A word to the wise comes from Direct Line with a reminder that any modifications made to a vehicle change the risk profile and therefore the insurance premium.
Lots of car owners are making changes to their vehicles now, personalising them with new wheels, sound systems and much more. Drivers are advised by Direct Line to get in touch with their car insurance provider to let them know about these modifications and enable them to recalculate the premium. If this is not done then the vehicle insurance could well be invalid should a claim be made.
A Direct Line spokesperson did say that modifications that improve the safety or security of a vehicle would not usually see premiums increased, though most mods are usually about enhancing the looks or performance of a vehicle and so would incur costs.
Direct Line are asking all van owners to make sure they have the correct insurance cover otherwise they could find themselves out of pocket in the case of a claim.
Most van drivers use their vehicles for commercial purposes so it is vital that they get the correct van insurance that covers business use. Another aspect that many drivers of vans fail to appreciate is that it is classified as a place of work and so the smoking ban is in force. Drivers can be fined up to GBP2,500 for this warn Direct Line.
Van insurance has become much more competitive in recent years, with companies such as Direct Line recognising the increased demand for cover and therefore developing their products accordingly.
Drivers who omit to mention previous drink driving convictions could well find their car insurance is invalid should a claim be made say Norwich Union.
A Norwich Union representative understood that a conviction for drink driving would increase a drivers car insurance premium considerably but by choosing not to declare it at all would cost much more when the cover was deemed invalid. Such a conviction would certainly come to light when a claim was made so it is in the drivers interests to declare it upon buying the insurance cover.
Should a person be found not to have declared something such as this and then had their cover terminated this information would be held on a central car insurance database explained Norwich Union, which would increase the premium still further.
