SEAT SOUND RETROFIT & INSURANCE!

[Walone]

Hi, my car insurance is due for renewal in a few weeks time and the quote was reasonable, less than last year!
Anyway I decided to notify them of my 'recent' modifications as follows;-

'I contacted someone by phone on the 14th of November with regards to adding some recent modifications to my car insurance policy,
These are the modifications discussed;-

1. Front & rear Nextbase dashcams (hardwired), - accepted.
2. Larger Infotainment screen, was 6.5", changed to 8" as per later facelift design, - accepted.
3. Different style of alloy wheels, exactly the same diameter, width and ET distance as original wheels, made by VW, part number 5H0601025AF, - accepted.
4. Retrofitting of Seat Sound System - NOT ACCEPTED! ---- I'm a bit surprised by this decision as this was an OEM optional fitment when new, I think that maybe the information I provided may not have been fully understood, nothing is visible when fitted, which entails fitting a small speaker under the existing grille on top of the dashboard and a speaker mounted in the recess in the back of the space-saver spare wheel under the boot floor.

I would be grateful if someone could review the decision on item 4 please!'

This is the reply I received this morning;-

'Upon referring the modifications to our underwriter's team , They have suggested the modification listed as Entertainment Screen: Upgraded to a larger screen. Alloy Wheels: Changed to a different style, but the same alloy and size. Dashcams: Installed both front and rear dashcams. as accepted

However the modification of Seat Sound System: Added a new sound system to the seats is a decline we would not be able to accept this modification , as advised earlier you are provided with 7 days to remove this modification to have your policy cover valid , if failed to do so unfortunately could result in policy cancellation.'

Wish I hadn't bothered to declare!

 

[H Rafiq]

I’d tell em I’ve removed it. You can remove it if you want to, or not. That’s up to you. You can probably guess what I’d do. I normally call my insurance company n say I’m considering x, y, z modification, and see if there’s a price change etc. Usually, there isn’t. But admin charges apply if done over the phone, so I just say thanks, I’ll do it online.

 

[Walone]

I’d tell em I’ve removed it. You can remove it if you want to, or not. That’s up to you. You can probably guess what I’d do. I normally call my insurance company n say I’m considering x, y, z modification, and see if there’s a price change etc. Usually, there isn’t. But admin charges apply if done over the phone, so I just say thanks, I’ll do it online.

Yes, I'm thinking along the same lines as you, although I'm going to phone a broker tomorrow to see what they can come up with.

 

[H Rafiq]

Have you tried the forum sponsors, Adrian Flux and/or Chris Knott?

 

[SRGTD]

@Walone - might be worth phoning them.

Looking at their response in relation to the Seat Sound System, it states ‘Added a new sound system to the seats is a decline’. To me, that suggests the underwriter making the decision not to provide cover has misinterpreted the modification - i.e. could they possibly (bizarrely) think you’ve installed some sort or sound system into your car’s seats ??.

I can‘t think of a reason why they‘d refuse to cover an upgraded audio system that’s available as a factory fitted option. What does your policy booklet state the cover is for audio (and similar) equipment? Normally, cover would be provided, but there may be either a higher excess or a lower limit applying, or both.

 

[Walone]

Have you tried the forum sponsors, Adrian Flux and/or Chris Knott?

Not yet, but maybe tomorrow.

 

[Walone]

@Walone - might be worth phoning them.

Looking at their response in relation to the Seat Sound System, it states ‘Added a new sound system to the seats is a decline’. To me, that suggests the underwriter making the decision not to provide cover has misinterpreted the modification - i.e. could they possibly (bizarrely) think you’ve installed some sort or sound system into your car’s seats ??.

I can‘t think of a reason why they‘d refuse to cover an upgraded audio system that’s available as a factory fitted option. What does your policy booklet state the cover is for audio (and similar) equipment? Normally, cover would be provided, but there may be either a higher excess or a lower limit applying, or both.

Yes, I noticed that and thought the same as you, even though I had pointed out to them where the new speakers are fitted.
I will phone them again tomorrow.

 

[Craig.]

That is surprising, especially as Insurance companies will usually happily insure aftermarket audio (and historically used to offer up to £1000 audio cover as standard) so to not cover a factory optional audio upgrade which is substantially cheaper than aftermarket items is bonkers.

Could you simplify the wording and just describe it as "Factory optional audio upgrade" without using the term "Seat Sound" or similar?

 

[Walone]

That is surprising, especially as Insurance companies will usually happily insure aftermarket audio (and historically used to offer up to £1000 audio cover as standard) so to not cover a factory optional audio upgrade which is substantially cheaper than aftermarket items is bonkers.

Could you simplify the wording and just describe it as "Factory optional audio upgrade" without using the term "Seat Sound" or similar?

Yes, in retrospect that is what I should have done .

 

[Legojon]

I previously added an Alpine subwoofer to the boot of my MK2. I never had any problem declaring with insurances. You could say you added a factory option subwoofer.

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

Yes, in retrospect that is what I should have done .

Did you speak to them again to clarify?

 

[DAN@ADRIAN FLUX]

Not yet, but maybe tomorrow.

Hi.
Please do feel free to give us a try for insurance if you haven't done so already.
Regards,
Dan.

 

[Walone]

Did you speak to them again to clarify?

Yes, I had several email conversations with them, I had to confirm that the parts used were originally available as an option and a couple of other things, got an email this afternoon confirming that they would cover me, what a relief!!

 

[Cainy1989]

Are you supposed to declare dash cams as modifications? :O I genuinely had no idea

 

[DEAN0]

Yes, I had several email conversations with them, I had to confirm that the parts used were originally available as an option and a couple of other things, got an email this afternoon confirming that they would cover me, what a relief!!

I still think they don't understand what you are fitting but have agreed based on believing it was a factory option.

They will be miss reading it.
To many who don't know the car - SEAT Sound - a sound system fitted to the seats of a car

To those who know the Leon - SEAT Sound - the optional upgrade offered for the car ( sub in boot + dash speaker + coding )

 

[cuthound]

Are you supposed to declare dash cams as modifications? :O I genuinely had no idea

Yes. It sometimes results in a small saving on the premium. My reduced by £5 per annum

 

[Mr Pig]

I'm think they do not understand what you're doing.

I think that they think you're fitting some kind of aftermarket sound system. Maybe they reckon that such a thing makes the car more attractive to thieves? Back in my day flash car stereos were stolen regularly.

I'm normally very careful about being straight with insurance companies but if I wanted to fit the Seat Sound System to the car I wouldn't tell them. It's a very minor change which is not even visible to the untrained eye. Even if your car was written off any insurance assessor would just assume the stereo was factory as it was a factory option.

 

[LeylandVCDS]

Are you supposed to declare dash cams as modifications? :O I genuinely had no idea

Technically, if it's not as it came out of the factory, then yes, they SHOULD be told. It may well work in your favour to let them know about dashcams. Remaps, suspension changes etc I can understand, but stuff like dashcams running are no different to having your phone plugged in charging whilst driving. A previous insurer when I had the Octavia insisted on being told when I swapped the summer alloys for winter steels and winter tyres, and back again, but didn't charge any premium as it was to enhance safety. All they wanted to know if that they were genuine Skoda and not aftermarket wheels fitted, and that the tyre size was approved by Skoda for that model. My current winters are not SEAT wheels, but are VAG as in Audi, and have correct size winter tyres on them.
Wondering now if I should tell them I've changed the complete interior in my SE Dynamic from the original cloth to half leather/half alcantara interior out of a salvage FR - but then again it was factory fit on some Leons for these very seats. Footwell light retrofit I've done is another one, but this is yet another change for comfort, not for performance or handling changes.
And very VERY technically, you SHOULD even really let them know if you've swapped out a tyre repair kit for a spare, or even changed a space saver spare for a full size one - though who would ever do that???
The lines between "needing" to tell the insurance what you've done, "should" tell them, and keep quiet is very grey and undefined. Common sense prevails in most cases

 

[Mr Pig]

Wondering now if I should tell them I've changed the complete interior in my SE Dynamic from the original cloth to half leather/half alcantara interior out of a salvage FR - but then again it was factory fit on some Leons for these very seats.

I think where some people misunderstand the situation is when modifications have no bearing on performance. They think that cosmetic changes are irrelevant but that's not how insurance companies work. They assess risk based on known patterns and look at all factors.

For example, if a young boy glues a spoiler and splitter to his Fiesta these items will not make his car go any faster or be worth any more. They will however tell the insurance company something about the type of risk he is. They know from past experience that guys who do this kind of thing are more likely to drive aggressively and therefor more likely to crash.

They have decades of data at their disposal and are run by accountants and statisticians. You need to play by the book when dealing with them because they will when dealing with you.

 

[Craig.]

Technically, if it's not as it came out of the factory, then yes, they SHOULD be told. It may well work in your favour to let them know about dashcams. Remaps, suspension changes etc I can understand, but stuff like dashcams running are no different to having your phone plugged in charging whilst driving. A previous insurer when I had the Octavia insisted on being told when I swapped the summer alloys for winter steels and winter tyres, and back again, but didn't charge any premium as it was to enhance safety. All they wanted to know if that they were genuine Skoda and not aftermarket wheels fitted, and that the tyre size was approved by Skoda for that model. My current winters are not SEAT wheels, but are VAG as in Audi, and have correct size winter tyres on them.
Wondering now if I should tell them I've changed the complete interior in my SE Dynamic from the original cloth to half leather/half alcantara interior out of a salvage FR - but then again it was factory fit on some Leons for these very seats. Footwell light retrofit I've done is another one, but this is yet another change for comfort, not for performance or handling changes.
And very VERY technically, you SHOULD even really let them know if you've swapped out a tyre repair kit for a spare, or even changed a space saver spare for a full size one - though who would ever do that???
The lines between "needing" to tell the insurance what you've done, "should" tell them, and keep quiet is very grey and undefined. Common sense prevails in most cases

By the insurance company own "rules", yes your interior should be declared as even though it was a factory option for your make and model, it wasn't factory fitted to YOUR car. The threshold will differ slightly from company to company but will largely be the same.

In their own world, any deviation from the cars original factory build spec as per PR codes should be declared. Buyers ignorance doesn't wash either so "I bought it like it" won't work.

Source: in a previous life I used to work for a wide range of insurance companies as a sub-contractor, and for one in house, in a very specific role that required me to have in depth knowledge of different factors for modification declaration and to be able to identify any vehicle spec deviation from factory original build.