Do You Have to Tell Your Insurer About Aftermarket Wheels?

Swapping your factory rims for a set of aftermarket alloys is one of the first upgrades many Australian drivers make. It’s also the one people most often forget to mention to their insurer — usually because they assume wheels are too minor to matter. They’re not. Here’s what you’re actually required to do, and why.

Are aftermarket wheels really a “modification”?

Yes. Australian insurers define a modification broadly: anything altered or added after the vehicle leaves the factory. Canstar spells it out — “anything altered or added to your vehicle after it leaves the factory is typically considered a modification and should be reported to your insurer” — and lists alloy wheels and wider tyres among the examples. So a set of aftermarket wheels sits in exactly the same category as a suspension change or a body kit, even though it feels smaller.

Genuine factory-optional wheels fitted when the car was built are part of the standard vehicle. It’s the switch to non-standard, aftermarket or larger rims that creates something to declare.

What the law actually requires

Since 5 October 2021, personal car insurance in Australia has been governed by a duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation, which replaced the older duty of disclosure for consumer contracts under the Insurance Contracts Act 1984. Practically, that means:

• You must answer the insurer’s questions honestly and with reasonable care when you apply or renew.
• If the application or renewal asks about modifications or accessories, aftermarket wheels are a “yes.”
• You’re not penalised for an honest, reasonable mistake — but skipping a direct question about modifications is hard to defend.

If you breach that duty, the insurer can reduce a claim proportionately to reflect the terms that would have applied, or avoid the policy if the misrepresentation was fraudulent. That’s the mechanism behind the “my claim got knocked back” stories — it’s rarely the wheels themselves, it’s the undeclared wheels.

When and how to tell them

A quick phone call or online update is all it takes. Ask two things: that the modification is recorded, and that the wheels are covered for their replacement value — some policies cap or exclude non-standard accessories unless they’re specifically listed.

Will declaring aftermarket wheels cost me more?

Sometimes a modest amount. Aftermarket alloys can lift a premium because they cost more to replace and are more likely to be stolen. But that’s the correct price of the risk, and it keeps your cover intact. National Cover notes that legal, certified and professionally fitted work generally prices better than uncertified DIY changes — so keeping the fitment compliant helps your premium as well as your claim.

Declaring isn’t enough on its own — keep them legal

Disclosure protects you from a misrepresentation problem, but an illegal fitment is a separate risk that declaring won’t fix. Make sure your aftermarket wheels:

• keep the overall tyre diameter within the legal size limits and the track within the allowed range;
• let the tyres meet the placard load and speed rating;
• carry legitimate approval markings if they’re replica wheels (JWL, VIA, ADR marks); and
• come with a modification certificate if the change falls outside standard limits.

Get the wheels wrong on legality and you’re exposed on two fronts at once — a defect notice or fine from the road authority, and a weakened claim with your insurer. For the full picture on how modifications interact with cover, see does changing wheel size void your car insurance.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I don’t tell my insurer about aftermarket wheels?

If you breach the duty to take reasonable care, the insurer can reduce a claim to reflect the terms that would have applied, or avoid the policy entirely if the misrepresentation was fraudulent. The risk is highest if the wheels were illegal or contributed to a claim.

Do I need to declare a same-size aftermarket wheel?

If the wheel is non-standard — an aftermarket brand or design fitted after the factory — it’s still a modification to declare, even at the same diameter. When in doubt, mention it; it costs nothing to be safe.

Are my aftermarket wheels automatically covered if I declare them?

Not always to full value. Declaring records the modification, but you should also confirm the wheels are insured for their replacement cost, as some policies limit non-standard accessories unless listed.

Does keeping the receipt matter?

Yes. Receipts, a fitter’s invoice and any engineering certificate support both the value of the wheels and their legal compliance, which helps a claim run smoothly.

This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Insurance terms differ between policies; read your Product Disclosure Statement and confirm your circumstances with your insurer.