I am curious of people thoughts on various insurance companies.

I have been around the bush a couple of times these last few weeks with my body kit and wheels.

GIO have basically refused to cover me. Shannons have said I have to enclose my car port (ie you car port has to be a garage :-/). AAMI are wanting close to 2000$ and my excess would be about 1500$. A few others have said they would cover the car but not the body kit or rims, and still want 1500$ odd plus some stupid amount of excess.

The 2 that stood out were budget direct and just cars (who funily enough are underwritten by AAMI).

I have followed through with the Budget direct for the moment but curious if anyone has 1st hand knowledge of them or any pitfalls. Their PDS is https://ecommerce.insurershotline.co...c/PDS/PDSA.pdf and https://ecommerce.insurershotline.co...PDS/PDSBST.pdf

Cheers

Andrew

 

Shannons never asked me to enclose my car port.

(it is a moot point now, as my car port is now a garage).

"ooh, garage".
"what do you call it?"
"carhold"

(sorry, obligatory Simpsons reference)

 

Im pretty sure my car is covered by budget direct and they seem pretty good value to me. An interesting point with budget direct that i tried to pin them down on (which for an insurer is of course impossible) was that if an accident occured at a course at which we had been receiving tuition - that may or may not indirectly relate to safer driving - then by all possibility they would cover that event - reference to broadford in DEC last year. Of course its untested waters and knowing insurers ability to test all claims to the nth degree...once i hope not to test. But they seem to have a good price and good service from my experience. Just need to be sure that everything is duly noted on the policy.

 

Interesting point. Most other PDS's that I have seen have a specific clause that you are only covered if the day is an official Driver Education Day. Budget Direct dont have one.

Cheers

Andrew

 

Im with NRMA at the moment and because im under 25, i pay exactly one arm and one leg every year for insurance (which equates to roughly $2400 p/a).

excess is about 1600 ish and would cost more if my rims were involved.

Im thinking of getting some work done to the car so my excess will probably be going further north.

Fingers crossed!

 

Andrew,

I'd seriously consider enclosing your carport if that's an option. I'm obviously not aware of the structure but is it viable to put up some metal sheeting on the sides and back and install some doors? Otherwise, knock it down and buy a DIY garage - they're not that expensive and it might just pay for itself in saved premiums over time.

Of course, your car will also be better protected from the elements and you won't have the same experience of spares being nicked.

Just my 2 cents.

Otherwise, I can't assist on insurers except to warn you off the NRMA - total ****** to deal with in my long experience with insurance work.

 

I'm with Suncorp, $1,300 a year with excess $650, rating 1 protected. They are willing to insure my car because it's fully stock, and in a garage, so different with your situations. I was with JCI before (my previous car), and their excess are crazy! I have extra excess for sound system, extra excess for rims, extra excess for body kits on top of standard excess. and yes, like kall said, they now have car excess (whatever that is). So if I am you, I'll stay away from JCI. They allow us to get a quote from our preferred repairer, but in the end, they decide which repairer the car goes to, and they decide it by the best (read: cheapest) quote.

Shannons quoted me $2,200 because I'm under 30. Will get me a new quote when I'm 30 - this year ))

 

You could always try Unique Cars who are underwritten by Lloyds of London.

www.uniquecar.com.au

They specialise in the sports, modified and prestige markets. The best part is they generaly don't charge extra for modifications or increase your excess. All they require for coverage is that they are listed on your policy. They also allow any modification as long as the car remains roadworthy.

For Tubby with the mods so far brakes, coilovers, swaybars and intake my premium is $700 a year with $600 excess, rating 1 protected and allow me to use the repairer of my choice!

I have been with them for 3 years now and found them very good.

From memory my RX8 with the Koni suspension, exhaust, swaybars & flywheel was about $1000-$1100 when I had it with them!

 

I've got a stock car, so its not really relevant, however i did chose Just Car insurance, which was full comprehensive for $1300.00 or theres abouts, which was only $100 more then my policy with RACV... for my Kia Rio....

 

I am currently with State Farm.... unfortunatley i pay a little over 4000 a year.... But, I am 20 with 3 tickets and 2 wrecks my fault Thankfully in 4 months when I turn 21 it will drop 125.00 a month! Woo hoo

 

ooops i guess this is the austrailian forum.. sorry... Thats what I pay here in america lol

 

Dave,

I rent so its not an option Have been researching Budget Direct and turns out that they are a very good company. However you need a clean record to join (not sure yet how it goes if you have to claim, ie you get kicked out). I guess my 10 year no claim history has worked in my favour for once.

 

shannons insures the 8 in a public basement parking arrangement..... (under a "modified" policy) but wouldnt insure me with a porsche

 

Andrew for all those mods try Torque (underwriters are Lumley)- its similar to shannons but better cover (they do high end modded cars like ruf porsches etc, but they may also do yours???) or MB Prestige or Dawes underwriting - if you are still having issues - send me a PM.

 

Dawes underwriting insures mostly european cars. our euro cars are/were all with Dawes.

 

Suncorp have the finance and insurance on mine. (Due to arrive tomorrow).

2 named drivers over 25 out here in the sticks garaged - $800 with $850 excess.

 

Thanks Rick. I will investigate and post back my findings.

For the moment I have ended up going with Budget Direct but may change if something better comes up.

Cheers

Andrew

 

Andrew, I cannot give you what is called "personal advice" on this matter as I am of the belief that even when I'm not working I'm bound by FSRA guidelines, but I've heard a lot of bad things about budget direct in relation to repairs, turnover time etc.. If you want to be covered properly it could be worth spending a lot more in comparison to the budget insurers as if you car ends up off the road for an extended period of time, it could end up costing you more.

 

Being that its not personal advise I will assume its business advise and therefore sales guff I have read all the legal documents from Budget Direct and they are very specific in their claims process, quite a bit different from the likes of RACV, GIO, etc. Very refreshing in fact.

It worries me when insurers guarantee FAST TURNAROUND as it means they aren't spending time doing a quality repair. Quality of repair is a big issue and the fact that their PDS is again refreshingly simple is something I like.

Repairs to the car
· You can nominate your preferred repairer.
· However, we will only pay for repairs we have authorised in writing beforehand, except for essential temporary repairs of up to $400 to allow the car to be driven immediately after an accident.
· If requested the car must be available for inspection at a location nominated by us.
· If a repairer’s quotation is not competitive, or we believe the repairs would be unsatisfactory, we can decide to instruct another repairer or to pay the reasonable cost of a competent and guaranteed repair.
· Our duty is to return the car to the condition it was in immediately before the damage happened. If we agree to additional repairs, painting or parts which improve the condition of the car, you may have to pay for the amount of the improvement.
· We will authorise only the use of manufacturers’ original or approved parts or parts that comply with Australian Standards. These will be either new or consistent with the age of the car. If it is necessary to use any other parts, we will only use them with your agreement.

I will happily keep photo's of the car to prove its current condition so that if I get into an accident I can say, this is the condition it has be when I get it back.

Cheers

Andrew

 

i have had the EK civic insured with Budget Direct (for at least 2 to 3 yeras) after AAMI and had no problems with them. their general services, info and claims department was great to deal with. i was able to pick my preferred repairer(s).
i have since changed to another insurer for the new civic, and they have been great to deal with too.

 

Since when you had a civic? and who is the new company?

 

I cannot give you business advice either ... don't presume anything, we spend most of our time speaking in code.

Fast turnover is more talking about paperwork ... the stalling process that happens in between making your claim and your vehicle actually being repaired. The vehicle will take the same time to repair at the shop.

Oh ... and with repair quotes: I hope you understand what insurance companies do with repair quotes ... and how they define "choice of repairer"? ... unless it's expressley stated that the choice of repairer is concreted and set, and you can override their choice of repairer with your own, it's just waffle added to the paperwork to get you to take out the policy.

Do they mention things like "new genuine parts", or at least "genuine parts" on the policy? Very few insurers do this ... and what is their warranty on repairs like if they don't?

... besides, I'm not talking sales or any of that guff and you're completely incorrect in even mentioning that ... as I have not once mentioned the company that I work for for the sake of this thread for a very good reason. A person could take offence to an accusation such as that!