SHOULD YOU BE PAYING MORE FOR YOUR INSURANCE?

By Unsealed 4X4 13 Min Read

We compare the Unsealed 4X4 team’s current policies against the new kid on the block and see if a few extra bucks could mean a whole lot more coverage.

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OK, let’s be honest here. 4X4 insurance is about as exciting to most of us as listening to that mate (we all have one) bang on about how great his GQ Patrol is for the brazillionth time. We pretend to listen, occasionally nodding or throwing in a murmur of agreement here and there; but inside we’re finding the subject about as entertaining as a blind bloke finds a silent movie.

But should we be paying more attention to our vehicle’s insurers? They’re the people you count on to get you out of trouble when disaster strikes – be it in the form of sliding into a tree up the High Country, or old mate in the $300 Barina who decided to test the tensile strength of your rear door in the shopping centre car park. They’re not exciting, but we all rely on them from time to time.

We’ve mentioned the new player in the insurance industry – Club 4X4 – in these pages before. And we got curious about how Club 4X4 stacked up cost vs coverage-wise against our current policies… Strangely it was about the same time that Ev started talking about the new dual-battery system in his GQ.

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Anyway, we got on the blower to compare coverage and what we found out was more than a little eye-opening. Turns out we’ve been forking out a fair chunk of change for not a lot of safety net.

Take a look and compare the policies for yourself. It may just save you a bunch of heartache.

 

Couple of things to keep in mind

Club 4X4’s standard excess is $850. Excesses can be adjusted and this will affect your premium.

Other variables such as location and driving history have a bearing on your quote.

It’s your responsibility to ensure your vehicle is legally modified.

The total sum insured of your vehicle plays a large part in your premium.

SAM’S DEFENDER 130

QUICK RUNDOWN

2001 TD5, 5-speed

2in lift with King Springs
and Bilstein shocks

Dynamic steelies
with 285/75R16
Bridgestone muddies

Safari Snorkel

Internal beadlocks

Long Ranger fuel tank

Dual-battery setup with Lithium auxiliary battery

ARB front bar

Bushranger winch

LightForce lights

GME UHF

Howling Moon awning

Redarc gauges

Redarc trailer brakes

AAMI
(current insurer)
CLUB 4X4
Insured value
of vehicle
$13,780 maximum agreed value $32,210 agreed value incl accessories and modifications
Cost P.A. $744.48  $973.09
Basic excess $650 $850
Coverage

All options included as part of maximum value allowed

Accidental loss or damage

$500 in emergency repairs and emergency travel costs

21-day hire car coverage after an accident

$500 personal belongings in vehicle (if they have been damaged in a claimable event)

Third Party Property cover on two-wheeled trailers and caravans

Roadside assistance
(sealed roads only)

All accessories and modifications factored into overall value separately to cost of vehicle

$1,500 worth of off-road vehicle recovery (more coverage available if required)

$2,000 worth of personal effects – including camping, 12V and recovery gear

Full off-road coverage on gazetted and non-gazetted roads anywhere in Australia – as long as you’re not trespassing or otherwise breaking the law (this includes closed tracks and waterways)

21-day car hire cover for $180 (no hatchbacks for you!)

$1,000 in emergency repairs

$1,000 trailer coverage

Full caravan and camper trailer coverage available
with multi-policy discount

Roadside assistance
(sealed roads only)

New vehicle replacement
(within 24 months)

 

 

SAM’S THOUGHTS

Paying $200 a year extra, as well as a $200 increase in excess, didn’t seem that appealing to me at first. But as I read through the policy documents of both insurance companies it became clear that my current insurer really takes a one-size-fits-all approach; while Club 4X4 wanted to spend the time to work out exactly what I have and where I drive – and actually seemed to know about 4WDs. I’m still not totally sold, but it’s certainly got me thinking that the extra expense each year may well be worth it.

EV’S GQ PATROL

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QUICK RUNDOWN

1989 TB42S (carby model), 5-speed

2in Dobinson suspension lift

285/75R16 Kumho MT51 tyres

F&B chassis brace

ROH alloys

Uneek front bar

Dolium K9 roof rack

Aventa awning
and rooftop tent

LightForce lighting

Narva LEDs

Hard-mounted Evakool
55L Fridgemate

Redarc dual-battery system

Redarc trailer brakes

Petronix electronic ignition

QBE
(current insurer)
CLUB 4X4
Insured value
of vehicle
$9,425 maximum agreed value $17,000 agreed value incl accessories and modifications
Cost P.A. $1,207.19 $878.58
Basic excess $450 $850
Coverage

All options and modifications included as part of maximum value allowed

Lifetime guarantee on approved repairs

14-day hire car coverage after an accident

$500 temporary repairs to get vehicle moving after accident

$500 personal property contained within vehicle (if damaged in accident, not if stolen from the vehicle)

Up to $5,000 coverage if in an accident with an uninsured vehicle who is at fault

All accessories and modifications factored into overall value separately to
cost of vehicle

$1,500 worth of off-road vehicle recovery (more coverage available if required)

$2,000 worth of personal effects, including camping,
12V and recovery gear

Full off-road coverage on gazetted and non-gazetted roads anywhere in Australia – as long as you’re not trespassing or otherwise breaking the law (this includes closed tracks and waterways)

21-day car hire cover for $180 (no hatchbacks for you!)

$1,000 in emergency repairs

$1,000 trailer coverage

Full caravan and camper
trailer coverage available
with multi-policy discount

Roadside assistance
(sealed roads only)

New vehicle replacement (within 24 months)

 

 

EV’S THOUGHTS

Hmmm, I’m not a mathemagician… but paying over $300 less a year for a higher agreed value and way more coverage off-road – where I do 80% of my driving – doesn’t seem like it needs much working out… I wonder if they’ll mind if I pay in 5c pieces?

TIM’S 150 PRADO

QUICK RUNDOWN

2010 3.0TD manual

TJM barwork all around

Torqit chip

Rhino roof cage

Britax Linear driving light

Bitax HID spotties

TJM winch

2in TJM suspension

265/70R17 Toyo Open Country tyres

GME UHF

TJM snorkel

Redarc trailer brakes

NRMA
(current insurer)
CLUB 4X4
Insured value
of vehicle
$36,900 (agreed value) $50,000 agreed value (incl $10,000 of modifications)
Cost P.A. $915.83 $964.19
Basic excess $850 $850
Coverage

All options and modifications included as part of agreed value (up to maximum)

Emergency repairs up to $800

Hire car coverage after an accident up to $95

$1,500 tools of trade cover for certain items

$500 personal property contained within vehicle (if damaged in accident, not if stolen from the vehicle)

‘Reasonable’ cost of towing

All accessories and modifications factored into overall value separately to
cost of vehicle

$1,500 worth of off-road vehicle recovery (more coverage available if required)

$2,000 worth of personal effects, including camping,
12V and recovery gear

Full off-road coverage on gazetted and non-gazetted roads anywhere in Australia – as long as you’re not trespassing or otherwise breaking the law (this includes closed tracks and waterways)

21-day car hire cover for $180 (no hatchbacks for you!)

$1,000 in emergency repairs

$1,000 trailer coverage

Full caravan and camper
trailer coverage available
with multi-policy discount

Roadside assistance
(sealed roads only)

New vehicle replacement
(within 24 months)

 

 

TIM’S THOUGHTS

Around $50 more per year (paying the same premium) for $13,100 more coverage value, as well as the fact I’ve driven right around Australia (taking the route with the least amount of blacktop possible), and I regularly do a few big trips a year into the bush – this just seems like a no-brainer to me.

DEX’S DISCOVERY I

QUICK RUNDOWN

1994 300TDI auto

2.5in exhaust

2in suspension lift and trimmed guards

33in BFG KM2 mud terrains

Safari snorkel

Custom barwork

Front and rear Air Lockers

Dual batteries

Winch

Electronic trailer brakes

GME UHF

Narva HID spotties

GIO
(current insurer)
CLUB 4X4
Insured value
of vehicle
$5,070 maximum agreed value $12,500 agreed value
(incl $7,000 accessories)
Cost P.A. $629.32 $698.98
Basic excess $650 $850
Coverage

All options and modifications included as part of maximum value allowed

$500 in emergency repairs and emergency travel costs

14-day hire car coverage after an accident

$500 personal belongings in vehicle (if they have been damaged in a claimable event)

$1,000 on two-wheel trailers and caravans

All accessories and modifications factored into overall value separately to cost of vehicle

$1,500 worth of off-road vehicle recovery (more coverage available if required)

$2,000 worth of personal effects, including camping, 12V and recovery gear

Full off-road coverage on gazetted and non-gazetted roads anywhere in Australia – as long as you’re not trespassing or otherwise breaking the law (this includes closed tracks and waterways)

21-day car hire cover for $180 (no hatchbacks for you!)

$1,000 in emergency repairs

$1,000 trailer coverage

Full caravan and camper trailer coverage available with multi-policy discount

Roadside assistance
(sealed roads only)

New vehicle replacement (within 24 months)

 

 

DEX’S THOUGHTS

It’s a common story with older trucks – particularly ones with the resale value of a Land Rover – you end up spending a bunch on mods and accessories, only to have the insurance agent on the phone laugh at you when you tell them what you want to insure it for.

So it was refreshing when old mate from Club 4X4 asked me how much I spent on mods… and then seemed genuinely interested in what I’d done to the old bus. It costs me a little more each year and there’s a higher premium, but for the extra off-road coverage (where I spend a lot of time) and the fact I’m dealing with a company that knows what I’m talking about when I say the words ‘rock sliders’… to me, it’s worth it.

 

COMPARE THE POLICIES FOR YOURSELF

CLUB 4X4 PDS:

https://www.club4x4.com.au/pds/motor-product-disclosure-statement.pdf

AAMI PDS:

https://www.aami.com.au/content/dam/suncorp/insurance/aami/documents/personal/car/comprehensive/pds-comprehensive.pdf

NRMA PDS:

https://www.nrma.com.au/sites/nrma/files/nrma/policy_booklets/car_pds_0917_all.pdf

QBE PDS:

https://www.qbe.com/au/car-insurance/comprehensive-car-insurance

GIO PDS:

https://www.gio.com.au/documents/car-and-vehicle/car/gio-car-insurance-pds-19-6-18.pdf


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