What counts as a modification for car insurance

Everyone thinks big when they hear ‘upgrade’ or ‘modification’, but that assumption could lead to an unexpected premium charge or an entirely voided insurance claim on their car.

That’s because an upgrade - as far as many insurers are concerned - can constitute any change that has been made to a vehicle.

So yes, your new car mats, your air freshener, and your snazzy new radio could all be considered to be modifications if they were to cause a hazard due to poor installation or increase the risk of theft, and not declaring them could see an insurance claim complicated.

Whether it is thrown out, or the insurer charges an additional premium rather than void coverage, it still puts motorists in a less-than-ideal position.

Colin Boyd, motoring expert at Finest Car Mats warns that changes that you may not realise could have ramifications that would impact a prospective claim.

“Things like car mats and air fresheners aren’t likely to mess with your insurance,” he explains. “But you should never roll the dice when it comes to making big claims.

“Even just getting confirmation that something is fine to change or update offers a bit of protection and a huge amount of peace of mind.”

Insurance companies often have guidelines about what they consider material modifications, and these guidelines can differ significantly between providers.

There will be a large number of motorists who will have not considered insurance when changing out accessories, which could potentially make claims more difficult down the line.

Colin shares the key steps to make when making vehicle changes, and when to pick up the phone and speak to your insurers.

What can invalidate car insurance

It’s easy to assume that if a change has no impact on a car’s performance, it’s not actually a modification. However, any change that has been made can constitute a modification.

Changes that might make you a little more distracted on the road, changes that make your car more desirable - and therefore more likely to be stolen - like new rims or a new radio, or changes that make your car less safe to drive like an ill-fitted steering wheel cover, could see claims complicated.

“Keep on top of it,” Colin advises, “it’s a simple case reading your policy guidelines, and if you’re not sure, picking up the phone or sending off an email.”

Always assume a change can invalidate you

As a rule of thumb, Colin states that if something wasn’t there before, it is worth checking with insurers.

It’s also important to make sure that any replacements or accessories - even if they have been OK’d by your insurers - are properly sized and fitted.

“A mat that has clearly been installed incorrectly or is not properly sized to fit your car’s footwell could be seen as a modification which has caused risk.” explains Colin.

Bad car mats can slip and fray up over time, which can potentially obstruct the pedals. You should always invest in good mats, ideally ones that are tailored to fit your make and model.

For example if you drive a Kia, you should get a specialised Kia car mat that are tailored to your model.

Colin also warns about potential distractions: “Similarly, an air freshener that’s big enough to obstruct vision could also see you have a claim invalidated.

“While the likelihood of this sort of thing is low, do not risk it - always check first!”

This could still be the case even if you never made the modification

The modifications that void car insurance can be ones you never made, but a previous owner did.

Colin cites a FOS ruling wherein there was a dispute over a stolen car due to it having non-standard size alloy rims.

The thing is, the car was bought like that. In this instance the FOS sided with the motorist - however it’s an important lesson for those who would like to avoid lengthy appeals.

“If you’re buying a second-hand car, make sure you know exactly what is and isn’t stock.” Colin explains.

“Getting caught out when you’ve made a change without thinking is one thing. Getting caught out when you haven’t even made the change that voids your insurance can be a real nightmare that could turn into a lengthy appeal.”