Well i called Admiral to inform them that i have now installed the R32 Xenon headlights.

The premium only went up by £17.88... but this is what annoyed me....

The lady said that although declared Admiral wont pay for any modifications that are non standard to fitting at point of manufacture. I confirmed that they werent an aftermarket item and although not standard they are a VW Part which offer better light performance.

She said that she took my comments and that during a claim the claims team would look into seeing if they are standard (clearly they arent). In theory if i have an accident the Xenons arent covered.....

Were Xenons an optional extra for the Anniversary?

Any thoughts here?

Insurance mate, they will find any excuse not to pay out...

I had the same problem when I crashed my 206 - it had morette lights fitted to it, which was part of the SP part fitted and supplied by Peugeot, but they wouldn't pay out the cost after the accident!

 so did they pay to revert it to the "standard look" headlights and repair the rest of the car, or what did you do?

They wouldn't pay to cover the lights - the car was written off anyway

Syncopix:

Insurance mate, they will find any excuse not to pay out...

I had the same problem when I crashed my 206 - it had morette lights fitted to it, which was part of the SP part fitted and supplied by Peugeot, but they wouldn't pay out the cost after the accident!

You know, some people who post in this section really should read POLICY WORDINGS, before you take out an insurance policy. they are all available online, and free for you to read.

If you did this, you'd realise BEFORE you took out the insurance that mainstream insurers like Admiral will cover mods, but will only replace with the cost of standard parts. They are not getting out of anything. It CLEARLY says this in their wording. Whinging about your own inability to do the necessary research is futile in my opinion.

If you have a modified car, pay for proper modified car insurance with a reinstatement on a like for like basis wording, don't scrimp and save by going with admiral with your mods 'declared' because you won't get the value back. this includes factory extras, because all insurance companies ask if a vehicle is modified, including factory extras as these are also modifications.

I do find your cynical attitude towards insurers rather ignorant, because you clearly do not understand the basis of the insurance policy you are taking out. I'd strongly suggest that you read your wording, or if you aren't sure... just ask them questions.

Insurers are not in the business of telling lies to customers, or hiding things, it's your responsibility to KNOW your product that you are buying, and if you choose to think that all insurers have the same basis of settlement, then you are naieve.

Mike

^^^ lol do you work in the field of insurance by any chance ^^^

I think he was saying that the headlights were part of a FACTORY fitted sports pack that Peugeot did, and he hadn't fitted them himself - therefore not modified.

Anyway, don't be so defensive, it's only a discussion. Obviously every insurer is going to be different!

lim_walk - I was under the impression that ANY mk4 Golf with the 'winter pack' had factory fitted xenons if that helps your original question about anni's

 Sorry, just re read my reply... it does seem like a rant, it's not honest. I'm just having a bad day. Whether it's factory fitted or not... it's a modification from standard, that you pay extra for... therefore it IS modified. You answer the question on the take out of the policy and you are asked if it has factory extras, as these are also modifications, irrelevant if they come from the factory or not.

Yeah I do work in insurance, and I know they are not perfect, but sheer ignorance of the policy you have taken out does not give someone the right to go on a massive rant when an insurer merely follows the wording that they have sold to someone?

Mike H:

 Sorry, just re read my reply... it does seem like a rant, it's not honest. I'm just having a bad day. Whether it's factory fitted or not... it's a modification from standard, that you pay extra for... therefore it IS modified. You answer the question on the take out of the policy and you are asked if it has factory extras, as these are also modifications, irrelevant if they come from the factory or not.

Yeah I do work in insurance, and I know they are not perfect, but sheer ignorance of the policy you have taken out does not give someone the right to go on a massive rant when an insurer merely follows the wording that they have sold to someone?

Yep I do 100% agree with that. If your car has factory fitted extras and you DON'T tell the insurer, then it is your own fault if they don't pay out... however if I did tell them then I would expect them to pay out

Goody

 thats why adrian flux are good, any mods, they will replace like for like.

goody_gti:

Mike H:

 Sorry, just re read my reply... it does seem like a rant, it's not honest. I'm just having a bad day. Whether it's factory fitted or not... it's a modification from standard, that you pay extra for... therefore it IS modified. You answer the question on the take out of the policy and you are asked if it has factory extras, as these are also modifications, irrelevant if they come from the factory or not.

Yeah I do work in insurance, and I know they are not perfect, but sheer ignorance of the policy you have taken out does not give someone the right to go on a massive rant when an insurer merely follows the wording that they have sold to someone?

Yep I do 100% agree with that. If your car has factory fitted extras and you DON'T tell the insurer, then it is your own fault if they don't pay out... however if I did tell them then I would expect them to pay out

Goody

But my argument is, if you tell them about the mods, but havn't read the wording, and the wording says they accept modifications, but will only pay out for standard parts in the event of damage.... then that's your own fault for not knowing your wording? And most certainley not the insurer "trying to get out of paying"

Mike_H - Totally agree again, but then it's your responsibility to check the t&cs in the first place. If your insurer tells you this in the first place, and your not happy with it, then simply don't go with them

But on the other side of the argument, the insurers could make this perfectly clear when arranging the policy as most people read 'Modified' as aftermarket.

Goody

Although i was annoyed, my point of this thread wasnt to rant but to ask how the mod could be interperated.. ie.. aftermarket mod, VW upgrade, optional extra etc as each company has its own unique criteria. Clearly its a modification of some nature and isnt standard so i have to accept that. Ive accepted that they arent covered but though it was a shame and i wanted to bring this up and gain the thoughts of you all. Clearly you all have... which im glad

I understand both sides to the arguement. I think often we buy policies to suit us at that time(if it be price or cover - often both).

In my case i wasnt looking to mod my Anni as it had everything i needed. I bought the policy which im 2/3's of the way through. Unfortuanately for me my needs changed having joined this forum. I opted for the xenon mod having already checked with Admiral that i could get insured.

Perhaps i should have read the policy about mods... but at the time my needs didnt require it and i didnt think i would do anything to the car (famous last words)

Im happy that i can still get insured but disappointed that they arent covered even though i have declared them. YES, its in the policy, but it still doesnt help if anything happens as im still looking for my NCD. I just wont be looking to do any big mods as they wont be covered although id be insured.

On renewal i maybe looking elsewhere and atleast i know what to look out for in the future.

cheers guys

goody_gti:

But on the other side of the argument, the insurers could make this perfectly clear when arranging the policy as most people read 'Modified' as aftermarket.

That was my interpertation as well!! Hence starting this thread.

 Lim_walk... sorry my post wasn't aimed at yourself... I fully understand that I'm in a far favourable position having spent my whole life in employment studying wordings and answering queries like this, and dealing with some very complicated claims. It was aimed at the person who said "insurers trying to get out of paying again" when it clearly isn't the case.

The majority of people, never mod their car, and whilst it's in the wording, it would further lengthen an already long script an insurer has to read out on an inception of a new policy. All I can suggest to anyone taking out a new policy, is ask what sort of reinstatement the insurer offers on acceptance of a valid claim for damage against the vehicle. That's the only way to be sure.

Hope you didn't take my post the wrong way it wasn't intended to be a rant, I appreciate that it may have come accross that way, it wasn't intended too, I am just here to offer advice from my experience in the rather complicated insurance world.

Alls cool.

I didnt take offense Mike. I just hoped to explain the reason for the thread incase i hadnt come across in the right way as often things can be interperated differently (quite appropriate to the point of "modifications" i feel) lol.

 MikeH - can you clarify why - if they won't insure/pay for mods in the event of an accident - do they charge a premium for them?

goody_gti:

Yep I do 100% agree with that. If your car has factory fitted extras and you DON'T tell the insurer, then it is your own fault if they don't pay out... however if I did tell them then I would expect them to pay out

Goody

Sorry - if the car came out of the factory with this "extra" already fitted then it shouldn't - in the eyes of the insurer - be classed as an extra. Why would you want to tell the insurers? If there is an alternative to say upholtery - you choose leather at a price you are expected to pay for and the car gets it's interior stolen - would you expect cloth interior back?

I know it isn't very funny, but I did chuckle when I read that the insurers wouldn't pay for replacement headlights and then took one look at those photos - the least of your worries no doubt.

On a more serious note was everyone ok? That looks a pretty nasty rollover. What happened?

bouncerMk4:

 MikeH - can you clarify why - if they won't insure/pay for mods in the event of an accident - do they charge a premium for them?

Because any visual enhancement to the vehicle makes it a bigger risk to insure. People mod their cars to make them look nicer/more appealing, hence a bigger theft risk, hence a bump in the premium.

Same with engine mods. They make the car quicker/more powerful, which increases the risk in terms of an accident...and hence higher premium. I respect this is just for Xenons, so only the theft risk will apply.

bouncerMk4:

goody_gti:

Yep I do 100% agree with that. If your car has factory fitted extras and you DON'T tell the insurer, then it is your own fault if they don't pay out... however if I did tell them then I would expect them to pay out

Goody

Sorry - if the car came out of the factory with this "extra" already fitted then it shouldn't - in the eyes of the insurer - be classed as an extra. Why would you want to tell the insurers? If there is an alternative to say upholtery - you choose leather at a price you are expected to pay for and the car gets it's interior stolen - would you expect cloth interior back?

No but I'd at least let the insurer know the spec of the car, i.e. optional extra leather...

 Premium Choice also do the "like for like" policy.....I thought would be best to opt for that