Insurance shock

FrenchLeave · Post by **FrenchLeave** » 28 Mar 2009, 18:00

I've just bought a newer ZX to replace my wife's older one. Transferring the insurance I was asked if the car had been modified, I said it hadn't but asked if I fitted Citroen alloys would that count as an alteration. The reply was that it would and that the premium would increase by £54!!!

I think I'll stay with the steel wheels.

PS. I've just seen that DickieG has commented on this in the "insurance groups" post.

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 29 Mar 2009, 10:47

Since you're adding value to the car, the insurance company will increase the premium. After all, if the car was a total loss, you'd be claiming for the new alloys.

Post by **myglaren** » 29 Mar 2009, 11:33

Alloys are a favoured target of vehicle robbers too, security bolts be damned

I work with a lad with a V-reg VW Bora (1,6) with snazzy after-market but original VW/Audi shiny alloy wheels that pushed his premium up by around £80.

FrenchLeave · Post by **FrenchLeave** » 29 Mar 2009, 19:32

Yes, but £52 extra on a normal insurance premium of £189 is a bit steep. Who would find a set of standard ZX alloys particularly appealing?

I'm no lover of alloys anyway - they're difficult to keep clean and seem to offer no advantage other than appearance. The only reason I considered fitting them was that on the way home from collecting the new(er) car I lost one of the wheeltrims and the old car has alloys.

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 29 Mar 2009, 20:23

Interestingly my insurance company charges me £120ish extra a year for my morretts, alloys and uprated brakes none of which are covered by the policy should they be damaged or half inched, explain that......................

D

addo · Post by **addo** » 29 Mar 2009, 22:19

If you bought the car secondhand, and it has OEM wheels on it - how are you expected to know they may not be original?

alloys ...seem to offer no advantage other than appearance

Actually, they can act as a "heatsink" for brake energy. It's nothing major, but a small bonus I like.

Post by **myglaren** » 29 Mar 2009, 22:24

addo wrote:If you bought the car secondhand, and it has OEM wheels on it - how are you expected to know they may not be original?
alloys ...seem to offer no advantage other than appearance
Actually, they can act as a "heatsink" for brake energy. It's nothing major, but a small bonus I like.

Where those wheels are not supplied as standard on that vehichle but offered as an extra and/or fitted only as standard on higher spec models.

Bloody minefield if you ask me. The majority of them look pathetic anyway (like mine) exceptions being some Volvo, Jaguar and C6 alloys.
The Activa ones are OK.

addo · Post by **addo** » 29 Mar 2009, 22:39

I wonder if our insurers will head the same way? I've added foglights and cruise control, the former proving invaluable on one occasion (made the diffference between driveable and undriveable in prevailing conditions).

It's added a slight notional amount to the vehicle value, and the policy indexed accordingly. Feel sorry for you blokes, especially as stealing a loaf of bread is no longer a workable solution.

Regards, Adam.

Post by **admiral51** » 30 Mar 2009, 00:58

Deanxm wrote:Interestingly my insurance company charges me £120ish extra a year for my morretts, alloys and uprated brakes none of which are covered by the policy should they be damaged or half inched, explain that......................

D

Begs the question why tell them all they are doing is charging you extra for being honest whilst still not insuring you for the extras you have added.

Seems a bit like going to the chippy,telling them you want salt and vinegar,they charge you extra and then say we dont do salt and vinegar

Colin

telderv · Post by **telderv** » 30 Mar 2009, 16:32

insurance companies are all gits, theres no getting away from it, obscene premiums and nothing but grief when you try to claim