Tinted windows and insurance cover

Zafi

Zafi

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My insurance is up for renewal so I have made a couple of calls. As soon as I mentioned the rear of my car has windows which are tinted to the factory tint the Coop said they would not cover it!
Be aware and make sure you mention tints to your insurer.
Aviva are OK, as are Covéa, the company who own Swinton.
 
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If you need help with cover for cars with tinted windows, our schemes cover a wide range of modifications.

Regards
Dan
 
I believe that if it is a manufacturer option it doesn't need to be added as a modification? Could be wrong.
 
What does Dan think to that comment? It must be classed as a mod otherwise the coop would not be bothered?
 
If Audi don't offer the A4 with a privacy glass option, surely it's a mod; I'll check with mine, LV, as I'm thinking of it.
 
Well we're into the age old chestnut of what amounts to a modification aren't we.

Replacing factory fitted alloys
Adding none factory fitted radio
removing cigar lighter?
adding mudflaps ?
changing design of plastic wheel trims?
fitting car mats?
changing headlamp bulbs for extra bright ( legal ) ones?
Upgrading or replacing the break disks and pads.

Also buying a second hand car your will most likely not know what come factory fitted on the car. Appears a little OTT by the co-op to me.

The list is endless.
 
Last edited:
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Was like that when I bought it from Audi, must be standard :) :)
 
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Macster said:
If Audi don't offer the A4 with a privacy glass option, surely it's a mod; I'll check with mine, LV, as I'm thinking of it.
Click to expand...
My bmw I had before the a4 had tints and was involved in a non fault claim and it was never mentioned about it having tints. Lv insurance.

Sent from my Note 4 using tapatalk
 
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hmm this chat is interesting, I have retrofitted a 3g+ sat nav unit in my non-satnav (from factory) A4, does that class as a mod that needs to be declared?, also adding in a rear view camera, would that need to be declared too?!
 
if it was an optional extra from factory you declare it, but not if it is standard (for example black edition is window tints as standard so no need to mention, where as sline is not standard), if you read the small print of your insurance, you will notice some say to include factory optional extras, failure to do so will invalidate blah blah blah
 
amafzal88 said:
hmm this chat is interesting, I have retrofitted a 3g+ sat nav unit in my non-satnav (from factory) A4, does that class as a mod that needs to be declared?, also adding in a rear view camera, would that need to be declared too?!
Click to expand...

Oooo i hadnt though about cameras, I added front and rear dash cams and didnt occur to me to update my insurance, and i phone up after everything even if it is a strip of vinyl wrap covering my chrome.
Thanks for bringing this up and inadvertently reminding me to declare it :)
 
Meemo said:
Oooo i hadnt though about cameras, I added front and rear dash cams and didnt occur to me to update my insurance, and i phone up after everything even if it is a strip of vinyl wrap covering my chrome.
Thanks for bringing this up and inadvertently reminding me to declare it :)
Click to expand...
My brother informed his insurance about his dash cam and they said we will be unable to insure you with that as its a modification. Wtf? So is a sat nav stuck on the windscreen a mod? He said it's plugged into cigarette lighter and stuck onto the window.

I said don't tell them I future and use the footage if needed.

The world's gone mad.

Sent from my Note 4 using tapatalk
 
feva said:
My brother informed his insurance about his dash cam and they said we will be unable to insure you with that as its a modification. Wtf? So is a sat nav stuck on the windscreen a mod? He said it's plugged into cigarette lighter and stuck onto the window.

I said don't tell them I future and use the footage if needed.

The world's gone mad.

Sent from my Note 4 using tapatalk
Click to expand...

his policy must not allow for mods, I am with Adrian Flux on a modified policy, add stuff every other month with no increase to premium, only thing that ever increased it was my window tints. :)
 
I'm insured through forum sponsor @Tim@Prestige. I've not modded the S4 in the traditional sense, but have added tints, front & rear dash cam, OBD Portector and a tracker. I've called them everytime, and they're fine about them. They just need to know.
 
Meemo said:
if it was an optional extra from factory you declare it, but not if it is standard (for example black edition is window tints as standard so no need to mention, where as sline is not standard), if you read the small print of your insurance, you will notice some say to include factory optional extras, failure to do so will invalidate blah blah blah
Click to expand...

I asked LV about my dashcams, (thinking I'd get a reduction on the premium), but they just said they don't discount at the mo, just wanted to know if it was fixed or removeable.

The only mod I considered was a tuning box/ECU chip, and that'd be around £30:00 on my premium
 
Meemo said:
Oooo i hadnt though about cameras, I added front and rear dash cams and didnt occur to me to update my insurance, and i phone up after everything even if it is a strip of vinyl wrap covering my chrome.
Thanks for bringing this up and inadvertently reminding me to declare it :)
Click to expand...
I was more talking about a OEM reversing camera rather than a dash cam but I have heard that adding a dash cam can sometimes get you a discount (which may not always be the case reading the other posts here!)

so any idea if the reversing camera would need to be declared and the satnav too as I might be driving around with an invalidated insurance!
 
amafzal88 said:
I was more talking about a OEM reversing camera rather than a dash cam but I have heard that adding a dash cam can sometimes get you a discount (which may not always be the case reading the other posts here!)

so any idea if the reversing camera would need to be declared and the satnav too as I might be driving around with an invalidated insurance!
Click to expand...
Yes declare it all :)
 
Just fitted mine from B pillars and I ve called my insurer and I ve got £40 more on my premium...I ve told them that I consider this just a silly way to get more money from us...And I ve asked what s the difference between an audi with factory tints and a retrofit ,this speaking from insurance's(safety) point of view.. He tried to explain but still not clear.
 
My black edition doesnt have factory tints. Was a upgrade option from the manufacturer at time of spec I believe.

Its stupid. Audi hardly ever spec their cars up, especially when you can add a glovebox light as a optional extra. if people buy a used car and dont spec a glovebox light or LED interior pack, invalidating their insurance. Crazy.

Personally, your probably ok with items like reversing camera's or daft other little minor things. They will probably look harder into the bigger things like lowered suspension, aftermarket wheels etc rather than a OEM retrofit item.

What insurance assessor is going to know the exact ins and outs of optional extra's of the hundreds of cars available on the market. not one.

People even mention remaps and insurance, unless they put the car on the rolling road, or have the knowledge to download/read a file off the ECU, then they aint going to know about it (unless they can find info online about it, but then they have to prove the fact it is at the time of the incident)

UK has daft insurance laws. tonnes of other countries cover the person driving, not the actual car.
 
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Factory options do not need to be declared as they are fitted at the factory! I have never had to declare mine over the years.

I even asked the question to my current insurers and they said the same thing, that it's only non factory modifications that need to be declared.
 
ScottishA4B9 said:
Factory options do not need to be declared as they are fitted at the factory! I have never had to declare mine over the years.

I even asked the question to my current insurers and they said the same thing, that it's only non factory modifications that need to be declared.
Click to expand...
I ve said hypothetically to the chap over the phone what if I ve bought the car with tints on factory fitted and I ve forgot to mention it :and he said that in a case of a claim they can decided that I ve done on the purpose of hiding these things from them therefore they can refuse to pay for damages.It s crazy but that was the answer...now I ve fitted some oem chrome tips should I call them again?
 
Chris90 said:
UK has daft insurance laws. tonnes of other countries cover the person driving, not the actual car.
Click to expand...
UK drivers still have some freedom to carry out mods, unlike full on EU states.

I know someone who now lives in Spain, his car failed to MOT over there because he did not have the correct paperwork for his towbar. He had to get another one installed by a garage who could supply the type approval paperwork for supply and install of the towbar in order to get an MOT.
This is on it's way to UK if we stay in!
 
Isn t here the same already? if you fail mot you need to 'FIX' the issue and then you re fine..most of the time the MOT garage will fix it for you and then you pass the mot:)
 
Chris90 said:
My black edition doesnt have factory tints. Was a upgrade option from the manufacturer at time of spec I believe.
Click to expand...

Is yours an A6, I don't believe the A4 ever had a factory option for privacy glass?
 
ScottishA4B9 said:
Factory options do not need to be declared as they are fitted at the factory! I have never had to declare mine over the years.

I even asked the question to my current insurers and they said the same thing, that it's only non factory modifications that need to be declared.
Click to expand...
Not true I'm afraid. Admiral wanted to know all the factory fit options.
 
Macster said:
Is yours an A6, I don't believe the A4 ever had a factory option for privacy glass?
Click to expand...
I can't recall if it applied across the whole range, but when I was ordering my S4 Black Edition last year, privacy glass was standard on the Avant, but not even selectable as an option on the saloon.
 
@scotty76 Actually I have heard that about admiral before. They never used to ask but they obviously do know and the reason I stay well clear from them!

No other insurance company does that I'm aware of and why would anybody pay extra for the factory fitted options?!!! They aren't a modification.
 
I m with them so can t wait to change my insurer..they charge me for everything I have as optional on my car... Just remember that I ve forgot the tell'em about my new scent..
 
adrian ab said:
Isn t here the same already? if you fail mot you need to 'FIX' the issue and then you re fine..most of the time the MOT garage will fix it for you and then you pass the mot:)
Click to expand...

An MOT centre wont give a toss about a towbar or many other mods. But in Germany they have to be TUV and other EU states have to conform to some standard and the MOT is where their compliance is determined.
 
Chris90 said:
Mines a A4 buddy.
Click to expand...

Of course it is, we're in the A4 section, I don't know why I asked that!

I thought you'd declined the option when you bought, but I didn't think there ever was the option, else I'd go out and buy some replacement glass :0)
 
Remember looking a couple months before I got mine and you could add the privacy glass to the A4. Sure it was the B8 model too and not the newer B9
 
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