Insurance - Contents in Car and Van

Submitted: Monday, Sep 27, 2010 at 14:56

ThreadID: 81585 Views:5671 Replies:7 FollowUps:7

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JodesAndNick

We are looking to travel around Australia for an extended period so will have quite a bit of gear in both our car and caravan (Jayco Dove poptop) but are having trouble with insurance.

Does anyone know of an insurance company that will cover contents of both/either car and caravan for large amounts and items such as laptop, camera, Ipod, car fridge, bikes etc over an extended period.

- House Contents insurance normaly only covers for 6 mths away from your residence, we'll be away longer than that.
- Most car insurance is only for around $500 per claiim, no use if your car is cleaned out etc.
- CIL van insurance don't cover for theft in our van as it can't be 'secured'.
- Other van insurance won't cover camera's, laptops etc.

All suggestions welcome.

Thanks,
Jodes

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Reply By: Member - John G- Monday, Sep 27, 2010 at 15:50

Monday, Sep 27, 2010 at 15:50

G'day JodesAndNick

I can only speak with experience of NRMA in NSW.

For house and contents with NRMA you can have "specified portables" - self explanatory. Then there are "unspecified portables" - you nominate the $ value of your unspecified portables and the most they pay for any single item is 20% of the sum insured. I don't know how it influences the premium, I only found out the nitty gritty after losing gear.

On comprehensive vehicle insurance for NRMA it is as you state - $500. No good when the minimum excess is $600.

Good luck - my cynical view of insurance is that it is not the insurance company that is taking the risk.

Cheers
John

AnswerID: 431585

Follow Up By: Member - Teege (NSW) - Monday, Sep 27, 2010 at 17:12

Monday, Sep 27, 2010 at 17:12

I had my camper and then my caravan insured with NRMA. On each policy I had increased the contents cover to $5000 for a small increase in premium. When I wrote off the camper the girl handling my claim was astounded that I hadn't sustained any breakages on contents and kept saying "are you sure there's nothing to claim???" On that occasion I could not fault NRMA Insurance for the way they worked through my claim.

teege

FollowupID: 702403

Follow Up By: JodesAndNick - Friday, Oct 01, 2010 at 12:32

Friday, Oct 01, 2010 at 12:32

Hi John, I'm beginning to agree with you about who exactly is taking a risk here. Thanks for the response. Jodes

FollowupID: 702679

Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Monday, Sep 27, 2010 at 16:19

Monday, Sep 27, 2010 at 16:19

Do a search on "insurance" as this was the subject of a long thread a few weeks ago.

The difficulty is if you no longer own a house.

We didnt and had quite a job but got it in the end. Unfortunately that company said they no longer will supply that cover.

Suncorp would have done it if we still had a house but most items over $1000 had to be specified.
Interestingly they would insure stuff in an unlockable annexe but if I put it in my locked and alarmed car they wouldnt.

You will just have to ring around or find that thread.

We now own a house and insured with APIA can stay away for 9 months for an extra $5 a month non occupancy loading. All contents are covered.

Alright if you are old enough.

AnswerID: 431586

Follow Up By: JodesAndNick - Friday, Oct 01, 2010 at 12:35

Friday, Oct 01, 2010 at 12:35

Hi Graham,

Many thanks for the response.

We will still own our house but renting it and you cannot attached a stand alone valuables/contents policy to Landlord insurance and even if wecould most I've found they're around the 2-6 mth mark. We hope, finances permitting, to be away for up to 2 yrs!

Jodes

FollowupID: 702680

Reply By: Motherhen - Monday, Sep 27, 2010 at 16:34

Monday, Sep 27, 2010 at 16:34

Hi Jodes

I suggest you seek the services of a good Broker. Unlike insurance companies who are working for themselves, Brokers are working for the customer (so can also take on the fight if you have a claim). They have access to all major underwriters and some can customise policies themselves. Due to the 'bulk discount' they get from insurers they put lots of business through, they can cover their costs and may even come out cheaper for you than going direct. This approach also saves you a lot of phone calls to try and find what you want.

Motherhen

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AnswerID: 431588

Follow Up By: JodesAndNick - Friday, Oct 01, 2010 at 12:53

Friday, Oct 01, 2010 at 12:53

Hi Motherhen (love the name!)

Good advice, I'm now speaking with TCIS (thanks also Tony) and think that while we still may not get some electrical items (phone, taptop, camera covered) most of our gear particuarly the expensive campiing and hiking items will be covered.

Many thanks,
Jodes

FollowupID: 702682

Reply By: DesF - Monday, Sep 27, 2010 at 17:05

Monday, Sep 27, 2010 at 17:05

Hi We have been thru that on our last trips. we have a Jayco Eagle wind up campervan.

we are with SGIC in SAust and the van is covered and we took out extra coverage for the phones ,laptop, gen set etc etc on our home insurance and they said it is covered whether in the van ( with canvas walls) or the car, even in the annex,

We gave them a specified list including replacement prices etc and took it by the month, ( actually it is for 12 months) but only pay for while you are away and they just cancel it when you get back, very cheap peace of mind.
We have done this twice now only when we go interstate.
Cheers Des.

AnswerID: 431593

Follow Up By: JodesAndNick - Friday, Oct 01, 2010 at 13:19

Friday, Oct 01, 2010 at 13:19

Hi Des,

Thanks for getting back to me. As mentioned above we'll have Landlord Ins not Home insurance and that seems to be the sticking point when it comes to attaching contents to the policy, not so surprising really.

12 mths is great, should we do another big trip (here's hoping there'll be a few more!) and not rent the house we'll give SGIC a call.

Thanks again,
Jodes

FollowupID: 702684

Reply By: bluefly - Monday, Sep 27, 2010 at 20:31

Monday, Sep 27, 2010 at 20:31

Jodes

I wouldn’t recommend anyone else but Alliance. They have treated me very well in the past and will soon get more of my business.

That mob you mentioned in your post will never see my money again. It wasn’t until I completely blue my top that I saw the money.

The contents in your car and caravan can be covered, but you need to be very specific during your negations with the insurance company. Smart phones are not covered for example, and even then, it’s conditional.

Many insurance companies won’t recognize a claim if the car or caravan isn’t locked at any time. Even, if you’re asleep in the van for instance.

I’ve gone through the nightmare of being robbed at night recently, and the aftermath of that is not pleasant once you get back home.

Cheers

AnswerID: 431617

Reply By: Member - Carl- Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 09:27

Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 09:27

Jodes,

Talk to CIL. They are perhaps the biggest caravan insurer.

You can have things like extended cover for contents, van freighted back to manufacturer for repairs and not repaired locally, your airfares back there and accom as well.

Agreeded it will cost more but just ask the operator /robot /customer service representative at the end of the phone.

AnswerID: 431634

Follow Up By: JodesAndNick - Monday, Oct 11, 2010 at 13:03

Monday, Oct 11, 2010 at 13:03

Hi Carl,

Thanks, we looked at CIL who have excellent cover for many caravaning situations that other companies don't and would go with them if we had a fully sealed van. They won't cover a pop top for theft of contents. Thanks for your response.

Cheers
Jodes

FollowupID: 703464

Reply By: Member - Tony V (NSW) - Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 21:58

Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 21:58

TCIS will cover all you want
TCIS click here

Just lok under 4WD..

Much of thier insurance is underwritten by Alianz or CGU.

Good luck and enjoy your travels...

AnswerID: 431689

Follow Up By: JodesAndNick - Monday, Oct 11, 2010 at 13:11

Monday, Oct 11, 2010 at 13:11

Hi Tony,

Thanks so much for your recommendation TCIS has some great insurance options for 4x4's and camping equipment. For anyone else looking at insurance TCIS is Well worth a look by anyone with a lot of camping gear. Their equipment policy covers 'camping equipment' onsite and in your car. You need to attach the equipment policy to either a camper or 4x4 policy.

They still don't cover for phones, laptops, IPOD's etc but you can't have everything.

Thank you very much to everyone who replied to my query. It's so helpful to newbies like us and we can't tell you how much we appreciate people taking the time to share their know-how.

Now onto the whole power topic - which will no doubt generate a whole swag of questions!

Thanks again.
Jodene

FollowupID: 703465