1. Home
  2. Land Rover 4WD vehicles
  3. Hi guys - I hate cross posting, but if you have the time, please read on....

Hi guys - I hate cross posting, but if you have the time, please read on....

Abstract of cross post to uk.legal

Hi all!

I recently posted a question entitled "Dropped like a Stone", regarding insurance on a modified vehicle. Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply - it soon became quite clear that I was in the wrong, and I have attempted to correct my errors by re-insuring with a company prepared to take the risks involved with the vehicle. What I failed to advise in the original post is that the modifications are not unusual to the particular vehicle in question, indeed the vast majority of owners of this type of vehicle carry out modifications regularly in order to equip the vehicle to their "spec". (For the avoidance of doubt - it is a specialised 4x4 used daily on-road, and frequently off-road in competition) The modifications I subsequently advised covers equipment such as winches, the special bumpers that carry them, remote control systems for the winches, dual battery systems, safari roof-racks, sat-nav etc, etc.

The latest broker (a specialist, who advised I was NOW insured after acceptance of yet another Debit Card transaction) was not interested in any of the modifications, apart from "chipping" of the engine and a suspension "lift". He just said "what value do you think the car is worth?" I quoted

30K and he agreed a price with me for the premium, after consulting with the Insurance Company over mods he thought may cause concern.

Today I got a whole wad of papers from the insurance company requesting copies of my driving licence, Thatcham reports, details of the tracker system, what exactly the mods are, who fitted the mods, their qualifications, etc, etc which stated that unless I reply within 14 days with all documentation completed, the insurance will be deemed void. To add insult to injury, there will also be a charge of 25% of the premium paid if I cancel the cover.

So, despite my honesty, I seem to still not be covered. Despite attempting to list ALL of the mods to the chap at the insurance centre, I'm unsure where I stand. He seemed to suggest that things like the roof rack and winches would fall within the supposed "agreed value", but the documentation suggests that "market value" will prevail. All I want to do is insure the vehicle against loss for a replacement value of £30K.

Any ideas?.....

Reply to
Anon
Loading thread data ...

Tried Richard Eggar (I think that's his name) at Competition Car Insurance? Sorry, not got a number for them. Or NFU? Badger.

Reply to
Badger

to pay the 25% charge. Try the NFU , being rural based and providing cover for farmers with with working Landrovers they have a much better understanding of modification etc , also they have local area agents who can inspect/ check vehicles or deal with claims. Steve the grease

Reply to
R L Driver

Any experience with Adrian Flux? At first sight they seem cheaper?

Fred

Reply to
Fred Labrosse

In message , Anon writes

Three things here. First the insurance company is interested in any modification which improves performance or otherwise increases risk to the car Secondly they are interested in any modifications which will increase the cost of any repair to the vehicle under a claim. Thirdly, AFAIAA *all* motor insurance is the lesser of owners declared value and "market value". The latter includes the standard vehicle and all declared accessories and modifications.

I am not an expert, only speaking from my own experience.

As far as the threat to deduct 25%, that is preposterous in the circumstances you describe as it is they who have added new conditions over and above those stipulated and accepted by their agent, the broker. Have a word the Trading Standards office local to where the insurance company are based.

Reply to
hugh

No, you can have an agreed value insurance, where you and the insurance company have agreed the value in advance. To do this you'd need to send all the information about mods, etc. and have the vehicle inspected - if you are a member of an owners club, there is often someone from the club who is "authorised" by the insurance companies to inspect the vehicle and confirm its value to them.

Steve Walker

Reply to
Steve Walker

Then perhaps you could point the OP in the direction of a reputable company offering such a policy

Reply to
hugh

Reply to
Anon

I'm insured with them. Scads of modifications and the only one that affected the insurance was if I chipped the engine (good trick - it's a 200!).

They do send out a modification declaration which you have to fill in and send back with photos if there are significant body modifications, but the price was right and they seem OK to deal with.

Paul

Reply to
Paul S. Brown

I actually rang them, following them sending me a quote that was indeed very interesting, only to realise that my defender 110 had become a defender 90. After corrections, the quote became only a little bit more interesting than NFU, but the whole NFU package seems more interesting (unlimited green card, local office).

Just my 2p.

Fred

Reply to
Fred Labrosse

And the NFU are *very* good to have on your side. In a horse related incident involving a car with the ex a couple of years ago they *really* went to town on a "no win, no fee" idiotic claim. For the record, the solicitors trying to make the claim against the ex lost the case, and almost certainly lost a large amount of money persuing the fatuous claim. If nothing else, the NFU deserve 10 Jolly Junior points for that!

Richard

Reply to
beamendsltd

Most of the specialist companies do so (rather than the big names), if you ask them. I'm from more of a kit-car background, but many of the kit-car insurers also do classic car and 4x4 insurance. Just take a look in any of the kit-car, claasic car or 4x4 mags or do a search on the internet.

Steve Walker

Reply to
Steve Walker

I've just taken a look at Land Rover World and although I've not used any of the companies mentioned in there, so can't say anything about them, Sureterm Direct (0870 2020230) and Peter Best (01621 840400) are advertising agreed values and Adrian Flux (08700 777888) is in there (I'm pretty sure they do agreed value). In all probability a number of the others in there will do it too.

I can't give any advice as to how good they are, as I've never used any of them, never had an agreed value policy and never needed to claim on my insurance yet - fingers crossed, 20 years so far.

Steve Walker

Reply to
Steve Walker

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.