 | Home > Finance & Insurance > Do you declare your towbar? |
 
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4224   
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I read this story recently about a chap who had an insurance claim declined due to his car having a towbar that he hadn't declared as a modification.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/365230/...-insurance He took it to the ombudsman who sided with the insurer. It seems it was fitted after the car was purchased, but it's not clear to me if it would have made a difference had it been dealer fit or factory fit. Note that the tow bar had no bearing on the claim he was trying to make. My question is do you declare your towbar as a mod? A lot us have got towbars. Am I naive in assuming a factory fit bar is OK. Think I need to check. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS |
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12th Jan 2025 12:00pm |
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| ickle Member Since: 22 Jul 2010 Location: South Vendee Posts: 1795  
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That is f3ck1ng appalling!!!
Insurance companies are getting more like the USA everyday, just read a families medical claim for their 14 year old sons emergency appendicitis operation was rejected as unnecessary! |
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12th Jan 2025 12:29pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17501 
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I've always simply told them (in writing) that I have front and rear towing equipment fitted without providing any further details (unless asked, which I never have been).
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12th Jan 2025 12:30pm |
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| Ianh Member Since: 17 Sep 2018 Location: Essex Posts: 2081
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Yes unfortunately you do have to declare everything, inc towbars, if you don’t want to risk your insurance being invalidated. Interestingly, declaring a towbar on some vehicles reduces your premium. I.e most boy racers don’t have a towbar.
This includes stickers on the car, tinted glass that was not factory fitted, led lights , light bars, upgraded stereo, detachable steering wheel, engine maps, suspension changes, brake changes, parking sensors, non standard wheel or tyre sizes etc... the list goes on and on. Whether we think this is right or wrong is an irrelevance, that’s the legal position in your policy document so by not declaring everything you are at significant risk. For my insurance I list everything, send it to them, and have it all recorded. Most mods do not incur additional charges, and in some cases actually reduce a premium. |
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12th Jan 2025 1:57pm |
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| TexasRover Member Since: 24 Nov 2022 Location: Paris Posts: 1100 
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So what happens when you buy a second hand car with a tow bar? Do you now have to carry out an investigation how and when that tow bar was fitted?
Personally if the claim was related to the tow hook, like it fell off, and then found to be substandard, yes I can see that being a reason to reject a claim. Otherwise it simply is an insurance cop-out and there should be laws against that. |
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12th Jan 2025 3:29pm |
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| Ianh Member Since: 17 Sep 2018 Location: Essex Posts: 2081
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You just declare that a tow bar is fitted when you get your quote and ensure it is declared in your policy schedule.
If you are not sure it is fitted correctly or conformant with regulations you need to check. It’s your responsibility. The real issue is buying a vehicle that has less visually obvious modifications. I.e it could have been mapped, may have non standard suspension components etc. Unfortunately it’s still up to the individual to check this out and advise the insurance company. It’s no good any of us getting agitated, it is what it is and you have to work within the constraints of the status quo or endeavour to change it. And as individuals, changing these aspects of car insurance is a forlorn hope. |
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12th Jan 2025 3:50pm |
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| graemesmith1960 Member Since: 03 Sep 2021 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 79 
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I asked an insurer years ago if they needed to know that I had a towbar. They wanted to know. Ever since then I tell them even if it came from the factory like that. Defender D350 X-Dynamic HSE 110 MY25 Carpathian Grey
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12th Jan 2025 7:26pm |
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| miker Member Since: 13 Sep 2015 Location: Surrey Posts: 1768 
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There's also the issue of how scrupulous or otherwise your insurance company is. My motorbike is insured with Lexham, who are the stingiest of the stingy, and buried in the small print it states that my bike is only insured against theft if both the steering lock AND an additional lock are being used.
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13th Jan 2025 10:53am |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3776
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Yes...
All mods are declared, steering wheel, seats, remap, towbar, alloys etc etc.. If insurance will find a way out of paying they will |
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13th Jan 2025 11:49am |
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