Possible Write Off, What Are The Chances Of Getting To Keep The Car?

[sydking]

http://www.justcarinsurance.com.au/third-party-property-damage-fire-theft-car-insurance

something like this would be good to look into, Still covered for other peoples cars and also up to 10k market value. And if they had salvage rights your cheering.

more then likey what il be looking into.

[sydking]

Another very valid point- in the PDS.

You are NOT covered For non-standard accessories you have fitted to your car.

you ARE Covered If you have told us and we have agreed in writing to cover these accessories

ive seen quite a few people on here say they dont disclose any mods- all fine and well untill something happens, And your the suker paying thousands for full comp.

[xntrq]

I'm with nrma and they automatically cover everything. An assessor called me today and delivered what i didn't want to hear. It's a write off and I've already asked about the parts, no go. by the sounds of things, third party is a good choice to go cause you can keep the car, and with comprehensive, you get your agreed value back but no car... Catch 22 really, pay more, get less. Would i be able to dispute the costs of my parts bought after the car? Since it is unfair that it wasn't my fault and i have to transfer rego again, spend money to get the same parts back. Very unfair to be honest.

[Hadouken]

Insurance companies dont care about fairness. They care about cash money.

Did you ask them how much it would cost to buy the wreck? If your so set on keeping the car then buy it back take what you want, sell what you dont want and see how your life is.

Or just buy a pulsar until you're off your p's. My pulsar is still kicking and insurance companies never blinked twice in repairing it.

Pulsar>the world

[sydking]

I'm with nrma and they automatically cover everything. An assessor called me today and delivered what i didn't want to hear. It's a write off and I've already asked about the parts, no go. by the sounds of things, third party is a good choice to go cause you can keep the car, and with comprehensive, you get your agreed value back but no car... Catch 22 really, pay more, get less. Would i be able to dispute the costs of my parts bought after the car? Since it is unfair that it wasn't my fault and i have to transfer rego again, spend money to get the same parts back. Very unfair to be honest.

I dont think you would, it would all be in the PDS, Though most wont cover any non factory parts or mods thats have not been agreed on, And when i say agreed i mean in writing, No taking word form some nit in the call center.

usually find, Call 3 times, Get 3 diffrent answers.

[iwanta34gtr]

I'm with nrma and they automatically cover everything. An assessor called me today and delivered what i didn't want to hear. It's a write off and I've already asked about the parts, no go. by the sounds of things, third party is a good choice to go cause you can keep the car, and with comprehensive, you get your agreed value back but no car... Catch 22 really, pay more, get less. Would i be able to dispute the costs of my parts bought after the car? Since it is unfair that it wasn't my fault and i have to transfer rego again, spend money to get the same parts back. Very unfair to be honest.

Sorry to hear mate.

I have all my cars with Just Car Insurance. When I add mods I let them know and in some cases it raises my premium a little bit however it also increases the 'Agreed value' of my cars, so in effect - they are covered.

Out of interest, I got a quote with NRMA when I was looking for insurance and for Premium they wanted 4x more $ then Just Car Insurance and would only insure my GTR for $31k max. However when signing up for Just Car Insurance , they straight away presented me with an agreed value of $53k and a fair premium.

As its a write off, dont forget to cancel your rego and your green slip so you get the cash back. Note: You will need your number plates off the wreck for when you go in to RTA.

[NISSAN GTR]

Are you injured as well ? Edited October 3, 2012 by NISSAN GTR

[nomnomv8]

Sorry to Hi-jack your thread but one thing I dont understand and need clarification on for anyone who modifies there car in a way which is deemed "illegal" ie not engineered :

Hypothetically if I have all these illegal and unengineered mods (computer, boost controller, turbos etc) however I do declare them to my insurance company do they still reserve the right to deny my payment in the unfortunate situation that an accident was to occur ?

Edited October 3, 2012 by nomnomv8

[CEF33Y]

Yes.

You'll find in the PDS it will state all/any modifications must be legal, just another way to catch you out.

Pisses me off, you can declare modifications, they're happy to list them, and take your money every year, but come claim time, 'oh no sir, the wheels/intercooler/gearknob are not legal modifications, car is not legal, we no pay'

FFS insurance companies shit me.

To the OP, you really need to contact the insurer when you add parts to the car, and get them added onto the policy and make sure the agreed value reflects the new parts, i.e add new wheels (legal size of course) get the added to the policy and ask them to increase the agreed value by the amount the wheels cost.

You'll find the insurance company won't increase the agreed value without a big hike in your premium, but hey, thats how it rolls.

[sydking]

Sorry to Hi-jack your thread but one thing I dont understand and need clarification on for anyone who modifies there car in a way which is deemed "illegal" ie not engineered :

Hypothetically if I have all these illegal and unengineered mods (computer, boost controller, turbos etc) however I do declare them to my insurance company do they still reserve the right to deny my payment in the unfortunate situation that an accident was to occur ?

another catch mate- and as Cef33y stated jsut another way to make more money. Would be good if we had somone on here who has actaully had to made a sucsessful claim with a highly modded car.

[sydking]

Just gave JustCar a call regarding the Unlimited "legal" mods.

So how its works is- they will cover any mod that we deem to be legal- and its out duty to disclose that

Come time to claim, They will call the RTA to check the car is road worthy ect. They will not ask for engineering cirts or anything like that. If they take your premuim Ie they insure you, You WILL be insured for what you have agreed on.

Also they will still pay a claim out if there is an illigal mod on the car that you did not know about

I think a few more calls through out the week and i will have a solid answer

What i would also be inclided to do when taking on a new policy, Is record the time and date and WHO you spoke to, Id even ask then or be recording the converstation my self. otherwise its your word agaist theres, and then they will just say, Its what the PDS says. WHich i think is very vauge.

[nomnomv8]

^^

Solid work mate! I might make a call my self as well and try dig a little deeper. I always just state the obvious modifications on the car that are to the clear to the naked eye - ie exhaust, wheels, in car stereo.

Things that are easy to remove like ecu, boost controllers, turbo timers and hard(er) to detect hardware like clutch, low mount twins and engine internals tend to go unmentioned and it all goes back to the catch 22 scenario of if you declare them come the unfortunate time for a claim they will be deemed "illegal" regardless so whats the point of notifying them and spending the extra $1500 a year in premiums. At the same time I dont think they will be disassembling your motor and saying "Hold on you have Tomei Camshafts and camgears and forged pistons so we are not going to pay you".

If what your saying is correct then I can sleep abit easier at night knowing this lol - I will contact them to get a definitive answer with recorded details incase I ever have to refer to it though (hopefully I never will but better safe than sorry)

[sydking]

Good idea - Though when dissclosing mods, did they ask what you think its valued at. i woudlent be inclined with things like head units ect. As when i was calling and getting quotes i noticed my premuim was so much extra beacsue i said my wheels were worth 2k- headunit worth 1k. Speakers ect ect.

I was testing the waters to see what is effected when i add value to the overall car. but if i spend 2k on a clutch. I would want that to be added into the agreed value- Mabey it possible to list mods with no value, but do our own cost on what weve put into the car mods wise and come to a happy meduim with an agreed value.

Ie, if i got market value for my car, Which they said was 9k. But ive put 30K of mods in and theres no salvage rights, Seems to defeate the purpose.

[cree]

NRMA will automatically insure any mods to the car without you having to list them. How much did your premium go up by? I have added things like stereo and wheels to a policy and it was about $25 extra to the premium.

[sydking]

i will dig up the quote, But its was a fair bit, The total premuim ened up being close to 4k for full comp and everything disclosed, Engine conversion, Buit engine, turbos, ECU, intake mods, exhaust , coilovers ect ect

Edited October 3, 2012 by sydking

[xntrq]

NRMA will automatically insure any mods to the car without you having to list them. How much did your premium go up by? I have added things like stereo and wheels to a policy and it was about $25 extra to the premium.

I didn't disclose any upgrades to them. Seeing as the only things I've done is replace certain trims that have cosmetic ware with better condition ones, headunit, speakers, footwell lighting system my fire extinguisher. I'm going to argue and escalate it to get my bits back. I spent well over $2.5k on upgrading bits and pieces and I'm not going to let that slide because of the other driver.

[cree]

Yeh you shouldn't have to disclose everything to them. But make a call and get what is best for yourself.

[nomnomv8]

i will dig up the quote, But its was a fair bit, The total premuim ened up being close to 4k for full comp and everything disclosed, Engine conversion, Buit engine, turbos, ECU, intake mods, exhaust , coilovers ect ect

4K !!!! That is seriously disgusting at the very least lol. Try be a little bit more "subtle" with your disclosures and only do the mandatories ie your engine conversion, exhaust and coil overs. Raise your excess up as well and depending on your age you should close to half that original 4k figure

[Stinky Rooster]

Similar thing happened to me with my stagea a few years back (wrtten off in an accident that was deemed entirely the other drivers fault)

I dealt with the other drivers insurance exclusively, and when they came to take the wreck I just told them that it was still my property, and they couldnt take it. Legally they were paying for my repairs, not my car. The argument dragged on for a couple of weeks, but we eventually settled on a nominal salvage amount to be deducted from the value of the vehicle.

The funny thing was, after I had sold the wreck privately, the stagea became the only car I have ever made a profit on!

[Ph@t-G]

Sorry to hear the outcome Ricky. I think it's a good idea to at least try and salvage your parts from the car.

But I guess a lesson learnt from this is always assess your options first before contacting the insurance company, cause they WILL low-ball you one way or another.