Undeclared mods during insurance valuation, how screwed am I?

**northpole** · 4th May 2022, 11:36

trust me you haven't dodge a bullet the next insurer will be raising your price as they'll make a note on your details that you didn't declare modifications... debadge and black grille shouldn't be a problem though, but the rest is... and that is why your next quote will be higher... I told my insurer about the lot, yes even the painted calipers as i know they can be dicks about the smallest thing just not to payout and raise your insurance price the next time around.

**bibu16v** · 4th May 2022, 13:07

Originally Posted by Drogen24

... debadge, black grille, eyebrows on the lights ...

That obviously seems insurance companies big deal bullsh*t opposite to commnon sense logic which says these are barely aesthetic/cosmetic mods with no influence whatsoever in normal functioning, car crash or any other odd ideas may cross their mind...
And radio?! Maybe, if it happens to be an expensive one and only if it'll be an owner claim on a (in)car theft case but that's debatable too...

**Big Dave** · 5th May 2022, 10:58

Originally Posted by Drogen24

So insurance have just called me: debadge, black grille, eyebrows on the lights and radio were all picked up as undeclared .

So, you didn't put on your innocent voice and say that you know nothing about the undeclared mods and bought the car with all these bolt on bits it had. It must have been the previous owner who fitted them. To me it's just a car.

**northpole** · 5th May 2022, 12:56

Originally Posted by Big Dave

So, you didn't put on your innocent voice and say that you know nothing about the undeclared mods and bought the car with all these bolt on bits it had. It must have been the previous owner who fitted them. To me it's just a car.

yeah no that doesn't make a blind difference to the note they'll put on his file... as i said hell notice a rise in insurance premium next one around and they won't give him any reason for it either... He got away with it the payout but literally hell be paying that amount back with his new insurance quotes. Seriously doesn't make a blind bit of difference to them but they'll recover that money swift enough, and even if it doesn't go to them the next insurer will cash in on it, because of the note on his file.

**Big Dave** · 5th May 2022, 13:19

So, we could potentially all be the victim of buying a 2nd hand car that has had mods that we might not possibly be aware of?

To many people a car is just a car, and won't care or even notice if it has an aftermarket spoiler or alloys on it if the price is right.

And to pick up the stereo has also been changed, well it just goes to show insurance companies are taking us motorists for a ride.

**northpole** · 5th May 2022, 13:35

jup but they don't care, when they ask if it has modifications you either declare them or say not to my knowledge... that way they can't penalize you for it... if you say answer that question with no you are literally giving them an excuse.

some cars are known to have modifications and they will ask you if it has them, pe.. the Chrysler 300C, 9 out of 10 have the SRT bodykit or have the Bentley look aftermarket stuff on them... they will ask, they also ask the size of the wheels.. as the cheaper diesels are standard on 18 inch wheels.. but the optional wheels on those go all the way up to 22 inch, again cars known for it

**sol** · 7th May 2022, 00:15

Modifications mean non standard parts, i.e. stuff that wasn’t available from Vauxhall. So putting heated seats, snowflakes, etc is not classed as a mod, as they were options available from VX. When you insure a new car, how many insurance companies ask you how you specced it out….none. Anything that increases performance, remapping for example, definitely needs to be declared.