Insuring your 'custom' vehicle

[anvil58]

Hi.
Just renewed the isurance on my 2001 2.2 LWB std Fronty.
As I have made a few changes over the last year and bearing in mind how insurance companies just love to find ways
to get out of paying any claims I notified them of the following - addition of (legal) rear window tints (my daughters insistance),
alloy wheels (original Frontera type) and 'A' bar with spot lights (again original Frontera equipment).
I imagine a lot of members have either carried out or considered making similar changes/additions, but, like myself, you must
notify your insurers or list these when going on search sites come renewel time as insurance companies will either reduce payouts or refuse
to pay anything at all if the changes have not been notified (I dont know what the legal position would be - could you be deemed as uninsured?).
Even though the wheels and A bar are original Fronty items, they are not considered standard parts as my vehicle was not fitted with them
when supplied from the dealer and insurers consider the vehicle as customised.
Just so that there was no confusion over exactly what I had done I contacted my insurer by phone and awaited the damage as the premium
was re-calculated - imagine my surprise when I was told that the changes would increase the annual premium by just £10!!!
I cant say that this would be the case for everybody, but isnt it better to find out than to have nothing to show for it if your beloved Fronty is invovled
in an accident.

[Norse]

yea bu tthey prolly assume hm no accident for 5 years so by chance one is gona be due

[Norse]

[Big Dav]

Due to the way some insurance companies will try anything to wriggle out of settling a claim I informed them of everything I had fitted that was not standard and also sought their acceptance that I may, on occassions, fit the roof rack and roof box or fit roof mounted lamps. All agreed and acceptable to them at no extra cost (this year anyway).

I don't know if it is a myth or not but I read somewhere that if police attend a road accident, insurance companies are now asking for information from the crash scene as to how the car was loaded suggesting they are deeming a family excitedly loading up the car to the roof of their estate or hatchback unsafe if the driver is unable to see clearly from ALL the fitted mirrors. They may then imply that drivers vision has been impared but was preventable.

Anyone heard anything of this?

[Drift]