mr2 insurance

[Draven]

Good grief - is it really that tricky for an owner to simply tell the insurance what car they have sitting on the driveway???

I don't believe this is an issue. Either the car is correctly described by the owner or not. Very, very simples.

+1

[riot68]

I agree that if you know what something is then of course tell them, always a worry for folk who don't know though. Once heard of an insurance company not paying out as an owner of a Ford Escort had described it as having no modifications, however when he came to claim he found that the original owner had paid to have a spoiler fitted by Ford before taking delivery of his new car, this was classed as not standard on the certain model and the company didn't pay out. It's all well and good when you are in to cars like all of us here, what about other folk who just buy a car, without a lot of digging how are you supposed to know if a 15 year old car is still standard spec?...

[Charged]

I agree that if you know what something is then of course tell them, always a worry for folk who don't know though. Once heard of an insurance company not paying out as an owner of a Ford Escort had described it as having no modifications, however when he came to claim he found that the original owner had paid to have a spoiler fitted by Ford before taking delivery of his new car, this was classed as not standard on the certain model and the company didn't pay out. It's all well and good when you are in to cars like all of us here, what about other folk who just buy a car, without a lot of digging how are you supposed to know if a 15 year old car is still standard spec?...

To be fair though, I'd take second hand stories about insurance refusals with a large pinch of salt, in that scenario above it is incredibly unlikely a claim would be refused on the basis of what sounds like an optional extra.

Agreed on this being a fuss about nothing discussion though.

[riot68]

Just meant young guy buys basic Cords, Vauxhall always have loads of trim options etc. He buys some alloys and leather interior from a higher spec cords & fits it. Down the line sells to an old lady, how does she know without loads of research that a 15th year old car is not standard. Got to be loads out there...

[Charged]

I know what you are saying , each claim would be assessed on it's own basis but there is a huge difference between an undisclosed optional extra spoiler and a turbo engine non disclosure. One is very likely to be a void claim, the other isn't.

[riot68]

Indeed, I'm just sure there are loads of folk out there who state none modified as they genuinely think it isn't but it actually is...

[vishpish]

very interesting thread imho.

since studying insurance in law school (going back to 2008/2009), there were rumours that insurance law was going to get a revamp because of how onerous it was/is on the customer; "full disclosure of material facts" being that exact thing that Peter mentioned.

As far as i know, this year they may finally look at it (they being the Scots Law Commission).

What i don't understand however is why you wouldnt just do this;

1) Phone your insurance company
2) Declare everything about the car including all mods
3) Choose of one thier meaningless titles
4) Record the call, or rely on them (which all of them do) recording that call (but if your in doubt, just record it!)

You have fully disclosed the mods and the material facts. What title they give your car isnt strictly speaking relevant. If they have offered £400 to insure your car on the basis of what you've disclosed, they are agreeing to cover your car as you have described. You have therefore discharged your requirement to disclose material facts.

A real life example was that I insured a 180sx Non Turbo Kouki shape s13 shape 98 plate with Sky; rare as hell car! I declared everything. The insurance policy came back insuring it as an s14 touring. I thereafter made a claim under the policy and it was dealt with efficiently with no fuss. They can class it as they like; but if you've discharged your burden to declare everything material, what the hell else can you do!

Remember, contracts and agreements are made verbally too.