Insurance

We went with QBE. Appeared good and I listed major items, generator, solar panel etc. Just make sure the company covers any canvas. We found some did not. I think we pay about $15 a month Ours is a second hand camper trailer. Kevin

G'day Tony, Have a look at joining CMCA (see their website) http://www.cmca.net.au/pages/index.php and check out the insurance for members, I insured both the Navara STX 550 and a 5th wheeler (both brand new & over $160K) cost less than $1300 all up and included $8K personal stuff if stolen.
Hard to beat that!
Cheers Nigel

Interesting question. I am just about to take delivery of a new Track Trailer TVAN so have I spent the past month or so researching many insurance policies and premiums. I have plotted all the data on a spread sheet so that I can more easily compare apples with apples.
I found a wide range of variations as to what is covered, partially covered and what is not covered at all. Some things to watch: are your contents covered in your annex, what is the definition of a “break in” to an annex – on most (if they cover it at all) there has to be evidence of a forced entry – eg cut canvas, some only cover ‘hard’ walled annexes and not canvas, is your fridge covered, what do they deem a fixed fridge (portable Engel) for fusion, what benefits do you want if you break down miles from civilisation or what if your van has a big ding (will take weeks to repair) and you have all those goodies to secure, will they pay travel home and back to collect the repaired van – and so on? Does the company offer 23/7 assistance or is it regular business hours only.
Rather than include all your contents in your van cover, it could be more advantageous to simply extend your household cover to include home items being used in the open. For example, if you take your chain saw on holidays with you (and who doesn’t) and it is stolen from inside or just outside the annex, your van policy won’t (is unlikely to) cover it. However, your household policy should. This is particularly so in the case of a laptop. This recommendation came direct from an insurer’s rep.
These things you will only find out by asking – not the salesperson in the office or on the phone – but by a detailed email. I often found what I was told in the local office, varied with the call centre response and with the emailed response. Yes, it is a lot of work but there are heaps more “ifs” and “buts” in caravan type policies and when you need it, you really do as ‘Murphy’ is alive and well when you are travelling. One company had a different excess if my accident happened on a dirt road as opposed to a sealed road – yes, ANY dirt road including the 3 km dirt road from my farm house to the highway gate.
Some of the specialist insurers give a bit more in coverage but are heaps dearer than the run-of-the-mill companies like GIO & NRMA – it is a bit like buying the middle range 4WD compared to the top of the range – just what will you tolerate not having? There are some good policies available but I found, that dollar premium for dollar coverage, GIO (Suncorp) gave me the better coverage and premium. I have been with the NRMA for 50 years, have numerous polices with them but they couldn’t come within a bull’s roar of the GIO – even after special negotiations with them - though coverage was fairly similar. As well, I found GIO amongst the most helpful with my enquiries.
It helps if you have other policies and particularly if you have a car insured with the same insurer. It is also a practical move to have both with the same company – not only because some companies take the one excess if both vehicles are damaged in an accident, but it is also cheaper. As well, you might find that some benefits flow from one vehicle to the other if covered by the same insurer.
Finally as a warning, several insurers operate under different insurance company names – thus you need to be consistent in what you are telling them about your risk as I am sure computers are linked.

I think GIO and Suncorp are the same? A news report the other day said Suncorp are looking at sending their claim’s calls to an overseas call centre. Wouldn’t that be fun trying to talk to ‘Jack’ who’s real name is obviously not ‘Jack’ and who has trouble speaking or understand English, about your insurance claim!

I insured my Cub Supamatic with SGIC [South Australia] a couple of months ago. After checking just about every company that would qoute they were about half the other lowest!! I checked all the wording/conditions and it was at least as good as the others. Give them a go.

Happy days

George

After a recent claim for storm damage to my caravan I have nothing but the highest praise for CIL.

Quite seriously you can't go past AAMI. I had an minor accident last year and wiped out a window in my van. Despite the claim my premium came down just because I rang and complained that it had increased.

I have all my insurances (house, contents, 2 vehicles and van) covered with them so I get a concession because of this but I always check on the websites with other companies when my premiums are due. I got quotes from over $600 down to $400 plus fro the van. Finally renewed with AAMI for $305.00.

This was for a cover of $20000 plus $1000cover for the annexe.

Thanks for all your replies, it's taken a lot of phone calls but have now gone AAMI as they were near $100 less than most and offer the same/similar coverage.
Again thanks for your help