Tow Bars and Insurance Claims
An article in a National Newspaper yesterday described how a driver had his claim from a minor collision refused on the grounds that his car had been modified…The offending modification was a towbar !! After a lengthy appeal, the Ombudsman found in favour of the Insurance Company.
The original article is from the Autoexpress…you can read it Here
Given my own experience of towing for over 50+ years , and never thought about having to declare a tow bar as a modification , I wonder how many members have actually done so.
Does the clubs own insurance make it clear that a tow bar is a modification..
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A towbar is a modification unless it’s a standard fitting on the vehicle and we always informed our insurance company.
Apparently a hard wired dashcam is also a modification🤷🏻♂️.
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We had always declared our car had a tow bar, or at least we had advised the insurance company. There has never been any excess charge for this and during one conversation we were told it’s fine as long as they know it has one.
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I’ve never really given this a lot of thought. Does a factory fitted tow bar (from new) count as a modification? I suppose it does. I did inform the insurance company that I intended to tow a caravan but didn’t specifically say it had a tow bar fitted.
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I do recall the advice of the time of telling the insurance that you had a tow bar fitted and have always done so and also the fact we were towing but there was no extra charge ever.
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A motorhome converter will have obtained type approval for his completed converted vehicle and will sell it to you as such. You then insure it as, say, a Swift xyz motorhome rather than as a Fiat Ducato van so you will be insuring the whole package. If you then add a towbar, it becomes a modification.
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I remember some years ago trying to get a quote from the C&CC for towcar insurance. Most of which could be done online, but, there was a box to fill in about modifications which of course does include tow bars which was filled in and immediately caused a flag to ring them as I couldn't proceed online.
With my motorhomes even if it wasn't necessary it made sense to flag up to the insurance company that you had installed an expensive item because if you had a claim you would want to be sure that it was covered. A roof mounted satellite system can cost £2000+ On my last motorhome I swapped the steel wheels for annoys. Before going ahead I did ring the insurance company who very kindly increase my premium! This was despite me telling them that the new rims were supplied by Bailey and they were TUV approved. Best not to assume anything as far as insurance is concerned.
David
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I also have always declared a tow bar, but I wonder how much of this is because of towing a trailer other than a fully insured caravan. For instance, by skip trailer doesn't have separate insurance as such, but if for example, I were to reverse it into a car, I would expect this incident to be covered under the car insurance. Or am I being naive, and should have separate "vehicle" cover for the trailer? Or what about a towbar fitted bike rack?
But some of the insurance company demands do seem a bit odd, I agree.
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Some companies do charge extra for a tow bar although most do not I think that those that do are just chancing their arm but frankly it cannot be anything but a modification even on a factory fit one. Basically they are asking if the vehicle has anything other on t than the standard specification, so any extras fitted by he manufacturer is a modification whoever fitted it.
The comparison sites do ask about modification and on many if you answer yes you will get a drop down box which incudes tow bars. If you have any doubts. Quite simply if you have any doubts about anything then declare it.
I can only assume that if the tow bar had been declared then the premium would have been increased as otherwise there would be no prejudice to the insurer, but do not know if this was the case, or if the question was asked. Frankly I would not insure my door knob with that firm though if that is their attitude.
One does wonder if a court case would have had a different outcome.
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After this article I had a long chat with the helpdesk of my insurer (Tesco).
Their stance is that if the towbar is factory fitted it isn't a modification however if it is a dealer fit option (and many are) from new then it is. Adding it did not effect my premium however and some insurers reportedly lower premiums for those that tow as we're considered more careful drivers.
They explained that each modification has a "load" number, towbars have a load of 0. However something like a spoiler may have a load of 25 and wrap/tinted windows a load of 50.etc, if the load figure of the total modifications declared exceeds 75 then they will automatically deny or refuse insurance. As it was a 0 load modification I wasn't charged an admin fee, otherwise it would have been £25 to add the mod to my record.
Best to be safe than sorry though! Best to check with your individual insurer about your own policy (including other Tesco users, don't take my experience as gospel).
Andy
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TW…Just queried my insurance company about the hard wired dash cam..(I didn't know about that one). ..Mine is a hard wired Next Base 522 GW. They have dash cams listed under 'safety items'. Also asked if the vehicle had sensors for parking / rear view camera. . . When I Informed them the vehicle has parking, forward, side and rear view cameras plus forward/rear collision sensors they said the admin charge for amending the policy would be waived..A win win day ….
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I cannot speak for Tesco insurance, but it is clear the load factor for the case mentioned was not 75% or anywhere near. For most insurers a tow baris not chargeable, but should be declared, a factory fit one is a modification as it is an option and not a standard fitment. Possibly the word "modification" for them is wrong and should be "not standard fitment" which might be clearer. If the case went to court it might mean a different result but you cannot be sure.
As we have not seen the grounds for asking the Ombudsman to review it is difficult to be precise. What I would look at is the premium, if this would not have changed then there seems to be no basis to repudiate as the insurer has not been prejudiced. Possibly what you need is two quotes from the insurer with and without the tow bar and see if they are the same. If they differ you are on a loser, if they are the same the insurer should be.
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