Quick question about insurance and swapping rear lights

[les.tansey]

I've got a Golf CL and I want to change the rear lights to the smoked ones you get on GTI's which are also made by hella. Would this be classed as a modification or not? As in would I have to declare it on my insurance and if so how much extra would my premium be?

could I inform my insurance company and just say I have replaced my rear lights, and then just say: "... the only difference is they look a bit darker."

would that be alright or what don't want to fleece them and then have them void my insurance...

Cheers.

[Wayne]

Yes it is a mod so they will need to be told.

[dom]

As above, it's not what it came out of the factory with so therefore classed as a modification. When I last declared a mod (my wheels I think) the admin charge was more than the premium increase, it came to a little over £20 in total.

[robz]

as above, depends on what policy you have, but i doubt it would be much

[snifferdog]

At the risk of being shot down here - I probably wouldnt even bother mentioning it, they'd never notice if you were to make a claim. 

Although, this is coming from the lad that literally just got off the phone to the insurance company declaring all my mods.

Actually, scrap that top line, better safe than sorry and definitely better legal than illegal. Just tell em.

[Tabx808]

Definitely declare anything that gets changed. I have to deal with insurance companies as part of my job. Generally not for cars but have done on occasion. The guys that come out and assess for the insurance companies are generally subcontracted and are clued up on what ever it is they are looking at. In the case of cars Ive known them to bring a mechanic with them or have the vehicle taken to a garage to be checked out by experts. If think they get paid more if they can avoid a payout for the insurance company.

[Deano2711]

When I declared all my mods I told them about my back lights and they said that as they were cosmetic they would not be extra on the premium. I had to send photos of mine so it does not matter to mine but if you ring them and they say it does not matter then I would keep a note of the person's name and the date and time you rang just to be on the safe side. 

[les.tansey]

Cheers for the help guys, much clearer now, will deffinatly tell them.
Thanks, Les.