Car insurance
just read in practical caravan of somebody who renewed their car insurance and when mentioned that they had a towball fitted it was treated as a modification, i have allways told my insurers that i tow and have never had this problem, having said that surely a towbar on a vehicle designed and type approved towing equipment fitted should be regarded as an extra and not a modification,what about a new car ordered with a factory fitted towball? how can that be considered a modification? anybody else had similar problems? forgot to add they were charged £39 extra for their troubles
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I had same problem last year, notified my insures I had purchased a Honda cr- v with factory fitted towbar which they regarded as a " modification" . I challenged this to no avail and they charged me an extra £28 for the privilege.
I've got the last laugh though as I am NOT insuring with them this year
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Anything added to a car above manufacturer specification has to be added to the insurance so in the case of an accident it can be repaired as was before the accident. If the insurance don't know they won't repair.
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It is written on my car policy schedule:
Modification - Towbar
Cost £0
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Just renewed mine, new shedule of insurance in the modifications section tow bar no longer shown. Phoned up insurer. Yes we know you had a tow bar before but we don't always put it on the shedule, will make a note on your details to say you still have one fitted. My reply yes I have your name and I will make a note of this conversation. Also advised of a dash cam but not interested in that.
So - Remember to check your insurance shedule !!!!!!
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I've had tow bars for years and never informed my insurers. Then after reading on forums like this I decided I ought to tell them. My insurers, LV did want to know but they did not increase my premium. I wonder if I've been without valid insurance all these
years?0 -
Just been reading this thread, which made me check on my schedule and I had notified insurers of fitting a tow bar. Nothing shown ref any increase in premium. Better have a chat with other caravan friends!!!
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I've had tow bars for years and never informed my insurers. Then after reading on forums like this I decided I ought to tell them. My insurers, LV did want to know but they did not increase my premium. I wonder if I've been without valid insurance all these
years?Not without insurabce but also not coverde for the cost of replacement if damaged I suspect. Mine is noted on insurance docs and included in the value. No extra charge, Some 25 years ago I had a Nissan Bluebird 14.8 Estate car. Somebody ran into the tow
ball when parled. I did not notice until I came to hitch up a small trailer to pick a friends motorcycle up. The impact had bent the tow bar and the tow bar angle was wrong giving only just enough clearance to fit the tow hitch. I used it but would not have
done so for the far heavier caravan. I claimed and it was replaced.0 -
Basically a ything not in the standard spec for the car is a modification even if factory fitted. What the i surer is asking is the car modified from that. If they ask that the answer is yes. My i surers MoreThan simply ask if it has been modified to improve
performance in which case the answer is no.People who tow are statistically better risks and any insurer who charges you extra is pulling a fast one so move the business.
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Basically a ything not in the standard spec for the car is a modification even if factory fitted. What the i surer is asking is the car modified from that. If they ask that the answer is yes. My i surers MoreThan simply ask if it has been modified to improve
performance in which case the answer is no.People who tow are statistically better risks and any insurer who charges you extra is pulling a fast one so move the business.
have to agree regarding lower risk by virtue of the fact that when towing you are restricted to lower speed limits ,and motorway restrictions perhaps it needs people to make a point of this to insurers to make them sit up and take notice
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Having been told about this last year I informed my insurer and had a premium added because my tow bar was fitted post purchase of car. If fitted by dealer before collection there would not have been a premium. Also had a premium added for roof bars and
side-steps. During research on Google last year I came across some tables of modifications that can cause a premium however one table said your insurance could be reduced for having a tow bar fitted by some insurers as it provided a degree of protection in
the event of a rear end impact.0 -
I have always informed my insurance of my fitted tow bar and it has never increased the cost. My last 3 cars have been Volvos so have kept with them and I must say the insurance has always been competetive and renewals have not been much either.
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How can this idea of anything that is not standard needing to be declared work ? I mean when you order a new car it could have all sorts of options of which a tow bar is just one, are you supposed to declare all the options ?
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When I rang my insurers to tell them I'd be towing a caravan, and basically ask if there would be any premium changes, the little diamond on the other end the phone enquires, "is there a towbar fitted to your vehicle then?"
Kinda fills you with confidence eh?
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Just a little twist to this, it's ok to declar that you have a towbar on your vehicle, but are you declaring that you actually tow a caravan?
I have a Nissan Navara that comfortably pulls my Bailey behind it. But, although it's is classed as commer vehicle it is insured as a private one. I have had no problem getting insurers to quote but when asked if it covers pulling my caravan, most decline.
I have discovered that I have to go through a specilist brokerage. I even tried the CC and although they show navaras on cpub sites and you could buy one through the club at a discounted price, they wouldn't insure then navara as its not classed as a private
vehicle.So be very aware that you might to be declaring that you town and what you tow!
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Sorry about the above typing errors, big fingers - using a not so smartphone that thinks it knows better!
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The advice is shop around...it seems many companies will take any and every opportunity to add value to their business. My current insurer makes no charge for my towbar and includes 2 years FREE gap insurance if you are the first owner of a brand new vehicle. Premium 2nd year for fully comp protected on a brand new Forester under £240 underwritten by RSA....dont moan ..do summat about it.
Tj
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