4WD mods and insurance

Submitted: Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 10:51

ThreadID: 27233 Views:3225 Replies:9 FollowUps:10

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Sky Pilot

Can anyone tell me the effect of some of their 4WD mods on their insurance policy? For example, the DTronic which seems very popular (for obvious reasons) as it increases useful power and torque. I know if I have a chip modification on a sedan car, it is illegal and as such the insurance company will drop me like a hot potato if they find out. I would imagine bullbars, roofracks, suspension changes, tyre size changes, etc. would also be in this boat. I recently heard of a case where a guy pranged his Subaru Liberty wagon and while it was in the crash repair shop, an assessor from the insurance company - one of the big ones - came to the shop and examined the car looking for modifications. The repairer was a mate of the guy who owned the Subie and told him about it. If any mods had been found, the company would not have paid up. If you read the fine print on your policy, it is up to you to disclose any modifications from standard at all - even a non factory stereo. So those of you who do the right thing, do you have any adverse comments from any insurer who refuses to cover it, or puts up the cost, etc. I am interested to find out as I am just about to embark on this route myself.

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Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 11:25

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 11:25

some mods add to the cost some dont.

just call your company as a prospective new customer and see what answers you get. that way they will never know...

AnswerID: 134466

Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 12:12

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 12:12

"What is Truckster???"

Funny you should mention that... I'm sure you're not the only one wondering that... ;-)~

FollowupID: 388514

Follow Up By: Exploder - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 12:18

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 12:18

If you brig the 303 policy out in Australia, you will end up with about 20 cops’ and a T.R.G team ready to kick the bleep out of you. Then you will end up in court facing every change they can get you on.

Also if you a caught with the 303 policy on any land other than where you are authorised to use it, you surrender the 303 policy lose the transport which got you there and end up with a huge fine.

What a difference, Welcome to Africa hay.

FollowupID: 388515

Follow Up By: ev700 - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 12:41

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 12:41

Hide the sausage is played differently in Australia.

However we have both camels and Kiwis oroaming about on the loose.

Hopefully the news about camels and sausages will result a little more sleep for sheep.

FollowupID: 388517

Follow Up By: Exploder - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 13:52

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 13:52

I would say the Kiwi is the bigger problem, LOL

Question, Upmeeb Umate
If one guy pulls out his 303 policy and the other takes out his 30o6 Policy, what then is then is the protocol?

FollowupID: 388528

Reply By: Wizard1 - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 11:55

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 11:55

upmeeb umate(Kenya),

A very insightful yet useless passage on the "insurance arrangements" of a third world country, I can see Sky Pilot getting a lot of useful tips from that........

From what I remember of Kenya I'm glad I live here...........Mob justice was the best one...

AnswerID: 134467

Follow Up By: Sky Pilot - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 12:08

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 12:08

I don't know, I found the bit about hiding the sausage most insightful;-)
Can a camel tow a camper trailer though?

FollowupID: 388513

Reply By: glenno(qld) - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 14:06

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 14:06

THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL TRY TO GET OUT OF PAYING ANY WAY THEY CAN

My insurer will only cover accesories to a total value of one third of the market value of the vehicle. Example . My 4x4 is worth $ 25,000 market value . My accesories are worth $20,000. Bad luck.

THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL TRY TO GET OUT OF PAYING ANY WAY THEY CAN

AnswerID: 134479

Reply By: stans truck - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 14:19

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 14:19

hi there i just imformed my insurance company i just bought a bull bar and phone car kit along with uhf radio and a new cd player side steps and antenna to match my radio and another antenna to match my phone 1 set of light force driving lights all this at no extra cost as long as you tell them if you dont, if you have a prang or if some thing gets stolen your not coverd and 1 waco60lt fridge wich rides in the back regards stan.

AnswerID: 134481

Follow Up By: Exploder - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 15:00

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 15:00

Are you just having a lead on us now or are you serious.

In the event that you are serious.
Fridge= it is a fridge that has been reduced in size to say 80Litres and can run on 12Volt or battery/ Engine generated power. You can also run them on a portable generator along with light’s and so forth.

Car not good enough by it self= In short for 80% of people it is fine but thing’s like suspension tyres and fuel tank’s are sometimes changed over to bigger stronger ones for better off-road ability and durability, As for communication gear it’s for keeping in contact with other travellers or if something goes wrong you cam get help.

Bigger light’s (Spot light’s) so you can see more of the road and also not hit farmer Joe’s $5000 prized bull in station country righting of his bull your car worth between $30,000- $60,000 and if he find’s out possibly you life as well.

In Kenya if you reck the car you can just pull out the new car-purchasing gun Probably a .50 barrette or something and walk down to the local street corner and pick one up, LOL “That was a joke by the way”

Oh we do not have Many money, we have much debt.

FollowupID: 388540

Reply By: Member -Dodger - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 14:49

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 14:49

I informed the NRMA my ins co. of all my mods and add ons and as this increased the agreed value the premium increased also. They had no qualms at all re the mods however I was told in the event of an accident the mods must be left onthe vehicle.
AS food for thought, if you have a prang that would probably write the vehicle off and you take off any mods EG, UHF radio driving lights then the company deems these as their property if written off and you could be charged accordingly.
Also the max lift for most ins co's is 50mm and after that last news item re the 4wd and child this may alter.
I suggest that you inform then as in a worst case scenario you may be well away from home and cannot bring the vehicle back to standard.

I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

Cheers Dodg.

Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message

AnswerID: 134483

Follow Up By: Charlie - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 16:59

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 16:59

So if you have diamond encrusted UHF radio with solid gold facia worth $1000000 and it's not on your poilcy they now own it ? I don't think so, but of coarse when your replace a factory part with an upgraded aftermarket accessory the situation is less clear.
Regards Charlie

FollowupID: 388547

Follow Up By: Member -Dodger - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 17:48

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 17:48

Sorry Charlie maybe I said it wrong,
If you have declared the extra on you policy then they own it.

You also have a valid point about replacment with an aftermarket product.

I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

Cheers Dodg.

Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message

FollowupID: 388552

Reply By: Sky Pilot - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 15:10

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 15:10

One of my concerns is that technically, some of the common mods really should have an engineering certificate. If they haven't, your car is illegally registered and I would imagine your 3rd party personal policy would be invalid - could cost a heap if anyone is badly injured. I have noticed that some of the mods the insurers accept as OK as long as you tell them would probably make your car illegal. I wonder if they then drop you anyway when you claim. It is your responsibility to make your car legal, not theirs. It is all a minefield I am afraid.

I did a 20,000 km trip in '96 with an '83 Range Rover that weighed over 3200kgs in fully loaded trip trim. All I had done to hold the weight was to put heavy duty springs in the rear and slightly shortened heavy duty rear springs in the front. It worked a treat, giving absolutely no problems suspension wise anyway. However, I was so far over the GVM, it didn't matter. It was an old car and I wasn't that worried, but with a $70,000 new vehicle with $10,000 of accesories towing a $30,000 camper trailer, you've got to think about legality and insurance.

AnswerID: 134486

Reply By: Member -Hank (NSW) - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 17:03

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 17:03

Try UNIQUE CAR INSURANCE.
They may cost a little more buy you get what you want.

AnswerID: 134498

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Saturday, Oct 15, 2005 at 01:15

Saturday, Oct 15, 2005 at 01:15

Unique for my truck were 1/2 of the others in cost, and insured for 3 times the agreed value than any other.

FollowupID: 388727

Reply By: Member - 'Lucy' - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 20:13

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 20:13

Sky Pilot you are spot on the money old son.

If any of your mods/additions change the OEM specs then you need an engineering cert, and then have same accepted by the Road Authorities in your State and the relevant Registration updated to reflect it.

If not, you will have a problem with both the Insurers and the Road Authorities (big problems I might suggest).

Its OK, and no problems telling/disclosing to the Insurance company all the changes /additions you have made. However when you disclose to the same Insurer that these mods now exceed or change the OEM specs and Rego limits for the subject vehicle, see what sort of response you get. (most never ever tell the Insurance company this extra bit)

I just spent a CHIT load of time, money and effort having my Troopy engineered to upgrade the GVM, Tyre Specs, GCM, Suspension and body construction changes.

I posted the full ins and outs of this two days ago, so have a look and see what is entailed in having it done.

Regards

Ken Robinson

AnswerID: 134527

Follow Up By: Member - 'Lucy' - Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 20:28

Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 at 20:28

Oops! meant to give you an example.

New Stock standard vehicle.

OEM front bar off and a nice new steel, all bells and whistles BBar fitted.

Then add a brand spanking new Warn 6hp 9500,10000,8000 etc winch and rope.

Then add a dual battery setup - one of those big suckers cause bigger is better.

Now lets upgrade the suspension on the front by beefing it up.

Yep! gotta put those bigger tyres and rims on to

And if you are like Roachie a myriad of other things, like compressor (thats me actually) & air tank,

Now assuming that each addition is Road Regs compliant article with engineering specs (structural such as suspension, Bbars )where appropriate, what does all this do.

ANSWER: Increases front axle weight exponentially.

According to the engineer who did my vehicle this is a number one failing point along with hand brakes that can't handle the extra weight.

Tyre/rim changes also can affect things big time along with body lift etc etc.

It is just a nightmare when you start to look at certain aspects of it.

FollowupID: 388575

Reply By: Peter 2 - Friday, Oct 14, 2005 at 07:18

Friday, Oct 14, 2005 at 07:18

As has been stated, unless you tell the ins co that the gear is fitted it remains your property in the event of the vehicle being written off. This will cause probs if you have upgraded the springs etc and not told them as they can refuse to cover you.
If you have had any accessories listed on the policy then they remain the property of the insurance co in the event of a claim.
Any stuff fitted that changes the mechanical/roadworthy aspects (suspension, tyres, seats, cargo barrier, towbar, bullbar etc) should be listed/notified but if the GVM is exceeded by fitting this stuff and carrying a few passengers then the vehicle is illegal and technically unregistered. The ins co could then refuse any claim made if any mod caused the illegality or the GVM is exceeded.
Then you need to get the GVM upgraded via an engineer (remember that it can only be increased to the total weight capacity of front and rear axles as listed in the specs).
The ins co may well then refuse insurance as it is a modified vehicle.

AnswerID: 134559