"Better to bore them with details than get stuck later, right?"
True, but do you really call them for every little thing? I mean, I get it for major mods like engine swaps or suspension upgrades, but seats...? I've swapped out seats a couple times and never thought twice about it. Maybe I'm just lucky, but it seems insurers mostly care about stuff that significantly changes the car's value or safety profile. Has anyone actually had trouble over minor interior changes?
I've never bothered calling about seats either, honestly. When I swapped mine, I figured as long as they're properly bolted in and safe, it's not really affecting value or safety much. But now you've got me thinking... has anyone ever had a claim denied over something small like this?
Had a client a few years back who swapped out his seats for some aftermarket buckets—nothing crazy, just something sportier. Didn't think twice about it, figured it was minor. Fast forward a bit, he had a small fender-bender, nothing major, but the adjuster noticed the seats weren't original. Suddenly, they're asking questions, digging deeper into the car's mods. Long story short, they didn't outright deny the claim, but it turned into a headache—delays, extra paperwork, and a lot of back-and-forth.
Point is, insurers can get picky when they want to. Even if it's bolted in safely and doesn't affect the car's value much, it's technically a modification. Most times you'll probably skate by unnoticed, but if something happens and they spot it, you might be in for more hassle than you'd expect. Better safe than sorry, IMO—just a quick heads-up call to your insurer can save you from potential headaches down the road.
Good heads-up. Had a similar experience myself with a vintage Mustang—swapped out the steering wheel for something smaller and sportier. Didn't even cross my mind to mention it to insurance. Then, during a routine appraisal, the guy casually pointed it out and asked if I'd notified my insurer. Nothing came of it, thankfully, but it made me realize how easily these little mods can slip under the radar.
You're right though, insurers can get picky when they want to. Even minor stuff can trigger extra scrutiny if they're looking for reasons to delay or complicate things. Definitely worth the quick call just to keep everything above board and documented. Saves headaches later on...
Had a similar wake-up call myself. I swapped out the seats in my old VW camper for something comfier before a cross-country trip—didn't even think twice about insurance. Fast forward to a minor fender-bender, and the adjuster casually asks if those plush seats were factory standard. Cue awkward silence... Thankfully, it didn't cause issues, but lesson learned: insurers notice more than we think. Better safe than sorry, especially when you're miles from home with questionable cell reception!
