Are leather seats a "modification"?

[buttons77]

I bought a new Mazda MX5 almost a year ago and now it's that dreaded insurance renewal time. When I bought it I was asked whether I wanted leather or cloth seats and went for the heated leather ones. I am now being told that this is a "modification" and it's making quite a difference to the price - is this right?

[sara3]

according to this, yes... you're paying the price for having a warm butt!

http://www.carinsuranceexplained.com/car_insur ance_explained/declaring_modifications.htm

[buttons77]

Oh well I suppose it's worth it then!

[oldhamfan]

I would argue that this is an option rather than a modification, surely?

[buttons77]

Yes, you're right oldhamfan - I contacted the dealer where I bought the car and he says that the seats and air-con are factory options and that I do not even have to declare them - let alone pay extra!!

[kempie]

From the first link...

"It is worth nothing that some insurance companies will class factory fitted extras as modifications."

[kempie]

^ I presume "nothing" is meant to read "noting" ;-)

[oldhamfan]

I read the link however to me it is common sense that it is an option and the vehicle is not modified. I would not declare it as a modification.

I think if it came to a claim and they refused to pay out based on a factory upgrade being a modification, a court would take a dim view and common sense would prevail.

Glad to be of help.

[chas2008]

working in the bodyshop/insurance industry for the last 10+ years i have yet to see an insurance engineer note what the seats were made from when assessing a vehicle for a valuation or claim.

[buttons77]

Thanks for all your help guys (isn't this site great?!?!).
oldhamfan - I agree with you, the Mazda dealer has told me it's not modified, so that's what I've told my insurance people. Hopefully I'll never have to claim but I think you're right and that I'd win in the end.

[oldhenry]

Normally insurance companies know the spec of a car from the type , i.e Zetec has ceratin features and sets the premium accordingly. But if buying a Merc, you hardly get the wheels, let alone 'extras' that are normal on other cars.
I wonder if insurance companies ask for the spec list when getting a quote for a Merc?
I would not have thought of declaring factory fitted options as a modification, anuway models and specs change rapidly as competition drives up the spec to sell more ( or any at the moment) cars.

[kempie]

Common sense is irrelevant; what is being debated is a business decision. It is also irrelevant what the car dealer thinks; the contract you have is with the insurance provider.

Individual insurance companies can decide for themselves what constitutes an "option" or "modification" and administer their policies accordingly. No court would become involved in that determination so whether or not it would hold a dim view is of no consequence.

[kempie]

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread .html?t=1010541

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread .html?p=4630032

The only answer is to shop around for an insurer that does not load the premium when a car has (declared) optional extras.