch me with a bargepole - these include Norwich Union Direct, which I was really shocked about!

I mean, I'm the innocent victim in 2 accidents, one in which I was forced off the road by a lorry, the second I am hit head on by a stolen vehicle travelling on my side of the road - I understand its all about claims, not fault, but come on!

How can I be a risk to insurance companies? Its not me whos causing the  :censor: ing accidents!  :ffs:  :ffs:  :ffs:

Ok, rant over! Sorry Alan!

Back to your problem.... I thought most insurance companies DID insure for mods as lets face it they are really popular!

What about your current insurer? Have your had the renewal quote from them yet? Who were the insurance companies who refused to quote you - I think you should name and shame!

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No need to apologse DA - I'm in the same boat. I've been hit twice in the past year. The first I was stopped at a roundabout - handbrake on and out of gear - when a guy hit the back of me. The second time was on the way back from the September TOC meet in September when I was side-swiped by a car that had suddenly decided not to take the off-ramp and swerved back across the white lines, writing off the car in the process...

It is unbelieveably frustrating. Still, I managed to phone Toyota Insurance and actually get somewhere this afternoon and sorted out my NCB and stuff.

Cheers though folks, I make just keep quiet about the wheels. After all, they were never mentioned on the last policy and Toyota replaced them to the same value. Hmmmm. Hyperactive guilt complex is kicking in...

Cheers again,

Alan

[Chappers]

Becasue they arent 17's etc..I'd phone whichever is the cheapest then basically 'act dumb'!..

Obviously say 'no' to 'mods' but then just add the old 'Oh, umm ive got these.. I think they are alloy wheels.. they weren't classed as modifications on my last policy.. blah blah

[alanbradley]

Just re-quoted without the alloys... Much cheaper as more companies are prepared to insure.

Technically I'm not lying as the wheels aren't actually fitted to the car at the moment as I have the standard steels fitted with winter tyres on...

Hmmm... Guilt complex lessening as I type... ;)

[Blue84]

Cheers though folks, I make just keep quiet about the wheels. After all, they were never mentioned on the last policy and Toyota replaced them to the same value. Hmmmm. Hyperactive guilt complex is kicking in... 

Cheers again,

Alan

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They were replaced with wheels of the same value because if someone damages your car, and its not your fault their insurance has a responsibility to replace your vehicle/damages with the equivalent value (or at least equivalent spec) you had before the accident happened even if you hadnt declared some mods on your own policy (the posh insurance word is indemnity).

And yep I know that'll probably sound like a foreign language to some people but I work in insurance and I promise that I am nice, english and do have common sense

[seveer unaek]

From reading various terms&conditions of insurance companies, i believe that the majoratory class manufacturer wheels as 'standard' and therfore will not charge anything different. It's if the alloys aren't supplied by the manufacturer that they are classed as 'mods'.

[Demonic Angel]

From reading various terms&conditions of insurance companies, i believe that the majoratory class manufacturer wheels as 'standard' and therfore will not charge anything different. It's if the alloys aren't supplied by the manufacturer that they are classed as 'mods'.

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So on that then, as long as they are Toyota alloys - you're ok......

[seveer unaek]

Apparantly so!

[yaris30]

Saying that my insurance was 415 euro this year no change from last year even though I said it was modified etc ..I think it was britton insurance in donegal..best quote I have had :D :D

[alanbradley]

From reading various terms&conditions of insurance companies, i believe that the majoratory class manufacturer wheels as 'standard' and therfore will not charge anything different. It's if the alloys aren't supplied by the manufacturer that they are classed as 'mods'.

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So on that then, as long as they are Toyota alloys - you're ok......

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It's different on yours DA as the alloys are standard...

Guilt complex is rising again

A

[Viper_7]

That's the only trouble doing over the Web. The systems can't distinguish between what is really a proper "mod" or just a fancier set of wheels....so you get black flagged whatever.

for example... mines an import...so....well ermmm no one would insure me...anywhere! over the web that is. Ring up and tell em that it's uk spec etc...then they say it's standard.

Best bet if to just put the standard specs down..and see what you get back..then you get your short-list...so call those peeps up and speak to a "human" ...well sometimes.

It is bad that even when your not at fault it's still put down against you.

Try and get no claim protection...only costs a few quid...but usually you have to build up at least 3 years without claim.....sometimes tricky when people keep running into you!

Vipes

[Blue84]

alloys are a very small modification on a car, compared to things like bodykits..so if there is gonna be an increase I doubt it would be huge. It might be worth ringing up a few places and just asking them if they would quote you although you have different wheels on the car..daft question but are they actually any bigger than the normal T3 hubs are?

[yaris30]

494 euro was my final quote with all modifications ..she asked about what sort bodykit I had which I said was a normal one and was there any engine mods which I said I hadnt even though I have an air filter but that adds f e c k all to power gains so it ends up the same as last year..quite pleased now ..I said about lights and all they said it dint matter .. :D

[alanbradley]

Thanks folks... I think I'll follow Vipes' advice.

Blue, the wheels are 14" - exactly the same size as the standard steels - they're fitted with the standard crummy Goodyear GT2 tyres that came off the steels too.

A

[Blue84]

well you are meant to disclose all "material facts" when you take an insurance policy out...if you dont then that is where Insurers can cancel/void a policy. But as they are the same size I really dont see a problem with them, it might even be that your insurer just notes on the system that they are the same size as normal but just a different style and alloys not steel.

[alanbradley]

Exactly! That's what's been worrying me to be honest...

I can see exactly why people don't tell insurance companies these things though. I can even see why people try and get away with having no insurance. I just know that I couldn't stomach it if "something happened" and I knew I was in the wrong.

A