Swap wheels and insurance?

U

Ukrobotman

Member
Planning on replacing my 19” wheels with runflats to 17 wheels with new standard tyres this week.
Is this a modification? Do I need to inform my insurance company and if I do what are they likely to say or do ?
Anybody have experience of doing this?
I’ve been reading stories of folks having there insurance cancelled because the wheels had be painted a different colour and having failed to inform insurance company!
 
Yeah you gotta inform them, anything that's not standard. Call them first and ask them if they're okay with it, 99% of companies are fine with small mods like that. You might get charged administration fee or extra on your policy, depends on details.
 
It is a bit of an internet story really though, I have never seen any evidence of insurance being declined because of some sort of change. First of all, insurance companies don't cancel the insurance as such as they are legally required to cover third party cover. Secondly, even with people who have not declared points, I have only seen that payment adjustments are made during a claim to reflect that.

You probably find that in the event of a claim, you are getting the base spec wheels back (in your case the 19" ones then).
 
I was lead to believe that if you could have ordered the car with the change ie. wheels , then you don't need to disclose it. After all how would you know if the guy before has changed the genuine wheels from 17 to 19 or indeed anything else.
 
Zoomer said:
I was lead to believe that if you could have ordered the car with the change ie. wheels , then you don't need to disclose it. After all how would you know if the guy before has changed the genuine wheels from 17 to 19 or indeed anything else.
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My thoughts exactly , i'm not getting involved in the should you / shouldn't you debate , each to their own but in all honesty you buy a used car , its had a few owners , its perfectly acceptable that you wouldn't know if it had a change of wheels , springs , seats etc from when it left the factory ,
Should you inform insurance if you change aerial to a stubby :?
 
mr wilks said:
Zoomer said:
I was lead to believe that if you could have ordered the car with the change ie. wheels , then you don't need to disclose it. After all how would you know if the guy before has changed the genuine wheels from 17 to 19 or indeed anything else.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly , i'm not getting involved in the should you / shouldn't you debate , each to their own but in all honesty you buy a used car , its had a few owners , its perfectly acceptable that you wouldn't know if it had a change of wheels , springs , seats etc from when it left the factory ,
Should you inform insurance if you change aerial to a stubby :?
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Yes - as that is clearly a performance enhancement :lol:
 
Zoomer said:
I was lead to believe that if you could have ordered the car with the change ie. wheels , then you don't need to disclose it. After all how would you know if the guy before has changed the genuine wheels from 17 to 19 or indeed anything else.
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Not according to admiral. Parking sensors are classed as a modification even though they came out of the factory with them fitted. E85, as it was an option only. If standard equipment then not.
 
I am inclined to agree with these comments . Who is to know when you bought your 5 yr old Z4 what wheels the previous owner had put on there and if they were standard
 
Ukrobotman said:
I am inclined to agree with these comments . Who is to know when you bought your 5 yr old Z4 what wheels the previous owner had put on there and if they were standard
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Whilst I agree with most of what is said above, IMO you should tell your insurance company.

You are forking out your hard earned cash on a full set of alloys. If you do not declare this to your insurance company and someone hits you side-on, cracking your alloy in the process, then your insurance company are not obligated to replace your wheel like-for-like.

To avoid any headache of this sort I recommend you inform them.

As a general note, any “expensive” mods should always been informed to insurers. I’d rather pay a slight premium to my insurers and know that my mods are covered then cheap out, end up in accident, and lose my mods and money subsequently.
 
[ref]R60BBA[/ref], agreed with that as that makes sense as if the insurance company does not know, they are not paying for it.

I don't agree with the wild statements about that if you change a wheel, your insurance will be cancelled if they find out etc.
 
Look like I was wrong then: http://www.ombudsman-decisions.org.uk/viewPDF.aspx?FileID=109940

Pretty unbelievable though.
 
pvr said:
Look like I was wrong then: http://www.ombudsman-decisions.org.uk/viewPDF.aspx?FileID=109940

Pretty unbelievable though.
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Wow! I'just scrolled through ombudsman decisions for insurance being voided due to modifications, there are literally hundreds and I havn't found ONE in favour of the insured party! Voided insurance and refused claims for everything from tinted windows, wiring changes, different alloys, tow bar, HID's, even where someone fitted carpet to his van FFS!

U'm food for thought here, it seems it has nothing to do with whether you know it's a mod and nothing to do with it affecting performance or safety, simply that if the insurance company terms are that they will not insure a modified car unless mods are declared regardless of type, then the ombudsman HAS to uphold their position that insurance was offered on a false declaration i.e owner said there were no mods.

ZHP, drilled discs, lip spoiler, led lamps, lowered, air filter or roof motor moved? Heads up! :| http://ombudsman-decisions.org.uk/
 
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