And you simply reply:
1: "My mileage is <actual-mileage>, which is well within the limitations on my policy".
2: "As when taking up insurance with you I declared to the best of my knowledge the car is of standard manufacturers specification (or what extras you declared). This hasn't changed, may I ask why?"
Yes this may get an insurers back up, but... you are covering your arse legally.
This is a
great post and needs to be drummed home to some individuals. However as with a lot of your examples it's very clear that it's often more how you speak to an insurer and what you tell them that determines your end result.
It is still yet to be seen how an insurance company can prove that you were aware of any mechanical, electrical or sometimes decorative (apart from the obvious) modifications without any mechanical background or any involvement/affiliation with the car manufacturer.
There must be a number of performance cars that have non-obvious modifications that were sold to unsuspecting buyers by both trade and private sellers. How can one declare that? That is the reasoning for the wording "to the best of my knowledge" which is used by the insurer.
P.S. I am not condoning not declaring mods (I for one are more concered about covering their value than how cheap my quote is) but I'm sick of the scare tactics used by them, they are not above and beyond consumer protection!