Do I Need To Tell My Insurance Company About A Roof Box?

If you're hiring a roof box for a holiday or road trip, it is sensible to check your motor insurance policy before travelling and contact your insurer if you're unsure whether they need to be told. Insurance policies and notification requirements vary, so there isn't a single answer that can safely be applied to every driver and every insurer.

A roof box and Roof Bar Hire add equipment to your vehicle and change its overall height, weight and aerodynamics. Before setting off with hired equipment, make sure your insurance remains appropriate for the way the vehicle will be used.

So, Do I Have to Tell My Insurer About a Roof Box?

That depends on your insurer and the terms of your particular policy.

Some insurers may regard roof boxes and roof bars as accessories or temporary additions that are already accommodated by their policy terms. Others may have notification requirements that apply to accessories, alterations or changes to the vehicle.

Rather than assuming, check your policy documentation. If the wording isn't clear, contact your insurer or broker and ask them directly.

The Association of British Insurers advises motorists to make sure they have the correct cover for their needs and to read their policy documents carefully. If you're uncertain about your level of cover or an insurer's requirements, it recommends contacting the insurer or broker directly. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

What Should I Ask My Insurance Company?

You don't need to make the conversation complicated. Explain that you intend to temporarily fit a roof box and roof bars to the vehicle and ask whether this needs to be declared under your policy.

Useful questions include:

• Do I need to notify you before fitting a temporary roof box and roof bars?
• Does fitting them affect my existing motor insurance cover?
• Are the roof box and roof bars themselves covered against loss or damage?
• Does my policy cover belongings carried inside a roof box?
• Are there any conditions I need to follow while the equipment is fitted?
• Does my cover remain appropriate if I take the vehicle abroad?

Admiral, for example, specifically advises its customers that notification requirements differ between insurance companies and says motorists who are unsure whether something needs declaring should contact their insurer. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Is a Roof Box Considered a Car Modification?

The terminology used by insurers varies, which is another reason not to rely on a general internet definition when interpreting your own policy.

A hired roof box is normally removable equipment rather than a permanent alteration to the vehicle. However, that does not automatically establish how your particular insurer categorises it or whether its policy requires notification.

The ABI notes more generally that modifications can affect motor insurance and recommends discussing relevant changes with the insurer. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

If you're interested in the physical installation itself, How Do Roof Boxes Attach To Cars? explains how a box, bars and vehicle work together.

Does Professional Roof Box Fitting Make a Difference?

Correct installation is important regardless of what your insurance policy says.

Midlands Roof Box Hire professionally fits our hired equipment, checking the appropriate setup for the vehicle and showing customers how to operate the roof box before they leave.

You can find more information in Does roof box hire include fitting?. Drivers whose cars don't have obvious raised roof rails can also read Can I fit a roof box to a car with no rails?.

Is the Roof Box Itself Covered by My Car Insurance?

Don't assume that it is.

Cover for accessories, hired equipment and personal belongings varies between insurance products. Even comprehensive insurance does not necessarily cover everything, and the ABI recommends checking the specific features and exclusions of your policy. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

If you are hiring a Large, Extra Large or Thule roof box, you remain responsible for looking after the hired equipment in accordance with the applicable hire terms.

You should therefore distinguish between two questions:

• Does my motor insurance remain valid while I use a roof box?
• Does my insurance actually cover the hired roof box if it is damaged, lost or stolen?

Those are not necessarily the same thing.

Are My Suitcases and Other Belongings Insured?

Again, check rather than assume.

Your motor policy may provide some personal-belongings cover, but limits, exclusions and circumstances vary. Other insurance products may also provide relevant cover depending on what you are carrying and the terms of those policies.

A locked roof box is useful enclosed storage, but using one doesn't automatically create insurance cover for everything placed inside it.

What If I'm Taking a Hired Roof Box Abroad?

If you're heading to France, Spain or elsewhere in Europe, check both your motor insurance and the requirements for driving in the countries you intend to visit.

Tell your insurer where you're travelling if required under your policy and check what level of overseas cover applies.

There are practical considerations too. A roof box changes the overall dimensions of the vehicle, so remember it when booking ferries or vehicle transport and when approaching garages and height-restricted car parks.

Our guide to how much height a roof box adds to a car explains why knowing the complete fitted height is useful before a longer journey.

Does It Matter Whether I Own or Hire the Roof Box?

From an insurance perspective, this is another point worth making clear when speaking to your provider. Tell them that the equipment is temporarily hired rather than owned if that is the case.

From a practical perspective, hiring means you can use the additional capacity for the journey and return the equipment afterwards rather than purchasing and storing it permanently.

If you're weighing up those options, Is it cheaper to hire or buy a roof box? looks at the differences in more detail.

What Information Might My Insurer Need?

If your insurer asks for further details, useful information may include:

• The fact that the roof box is temporary hired equipment.
• The manufacturer of the box and bars.
• How the equipment is attached to the vehicle.
• Whether it is professionally fitted.
• How long it will remain on the vehicle.
• Whether you intend to travel outside the UK.

We use premium roof storage equipment, including Thule roof boxes, with suitable bars and vehicle-specific fittings where required.

Insurance Is Only One Part of Preparing Your Car

Once the paperwork is sorted, there are several practical things worth checking before departure.

Make sure you know the applicable load limits, pack the box appropriately, check that it is closed and locked, and remain conscious of your increased vehicle height. On longer journeys, fittings should also be checked periodically in accordance with the guidance provided.

You may also want to read Do Roof Boxes Reduce Fuel Economy? and Which Is The Best Roof Box? while planning your journey.

Roof Box Hire in the Midlands

Midlands Roof Box Hire provides professionally fitted roof storage for customers from Bromsgrove, Coventry, Lichfield, Birmingham and Nuneaton, together with customers visiting our Tamworth base.

Our Roof Box Range includes different capacities and options for a variety of vehicles, while How much does it cost to hire a roof box? provides further information about our current prices.

Check Before You Travel

The simplest answer to the insurance question is also the safest: read your policy and, if there is any uncertainty, ask your insurer or broker before travelling. Don't assume that somebody else's insurer has the same rules as yours.

Once you've confirmed your insurance position, Contact Us with your vehicle details and travel dates if you'd like to arrange roof box hire and professional fitting.