Vehicle insurance and declaring the carry of guns ammo.

[sanibel686]

I've just been ringing around for new insurance on my Hilux. In the course of a conversation with a broker named Aplan I was told by the broker that they need to know if guns or ammo are to be carried in the vehicle and how they will be carried. He said some insurance companies consider ammunition to be classed as hazardous materials and guns as dangerous materials for example in the event of a vehicle fire, and this would change the risk profile and hence the premium. He also said that at least one company he deals with, AGEAS, will refuse to quote a policy if guns, once declared, are not carried in a locked gun box.

To be absolutely clear he wasn't talking about cover for the cost of stolen goods he was talking about voiding a policy altogether if an accident were to occur and it was discovered that there had been a non-declaration that the vehicle was used for transport of dangerous and or hazardous materials as determined by the insurance company.

I declined to provide further information and he declined to continue on with the quotation process.

Your thoughts on this would be welcome.

 

[Mike L]

Who brought guns and ammo into the conversation?

 

[Liveonce]

NFU now ask about ammunition and set a limit on number you can carry in the vehicle without paying an extra premium, they also mention gas bottles.

Just another way of ringing a little more out of us.

 

[long_range_rob]

Ammunition in a fire just pop’s doesn’t explode. Guns are never loaded in transport, that’s the law. Sounds like more weasel practices from the insurance industry.

 

[long_range_rob]

 

[long_range_rob]

 

[Sinistral]

I've just been ringing around for new insurance on my Hilux. In the course of a conversation with a broker named Aplan I was told by the broker that they need to know if guns or ammo are to be carried in the vehicle and how they will be carried. He said some insurance companies consider ammunition to be classed as hazardous materials and guns as dangerous materials for example in the event of a vehicle fire, and this would change the risk profile and hence the premium. He also said that at least one company he deals with, AGEAS, will refuse to quote a policy if guns, once declared, are not carried in a locked gun box.

To be absolutely clear he wasn't talking about cover for the cost of stolen goods he was talking about voiding a policy altogether if an accident were to occur and it was discovered that there had been a non-declaration that the vehicle was used for transport of dangerous and or hazardous materials as determined by the insurance company.

I declined to provide further information and he declined to continue on with the quotation process.

Your thoughts on this would be welcome.

If you're declaring your Hilux as a Light Goods Vehicle, putting carriage of goods as a primary purpose on your application, or taking out a standard Commercial Vehicle policy then these restrictions might be valid. If it's "Social, Domestic and Pleasure use only" they're not.

 

[I. Farticus]

Absolute guff. Go to Toyota direct. They were the cheapest by a chunk of change on my Hilux and didn't ask stupid questions

 

[Dalua]

Guns are never loaded in transport, that’s the law.

Often sensible for them not to be loaded, certainly - but is it actually law?

 

[A Guy Out West]

In my entire life, I have never heard of ammunition or guns being a problem related to auto accidents. Sounds like someone at the insurance company is trying way too hard. If this was an issue, I can’t imagine it would not have come to light in the land of guns.

 

[deerly departed]

All insurers require material facts to be declared. What is a material fact to one company may not be to another.

If in doubt, declare it. Record the date, time and the name of the person you spoke to.

In the event of a loss, the insurer apply several penalties for failing to disclose what their underwriters may consider salient to their risk assessment including voiding the policy altogether.

By far the greater physical risk will be dive tanks imho.

The declaration of salient facts extends to MANY policy types so if you have firearms and a dive bottle, you need to disclose the fact to tmyour buildings insuer and your contents insurer - if doffetent as well as a private or commercial vehicle insurer amongst others.

You do not need to go into great detail. Kiss is the word.

 

[Brno2e]

Will we have to declare we have a tank full of highly flammable petrol bolted underneath next?

 

[finnbear270]

Or maybe a declaration of carrying the dead?

 

[sanibel686]

Nfu limit before declaration is 2000 rounds of either shotgun or firearm ammunition, I've just spoken to them but they weren't competitive

So far,
Hastings £307
Nfu £938

 

[Fair Hill]

Often sensible for them not to be loaded, certainly - but is it actually law?

Don't know about the UK but it is law in Ireland since 2019.

 

[Liveonce]

Will we have to declare we have a tank full of highly flammable petrol bolted underneath next?

Wait till them electric cars start catching fire they should burn well.

 

[Foxyboy43]

NFU now ask about ammunition and set a limit on number you can carry in the vehicle without paying an extra premium, they also mention gas bottles.

Just another way of ringing a little more out of us.

Hmmm. Ammo going off in a fire is one thing but gas bottles have to be seen to be believed! In the bad old days in Belfast a certain organisation put a large car bomb outside a city centre government office which just happened to have a fairly large gas bottle store next to it. The damage to the building was pretty severe (in fact I remember seeing the whole frontage of this four storey building falling out into the road and just missing a group of firemen - in absolute slow motion) but was pretty well localised. The damage to a much wider area was extensive - by what looked like a fusillade of yellow and orange “mortars“ going in all directions and for great distances.

 

[Mike L]

Who brought guns and ammo into the conversation?

I will just pop this here again.

 

[paul o']

Never been asked and I don't need them knowing as its not there business , On looking into it i could find nothing while searching for the laws carrying firearms ammo apart from the normal guff around transport and storage while in the car or hotel .
I'v other insurance that covers sporting goods in transit home or away , This due to most motor insurance Co's will wiggle on none listed items .
Who rings there Ins every time you put something that could in a fire be a hazard ?? Cooking oil anyone !

 

[Sampo]

Looks like next time you go to the supermarket and buy whisky, you may have to notify your insurer. I wonder how it performs in the event of a vehicle fire.