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Common Car Modification That You May Have, Invalidating Your Insurance

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Hymie | 22:51 Wed 04th Dec 2024 | Motoring
5 Answers

Insurers will use any excuse they can dream up, not to pay a claim – this is getting ridiculous.

 

I recall they tried claiming fitting a roof-rack was a modification that invalidated the insurance.

 

One of the vehicles I owned had a tow bar fitted; I thought its most useful feature was that if someone was to rear-end me at low speed, the only damage would be that inflicted on their vehicle by the tow bar.

 

If I was the Financial Ombudsman I would have been asking how having a tow bar fitted increases the insurance risk.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/cars/article-14153617/Drivers-invalidating-motor-insurance-common-feature-fitted-car.html?ico=mol_desktop_home

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Your link shows a driver referred an insurer's decision not to pay out, to the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman agreed with the insurers.

"The driver who got in touch with us told us that he is at his 'wits end' adding that, following a routine vehicle collision, his insurer had refused to honour his insurance at the last minute, leaving him with a potential six-figure cost and incredible stress and anxiety for him and his family,' Rosamond said."

"Following a nine-month dispute with Flow - a subsidiary of Allianz - the Financial Ombudsman Service found in favour of the insurance company."

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So how does having a tow bar fitted increase the insurance risk?

"If I was the Financial Ombudsman I would have been asking how having a tow bar fitted increases the insurance risk."

And that's exactly what the Ombudsman asks. There must be a clear link between the modification and additional risk before liability can be denied.

Here's an example from the Ombudsman where an insurer tried to deny a claim because of a changed air filter:

https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/data-insight/our-insight/car-modifications-insurance

The Ombudsman actually goes further than that in some cases and insists that the modification actually contributed to the accident before cover is denied..

I tell my car insurer everything, that way they can't refuse to pay out.

I tell them about my hardwired dashcam (nearly invisible from outside the vehicle) and the after market reversing sensors.

Ridiculous, I know.

Towbars are a bit more understandable. The risk increases because you will not only be insured for driving a car but also for towing a vehicle and that changes the way a vehicle handles, increasing the risk of accident.  Look at the aftermath of a towing vehicle jack knifing or a caravan toppling on a motorway. 

If you reverse in to anything your twobar will cause a lot more damage than your bumper, even at low speed. 

So having a towbar does increase the risk of higher claims

If you inform your insurer of any modifications before accepting the policy, no worries.

But if you don't,  you can expect an argument from them.

It's not rocket science, just be honest.

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