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The fourby is packed and you’re about to turn onto the highway, still hoping you closed the garage door and didn’t forget anything. We thought it was the right time to remind you of something you probably don’t think about that often: proper insurance.
As many long-time Unsealed 4X4 readers know, we’ve worked with Club 4X4 since the beginning and have even been through our own claims with them (ermm… Project Rusty). So, whilst you might call it a plug, we’ve had a great experience and genuinely rate them based on that experience.
For our new readers, or those who may not know the nuances around insurance policies, we thought we’d compare Club 4X4 in the world of comprehensive car insurance to call out potential gaps in your coverage.
1. The “Gazetted Road” Trap
This is the most common nasty surprise for off-road lovers. Some general insurers will only cover you on “gazetted roads.” In plain English, this often means a road that is named, managed by a council, and appears on a standard street map.
Here’s the problem: that beach track you’re driving on? Probably not a gazetted road. The fire trail leading to your favourite campsite? Almost certainly not. Policies that exclude “non-gazetted roads’’ may not provide protection for incidents that happen in locations like this.
The Fix: Check your PDS for the definition of “off-road,” and any exclusions around where you are and aren’t covered.
For example, Club 4X4 promotes that they can cover you anywhere you can legally go in Australia in your 4WD, Caravan or Camper Trailer. This specificity in wording is the difference between being covered on a remote beach track or being on your own.
2. Illegal Modifications (The GVM Grey Area)
We all love mods. But in 2025, the scrutiny on “legal” vs “illegal” modifications has never been higher. If your vehicle is deemed unroadworthy at the time of an accident, your insurer may walk away.
The biggest culprit? Weight. If you’ve bolted on a bull bar, winch, scrub bars, rear drawers, a fridge, and a long-range tank, you are likely over your factory Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM). If you crash while overweight, you are technically driving an unroadworthy vehicle.
The Fix: Keep your vehicle legal. If you plan on bolting on a lot of modifications, or carrying extra weight, you should consider a GVM upgrade.
This involves certified suspension upgrades and a new compliance plate. Crucially, you should check if you can list these modifications on your insurance policy. This is where reading the fine print is vital. Some insurers might cover your vehicle but not the value of the GVM upgrade itself.
Conversely, specialist insurance from a brand like Club 4X4 is designed to cover legal GVM upgrades with its cover for modifications via a separate agreed value for modifications that’s in addition to your vehicle’s base value.
Considering a proper GVM upgrade on a 300 Series LandCruiser can cost between $4,000 and $7,000, this is where an Agreed Value policy that acknowledges your modifications in addition to your vehicle rather than a generic “market value” policy could be a good option to make sure your vehicle is appropriately covered.
3. The “Recovery” Misunderstanding
There is a massive difference between “Roadside Assistance” and “Off-Road Recovery,” and confusing the two could cost you thousands.
Roadside Assistance: This is for when you break down on a sealed road.
The tow truck takes you to the nearest mechanic. A lot of insurers offer this as an option when buying a comprehensive insurance policy.
Off-Road Recovery: This is for when you are bogged to the chassis rails on the Telegraph Track or have a mechanical breakdown off-road.
A standard tow truck can’t (and won’t) help you. You often need a specialist recovery vehicle in situations like this.
Often, insurers won’t cover the recovery cost to extract your vehicle from the bush if it’s not as a part of a claim for an insured event, and instead can only offer towing you once you are back on a gazetted road.
This leaves you potentially thousands of dollars out of pocket to get a recovery team out to you. It is worth noting that some specialist policies do cover this cost.
Club 4X4, for instance, includes an “off-road recovery” benefit as a standard inclusion (up to $1,500), which can help cover the cost of the professional recovery vehicle, with larger upgrade amounts available ($5,000, $15,000 and $30,000 depending on the type of travelling you’re planning to do).
This is a critical distinction to look for when you’re in the market for insurance.
4. Undervalued Accessories (The Inflation Trap)
Have you priced a replacement bull bar lately? Inflation has hit the 4X4 aftermarket hard. If you insured your vehicle two years ago with an “agreed value”, you could be under-insured today.
If your rig is stolen or written off (like poor old Rusty), a general insurer might give you “market value” for a stock vehicle, leaving you thousands of dollars out of pocket for your lights, winch, suspension, and canopy.
Think about a policy that specifically lists your modifications and covers them at their replacement cost.
5. Living in Your Vehicle (The Residency Clause)
This one catches out the “Big Lap” crowd. Some standard policies have exclusions if you have no fixed address or if the vehicle is your “permanent residence.” Essentially, they view the risk differently if you are living in it 24/7 versus using it for holidays.
However, some insurers are adapting to modern touring habits. Club 4X4 cover full-time touring. If you are travelling or touring (even indefinitely), you are covered.
Check your PDS – if you sell your house and hit the road without telling your insurer, you might be risking driving outside of what you’re covered for.
The Verdict
Insurance isn’t just a “set and forget” bill. It’s a contract, and like any contract, the details matter. If you drive a modified 4WD or like to head off-road, you have a specific set of risks that some general insurers might not cater for.
Don’t wait until you’re diff-deep in mud to find out your policy doesn’t cover you.
Check your PDS for exclusions and explanations about how your policy covers you on-road and off, whether or not your modifications are covered appropriately and that what you think is recovery cover isn’t just roadside assistance and actually extends to the bush.
To learn more about Club 4X4 Insurance, head to club4x4.com.au.
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Disclaimer: Issued by Club 4X4 Pty Ltd as an AR of Lifestyle Insurance Group who is acting (under its own AFSL) on behalf of the insurer QBE Insurance Australia Limited.
Any advice is general only. Excesses, limits and exclusions apply. Always read the PDS & TMD at club4x4.com.au.
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