Towbars

[niemeyjt]

Following various press articles, I contacted my insurance to notify them of my after-market (but fully conformant) towbar, expecting nothing more than a shrug.

But no - they wanted all the details and values to note as "modifications" on my policy.

Good news, the premium has not increased - and there is one less piece of wriggle room if I have a claim.

Has everyone with an aftermarket towbar done the same?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I asked my wife earlier if she'd contacted the insurance company to check whether winter tyres count as a modification.

There was an article in The Telegraph a few days ago about someone with a (£100,000+new) car valued at £40,000 having had an accident that their insurance company wouldn't cover as they'd fitted a towbar. This was despite actual towbar not being in situ at the time - its being detachable - and a towbar having nothing to do with the accident anyway - it was a head on collision. They only agreed to pay after the newspaper intervened.

 

[Tris]

Recently had a towbar fitted on a new-to-us car as the dealer claimed Ford will not allow them to fit towbars to used cars. Checked the list of modifications on insurance website and there it was, so it's down on the policy. As you say, one less way for them to get out of a claim

 

[ajs]

I raised this a while back. As you note it generally doesn't affect premiums but should be declared. Details needed will generally depend on the broker rather than the underwriter themselves.

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/threads/rejection-of-vehicle-insurance-claims.145167/#post-1697767