Friday, Sep 23, 2011 at 21:55
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.
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Follow Up By: Member - Tony Z (NSW) - Saturday, Sep 24, 2011 at 07:05
Saturday, Sep 24, 2011 at 07:05
Thanks for the info and for ALL your hard work, I to have had
home and car insurance with the NRMA for years but they were expensive. As you did mention they say that all (brought from
home items ) will be covered.
Thank you again
Gordon T
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Follow Up By: Member - Gordon T (NSW) - Saturday, Sep 24, 2011 at 09:24
Saturday, Sep 24, 2011 at 09:24
Another point that has come to mind: I found on several occasions that the premium quote in the local office was different to the premium quoted on the 1300 phone line. Keep in mind too that a quote over the counter will be recorded and given a quote number so that when you make a phone enquiry there is every chance that they will have that first quote (from the counter enquiry) on their screen! Many companies will offer a lower price if the quote is provided on-line (Internet).
Hope this not only helps Tony Z but also other readers considering insurance.
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