Tow Bar and insurance

Emsylou

Hi everyone

I am hoping you can help out. We pick up our first caravan next weekend and have had to have a tow bar fitted to the car. After reading in a caravanning magazine that once you have a tow bar fitted it is classed as a modification to the car and you need to declare it with insurance provider. I have done this and was told that they can no longer insure the car because of this. I have just tried to take out insurance with another company to be told the same thing, however my argument with them was that they didn't ask if the car had any modifications and if I hadn't of asked if they needed this information then they would never have known. I then asked what would happen if had an accident whilst towing, would the policy have paid out and they said no it wouldn't have done. The insurance sites do not ask this question when trying to get quotes.

I guess my question is, who do you insure your cars with as I am struggling to find insurance for under £1000!!

I have done the insurance quote through the caravan club, but that didn't ask the question either, so do I just assume that because its through this website they will automatically know that you will have a tow bar?

I would really appreciate any help with this matter.

 

Thank you

Thank you

 

Milothedog

I've never asked that question but have always told them I will be towing a caravan and not had a problem?  Have you tried contacting the Club insurance service.

Unknown

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EasyT

RAC in my case. I have used Saga and also LV. Always declared the tow bar.

Who had you approached and when did you pass your test out of interest?

JVB66

A towbar fitting is not classed as a "modification" ,i have always "advised any insurance company that one is fitted,  they have always just "aknowledge" it but thats all

EasyT

A towbar fitting is classed as a modification by many if not all insurers (even if factory fit option). Many will say that it is an accepted mod with no extra charge - or so I have found 

Emsylou

Thanks everyone.  

I have just spoken with direct line who will insure the car. They advised that a tow bar is classed as a modification. It is stated in their terms and conditions when taking out a policy that you need to contact them by phone to declare any modifications.

I won't ever just tick that box again to agree to terms and conditions without reading them!!

The other insurance companies were Zenith through Sainsburys bank (who we were insured with) and the other was through Debenhams finance through compare the market. We've both had our driving licence since 1996 so I just couldn't understand the price. I nearly fell through the chair!! Direct line are doing it for £402 which is more like it! 

Anyway panic over now! Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond.

Emma 

Tinwheeler

I think most companies make a statement to the effect that the quote is issued under certain assumptions and one of those is that the vehicle has not been modified in any way. The onus is then on you, the insured, to tell the company about the towbar even though they may not ask the specific question. It pays to read the small print.

I always told my insurers - various companies - and was never refused cover or penalised in any way. 

Milothedog

I think an insurance company would be on dodgy ground if they  tried to wriggle out of a claim if the policy holder had already declared they towed with the vehicle.  surely its the same as declaring having a towbar fitted?

Then there is the argument that some makes are marketed and sold as tow cars, Land Rover being one......

With our latest policy with Churchill, I stated the car was un-modified from new  and stressed the point at least twice to the agent on the phone that we tow a 7.3mtr caravan with the car. The answer being that's fine, your covered.

commeyras

In my opinion it is essential that you tell your insurance company that you have a tow bar.  Failure to do so could probably be against their  T&Cs and give them an excuse to refuse to settle a claim.  Having said that, when using comparison sites for quotes if you tick 'Has your car been modified' then you probably get the option for 'tow bar'.  I have never been refused nor had to pay extra for having a tow bar fitted.

Oneputt

I insure with LV, I declared my towbar, no problem and no additional cost. I declared my engine rechip and price went up by £25 for the first year but subsequent years reduce the premium.

lornalou1

been with admiral a couple of years and rang to say had towbar fitted, no problem and no charge. when renewal came stated on policy under modifications that towbar fitted.

SteveL

That's interesting. Ours is with Churchill and it states tow bar, under modifications on my confirmation. I suppose at least with that listed, they would find it hard to say they did not expect you to tow anything.

You mentioned the 7.3 m caravan, is that noted on the confirmation?

Milothedog

We just got a quote from a compassion web site Steve, answered all the questions honestly but then I phoned them with the quote reference number and then stressed the point about having and towing a caravan.

The only thing I have read is the Caravan is covered 3rd party only when towing it.  As far as I'm aware my Land Rover has always had a Towbar, dealer fitted and Genuine Land Rover part so its not been modified, as in added at a latter date.

See Here   

SteveL

That might be the difference then. Although dealer fitted ours is not a Nissan tow bar. I did mention it when taking out the insurance and they said it needed to be noted as a modification, but there was no additional charge. The van is definitely covered though, as we had an arguement with a bus wing mirror and they sorted out the third party claim.

LeTouriste

When obtaining a quote, I have always made a point of telling them that I have a towbar fitted, but as yet it has never been rated as a modification.