Club 4x4 all the way! 👍 When I drove my Suzuki Sierra around the country for many years, I just had standard insurance (but should have read the PDS!). Servicing, tuning, having a trustworthy vehicle and mechanic, and driving sensibly within your capabilities, whilst looking after your vehicle also helps. Great topic!
Yeah have been with Club4x4 since 2018 and frankly, in the start they where more expensive than say YOUI and I think I had RACV and CGU at one point, but as the years have rolled by Club4x4 has become somewhat reasonably competitive with basic equivalent options, but once you start adding on say increaseidng the default 1.5k off road recovery to 15k off road recovery or something and adding in extras such as $10k mods and $10k in vehicle upgrades the price gets on, but at the end of the day the premium is very reasonable and they are very clear about how they figure out coverage and also how even if you might have a non legal mod, that it may still be covered based on the result of the accident and the discovered cause etc. Very reasonable insurance company, I've had to make 1 claim before with them and its been very cruisy process.
@@marcusrwalker I've also been with club 4x4 for a few years due to there off road insurance features offered, but how they would deliver on a remote insurance claim is still something I've yet to test, world be interested in others real life experience
The moral of the story is......look after your vehicle when going remote. Use common sense, mechanical sympathy and be prepared. Because if there's 1 thing i've learnt in this world, it's that the only person you can count on is YOURSELF.
Good topic Ronnie. I chose Club 4x4, mainly for remote recovery and agreed value (2006 Troopie with upgrades). I just quit them because of the way they skun about 18% of the quote by a panel beater for repairs needed after I had a major roo strike in the SW. $10.5k of damage was assessed by panel beater, but Club 4x4 external DESKTOP assessors said it was only $8.9k. And excess was $650 as well (all insurance corps are re-insured, so payments are not from their bottom line, but their profit margin. Your 'excess' covers their admin costs, and together with the premium, ensures profit, not loss from a claim. The process was messy, and protracted. No-one from Club 4x4 would explain how I was to instruct the panel beater which part of the quote NOT to do. Straighten panels, but no paint? Refit the old bent bullbar? I told Club 4x4 that I'd bag them every opportunity and campfire that I got, as their external assessors cheaping out on the repair authorisation completely destroyed their reputation and marketing spiel. Yet they insisted. SMH Customer Relations...
I subscribed to their email somehow maybe a competition some time and sure their policies read well, but I read their articles about how they assess and when they don’t cover etc and they are more unrealistic than say a generic company. They claim for example they wouldn’t cover the full loss of a vehicle if you accidentally left it unlocked, I get I might contribute to the loss but if you cannot be afforded coverage when you make a mistake or accident then you never will be covered. It said a lot about their cut throat processes and policies. Won’t ever sign up with them but remain subscribed to remind me of their harsh treatment and rules so I keep myself on the right side with my insurer.
Your not the first I have heard of this, in fact I know it's happened from family as well. At the end of the day, the only time they are useful are in remote outback recovery situations and a total loss of a highly modified 4x4 (but there is a better option for that part as well). Unfortunately, I feel that a lot of people don't read this part, or find out about it until it's too late. And, there are alternatives for recovery options in remote areas, even with a damaged vehicle.
Ronny, you are a great salesman. Haha. I just changed over to Club 4x4 insurance. Now I’m covered up to $15000 for off-road recoveries. And I’m also now paying less per month, than my previous Youi policy.
I had water in the fuel in my Prado out in the Hay River trail . I was recovered by Peter Barnes with his animal tilt tray who took me back to Birdsville where the tanks were pulled out and cleaned out . I had road side assistance with NRMA and they paid up $4k no worries . Peter told me that RACQ don’t cover the Simpson .
thanks Ronny. that explains why there are a heap of burnt out shells in the CSR, people probably rip all the bolt ons off and burn it to the ground to make a claim
It's simple math, paying 15k for a recovery for a vehicle that is worth 10k, but has equipment on for 20k...that you will loose in case of a write of and they pay you out the 10k. You strip everything, burn it to the ground, get 10k , keep your equipment, and maybe payed a friend 2 k for the assistance
I can think of very few times that vehicles have been abandoned in the environment and insurance has paid out and left thrm there. I work in the industry
Recently had my paj written off off roading near a town. Was with AAMI and they covered it. Was on a marked track but with no name, and paid for a tractor recovery to come get me out. Not 100% sure about them remotely but for stuff near civilisation they seem alright
i think this is where us here in South Africa are 20 years ahead of our Aussie brethren. We have a few companies offering comprehensive cover which, apart from vehicle recovery, includes airborne technical and medical assistance, accommodation and repatriation if needed, anywhere South of the Equator.
@@joblogstravel3392 Sure, Aus is huge but it is a singular country without the complexities of cross international border assistance. Insurance companies in South Africa take this into account and will provide comprehensive cover, regardless of where you are in (most of) Africa.
Many years ago our 4 x 4 club had a few insurance reps come along for a talk to explain what was and wasn't covered. All of them said that if you had any damage/dents to your vehicle that had not been repaired, or reported to the insurance company, then you most likely wouldn't be covered. They also said if you damaged your vehicle while recovering another vehicle you would not be covered.
I'm with one of the cheapest insurers (Bingle) and have just checked and "any accessory or modification is covered as long as it is legal", any mods or accessories also don't need to be listed, full stop. If the assessor sees it on the car, it's covered. Off-road I also have full cover so long as I am not using my vehicle in "a race, stunt, contest, motorsport event or competition course" including cover for use on private land as long as I have permission of the land-owner, however, I am not covered for any reckless act. If I were to drive in water (any depth), I am also not covered except if by driving in water, it did not cause the claimable damage. If my car wasn't drivable, they will pick up anywhere in Australia. The only 2 drawback are; 1. no choice of repairer and repairs can take a LONG time. I found that out after a little rear end love tap to an Hyundai i30 got me a broken grille and cracked headlight. 2. I'm not covered for nuclear radiation! 🤣🤣
That is an excellent point. I am from Canada and I must say that I do not know. I will contact my insurance company right away. Thank you for making this video!
I have 4 vehicles with AAMI (they are the best) but I too am switching my 4by to Club 4x4 next month just prior to a Fraser Island trip. They will cover a lot that AAMi dont/wont .
I am from South Africa. We basically have 2 companies that do offer offroad insurance (some others as well, but I believe these two are the best). Now, on the points you have raised I would think it will be critical to check with them what is covered. I know the one does actually recover you from remote location (they have a specific vehicle for this). Very interesting video. This will definitely be country specific as well.
tried to get a quote with club 4x4 their market value for my car was so low, even lower then redbook. Only way they would give me a quote was to take photo's of my car and get it specially accessed. Their cover is expensive and very few people go that remote anyway.
Something worth mentioning when talking insurance are the mods the vehicle has on it when it breaks down. I think a lot of people underestimate what you can and can’t do, suspension/lift, tyre size, over GVM , when claiming on your insurance.
basically, dont, go 4x4ing..nothing is covered, if you cant afford to burn the vehicle,,dont,,go 4x4ing..this country is 490 yrs behind the rest of the world for 4x4ing..its classed as a car..not,,a 4x4...fk insurance, not worth the hassle. you want a legal lifted vehicle,,buy an f250 highboy,,cucv chevy, or dodge power wagon..might be old,,but will be around a lot longer than a hilux,navara,isuzu,ect.. i have a h/boy,, 24'' to the sill. std.. 35,s. 5sp. 351clevo.. might cost fuel, but never stops, aint got no sensors to fk up..
I know in the past I have signed a policy that noted the roads I would not be covered on, and damages that would not be covered. Also one policy required every modification down to small details to be listed or I wouldn’t be covered. During these crazy times, I would wonder about insured value vs replacement value, as I have seen many models increase in value.
Rolled the 79 on Frazer late last year and my insurance coved everything...even the tilt tray off the island. All accessories where listed on the policy and replaced if damaged.
@@SirLuisBarrera CGU Insurance....The PDS did not mention anything about off road, water crossings, beach driving and stated it covered the vehicle anywhere in Australia. There was some towing restrictions but all in all they have been good to deal with.
@@kennyknackers6084 Sometimes your buddy Steveo with his tiny little Hilux and a 6 pack of cold ones just aint gonna cut it and you gotta call in the professionals that recover people 100kms deep in remote for a living day in and day out. People help each other out here too in America, but I guess we know when we need a professional or not better than yall to handle a job, eh?
Good topic. Basically you can't get insurance for the worst situations you could end up in. Is up to yourself to have a good knowledge and reliable vehicle before going to places like that. Fortunately most places you go there will be other 4wd to help you if possible.
Wasn't offroad, but was impressed with rac road assistance. Blew engine between Fitzroy and broome, drove to broome and they towed it all covered back to Perth at no cost. Never had insurance on my utes before until a mate asked me to get rac in case. Deffinetly worth it. As for remote Breakdown, I did my diff 100ks out of well 33. Hitch a ride to hedland and came back with hire 4x4 and a solid trailer.. bit time consuming but saved me thousands on towing.
Hi Ronny It would be good to do a video on peoples experiences with this. I would @ least like to have some kind of plan should I find myself & the levels of screwed you have touched on here before I go & put myself into situation that entail those kinds of risks. Of course to do that, the most important thing to acquire is the right knowledge. That is not often an easy thing. Good video!
I'm with Budget Direct at the moment and they cover most offroading activities and mods but they are getting expensive. Club 4x4 quote was $400 a year cheaper and includes $1.5K of recovery costs but read the fine print, water crossing claims incur about a $6K excess. Allianz was the cheapest at $700 per year with agreed value only, no cover for extra mods. I'm still researching so good timing on the vid Ronnie
What a fantastic episode and incredibly informative. Thankfully my car and van are only suitable for the black top. I'm with the RAA for road assistance car and van are insured for any accident on every marked road Australia wide. I spent over an hour with them with all,these scenarios as we are going from S.A to Tas and will be travelling on many types of roads even asking about crossing Bass Strait right down to theft from caravan parks. But this is a huge wake up call to be vigilant and double check everything. Well down sir.
Here in Ontario Canada, from my understanding any public listed road is insured (unless it's a seasonal closure) but beyond that it's "at your own risk". However not all insurance companies will actually cover your vehicle if it's been modified. Some will not cover anything other than manufacturers original design. Others will allow modifications if installed by a professional shop. Others will cover anything as long as it's still "fit for public roads" as long as it's disclosed and some cases with an appraisal. But the general consensus is "do so at your own peril"
I love you Ronnie, but even though my vehicle is insured on AND off road, I'd still almost cry if I totaled it.... Not about money, but all the time invested in getting that vehicle just right!! Trail on brother....
I hydo locked my engine on the Gunbarrel hwy on a club run I couldn't drive so we flat towed it to Carnegie station. Insurance said it would cost $8000 to recover the vehicle. So I went back with a car trailer to recover myself. The Insurance did cover the cost for a replacement engine.
Hi Ronnie, Insurance is a contract in which you transfer the risk to the insurer. The underwriter determines the scope and extent of cover for your general circumstances. The insured MUST provide full disclosure before accepting the policy. If your doing something that is outside the PDS talk to the insurer first. They will speak to the underwriter and get a waver if it’s something “Risk” the insurer is prepared to cover . It’s noted in your policy. Some of the insurers specialise in certain categories or Risk.
As a ex insurance assessor, definitely read the pds for all noted points and others people think they are covered for but aren’t. It can also be used to your benefit “show me where it says I’m not covered in the pds as I was using a 4wd for its intended purpose as a off road capable vehicle” and always be honest as it’s easily denied for lying/ not being honest and truthful, if you ran out of talent just admit it
I've had a few claims over the years - for fourbies, yachts, sailboards, cameras etc. The insurance company has often tried to deny liability, but when i ask them to show me in the PDS that it's not covered, they've always paid up.
Whilst club 4x4s insurance and roadside assist is aimed at off-road recovery, the last 2 times We have need to use their services In accordance with our policy they haven't been able to organise a tow truck within ONE HOUR of Sydney CBD.
It's definitely worth research before the event, this crossed my mind while I was digging my new RAM 2500 + 100k mods out of a beach in the tidal zone in the middle of nowhere. I'm guessing insurance would have wiggled out of that one if it drowned. That experience really made me sharpen up about exactly what and where I'm covered....
Will have to double check with mine, but i called shanons after some big floods over east (im in w.a) and ask all kinds of questions if im on a beach, powerlines etc....im covered but the recovery bit on the CSR is one i didnt ask 🤔
Excellent vid Ronny. Lots of food for thought. I'm with club 4x4 as I found they covered me for a lot of the points you brought up, however I will be checking on my accessory cover. Thanks again 👍
Im with them as well and last time im updated mine i had to provide a mod list that bumped my pay out from like 50k to 98k. Definitely worth while doing it mate
My insurance company has been great, don't want to think about remote recoveries, I don't do super remote but want to, my claims have been for animals strikes and windscreens, without a bull bar my car would have been written off twice, nearly 10 grand damage combined from 2 big strikes with roos, one smaller one I hit went under the Hilux and didn't need me to claim anything, otherwise just the $500 agreed excess. windscreen replacement is free once a year. ANZ which use QBE. Remote touring is for the deep pocketed.
Even with RAC breakdown cover, you have to get your vehicle to where a 2wd can reach it. When I was a real newbie I rolled a tyre off the rim at low pressure and couldn't get the wheel off - never heard of left hand threads 😆 Had to get it to a road to get RAC assist to show me how much I didn't know.
they will also not recover a vehicle over 3.5T i found out when i asked about the land rover 6X6 i have it has a GVM 0f 6000kg and comes in at 3300kg unloaded they said i would need commercial insurance but the commercial insurance side said that it didn't qualify as it wasn't a commercial vehicle so i went elsewhere
I was shocked when shannon’s told me my 80 series with 2” lift and usual mods was “extremely modified” and only covered if it was in my garage they explained if I was packed ready for camping and left it in the driveway it was not covered nor would it be covered if I stayed at a friends house and didn’t park it in their garage!
Well, I highly doubt they are going to recover it, or send an assessment team out to the middle of the CSR to check for foul play on a vehicle fire. BUT, after this video, you never know. 😆
If you have owned a vehicle for a while its easy to end up under insured. I was insured for the price I paid for my truck. However now, 4 years down the track, Ive doubled its replacement cost with accessories. Itemising the accessories and getting my cover increased only took a couple of days to organise.
On my Shannons cover...... YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES • take steps to prevent damage or theft, for example: - move your vehicle away from rising waters including tides; - do not drive into water;
Landcruiser Mountain Park sadly doesn't exist anymore. The Perrett's sold it to a couple who turned it into a camping retreat, after re-acquiring it from the people who thought crofting was an intelligent thing in Australia.
Yeah I never really thought of insurance coverage in National Parks, state forests, beaches, fire trails etc. It would be good to get 3rd party off-road specific insurance that attaches on top of a normal comprehensive car insurance policy. Realistically, I think it’s best to buy a project 4WD, kit it out and be prepared for the fact that if you take it on a trail you are only probably half covered.
Good point well done a lot of marine insurance policy state you are not covered in areas marked on charts as unsurvayed . Best rule of thumb if in doubt they will fight it out in court. Have you got a legal team on retainers. They have
Hi Ronny, First of all I am really happy and great full that you have done this video well done and GOD BLESS YOU 😊. I know as you stated that you can’t give insurance advice but is there anyway way you could inform me of the top 3 4X4 insurance companies in your opinion. Much appreciated and keep up the awesome content and I have enjoyed following you for many many years and look forward to seeing more content many years to come. Cheers… 👍👏🤗😊
I have personally got into a big pickle offroad. And the laws state that if you are driving on a road or track that requires your vehicle to be registered. You are covered. Some may try and argue this but cannot reject a claim because of it.
yeh good topic - expensive either way - if your going to do extreme 4wding then it makes sense to get an older vehicle and mod it so if it does get totaled somewhere just grab the mods and numberplate off it and leave it there.
Good content Ronnie. Would have loved to see you mention the condition of the vehicle in regards to Roadworthy condition however. Could be an interesting follow on vid or some extra content. Keep up the good work
Other option is to insure for 3rd party and just deal with what happens. The money you save should hopefully cover any accidents or damage. (Roo damage or offroad whoops) Rely on other road users insurance incase they hit you. Moral of this is, company's will weasel their way out of everything they can.
That is my feeling too, I am hearing similar fuckery with funeral plans. I have heard it suggested to open a saving account that is just for such emergencies, but it requires that your discipline & consistent with it
@@leonkane8240 insurance is quite expensive so even 1000 bucks a year over the time i've owned my car. I could probably buy another one. It'd also be a shame to have top cover and all mods at an agreed value which would be expensive as! For some that have high end 4x4's Only to find that the insurance found a loop hole in your contract.
Club 4x4, they have remote recovery option, yes it costs more. From memory so please check but it's to recover you from the desert, pretty sure they have 2 amounts you could option up to for the recovery (15k or 30k), definately worth talking to them if you do remote travel. I have my insurance with them but not needed to test it yet. Think you get a discount if you have had 4wd training too Call them yourself and check out the options
mate of mine rolled his 4wd and got stuck on the side of a mountain in central france, i live about a 6 hour drive away and the 3 hours of tough offroading ( in europe this is considered pretty far for most people )me and a mate got into our 4wds as soon as we heard to go get him out. took us a total of 3 days to get him back home. but nothing was covered by his insurance. not even a tow from a normal road because it happend offroad🥴
Looking at the why ? of your video clip. Why have you broken down? Is your vehicle reliable and roadworthy? Why were you driving off road? Were you driving according to conditions? Were you driving within the vehicles capability? Do you carry a remote GPS emergency device? Were you intoxicated? What modifications have you made to your vehicle? Why are you traveling alone. If you have broken or has an accident down it’s likely you will be talking to the Police who also have scope for rescue in some remote circumstances Instead of focusing on the obvious provide some preventative advice. You have the experience. Use it!
It's the same here in south africa , many insurance companies want cover your 4x4 if its the drivers fault going off road 😒 , there in only one that will cover you from bumber to bumbe ( don't know if I can mention the name but im with them since 2002 ),, or the next best thing is to take care of your vehicle and go slow 😉 Greetings from south africa 👌 🇿🇦 😀
I’m picking up what you’re putting down Ronny, ya legend. If your car is remotely fucked but not on fire, burn it to the ground as that’s the only way to get a payout. The best way to do this is to clear brush from the immediate area, and also setup a camera so you can slowmo walk towards the camera while she explodes. Solid clout edit for a select few. 🥃
Interesting topic! I've been in the industry for more than a decade in the states. Personal policies build in risk for off-road capable vehicles here giving certain stipulations on personal policies and allow for agreed value for bolt on accessories. I'm wondering if there are complimentary policies that cover off-road/remote driving only? Here, or there. You're on point with this vid! Thanks Ronny!
our laws here,,class a 4x4 as a car.. for any non std mod, it will be engineered,3.5k, per time.. i have a 75 highboy..no worries..basic, goes anywhere, cheap to fix..4w disc, 5sp. 351c. cut to swb..h/p d44 front locker, d60 rear lsd..1356 transfer..35,s range rover p/s. 2 in cab tanks, 170 lt.. 4x4ing here is bs.. i watch petersons 4x4 adventures, dirt everyday, others.. if,i dont ask a person, if they would like me to help,,im liable for damages...were allowed, 3/4'' tires, 2'' body OR susp lift..ONLY , LEGALLY.. i have an 82 bronco sas, 5sp zf, 8'' lift. 62 f100 4x4,FE..352.. 2002 s/duty 4.2tdi,mwm sprint,,you never got them..built in brazil..german mercedes engine, no computer, mine has 700nm..235 hp.. fk em..
Great practical subject Ronny and definitely a can of worms but in a good way mate - one aspect to this subject is that no one has mentioned is insurance to cover/include camper conversions - eg troopy fit outs, roof-top tents etc. I'm halfway through doing a fit out (with no RTT) and came to realize that I should increase my current policy to cover the increased value. my current agreed value for my 94 Troopy was already well under practical replacement value if there was an incident resulting in a write off so after a number of calls to ins co including my current issuer the result was most didn't want to know about this type of coverage and all that they would cover was the actual vehicle and some common accessories such as winch driving lights etc. A couple said they would provide cover but had some requirements to fit items such as Sat tracking/GPS locator and relevant smoke & gas alarms. So I would be interested to hear if anyone has had similar experiences and also what sort of classification does this fall into - is it a modification to the actual vehicle or is it an accessory, how has it been listed in their policy or disclosed to the insurer and did it alter the premium ????? Cheers
I went with Club 4x4 as they specifically cover you for off road albeit under certain circumstances & situations and they were happy to cover the replacement cost of the actual bolted in custom fit out as well as common accessories. One thing they don't cover (but no one else does either) is any water damage be it from a dedicated river or creek crossing like a causeway or an actual off road crossing. They also allow you to increase the cover for a particular trip then drop it back when you get home, which was a great extra. Don't get me wrong - they're not perfect but I felt they were a lot better than most others. Have a look at their PDS it is pretty clear what they cover and don't cover. Cheers
Not off-road story or insurance but related. Did a trip from Sydney to Broken Hill. When I got there, found my lower shock mount broken. Liaised with NRMA and they were good but provided upto $3000 or $3500 cover (this was maybe 15 yrs ago) so I negotiated with the towy and got my car towed the 1200ks back to Sydney for free.
@@itchyslothballs I can see some epic artistry went into the creation of your user name itchy, nice work. Leon Kane does not give anyone a "handy" not even himself.
Nice ad for club 4x4, they look good until You go to use them, and the fact they want invoices for vehicles and photos etc. I just use a commercial insurance broker and let them sort it out. Covered auswide provided I’m allowed there legally. Easy done and way cheaper then club 4x4
it is not hard to figure out, a bit of google and research you will quickly find out but I mean many people here have made which choice is the best choice clear.
We have said it for years, if you want to do serious 4wding you need to be with the appropriate insurer. Club 4x4 is really the only choice. You end up with the most appropriate cover. Yes it costs more, but if you want to play you gotta pay!
Comprehensive video, I like it. "im the captain now" haha love it.. what about GVM, will an insurance company weigh your written off or crashed vehicle? Can they add up the weight of your accessories from product spec sheets and deem your car overweight? We see 100's if not 1000's of overweight vehicles and it doesn't seem to be that high on peoples agenda! #DPF
im with club 4X4 insured for river crossing accessories will recover vehicle can update policy if doing big trip then reduce when finished 2000 dollars for stolen camping gear and half the price of nrma
Hmm.. So our 4wd is covered by RAC in WA.. now im curious to know what we are really covered for.. I have listed our accessories/mods but i have no idea whether actually going offroad is covered. I guess mentioning to them you actually go offroad = the premium skyrocketing
Hey Ronny, I know you can’t say anything but I’m insured with club 4x4. Maybe you could leave me a little like on the comment if you know someone that’s done some research and said research has alluded to club 4x4 maybe being the best 🤷🏻♂️
Hey Daniel, yes, I found that Club 4x4 was the only one to cover the cost of outback towing. But make sure your vehicle is towed to the nearest repairer to your situation, so you are completely covered. This was what I was told after calling them. Cheers.
A unsurfaced road which is marked as a normal road, street, cres ect is classed as a normal road Unmarked tracks and beaches are classed as offroad and if damage or accident is done requires a special insurance or your not covered at all and would be liable for all costs. Much like racing if you go to the track in your car its not covered unless you pay for Special Track\drag insurances for the car and be willing to pay out the nose for it if you want full coverage as normal will only be for third party and property even then
So what your really saying is if you break down burn it. If go remote take plenty of matches or lighters not just for cooking but more so for safety insurance reasons 😂😂 Very interesting and informative
$600 per year for 8-9k with NRMA (reduces my other policies with multi-policy discount too so reduced further. Or 2.5-3k per year with Club 4x4, regardless of if I insure 15k or 25k. I'd say say something might be wrong if there's no change in premium on total loss payout (works well on the high end I guess).
The long and short is that most companies will insure you for accident damage from anywhere you are legally allowed to be but they won't tow your car if it's too far off a 2wd road. They won't insure you for mechanical breakdown anywhere nor recover you from anywhere off the beaten track. Club 4x4 will reimburse you up to $15k in recovery costs if you take the option but you have to pay it up front and give them the receipt. They don't arrange it for you either.
I recently (May, 2022) needed rescuing from a roll over in the Victorian High Country. The tow company I called out to me dealt directly with Club 4x4 for reimbursement. I didn’t have to shell out a cent from my own pocket.
@@78Bonne They must have changed with the times. I was with them early on, after the general manager gave a talk at our 4wd club meeting. He explained their policies to us at the time and the cost was ok to begin with but the renewal sky rocketted so I went elsewhere. I never had to claim through them. Cheers.
I was surprised to discover the RAC Royal Automobile Club has a distance limit for roadside assist, even on sealed roads and highways. Drivers need to look at whether their trailer is insured when connected to the vehicle, and when parked disconnected, say in a camping park? Does locking the tow connection alter the insurance protection? Is the trailer insured if the trailer connection breaks or disconnects due to driver error when connecting? Are the trailer contents covered? If one puts a canoe or surfboard on the trailer does it become a boat trailer? Does that invalidate the trailer insurance? Do the contents carried in the trailer (or vehicle) invalidate the insurance, things like fuel in a chainsaw, fuel in a dirt bike or bottled gas? Does a canopy on the trailer and a bedroll or mattress inside make the trailer a caravan by law? Insurance policies are designed to define and limit liability, by legal experts. They policies ultimately may be interpreted and defined by a court of law. C'est la vie, Such is life.👍
Club 4x4 all the way! 👍 When I drove my Suzuki Sierra around the country for many years, I just had standard insurance (but should have read the PDS!). Servicing, tuning, having a trustworthy vehicle and mechanic, and driving sensibly within your capabilities, whilst looking after your vehicle also helps. Great topic!
Yeah have been with Club4x4 since 2018 and frankly, in the start they where more expensive than say YOUI and I think I had RACV and CGU at one point, but as the years have rolled by Club4x4 has become somewhat reasonably competitive with basic equivalent options, but once you start adding on say increaseidng the default 1.5k off road recovery to 15k off road recovery or something and adding in extras such as $10k mods and $10k in vehicle upgrades the price gets on, but at the end of the day the premium is very reasonable and they are very clear about how they figure out coverage and also how even if you might have a non legal mod, that it may still be covered based on the result of the accident and the discovered cause etc. Very reasonable insurance company, I've had to make 1 claim before with them and its been very cruisy process.
@@AllTerrainAction Thanks All Terrain Action for sharing, that's good to know. Cheers Brendan 👍
Club 4x4 also covers all your mods which is awesome, and they are not that bad on price to be honest.
@@marcusrwalker I've also been with club 4x4 for a few years due to there off road insurance features offered, but how they would deliver on a remote insurance claim is still something I've yet to test, world be interested in others real life experience
Thanks for your kind words and support! Happy to have you on board :)
The moral of the story is......look after your vehicle when going remote. Use common sense, mechanical sympathy and be prepared. Because if there's 1 thing i've learnt in this world, it's that the only person you can count on is YOURSELF.
Cant agree more. Unfortunately though, common sense, isn't common these days. At all. In fact, its an endangered species
@@TheDizzymarskell you’re not wrong there mate. But I still have hope for humanity….somehow.
and burn your car to the ground if it isn't able to be recovered lol
But remember, make it look like an accident. 😆
You can count on ME!!! But I'm on a different continent.
Good topic Ronnie. I chose Club 4x4, mainly for remote recovery and agreed value (2006 Troopie with upgrades). I just quit them because of the way they skun about 18% of the quote by a panel beater for repairs needed after I had a major roo strike in the SW. $10.5k of damage was assessed by panel beater, but Club 4x4 external DESKTOP assessors said it was only $8.9k. And excess was $650 as well (all insurance corps are re-insured, so payments are not from their bottom line, but their profit margin. Your 'excess' covers their admin costs, and together with the premium, ensures profit, not loss from a claim. The process was messy, and protracted. No-one from Club 4x4 would explain how I was to instruct the panel beater which part of the quote NOT to do. Straighten panels, but no paint? Refit the old bent bullbar? I told Club 4x4 that I'd bag them every opportunity and campfire that I got, as their external assessors cheaping out on the repair authorisation completely destroyed their reputation and marketing spiel. Yet they insisted. SMH Customer Relations...
I subscribed to their email somehow maybe a competition some time and sure their policies read well, but I read their articles about how they assess and when they don’t cover etc and they are more unrealistic than say a generic company. They claim for example they wouldn’t cover the full loss of a vehicle if you accidentally left it unlocked, I get I might contribute to the loss but if you cannot be afforded coverage when you make a mistake or accident then you never will be covered. It said a lot about their cut throat processes and policies. Won’t ever sign up with them but remain subscribed to remind me of their harsh treatment and rules so I keep myself on the right side with my insurer.
Your not the first I have heard of this, in fact I know it's happened from family as well.
At the end of the day, the only time they are useful are in remote outback recovery situations and a total loss of a highly modified 4x4 (but there is a better option for that part as well).
Unfortunately, I feel that a lot of people don't read this part, or find out about it until it's too late.
And, there are alternatives for recovery options in remote areas, even with a damaged vehicle.
@@worthy_escapes What alternatives are you eluding to?
@@worthy_escapes I too would love to know what the better option is?
@@leonkane8240 leave your ship in the harbor where it is safe. don't take it out.
Ronny, you are a great salesman. Haha. I just changed over to Club 4x4 insurance. Now I’m covered up to $15000 for off-road recoveries. And I’m also now paying less per month, than my previous Youi policy.
Happy to have you on board Mikos!
I had water in the fuel in my Prado out in the Hay River trail . I was recovered by Peter Barnes with his animal tilt tray who took me back to Birdsville where the tanks were pulled out and cleaned out . I had road side assistance with NRMA and they paid up $4k no worries . Peter told me that RACQ don’t cover the Simpson .
thanks Ronny. that explains why there are a heap of burnt out shells in the CSR, people probably rip all the bolt ons off and burn it to the ground to make a claim
It's simple math, paying 15k for a recovery for a vehicle that is worth 10k, but has equipment on for 20k...that you will loose in case of a write of and they pay you out the 10k.
You strip everything, burn it to the ground, get 10k , keep your equipment, and maybe payed a friend 2 k for the assistance
@@mammutMK2 you would still have to recover the shell for the claim to be processed no body no money pretty much
I can think of very few times that vehicles have been abandoned in the environment and insurance has paid out and left thrm there.
I work in the industry
Recently had my paj written off off roading near a town. Was with AAMI and they covered it. Was on a marked track but with no name, and paid for a tractor recovery to come get me out. Not 100% sure about them remotely but for stuff near civilisation they seem alright
im not austrailian but it sounds like if you stuff it up bad enough to need a tow out, light it on fire.
Check the PDS, I wouldn't be surprised if they would still want it in their workshop!
@@markdaniels9507 or atleast where a 2wd can access the vehicle.
i think this is where us here in South Africa are 20 years ahead of our Aussie brethren. We have a few companies offering comprehensive cover which, apart from vehicle recovery, includes airborne technical and medical assistance, accommodation and repatriation if needed, anywhere South of the Equator.
Our biggest problem here in Oz is the vastness of the land with no road and no people.
@@joblogstravel3392 Sure, Aus is huge but it is a singular country without the complexities of cross international border assistance. Insurance companies in South Africa take this into account and will provide comprehensive cover, regardless of where you are in (most of) Africa.
Many years ago our 4 x 4 club had a few insurance reps come along for a talk to explain what was and wasn't covered. All of them said that if you had any damage/dents to your vehicle that had not been repaired, or reported to the insurance company, then you most likely wouldn't be covered. They also said if you damaged your vehicle while recovering another vehicle you would not be covered.
I'm with one of the cheapest insurers (Bingle) and have just checked and "any accessory or modification is covered as long as it is legal", any mods or accessories also don't need to be listed, full stop. If the assessor sees it on the car, it's covered.
Off-road I also have full cover so long as I am not using my vehicle in "a race, stunt, contest, motorsport event or competition course" including cover for use on private land as long as I have permission of the land-owner, however, I am not covered for any reckless act.
If I were to drive in water (any depth), I am also not covered except if by driving in water, it did not cause the claimable damage.
If my car wasn't drivable, they will pick up anywhere in Australia.
The only 2 drawback are;
1. no choice of repairer and repairs can take a LONG time. I found that out after a little rear end love tap to an Hyundai i30 got me a broken grille and cracked headlight.
2. I'm not covered for nuclear radiation! 🤣🤣
That is an excellent point. I am from Canada and I must say that I do not know. I will contact my insurance company right away. Thank you for making this video!
I cancelled my AAMI policy and went Club 4x4 10 minutes after watching this.
The price was the same lol.
Haha, same here.
I have 4 vehicles with AAMI (they are the best) but I too am switching my 4by to Club 4x4 next month just prior to a Fraser Island trip. They will cover a lot that AAMi dont/wont .
Glad we could help and happy to have you on board! :)
I am from South Africa. We basically have 2 companies that do offer offroad insurance (some others as well, but I believe these two are the best). Now, on the points you have raised I would think it will be critical to check with them what is covered. I know the one does actually recover you from remote location (they have a specific vehicle for this). Very interesting video. This will definitely be country specific as well.
tried to get a quote with club 4x4 their market value for my car was so low, even lower then redbook. Only way they would give me a quote was to take photo's of my car and get it specially accessed. Their cover is expensive and very few people go that remote anyway.
Something worth mentioning when talking insurance are the mods the vehicle has on it when it breaks down. I think a lot of people underestimate what you can and can’t do, suspension/lift, tyre size, over GVM , when claiming on your insurance.
basically, dont, go 4x4ing..nothing is covered, if you cant afford to burn the vehicle,,dont,,go 4x4ing..this country is 490 yrs behind the rest of the world for 4x4ing..its classed as a car..not,,a 4x4...fk insurance, not worth the hassle. you want a legal lifted vehicle,,buy an f250 highboy,,cucv chevy, or dodge power wagon..might be old,,but will be around a lot longer than a hilux,navara,isuzu,ect.. i have a h/boy,, 24'' to the sill. std.. 35,s. 5sp. 351clevo.. might cost fuel, but never stops, aint got no sensors to fk up..
I know in the past I have signed a policy that noted the roads I would not be covered on, and damages that would not be covered. Also one policy required every modification down to small details to be listed or I wouldn’t be covered.
During these crazy times, I would wonder about insured value vs replacement value, as I have seen many models increase in value.
Also all insurance company not cover vehicle accident by mechanical and electrical issues
That is very important things to understand
Rolled the 79 on Frazer late last year and my insurance coved everything...even the tilt tray off the island. All accessories where listed on the policy and replaced if damaged.
Might help everyone, if you mentioned your insurance company 🤗👍
what insurer?
@@SirLuisBarrera CGU Insurance....The PDS did not mention anything about off road, water crossings, beach driving and stated it covered the vehicle anywhere in Australia. There was some towing restrictions but all in all they have been good to deal with.
If you can’t get towing in remote outback Australia. Just call Matt’s off-road recovery👍🏼
Love that show but in Australia other people just help each other out !
He'll get em out
@@kennyknackers6084 Sometimes your buddy Steveo with his tiny little Hilux and a 6 pack of cold ones just aint gonna cut it and you gotta call in the professionals that recover people 100kms deep in remote for a living day in and day out. People help each other out here too in America, but I guess we know when we need a professional or not better than yall to handle a job, eh?
@@KiyaWarrior nice story, except the last bit sometimes I wonder!
*Does Matt have an Aussie Cousin eh?* 🤣
Good topic. Basically you can't get insurance for the worst situations you could end up in. Is up to yourself to have a good knowledge and reliable vehicle before going to places like that. Fortunately most places you go there will be other 4wd to help you if possible.
Wasn't offroad, but was impressed with rac road assistance. Blew engine between Fitzroy and broome, drove to broome and they towed it all covered back to Perth at no cost.
Never had insurance on my utes before until a mate asked me to get rac in case. Deffinetly worth it.
As for remote Breakdown, I did my diff 100ks out of well 33. Hitch a ride to hedland and came back with hire 4x4 and a solid trailer.. bit time consuming but saved me thousands on towing.
Thank you for doing this! Love your down to earth, open and honest approach to your content
Hi Roony, do you have a sheet of the questions you asked the insurance companies so we can ask the questions as well?
CGU cover me anywhere in Australia except 4wd parks or Competitions. Happy with that.
Hi Ronny
It would be good to do a video on peoples experiences with this. I would @ least like to have some kind of plan should I find myself & the levels of screwed you have touched on here before I go & put myself into situation that entail those kinds of risks.
Of course to do that, the most important thing to acquire is the right knowledge. That is not often an easy thing.
Good video!
I'm with Budget Direct at the moment and they cover most offroading activities and mods but they are getting expensive. Club 4x4 quote was $400 a year cheaper and includes $1.5K of recovery costs but read the fine print, water crossing claims incur about a $6K excess. Allianz was the cheapest at $700 per year with agreed value only, no cover for extra mods. I'm still researching so good timing on the vid Ronnie
just make the agreed value high enough to cover the mods
What a fantastic episode and incredibly informative. Thankfully my car and van are only suitable for the black top. I'm with the RAA for road assistance car and van are insured for any accident on every marked road Australia wide. I spent over an hour with them with all,these scenarios as we are going from S.A to Tas and will be travelling on many types of roads even asking about crossing Bass Strait right down to theft from caravan parks. But this is a huge wake up call to be vigilant and double check everything. Well down sir.
Here in Ontario Canada, from my understanding any public listed road is insured (unless it's a seasonal closure) but beyond that it's "at your own risk". However not all insurance companies will actually cover your vehicle if it's been modified. Some will not cover anything other than manufacturers original design. Others will allow modifications if installed by a professional shop. Others will cover anything as long as it's still "fit for public roads" as long as it's disclosed and some cases with an appraisal. But the general consensus is "do so at your own peril"
I love you Ronnie, but even though my vehicle is insured on AND off road, I'd still almost cry if I totaled it.... Not about money, but all the time invested in getting that vehicle just right!! Trail on brother....
I hydo locked my engine on the Gunbarrel hwy on a club run I couldn't drive so we flat towed it to Carnegie station.
Insurance said it would cost $8000 to recover the vehicle.
So I went back with a car trailer to recover myself.
The Insurance did cover the cost for a replacement engine.
Was insured with club 4x4 $2300 a year just changed to Shannon’s $895 a year $120k agreed value
Would love to see that paperwork
@@things_I_saw sure. Want me to email it to you ?
Hi Ronnie,
Insurance is a contract in which you transfer the risk to the insurer. The underwriter determines the scope and extent of cover for your general circumstances. The insured MUST provide full disclosure before accepting the policy.
If your doing something that is outside the PDS talk to the insurer first. They will speak to the underwriter and get a waver if it’s something “Risk” the insurer is prepared to cover . It’s noted in your policy. Some of the insurers specialise in certain categories or Risk.
As a ex insurance assessor, definitely read the pds for all noted points and others people think they are covered for but aren’t. It can also be used to your benefit “show me where it says I’m not covered in the pds as I was using a 4wd for its intended purpose as a off road capable vehicle” and always be honest as it’s easily denied for lying/ not being honest and truthful, if you ran out of talent just admit it
your covered for the damage to your vehicle, not covered for the recovery.
I've had a few claims over the years - for fourbies, yachts, sailboards, cameras etc. The insurance company has often tried to deny liability, but when i ask them to show me in the PDS that it's not covered, they've always paid up.
Whilst club 4x4s insurance and roadside assist is aimed at off-road recovery, the last 2 times We have need to use their services In accordance with our policy they haven't been able to organise a tow truck within ONE HOUR of Sydney CBD.
Nice to see "Overland Lady" making a cameo.
It's definitely worth research before the event, this crossed my mind while I was digging my new RAM 2500 + 100k mods out of a beach in the tidal zone in the middle of nowhere. I'm guessing insurance would have wiggled out of that one if it drowned. That experience really made me sharpen up about exactly what and where I'm covered....
Will have to double check with mine, but i called shanons after some big floods over east (im in w.a) and ask all kinds of questions if im on a beach, powerlines etc....im covered but the recovery bit on the CSR is one i didnt ask 🤔
Excellent vid Ronny.
Lots of food for thought.
I'm with club 4x4 as I found they covered me for a lot of the points you brought up, however I will be checking on my accessory cover.
Thanks again 👍
Im with them as well and last time im updated mine i had to provide a mod list that bumped my pay out from like 50k to 98k. Definitely worth while doing it mate
Great discussion, Ronny! Time to ring my insurer…
My insurance company has been great, don't want to think about remote recoveries, I don't do super remote but want to, my claims have been for animals strikes and windscreens, without a bull bar my car would have been written off twice, nearly 10 grand damage combined from 2 big strikes with roos, one smaller one I hit went under the Hilux and didn't need me to claim anything, otherwise just the $500 agreed excess. windscreen replacement is free once a year. ANZ which use QBE. Remote touring is for the deep pocketed.
Even with RAC breakdown cover, you have to get your vehicle to where a 2wd can reach it. When I was a real newbie I rolled a tyre off the rim at low pressure and couldn't get the wheel off - never heard of left hand threads 😆 Had to get it to a road to get RAC assist to show me how much I didn't know.
they will also not recover a vehicle over 3.5T i found out when i asked about the land rover 6X6 i have it has a GVM 0f 6000kg and comes in at 3300kg unloaded they said i would need commercial insurance but the commercial insurance side said that it didn't qualify as it wasn't a commercial vehicle so i went elsewhere
@@peterg1448 Hmmm, odd we have had out Coaster
Great video that I imagine has made a lot of people (inc myself) think about their insurance.
I was shocked when shannon’s told me my 80 series with 2” lift and usual mods was “extremely modified” and only covered if it was in my garage they explained if I was packed ready for camping and left it in the driveway it was not covered nor would it be covered if I stayed at a friends house and didn’t park it in their garage!
Great and informative video Ronny. It certainly gives me a few things to think about.
I wonder how many people have just modded their car with a box of matches.
Well, I highly doubt they are going to recover it, or send an assessment team out to the middle of the CSR to check for foul play on a vehicle fire. BUT, after this video, you never know. 😆
If you have owned a vehicle for a while its easy to end up under insured. I was insured for the price I paid for my truck. However now, 4 years down the track, Ive doubled its replacement cost with accessories.
Itemising the accessories and getting my cover increased only took a couple of days to organise.
Who with?
@@Holodomor4.0 Club 4x4 now.
On my Shannons cover...... YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
• take steps to prevent damage or theft, for example:
- move your vehicle away from rising waters including tides;
- do not drive into water;
Thats more then they told me.
As a fan of that kinda vehicle i love that all tge way over in ozz a man gl kat1 truck is working recovery
If you buy extra road side assistance it's the same deal. 100km tow max from any town with Platinum level.
Landcruiser Mountain Park sadly doesn't exist anymore. The Perrett's sold it to a couple who turned it into a camping retreat, after re-acquiring it from the people who thought crofting was an intelligent thing in Australia.
LoL! love the hint Ronny.. *cough* burnittotheground *cough*
Yeah I never really thought of insurance coverage in National Parks, state forests, beaches, fire trails etc.
It would be good to get 3rd party off-road specific insurance that attaches on top of a normal comprehensive car insurance policy.
Realistically, I think it’s best to buy a project 4WD, kit it out and be prepared for the fact that if you take it on a trail you are only probably half covered.
Good point well done a lot of marine insurance policy state you are not covered in areas marked on charts as unsurvayed . Best rule of thumb if in doubt they will fight it out in court. Have you got a legal team on retainers. They have
Club 4x4 is the company he's talking about... only insurance company that's worth using for serious 4wd...
Hi Ronny,
First of all I am really happy and great full that you have done this video well done and GOD BLESS YOU 😊.
I know as you stated that you can’t give insurance advice but is there anyway way you could inform me of the top 3 4X4 insurance companies in your opinion.
Much appreciated and keep up the awesome content and I have enjoyed following you for many many years and look forward to seeing more content many years to come.
Cheers…
👍👏🤗😊
I have personally got into a big pickle offroad. And the laws state that if you are driving on a road or track that requires your vehicle to be registered. You are covered. Some may try and argue this but cannot reject a claim because of it.
Hey Ronny , how about comprehensive club 4x4 insurance ~ ????/ for onroad and offroad !
yeh good topic - expensive either way - if your going to do extreme 4wding then it makes sense to get an older vehicle and mod it so if it does get totaled somewhere just grab the mods and numberplate off it and leave it there.
Good content Ronnie. Would have loved to see you mention the condition of the vehicle in regards to Roadworthy condition however. Could be an interesting follow on vid or some extra content. Keep up the good work
A insurance company paid for a 4WD towing rig and a tilt tray once it was near main road. Remote accident. No cost
Other option is to insure for 3rd party and just deal with what happens.
The money you save should hopefully cover any accidents or damage. (Roo damage or offroad whoops)
Rely on other road users insurance incase they hit you.
Moral of this is, company's will weasel their way out of everything they can.
That is my feeling too, I am hearing similar fuckery with funeral plans. I have heard it suggested to open a saving account that is just for such emergencies, but it requires that your discipline & consistent with it
@@leonkane8240 insurance is quite expensive so even 1000 bucks a year over the time i've owned my car. I could probably buy another one.
It'd also be a shame to have top cover and all mods at an agreed value which would be expensive as! For some that have high end 4x4's
Only to find that the insurance found a loop hole in your contract.
@@jamieandrews3238 You hear it all the time insurance companies loop holing out of stuff, they are a bit like casinos in this respect
Most off road vehicles around me are $80k - $120k. That's a lot of self insurance.
I'm with Shannon's.... I can never get club 4x4 to pick up the phone
Also never mod beyond legal. They will use any excuse to get out of a payout
Excellent information on an important topic, thank you.
Club 4x4, they have remote recovery option, yes it costs more. From memory so please check but it's to recover you from the desert, pretty sure they have 2 amounts you could option up to for the recovery (15k or 30k), definately worth talking to them if you do remote travel. I have my insurance with them but not needed to test it yet.
Think you get a discount if you have had 4wd training too
Call them yourself and check out the options
Minimum or base with them is $2500, well it was when i looked
Bloody good vid mate. Been with club4x4 for several years after realising most of what you just mentioned!
mate of mine rolled his 4wd and got stuck on the side of a mountain in central france, i live about a 6 hour drive away and the 3 hours of tough offroading ( in europe this is considered pretty far for most people )me and a mate got into our 4wds as soon as we heard to go get him out. took us a total of 3 days to get him back home.
but nothing was covered by his insurance.
not even a tow from a normal road because it happend offroad🥴
Looking at the why ? of your video clip.
Why have you broken down? Is your vehicle reliable and roadworthy? Why were you driving off road? Were you driving according to conditions? Were you driving within the vehicles capability? Do you carry a remote GPS emergency device?
Were you intoxicated? What modifications have you made to your vehicle? Why are you traveling alone.
If you have broken or has an accident down it’s likely you will be talking to the Police who also have scope for rescue in some remote circumstances
Instead of focusing on the obvious provide some preventative advice. You have the experience. Use it!
Hey Ronny unfortunately with the remote travel if your vehicle burns to the ground it still is required to be recovered fir salvage unfortunately
It's the same here in south africa , many insurance companies want cover your 4x4 if its the drivers fault going off road 😒 , there in only one that will cover you from bumber to bumbe ( don't know if I can mention the name but im with them since 2002 ),, or the next best thing is to take care of your vehicle and go slow 😉
Greetings from south africa 👌 🇿🇦 😀
Fellow Saffer ..Yes you may mention the name.
I’m picking up what you’re putting down Ronny, ya legend. If your car is remotely fucked but not on fire, burn it to the ground as that’s the only way to get a payout. The best way to do this is to clear brush from the immediate area, and also setup a camera so you can slowmo walk towards the camera while she explodes. Solid clout edit for a select few.
🥃
Interesting topic! I've been in the industry for more than a decade in the states. Personal policies build in risk for off-road capable vehicles here giving certain stipulations on personal policies and allow for agreed value for bolt on accessories. I'm wondering if there are complimentary policies that cover off-road/remote driving only? Here, or there.
You're on point with this vid!
Thanks Ronny!
our laws here,,class a 4x4 as a car.. for any non std mod, it will be engineered,3.5k, per time.. i have a 75 highboy..no worries..basic, goes anywhere, cheap to fix..4w disc, 5sp. 351c. cut to swb..h/p d44 front locker, d60 rear lsd..1356 transfer..35,s range rover p/s. 2 in cab tanks, 170 lt.. 4x4ing here is bs.. i watch petersons 4x4 adventures, dirt everyday, others.. if,i dont ask a person, if they would like me to help,,im liable for damages...were allowed, 3/4'' tires, 2'' body OR susp lift..ONLY , LEGALLY.. i have an 82 bronco sas, 5sp zf, 8'' lift. 62 f100 4x4,FE..352.. 2002 s/duty 4.2tdi,mwm sprint,,you never got them..built in brazil..german mercedes engine, no computer, mine has 700nm..235 hp.. fk em..
Great topic! I bet a lot of people don`t think about this.
Great practical subject Ronny and definitely a can of worms but in a good way mate - one aspect to this subject is that no one has mentioned is insurance to cover/include camper conversions - eg troopy fit outs, roof-top tents etc. I'm halfway through doing a fit out (with no RTT) and came to realize that I should increase my current policy to cover the increased value. my current agreed value for my 94 Troopy was already well under practical replacement value if there was an incident resulting in a write off so after a number of calls to ins co including my current issuer the result was most didn't want to know about this type of coverage and all that they would cover was the actual vehicle and some common accessories such as winch driving lights etc. A couple said they would provide cover but had some requirements to fit items such as Sat tracking/GPS locator and relevant smoke & gas alarms.
So I would be interested to hear if anyone has had similar experiences and also what sort of classification does this fall into - is it a modification to the actual vehicle or is it an accessory, how has it been listed in their policy or disclosed to the insurer and did it alter the premium ????? Cheers
What was the end result? Who did you go with and why?
I went with Club 4x4 as they specifically cover you for off road albeit under certain circumstances & situations and they were happy to cover the replacement cost of the actual bolted in custom fit out as well as common accessories. One thing they don't cover (but no one else does either) is any water damage be it from a dedicated river or creek crossing like a causeway or an actual off road crossing. They also allow you to increase the cover for a particular trip then drop it back when you get home, which was a great extra. Don't get me wrong - they're not perfect but I felt they were a lot better than most others. Have a look at their PDS it is pretty clear what they cover and don't cover. Cheers
Not off-road story or insurance but related. Did a trip from Sydney to Broken Hill. When I got there, found my lower shock mount broken. Liaised with NRMA and they were good but provided upto $3000 or $3500 cover (this was maybe 15 yrs ago) so I negotiated with the towy and got my car towed the 1200ks back to Sydney for free.
So how did "free work for you in that situation?
@@leonkane8240 gave him a handy
@@itchyslothballs I can see some epic artistry went into the creation of your user name itchy, nice work.
Leon Kane does not give anyone a "handy" not even himself.
Nice ad for club 4x4, they look good until
You go to use them, and the fact they want invoices for vehicles and photos etc. I just use a commercial insurance broker and let them sort it out. Covered auswide provided I’m allowed there legally. Easy done and way cheaper then club 4x4
Hi Roony, I talked to my insurer, all covered thanks for the video
id love it if you put all this into a table, and jumble the names of the companies so we have to figure it out, would be extremely helpful
it is not hard to figure out, a bit of google and research you will quickly find out but I mean many people here have made which choice is the best choice clear.
We have said it for years, if you want to do serious 4wding you need to be with the appropriate insurer.
Club 4x4 is really the only choice. You end up with the most appropriate cover.
Yes it costs more, but if you want to play you gotta pay!
Thanks for the support. We pride ourselves on the great level of cover we have on offer for all 4WD enthusiasts!
Comprehensive video, I like it. "im the captain now" haha love it.. what about GVM, will an insurance company weigh your written off or crashed vehicle? Can they add up the weight of your accessories from product spec sheets and deem your car overweight? We see 100's if not 1000's of overweight vehicles and it doesn't seem to be that high on peoples agenda! #DPF
Did you get covered for flooding in Cape York?
If your suspect then lighten your load before anyone see's it
Did insurance pay for the water damage at the cape?
I’ll have to check too lol 😂
im with club 4X4 insured for river crossing accessories will recover vehicle can update policy if doing big trip then reduce when finished 2000 dollars for stolen camping gear and half the price of nrma
Great to have you on board Riccardo - thanks for trusting us as your preferred insurer!
Hmm.. So our 4wd is covered by RAC in WA.. now im curious to know what we are really covered for.. I have listed our accessories/mods but i have no idea whether actually going offroad is covered. I guess mentioning to them you actually go offroad = the premium skyrocketing
Hey Ronny, I know you can’t say anything but I’m insured with club 4x4. Maybe you could leave me a little like on the comment if you know someone that’s done some research and said research has alluded to club 4x4 maybe being the best 🤷🏻♂️
Hey Daniel, yes, I found that Club 4x4 was the only one to cover the cost of outback towing. But make sure your vehicle is towed to the nearest repairer to your situation, so you are completely covered. This was what I was told after calling them. Cheers.
Very informative thanks Ronny.
A unsurfaced road which is marked as a normal road, street, cres ect is classed as a normal road Unmarked tracks and beaches are classed as offroad and if damage or accident is done requires a special insurance or your not covered at all and would be liable for all costs. Much like racing if you go to the track in your car its not covered unless you pay for Special Track\drag insurances for the car and be willing to pay out the nose for it if you want full coverage as normal will only be for third party and property even then
Good job Ronny, a bit of food for thought.
In europe we can buy a lot of coverage. As long as you've broken on asphalt road
really nice edit man, love the background and fast cuts from different angles
So what your really saying is if you break down burn it. If go remote take plenty of matches or lighters not just for cooking but more so for safety insurance reasons 😂😂
Very interesting and informative
RACQ Insurance allowed me to remove my after market accessories from my written off Pajero while it was in the holding yard.
Very interesting, to my knowledge Canada🇨🇦 doesn't have this
In qld you can now take off your accessories if the car is a write off.
Love the subtle suggestion 😂😂😂
$600 per year for 8-9k with NRMA (reduces my other policies with multi-policy discount too so reduced further.
Or 2.5-3k per year with Club 4x4, regardless of if I insure 15k or 25k.
I'd say say something might be wrong if there's no change in premium on total loss payout (works well on the high end I guess).
Geeze 2.5 - 3k a year in premiums is exxy
That explains the burned-out vehicles on the CSR...
as long as you read the fine print... maybe
The long and short is that most companies will insure you for accident damage from anywhere you are legally allowed to be but they won't tow your car if it's too far off a 2wd road. They won't insure you for mechanical breakdown anywhere nor recover you from anywhere off the beaten track. Club 4x4 will reimburse you up to $15k in recovery costs if you take the option but you have to pay it up front and give them the receipt. They don't arrange it for you either.
I recently (May, 2022) needed rescuing from a roll over in the Victorian High Country. The tow company I called out to me dealt directly with Club 4x4 for reimbursement. I didn’t have to shell out a cent from my own pocket.
@@78Bonne They must have changed with the times. I was with them early on, after the general manager gave a talk at our 4wd club meeting. He explained their policies to us at the time and the cost was ok to begin with but the renewal sky rocketted so I went elsewhere. I never had to claim through them. Cheers.
I was surprised to discover the RAC Royal Automobile Club has a distance limit for roadside assist, even on sealed roads and highways.
Drivers need to look at whether their trailer is insured when connected to the vehicle, and when parked disconnected, say in a camping park? Does locking the tow connection alter the insurance protection? Is the trailer insured if the trailer connection breaks or disconnects due to driver error when connecting?
Are the trailer contents covered? If one puts a canoe or surfboard on the trailer does it become a boat trailer? Does that invalidate the trailer insurance? Do the contents carried in the trailer (or vehicle) invalidate the insurance, things like fuel in a chainsaw, fuel in a dirt bike or bottled gas? Does a canopy on the trailer and a bedroll or mattress inside make the trailer a caravan by law?
Insurance policies are designed to define and limit liability, by legal experts. They policies ultimately may be interpreted and defined by a court of law. C'est la vie, Such is life.👍
I have no idea