Are lithium batteries a disclosable modification for insurance?

[Ingwe]

As per the title. Annual renew time again!
Edit: I’ve found an earlier thread so have the answer. Thanks.

 

[Mark McG]

What was the answer

 

[Ingwe]

What was the answer

It is a modification so should be disclosed but didn’t affect (i.e. raise) the premium. It’s noted on the record.

 

[poppycamper]

When I first insured my newly converted PVC they never asked what sort of battery was fitted ( or indeed make/ model etc of any other equipment) so what matter if I change to lithium..... could have had them fitted at build.!

 

[Pausim]

When I first insured with NFU they didn’t want to know about the lithium battery. When I asked about fitting an Efoy fuel cell they asked questions about the fuel cartridges and took a couple of months before deciding there was no additional premium needed. What has surprised me is talk elsewhere on this site about some insurance companies getting jumpy about solar panels, following a few falling off.

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[Guigsy]

When I first insured with NFU they didn’t want to know about the lithium battery. When I asked about fitting an Efoy fuel cell they asked questions about the fuel cartridges and took a couple of months before deciding there was no additional premium needed. What has surprised me is talk elsewhere on this site about some insurance companies getting jumpy about solar panels, following a few falling off.

NFU is effectively car insurance. Generally they don't care about anything that's not performance related.

 

[Pausim]

NFU is effectively car insurance. Generally they don't care about anything that's not performance related.

Not fussy? My policy limits me to 2,000 shot gun shells or bullets and no nitro glycerine.

 

[tonka]

My understanding as to why you should notify insurance:
If your van was written off or needed repair they would only replace / allow for modifications that were notified.

 

[Otter Spotter]

My understanding as to why you should notify insurance:
If your van was written off or needed repair they would only replace / allow for modifications that were notified.

Not really the case, the Insurer has insured the vehicle for the value you wanted and in the event if a crash you would use an independent loss adjuster to prove your value, if the insurer wanted to argue the toss after their engineer had examined it. It’s worth listing and photographing any expensive bits in your van to help prove value in the future.

 

[Pausim]

My understanding as to why you should notify insurance:
If your van was written off or needed repair they would only replace / allow for modifications that were notified.

I think it is about risk not value which is why they are particularly concerned about anything that might affect performance.

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[TheBig1]

A badly installed or faulty lithium battery is a major fire risk. Pertains more to earlier generation lithium batteries but still valid with poor install.

Another poi t is that ideally you should have some form of sticker to notify firefighters of the presence of a lithium battery. Nasty things when they burn these lithium batteries

 

[Pausim]

A badly installed or faulty lithium battery is a major fire risk. Pertains more to earlier generation lithium batteries but still valid with poor install.

Another poi t is that ideally you should have some form of sticker to notify firefighters of the presence of a lithium battery. Nasty things when they burn these lithium batteries

The LiFePO4 ones don’t burn. Probably less dangerous than a lead acid one.

 

[TheBig1]

The LiFePO4 ones don’t burn. Probably less dangerous than a lead acid one.

Hence I said pertains to earlier versions mostly. Diy installs can have their own risks though.

 

[Guigsy]

Hence I said pertains to earlier versions mostly. Diy installs can have their own risks though.

An inverter install is probably a similar risk.

 

[TheBig1]

E

An inverter install is probably a similar risk.

Exactly as you are dealing with high currents and big cables

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[Mikeco]

Just renewed my van and the only modifications that they wanted to know about was anything to do with the base vehicle, they just accepted anything to do with converting it into a camper.
Mentioned the rear air bags which increased the policy by £12.