Blind Spot Detection: Will My Insurance Premium Go Up?

Lord Fart Bucket on 26/06/2020 - 19:00
Last edited 30/06/2020 - 18:50

Evening OzB.

I picked up my new car this afternoon. It's not a Rav4, didn't have the $ or patience for that delivery date (5+ months).
I got a mid range Outlander, the only feature I was after that it didn't have was blind spot detection, so i got the dealer to put in an after market system. Beats having to pay many thousands for the top of the range model with all the extras i don't want/need.

Here comes my problem… my comprehensive insurance. They don't know what to put this extra under, or how it will affect my premium.

My view, it's an added safety feature, therefore the car is now safer, so premium should go down. But i am sure the insurer will say "added cost, higher premium". What do you think? Should the premium go up or down?
(cost of putting it in was a few hundred dollaroos).

Edit: for those that wanted to know, result was no difference. But also swapped insurers as there was another issue that wasn’t dealt with in a satisfactory way,

Poll Options

  • 53
    Premium should go up
  • 16
    Premium should go down
Automotive

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 26/06/2020 - 19:05
    +2

    Could go up, or could go down. Hard to say. While i agree with your opinion, i appreciate the other view.

  • Halo375 on 26/06/2020 - 19:06

    It should go down because you should be a fraction of a bit less likely to have an accident. But it will go up because its not factory standard and they’re looking at replacement costs. Let us know what happens.

    • Lord Fart Bucket on 26/06/2020 - 19:15

      Will let you know.
      I agree with your assessment… it’s currently with the underwriter…

  • Muzeeb on 26/06/2020 - 19:06
    +1

    Realistically it should go down but technically it's a modification (ie not factory) so premium will likely go up.

  • brendanm on 26/06/2020 - 19:15
    +5

    I wouldn't mention it.

    • Lord Fart Bucket on 26/06/2020 - 19:16
      -2

      Which, within the T&C, could void your insurance. Especially since there’s a record of it being out in at the time of purchase.

      • brendanm on 26/06/2020 - 19:35
        +1

        Please show me where it says the addition of a blind spot monitor could void your insurance.

        • elgrande on 26/06/2020 - 19:42
          +1

          All stanard contracts have a blind spot detection voidance clause.

        • Lord Fart Bucket on 26/06/2020 - 19:51
          -3

          Quite a few have this:

          Your Duty of Disclosure

          Before you enter into an insurance contract, you have a duty of disclosure under the Insurance Contracts Act 1984. If we ask you questions that are relevant to our decision to insure you and on what terms, you must tell us anything that you know and that a reasonable person in the circumstances would include in answering the questions. You have this duty until we agree to insure you.
          If you do not tell us something

          If you do not tell us anything you are required to tell us, we may cancel your contract or reduce the amount we will pay you if you make a claim, or both. If your failure to tell us is fraudulent, we may refuse to pay a claim and treat the contract as if it never existed.

          • brendanm on 26/06/2020 - 20:00

            @Lord Fart Bucket:

            you are required to tell us

            Where's does it say you are required to mention you have a blind spot monitor fitted?

            • Lord Fart Bucket on 26/06/2020 - 20:36
              -1

              @brendanm: I suppose a blind spot monitor is covered under “something”

              • brendanm on 26/06/2020 - 20:38
                +4

                @Lord Fart Bucket: It's not. It's a literal nothing "addition". You may as well let them know if you have a smelly tree on the rear view mirror.

              • k-rokfm on 26/06/2020 - 23:05

                @Lord Fart Bucket: Would I be required to tell them I have roof racks fitted to my car? No

                • Lord Fart Bucket on 27/06/2020 - 08:29
                  -1

                  @k-rokfm: No, roof racks is an accessory. This is a modification to the body of the car.

                  • mskeggs on 27/06/2020 - 10:24

                    @Lord Fart Bucket: You aren’t required to tell them. But if you want to include the value or as an addition in a new for old claim, you will need to tell them.

                  • stringbean402 on 27/06/2020 - 19:09

                    @Lord Fart Bucket: Not really, it is a sensor in ether side of the rear bumper and some type of indicator in the dash/mirror area, it does not require an engineering certificate or modification plate. It's an aftermarket accessory.

          • RockyRaccoon on 27/06/2020 - 04:34

            @Lord Fart Bucket: If you were required, they would list it.

  • Muzeeb on 26/06/2020 - 19:46
    +3

    What's wrong with using eyes, head turns and mirrors.

    Creating a generation of sh!t drivers.

    • wittyusername on 26/06/2020 - 19:48
      +6

      Like seatbelts and airbags! Just don't get in a crash, the drongos!

    • Lord Fart Bucket on 26/06/2020 - 19:52
      +2

      Nothing wrong with using eyes.
      What's wrong with trying to add extra safety?

      • stringbean402 on 27/06/2020 - 19:12

        My wife has it in her car, i find it a bit annoying because i don't trust it but i seem look at it anyway and then shoulder check, takes my eyes off the road for longer than normal.

        When i was in the states driving a chevy suburban around i did find it useful, they have crappy visibility on the passenger side rear just from being so long and high so it is easy to miss a small car.

    • mbck on 26/06/2020 - 19:57
      +2

      I applaud your efforts in trying to get more people to seek insurance and accident advice, complete with full ms diagram, on ozb

    • ESEMCE on 26/06/2020 - 21:13
      +1

      Couldn't agree more!
      There is no blind spot with correctly adjusted mirrors and basic driver awareness.
      Blinds Spot detection is a distraction that will lead to people trained drivers crashing into other vehicles when their technology inevitably fails.

      • Muzeeb on 26/06/2020 - 21:21

        Good article here

        This is evidenced by the number of new cars being released with ‘blind spot monitoring’, which some see as a band aid fix for drivers whose mirrors are incorrectly set.

      • SydStrand on 26/06/2020 - 23:03
        +2

        There is no blind spot with correctly adjusted mirrors and basic driver awareness.

        Not really. If your car has big C pillars and/or small rearview, you'll definitely have a blindspot.

    • [Deactivated] on 26/06/2020 - 21:23
      -2

      What's wrong with a reverse camera to make sure I don't hit toddler running behind my car?

      • Muzeeb on 26/06/2020 - 21:25
        +2

        Nothing because the camera shows a genuine blind spot.

        A blinking LED in my side mirror to tell me a car is beside me…. Well that's different.

  • Snake 4 on 26/06/2020 - 19:47

    Whats a blind spot?

    Set your 3 mirrors correctly.

    No blind spot.

    • Lord Fart Bucket on 26/06/2020 - 19:54
      +3

      Without curved mirrors, it's not possible.

      • Snake 4 on 26/06/2020 - 20:15
        -5

        Sorry but you are incorrect.

        • Lord Fart Bucket on 26/06/2020 - 20:28

          Diagram?

          • Muzeeb on 26/06/2020 - 21:24
            +2

            @Lord Fart Bucket: This?

          • Snake 4 on 26/06/2020 - 21:30
            +2

            @Lord Fart Bucket: No spoon feeding from me.

            Here's a hint. If you can see any part of your vehicle in your side mirrors from your driving position your mirrors are set incorrectly. There is more to it than just that. The rest you need to work out for yourself.

            • Euphemistic on 27/06/2020 - 07:04

              @Snake 4: You’ll still end up with blind spots somewhere. Adjusting mirrors to the optimum position will help, but not remove them.

              • Snake 4 on 27/06/2020 - 10:10
                +1

                @Euphemistic: You do?

                Have you driven my vehicle?

                • Euphemistic on 27/06/2020 - 10:41

                  @Snake 4: I probably haven’t driven your vehicle, but may have driven something similar. What mirrors do you have, what vehicle?Stock or custom?

                  Unless you have curved mirrors you can not eliminate blind spots - except if you count a head move to eliminate them. It’s physics.

        • EFC94 on 26/06/2020 - 22:27

          My car has flat mirrors, no matter what angle I can’t get them in a good position to be able to see well. Haven’t used my side mirrors in 2 years since I got my car. I just do a lot more shoulder checks. It’s also a ute which makes seeing out the back easier.

    • Grunntt on 27/06/2020 - 08:51

      My Mazda 3 - no problem clearly seeing all around with a bit of head turning/movement and correct mirror placement.
      My wife's 370Z on the other hand is pretty much impossible for me to see everywhere that I need.
      She sits further forward than me so has a bit less of a problem.
      I have to have the seat as far back as it can go, which tends to make me feel like I'm in a cocoon, and no matter what I do to the mirrors and how much I rotate my head (within physical limits) it can still be hairy changing lanes (especially to the left).
      Oh - poll option 3 taken - no change to premium.

  • sa5ha on 26/06/2020 - 19:50
    +2

    Most likely won't make any difference to your insurance cost.
    In a past life I worked for a large general insurer and any extras/after market modifications (unless performance altering) were just noted down on the policy but made zero difference to the premiums positively or negatively.

  • [Deactivated] on 26/06/2020 - 21:14
    +1

    What a wast of $$, my car has it factory fitted, I forget its even there. You head check anyway out of habit.

  • Muzeeb on 26/06/2020 - 21:45
    +1

    I got a mid range Outlander

    Off topic but how do you like the CVT?

    • Muzeeb on 26/06/2020 - 23:19

      Also, if you don't mind, how much did the dealer charge to install an aftermarket BSM system?

      • Lord Fart Bucket on 27/06/2020 - 05:06

        Don't mind at all. They tried to charge me $900 for it. I didn't pay for it at all.

        • stringbean402 on 27/06/2020 - 19:18

          lol… of course you paid for it. Your just not smart enough to realize you did.

          • Muzeeb on 27/06/2020 - 23:27

            @stringbean402: Could have got the car $900 cheaper without BSM kit.

          • Lord Fart Bucket on 28/06/2020 - 06:34

            @stringbean402: Okay, sorry for my poor choice of words. Yes, it was included in the final price. But it saved me the hassle of going out to find someone to do it for me.

  • loropy9 on 27/06/2020 - 01:26

    I recently negotiated down my comprehensive with budget direct. I was asked if I had a dash cam, which I do. I got about 5% off but unsure if it was due to the dashcam. An added safety feature means less likelihood that you’ll get involved in an accident and make a claim.

  • buderim11 on 27/06/2020 - 07:55

    Or you could argue the premium will go up slightly, as if the car was a total loss the insurance company would have to pay for the value of the car and any fitted extras.

    • Lord Fart Bucket on 27/06/2020 - 08:33
      +1

      Certainly possible. The question is if the risk of a total loss has been reduced because of the addition.

    • Noblejoker on 27/06/2020 - 17:50

      This ^^^ +1

  • Robz on 27/06/2020 - 12:21

    I also added my premium car mats + Dashcover. They really were not interested! As for Blindspot detection , include it it added features. Alternatively look up the model under the insurance policy & see if it includes Blindspot. If it does, no need to mention! easy!

  • Mechz on 27/06/2020 - 13:21

    Those monitors are crap compared to the older (only a few years ago) standard mirrors on BMWs that curved out on the outer 30% of the mirror. You could literally see everything in your blindspot until it reached your peripheral vision.

  • Roney on 27/06/2020 - 23:59

    You should try get quotes from other insurances and compare and discuss with your insurer if there is a difference. If it's dealer approved add-in, there should not be added premium.

  • 91rs on 28/06/2020 - 18:57

    Surprised if it would change the premium either way honestly, I'd expect it to remain the same.
    I've got upgraded brakes and brake pads on my car, insurance doesn't care about and it in no way impacts the premium even though the car will now stop quicker in a shorter distance (hoping that those behind also do).
    If anything it'd be listed as an accessory and still have no impact on the premium unless it was a very expensive aftermarket accessory.
    Didn't know BSD was an aftermarket option, I'd prefer the OEM built in with the mirror notifications myself.

    • Lord Fart Bucket on 28/06/2020 - 20:26

      Yeah, but it’s only standard on the exceed outlander, I went for the LS.

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