After reading reports in autoexpress advice is to contact your car insurer if you are going to or have winter tyres on your vehicle, apparently changing yours tyres is a modification to the vehicle. My insurer has just confirmed this & noted the modification to our policy, thankfully no charge was incurred.
See link below.
http://www.planestrainsautomobiles.co.uk/automobiles/auto-express-and-tyresafe-concern-over-winter-tyres-car-insurance
The thing that concerns me for skiers driving to the slopes is that you have to notify your car insurer before driving abroad & an extra insurance premium is usually incurred, however you need to inform your insurer if you have winter tyres fitted as this is a modification to your vehicle.
Insurance minefield.
Contact your car insurer if you are thinking about fitting winter tyres!
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Started by Finn in Ski Chatter 09-Dec-2010 - 41 Replies
Finn posted Dec-2010
Finn
Admin
reply to 'Contact your car insurer if you are thinking about fitting winter tyres!' posted Dec-2010
According to that article...
Any insurer viewing correctly-fitted and in-spec winter tyres as "a modification" is trying it on and needs to be challenged head-on.
The advantage of winter tyres, in winter, is so clear-cut that insurers should be looking at encouraging their use through the use of discounted premiums.
It'd be interesting to hear from anyone who actually has been charged an additional premium, identifying the insurer so we can all avoid them in future!
For starters, Admiral have just confirmed to me that they do NOT view winter tyres as modifications and there is no need to inform them of their use. No surprise there.
If your insurance company think differently then ditch them - simples.
The magazine claims that some insurers regard the fitting of winter tyres as a vehicle modification
Any insurer viewing correctly-fitted and in-spec winter tyres as "a modification" is trying it on and needs to be challenged head-on.
The advantage of winter tyres, in winter, is so clear-cut that insurers should be looking at encouraging their use through the use of discounted premiums.
It'd be interesting to hear from anyone who actually has been charged an additional premium, identifying the insurer so we can all avoid them in future!
For starters, Admiral have just confirmed to me that they do NOT view winter tyres as modifications and there is no need to inform them of their use. No surprise there.
If your insurance company think differently then ditch them - simples.
The Admin Man
Finn
reply to 'Contact your car insurer if you are thinking about fitting winter tyres!' posted Dec-2010
We are with Privelege & they view it as modification, going as far as to requesting us to inform them when & if we change our tyres back from winter to 'summer' models.
It's absolutely crazy.
It's absolutely crazy.
Finn
Trencher
reply to 'Contact your car insurer if you are thinking about fitting winter tyres!' posted Dec-2010
I don't think the insurance company would have a leg to stand on, unless the manufacturer considers winter tyres a modification. Most models of UK vehicle are also sold in North America, and European snow countries. No manufacturer is going to jeopardise sales in those places, by saying winter tyres are a modification that makes their vehicles less safe.
because I'm so inclined .....
Ir12daveor
reply to 'Contact your car insurer if you are thinking about fitting winter tyres!' posted Dec-2010
Are you sure the issue is with the tyres? Here on the continent most people have a second set of wheels for a winter tyre and the wheel have to conform to the manufacturers list as if they don't the different wheels are counted as a modification. From the insurers point of view it's the other way around. In Switzerland the insurer can decide not to cover you if you DON'T have winter tyres on!
Bandit
reply to 'Contact your car insurer if you are thinking about fitting winter tyres!' posted Dec-2010
Fraid so, there are plenty of folks over here who have tried both ways, only to be thwarted by their Insurer. If your car is fitted with daft fat alloy wheels and you want to put a set of steel rims with winter tyres on..for the winter, many consider it a modification. It's a chance to get some extra money out of the customer, and if the customer fails to tell the insurer, chance to refuse to payout on a claim. Non-standard equipment fitted (teeth sucking noises) etc
Finn
reply to 'Contact your car insurer if you are thinking about fitting winter tyres!' posted Dec-2010
I too originally thought the modification issue was to do with changing wheel sizes etc.. but apparently not, it is the fitting of snow tyres that is classed as the modification. I know it is absolutely bonkers but that is how it is being viewed by certain insurers, even the AA are warning of the problem.
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/news/winter-tyres-make-sense-in-uk.html
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/news/winter-tyres-make-sense-in-uk.html
Finn
Ir12daveor
reply to 'Contact your car insurer if you are thinking about fitting winter tyres!' posted Dec-2010
Seems like the powers that be have no idea what a winter tyre is!
Topic last updated on 16-December-2010 at 22:27