From the "ABI guide to winter tyres The motor insurance commitment" mentioned above:
Motor insurers recognise that some motorists may wish to fit winter tyres to their car during cold weather. Motor insurers recognise that, whilst no substitute for common sense driving, winter tyres can have a positive impact on improving road safety. In the past there has been some uncertainty for insured customers about the insurance premium implications of fitting winter tyres to their cars. To assist in reducing this potential uncertainty, the ABI has produced the Commitment set out below which sets out the position of those named motor insurers in respect of the impact on the insurance premiums of their insured customers if a customer wishes to fit winter tyres to their car.
As can be seen, often motor insurers will not charge an additional premium when their insured customers use winter tyres, provided that they meet, and are fitted in accordance with, the vehicle manufacturers’ specifications and are in a roadworthy condition.
However, some motor insurers may require you to contact them to let them know if you do choose to fit winter tyres. The name of your insurer and their contact information can be found on your insurance policy documentation (summary details are provided below). It is important to remember that sometimes your motor insurer may be different from the company that sold you your insurance policy.
This Confirmation will apply from 3rd September 2014 to 2nd September 2015 at which time it will be reviewed.
Please note that this Commitment only applies to cars used for personal use that are insured under a private or personal use car insurance policy.
| Insurer | Do customers need to inform the insurer when fitting winter tyres to their cars? | Does the fitting of winter tyres affect the amount of cover provided to customers? | Contact details |
| 1st Central Insurance | No | No | |
| ABC Insurance | No | No | |
| Acromas Insurance Company Ltd | No - unless the dimensions of the tyres fitted do not meet the manufacturer's standard | No - unless the dimensions of the tyres fitted do not meet the manufacturer's standard | Your policy documentation will have the contact details of your intermediary |
| Admiral | No | No | |
| Adrian Flux | No | No | |
| Advantage Insurance Company Limited (Gibraltar) | No | No | |
| Age UK | No | No | |
| Ageas Insurance Ltd | No | No | |
| Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance | No | No | |
| Allianz | No | No | |
| Allianz (Northern Ireland) | No | No | |
| Allianz Your Cover | No | No | |
| Aviva Insurance | No | No | |
| AXA | No | No | As per policy documentation (varies by distribution channel) |
| Bell | No | No | |
| Chaucer Direct | No | No | Shown on website |
| Churchill | No | The fitting of winter tyres will not affect the amount of cover provided | 0845 603 3551 |
| Citroen | No | The fitting of winter tyres will not affect the amount of cover provided | 0870 024 2730 / 0870 125 6616 |
| Collingwood Insurance Company Ltd | No | No, provided the winter tyres/wheels fitted are of no greater size value than the tyres/wheels being replaced |
| Co-operative Insurance Car Insurance | No | No, provided the winter tyres/wheels fitted are of no greater size or value than the tyres/wheels being replaced | |
| Co-operative Insurance Eco Insurance | No | No, provided the winter tyres/wheels fitted are of no greater size or value than the tyres/wheels being replaced | |
| Co-operative Insurance Young Driver Insurance | No | No, provided the winter tyres/wheels fitted are of no greater size or value than the tyres/wheels being replaced | |
| Cornish Mutual | No | No | |
| CoveáInsurance | No | No | |
| Diamond | No | No | |
| Direct Line | No | The fitting of winter tyres will not affect the amount of cover provided | |
| Drive Smart | No | No change to cover provided | |
| eCar | Yes, by phone or email | No | enquiries@ecarinsurance.co.uk |
| Echoice | No | No | |
| Egg | No | The fitting of winter tyres will not affect the amount of cover provided | 0870 024 0095 / 0870 024 0097 |
| Elephant | No | No | |
| Enterprise | No - Unless the dimensions of the tyres fitted do not meet the manufacturer's standard specification | No, provided the winter tyres/wheels fitted are of no greater size value than the tyres/wheels being replaced | Refer to Insurer via their Insurance Broker, who can refer to the insurer via email Underwriting@eigplc.com |
| ERS | No | No | |
| Esure Car Insurance | No - unless the customer has or is fitting alloy wheels | No | Phone: 0845 603 7874 |
| First Alternative Car Insurance | No - unless the customer has or is fitting alloy wheels | No | Phone: 0845 607 0417 |
| General Motors (Vauxhall & Chevrolet) | No | No | |
| Go Girl | No | No change to cover provided | |
| Groupama Insurances | No | No | |
| Highway Insurance | No | No | |
| Hiscox Insurance Company | No | No | |
| Insure2Drive | No | No change to cover provided | |
| KGM/Canopius | No (provided they adhere to the stated commitment & tyres are fitted to the manufacturer’s instructions & are in a roadworthy condition) | No | |
| Lexus Motor Insurance | No | No | |
| LV = | No | No | |
| Markerstudy | No | No | |
| Mint / MBNA | No | The fitting of winter tyres will not affect the amount of cover provided | 0870 024 0138 |
| MORE TH>N | No | No | |
| Natwest | No | The fitting of winter tyres will not affect the amount of cover provided | 0800 051 0289 / 0800 051 5405 |
| NFU Mutual | No | No | |
| Octagon Insurance Company Limited | No – provided the winter tyres/wheels match the sizes fitted by the vehicle manufacturer as either standard fitment or as an optional extra | No – provided the winter tyres/wheels match the sizes fitted by the vehicle manufacturer as either standard fitment or as an optional extra | Customers who wish to contact Octagon can call Customer Service on 0844 561 4615 |
| Peugeot | No | The fitting of winter tyres will not affect the amount of cover provided | 0870 024 0807 / 0870 024 1107 |
| Premier Insurance | No | No | |
| Privilege | No | The fitting of winter tyres will not affect the amount of cover provided | 0800 061 6990 / 0800 051 6990 |
| Prudential | No | The fitting of winter tyres will not affect the amount of cover provided | 0800 300 300 / 0845 605 9260 |
| QBE | No | No | |
| RBS | No | The fitting of winter tyres will not affect the amount of cover provided | 0800 158 2493 / 0845 246 0453 |
| Royal London | No | The fitting of winter tyres will not affect the amount of cover provided | 0800 032 9455 |
| RSA | No | No | |
| Sabre Insurance Co Ltd | No | No change to cover provided | |
| Sainsbury’s Car Insurance (underwritten by esure insurance up to 31.05.2011) | No - unless the customer has or is fitting alloy wheels | No | Phone: 0845 608 6034 |
| Sainsbury’s Car Insurance (underwritten by UK Insurance from 01.06.2011) | No | The fitting of winter tyres will not affect the amount of cover provided | Phone: |
| Service Underwriting | No | No | |
| Shearwater Insurance | No | No | |
| Sheilas' Wheels Car Insurance | No - unless the customer has or is fitting alloy wheels | No | Phone: 0845 604 3550 |
| Southern Rock Insurance | Yes, by phone or email | No | Email: referrals@sricl.com
Phone: 0844 902 9749 |
| Swiftcover | Yes | No | As per policy documentation (varies by distribution channel) |
| Tesco Underwriting Limited (for Tesco Car Insurance policies underwritten by Tesco Underwriting Limited) | No | No | |
| Toyota Motor Insurance | No | No | |
| UKI | No | The fitting of winter tyres will not affect the amount of cover provided | Contact details can be found via the intermediary |
| USAA Limited | No | No | |
| Zenith | No | No | |
| Zurich Car Solutions | No | No | |
| Zurich Car Insurance (Direct) | No | No | |
| Zurich Car Solutions (Broker) | No | No | |
| Zurich Commercial | No | No | |
