I've had a few minor changes to cars in the past and just declared them. As long it doesn't really enhance performance etc, they don't seem to care. They will care if you don't declare them and then claim....
Exactly. Going, or making a mod that looks like they are for performance (or that aren't on an 'allowable' or 'recommended' list by the manufacturer*) will likely cause an insurer to bump up the premium; ones that obviously aren't, won't, but do need to be declared.
* I resplaced my 16yo Mazda3's 16in OEM alloys with their own 15in ones (this was ok and shown in the handbook, similarly for the tyres) and also 'downsized' (the overall rolling diameter is essentially the same) from 205/55 R16 tyres to 195/65 R15 ones to fit the new alloys.
I had to change one anyway as it was corroded/mishapen and was leading to the tyre slowly deflating, and the others were visually going the same way after 12 years' use.
The tyres were only 6 months' away from replcaement anyway, and the cost of replacing all 4 tyres and one alloy at 16in was only £50 - £100 more than replacing the lot with 15in ones because the 16in tyres and especially matching OEM alloys were a lot more expensive (20% and 85% more expensive respectively at the time).
I phoned my insurer beforehand to check what difference it would make to the premium and they said none as it wasn't an 'upgrade' or mod. They implied that going up a wheel size or two rather than down may have precipitated an increase. Changing from an OEM to another firm's alloy wouldn't have made any difference as long as I didn't upsize.
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