Don't know if this topic has already been discussed
Just had a long telephone conversation with my insurance company about the tow bar I had fitted by Volvo they say it is a modification as I had to pay extra for it and they should have been notified about it when I took the policy out although in their terms and conditions I can tow as long as the tow bar is type approved, there answer to this was that land rovers have tow bars fitted in the factory and you do not have to pay extra for them, not thinking a factory fitted tow bar is a modification, I now have to pay for this amendment in the policy, be advised an notify you insurance company about your tow bar because if you have an accident they will try and worm out of paying up.
Most insurance co's don't regard towbar fitting as a modification because all policies include third party cover for trailer/caravan while being towed. It don't hurt to phone your ins. to inform them of towbar fitment but if they try to charge you extra then probably the indivdual you are speaking to has got it wrong.
Unless of course you are being charged for amending policy & not extra because of 'modification'. No insurance I have come across charges an amendment fee for what is regarded as a 'no extra insurance cost' modification. I suggest you phone them again & tell them you will be changing your insurance co. at renewal time if they insist on charging you unless it was a mistake.
Land Rovers don't have towbars fitted as standard btw.
Because insurance companies are getting pickier (probably the budget ones) I mentioned to mine that i will be fitting a towbar. They said no need to notify them.
But i did have one company ask if my 5 year old car had any factory fitted extra's. Or anything not standard fitment for my model.
I mentioned a few items, Its got cruise control is that standard or extra. Its got a fuel computer is that extra.
The person on the phone said they dont know..
I said if you dont know how am i supposed to know??
I had visions of them saying the dirt or rain on the car is non standard so they wont payout.
I would not use any insurance company that had the audacity to charge any extra premium for a tow bar. As a couple of examples of insurers' reactions, AA nicely advised they do not consider a tow bar to be a modification, but thanked me for advising when I was going through an enquiry process. The company which I ended up with (Churchill, via confused.com) also thanked me for advising and said although I could not find it in the list of mods in the application, they said it should have been in there and have put it on my record but there would be no extra charge.
Some of these insurance company personnel are so ignorant of matters relating to motor vehicles that I wonder who vets them when they apply for the job.