HIDs vs insurance

[bozwellox]

Hi everybody,

Right...this could open up a whole can of worms, but I feel this should be discussed.

I recently fitted a set of aftermarket HIDs (courtesy of Diane Shop) and love them to bits. I feel much safer driving at night with them, I've had the allignment checked and everything is all good, so I feel confident I am not blinding other drivers (I have not been flashed in 3 months).

I've read lots of threads with people worrying about what happens when the MOT comes around, and from what I've gathered nobody has had any problems.

What is worrying me, and actually making me consider taking them out and going back to being semi-blind whilst driving at night, is this:

How would insurance companies deal with an accident that occured at night involving a car fitted with an aftermarket HID kit?

I'm sure this is a very grey area and it would depend on how thorough/clued up the insurance inspector is, but it is worrying. As much as I like being able to see where I'm going, I don't fancy the idea of being faced with an invalid insurance policy in the unfortunate event of a crash.

And before anyone says "take them off then", that is exactly what I am going to do, unless I hear anything to convince me that the above scenario would not happen (and believe me, I'm hoping I do hear it). I just don't want to run the risk of an insurance claim being rejected just because my car was fitted with something 'technically illegal' - no matter how much I am convinced they are perfectly safe and not causing glare to other road users.

Your thoughts please...

 

[oldman]

they would surely fail an MOT if they insurance failures i would have thought, and also so many members would be telling people to not purchase them.
generally if it is a mod to make a car more tempting to steal or make you drive like a loon then they make your insurance void, but unlikely

 

[bozwellox]

I see what you are saying, and this is precisely the kind of thing that has been discussed on here many times. BUT (and I'm in no way trying to say you are wrong) that is not what I'm worried about.

It has been proven time and time again that cars can pass an MOT with HIDs fitted. What I am concerned about is how insurance companies would deal with an accident involving a car fitted with HIDs.

MOT approval does not equal road legal. An MOT tester can only test the beam pattern. My beam pattern (and I'm sure that of almost every other owner of an aftermarket HID kit) is fine, and has passed an MOT. However that does not make it road legal and therefore is surely a grey area when it comes to insurance?

 

[UncleFester]

It's not up for an insurance company to decide what is and what is not road legal - until the MOT testing stations explicitly test ( and subsequently fail) retrofit HID on a car then there is nothing to fall foul of. Despite what Insurance firms may think, they do not own the roads yet!

 

[JamesL]

good point made by uncle fester - but this also brings up the point of: do you tell your insurance co. that you have fitted them? They are more than just upgrading your bulbs surely? I dont think an insurance company could say 'No we are not paying this claim as the bulbs fitted in weren't legal'. As uncle fester said they are legal.

 

[lc_allan]

I wouldn't even bother telling them. The insurance company would have to prove they contributed to an accident etc.. If they are fully adjusted and pass an MOT then there is no problem. Would you tell them if you changed gear knobs, pedals etc? No it's purely cosmetics and should not alter your policy.

 

[mikeruss]

I think if you are concerned - you obviously are - call the insurance company and ask. Then you are 100% covered.

 

[G2232]

in the same level of thought then would you tell an insurance company you have changed your tyres from that of the O.E ones
No you wouldn't and they could have contributed to an accident more than the HID's

 

[ChrisUK]

Agreed above.

If you fit £10 remoulds, your more likely to have an accident if you fitted HID's - but you dont declare that to your ins company.

Bulbs are a consumable item, which need replacing regularly, I wouldnt bother declaring if I were you......

 

[kez]

i declared mine.

i even declared the gearknob, too (it's worth £90, so why not?)

 

[CupraR210.DJM]

I'm of the same opinion as Mikeruss, if you are concerned then phone your insurance company and see what they say, if they say you are covered and it does not effect your policy then get them to send it in writing stating the fact.
I owned a modified Saxo years ago and declared everything, and when it came to a claim I had to make ( a hit and run, not my fault ), there were no probs because I had it in writing from the insurance company stating that all mods (not matter how little) were covered.
its worth a check!! it might cost a couple of quicd extra (mine did) but its worth it to know your car is covered.

 

[slatord]

As said above, the only way to find out for sure is to speak with the insurance company. If you do i would like to know what they say, as mine are being fitted at the weekend. I cant see it being an issue to worry about though

 

[matt_s]

in the same level of thought then would you tell an insurance company you have changed your tyres from that of the O.E ones
No you wouldn't and they could have contributed to an accident more than the HID's

That doesn't really work though. All tyres you buy in the UK should be E marked, ie approved for use in europe, so changing from one approved tyre to another isn't an issue. But no aftermarket HID kit is E marked.

Even if the beam pattern was fine you'd have trouble proving it when the front of your car is gone in an accident with oncoming traffic. But the ballasts would be there as evidence.

Just another point of view so don't jump on me.

 

[UncleFester]

Of course you have no guarantee that what's inside the OE ballasts is E marked too - sure the case might be but are the components, i think that's the point - if the internals are the same the 'E' mark becomes of little value and as has been proven time and time again all the kits are made in the same factory in china anyway

 

[richybigman]

Or if you do happen to have a smash then take out the ballasts.

 

[highguyuk]

Note that the MOT really doesn't mean anything though. The MOT is a pass of the car at that moment in time.

As soon as you leave the ramp, your taillights might blow, your number plate cracks so that the plate is illegible and your handbrake cable snaps.

There is nothing on the MOT that states you had the HID's fitted at the time of MOT. Hence, you could have fitted them AFTER your MOT. You have no proof...

 

[G2232]

but then there is also nothting on an MOT that states that they were not on there.
at the end of the day an MOT to to certify that your vehicle is road legal
If HID's pass an MOT there is nothing ANY insurance company can say that will make them illegal however an insurance company can still state that it will invalidate you insurance 9if they wish) as it is not a standard item therfore is a mod which HAS to be declare

 

[edmong]

Dont worry about it. I work for the department for transport as a Vehicle Examiner and I have not been told that HIDS should come into test nor shall they cause a problem at the side of the road. If your worried about your insurance then tell them, but as above would you tell the insurance company that you have deviated from the original tyres fitted or different wipers fitted, answer no you would'nt. In my opinion until there is a legalality point brought up from my work or the police then dont worry about it.

If anything changes and I receive information about it all I'll let everyone know.

 

[bozwellox]

Dont worry about it. I work for the department for transport as a Vehicle Examiner and I have not been told that HIDS should come into test nor shall they cause a problem at the side of the road. If your worried about your insurance then tell them, but as above would you tell the insurance company that you have deviated from the original tyres fitted or different wipers fitted, answer no you would'nt. In my opinion until there is a legalality point brought up from my work or the police then dont worry about it.

If anything changes and I receive information about it all I'll let everyone know.

That is good to know. I get what you are saying about the tyres/wipers etc BUT my concern was that HIDs are not E marked and so cannot really be compared to a pikey set of tyres that, no matter how rubbish, will still be E marked and therefore legal.

 

[Wheely]

I would say in the right (or wrong) situation then having HIDs fitted could go against you - from a legal and/or insurance perspective.

For example if you had a crash with another vehicle and the driver of that vehicle declared that he was dazzled or blinded by your lights -- and these were then checked as part of a serious investigation, then I have a strong feeling that this could go against you from a legal report point of view. That report would go to your insurers who may use the information against any claim.

As for those stating take the ballasts off etc if you have a crash - well thats fine for a minor shunt, but you wont even have the car if its serious.

And thats why my HIDs are now off.