Insurance Surprise / Warning

[Gordo]

If you've made changes, any changes, even minor ones, to your Land Rover (or 4x4 of choice) it might be worth checking with your insurance company.

I was in touch with mine recently and mentioned that I've put steel wheels on my Freelander instead of the OE alloys. Apparently I should have disclosed them, and paid an additional premium of 25%!  :-.

These are Land Rover steel wheels as fitted to some variants of the Freelander - but they're still considered to be a modification.

Apparently if I make changes like that I may use the Freelander off road... But of course - why else would you drive one?  :roll:

If in doubt, declare it.

[ne jones]

Sounds like you have an understanding insures........NOT!

But you are right, you should disclose any modifications just to be on the safe side.

[crazymac]

I can "sort" of see the modification arguement, but if you have steel wheels on as standard you declare that you have fitted Alloys because they are more expensive and more attractive to scroats!!

So to go the other way as you have done means that you have put CHEAPER wheels on that are LESS attractive to scroats!!

I'd tell them to sod off and that I was changing my insurer!! see what they say to that! 25% EXTRA for cheaper wheels!

[waveydavey]

But is it a modification or did you put four spares on that you happened to have a round as you had four punctures or iffy tyres?

Yes things should be declared but I think if they are proper wheels they would struggle to wiggle out of that one.

as stated though I would be looking elsewhere at 25% for steel wheels!

[karlo]

If there a factory option there shouldn't be a problem well that's what my insurance said?

[hairyasswelder]

A while back a mate of mine put a 1.8 diesel engine in his XR3i, cause it used too much petrol  :doh:  his insurers refused to insure him and qoutes doubled from other insurers  :shock: :shock:

He put the XR engine back in  :-k :-k

[william127]

iv had this with my diesel converted rangie, rang fluxs they said £2500 :shock:, then got put through to a brokers who rang around for me claiming to look for modded speacialists, all of them said no way, one quite rudley. ended up with good ole nfu, should not have brought a sensible diesel, should have brought a v8!

[spy]

I know people have had problems with adrian flux but I rang them mid policy last year.  Added a snorkel, changed 2.5 petrol to a disco 200tdi, fitted bigger tyres and painted a different colour. 

The reply?  "no problem, no extra charge". 

Like other people said, I would look for another insurer. 

[lee celtic]

Every year I decide what I want to do to the truck and then declare them to the insurance company in advance telling them I'm going to do the mods .

They send me a form and I put them all down in a list on a covering letter . so far my premium has stayed about the same for four years with all mods covered. With the list given in before doing the mods I can check if the price goes up and they know what I'm planning in advance this years list includes sliders , front bumper and a bonet pod . Last years was cranked arms , roof rack and electric rad fans...Though I added the rear bumper (they paid for that after a bump  :clap:)

I have declared every thing I have changed from standard right down to the bulbs in the head lights , Don't want to give them a reason not to pay out.. 8-[

oh and they give me 10% off for being a member here  :dance: Thats £25 ;)

[spy]

Hehe, I also claim a discount for being a mud club member! 

[muddyjames]

I do as well spy.  :D

I say to flux that I have added things like snorkel, rock sliders tow bar etc and they say yeah, yeah, ok, anything performance enhancing and I say no, as I havent and they say ok its going to be .............. I did say a couple of years ago I planned on doing a veg oil convertion and do I need to declare it and they said we will note it and when I come to it, just tell them and they will add it on for free. I get my ins co to write me a letter saying that all my modifications will be covered in the case of theft etc. That way I get the value of snorkel etc back.

I could see an issue with gordon if he said he has alloys on but has steels and they get stolen, then he would gain money through it in the eyes of an insurer.

So Gordon. Whats the plan then? Alloys with at's on or arent you allowed to go off road?

[muddyjames]

oh, and whilst we are on the topic, just a reminder. If anyone tows anything be a caravan, car trailer etc etc check you are allowed to tow on your policy as some dont let you.  ;) just a reminder! :D

[Gordo]

So Gordon. Whats the plan then? Alloys with at's on or arent you allowed to go off road?

I have a cunning plan: switch insurers. I've been offered a pro-rata refund, and there's a local insurer that promises to cater for all Land Rovers - modified or not. I'm hoping for a favourable quotation [-o<

What's more embarrassing is that the insurance company concerned is the sister company to the one I work for...  :oops: