370Gt Sp Insurance Query

[Colt357]

Hey guys, i am looking to purchase a 07-08 370gt sp early next year, never owned an import car before, what is the best insurance for it? i am 23 and live in sydney, will be parked on the street most of the times

thanks

[t5iv]

Really depends mate. Your specialist providers such as Shannons or Just Car would be able to assist.

If you're a member with NRMA, RACQ etc, they sometimes do sweet heart deals but really depends on how convincing you are.

It all depends on what you're seeking, better insured value, added benefits, etc...

[Seano350GT]

Insurance will always vary on the individual, it's just like when customers ask me "what's your interest rate?"

Best bet is to shop around, get a whole bunch of quotes and choose your insurer. Also make sure you get one that allows you to list unlimited mods.

[SMOKEYV35]

I'll say two things.

1. Your customer profile makes you a high risk category. You're under 25, you're driving an imported performance car, and you park o the street in a major metropolis - so expect to be paying a lot. Most companies have online quote generators. Maybe run a few of those before you make your purchase decision. You may want to try insure your car under your parents name with you as a nominated driver or be prepare to pay the under 25's excess in case of a claim - might work out cheaper.

2. With insurance, it really is case of 'you get what you pay for'.I wish it wasn't, but I've been through too many frustrating claims to believe that the cheapest insurance quote is adequate. If your car is important to you, don't shoot for the lowest quote. Steer clear of online companies like Youi, Bingle etc - if the time comes, and pray it doesn't, that you have to make a claim - you will have nobody to call. Email only. If you go with the cheapest mainstream provider, like AAMI, you will find yourself at the wrath of their skeleton crew customer service, and their atrocious repair policy which allows them to chose the cheapest of three repairers of THEIR choice - which almost quarantees you get a rushed patchy job. Just Car is a subsidary of AAMI - so all the above applies to them too.

So in saying all that, my criteria for insurer is a) choice of repairer (so I can chose who touches my car) and b) modification friendly.

I did a sh1tload of research and even spoke to some high end panel shops about who was best to deal with and they said CGU, Allianz, and RACV. Unfortunately CGU don't allow mods, Allianz won't insure under 30 and generally won't insure performance or unique cars or cover mods. RACV will insure V-series, allows unlimited mods so long as their RWC and doesnt' require disclosure, and they allow your choice of repairer - so I go with them.

[t5iv]

I'm with RACQ for the aforementioned reasons. Way too hungover to type all that though.

Value of the vehicle plays a big factor and not only in the case of a write-off.

The estimated cost of repairs as a % of agreed value will also deem whether a company will repair it or mark it as a repairable write off.

[Alkatraz]

I'm with Shannans who with all of my previous cars only ever gave ridiculously high quotes but with the 36 gave the best deal.

As everyone has said, shop around. I guarantee that with your age and the other details mentioned, you are going to get absolutely reemed.

[SMOKEYV35]

lol ^ not to put too fine a point on it! but yep. w3rd.

[colin.ssc]

And just to make it clear, JustCars gives unlimited mods, and choice of repairer. I have both my 34 and V36 with them. They are definitely not the cheapest and I get quality service from them every time I call. My 34 has been involved in 2 accidents (not my fault) and they let me choose who I wanted my repairer to be. AAMI on the other hand, I don't have any experience with.

[Colt357]

thanks for your support guys, this is the first skyline i will own. looking forward to buy a gtm twin turbo kit from US, people are running over 450whp with 9-10 psi safely with stock internals. i am probably gonna go with just cars which is 1.8k per annum with 1k excess due to under 24yo. Anyways thanks again.

[mushilea]

I'm 20, with NRMA and i'm paying just over the 2k mark with 800 excess. Just car's quoted less at 1.8k but only with a massive excess. Shannons quoted over 4k.

[SMOKEYV35]

And just to make it clear, JustCars gives unlimited mods, and choice of repairer. I have both my 34 and V36 with them. They are definitely not the cheapest and I get quality service from them every time I call. My 34 has been involved in 2 accidents (not my fault) and they let me choose who I wanted my repairer to be. AAMI on the other hand, I don't have any experience with.

Sorry Colin, I think you'd better have a read over your PDS.

Just Car does not allow you exclusive choice of repairer. You're welcome to submit a quote from that you have sourced your choice of repairer, but Just Car can chose to ignore it and force you to go through their 'Competitive Quoting System'. This basically involves you taking your car to a centreal assessment centre where there will be a number of quoting agents working there on behalf of panel beaters - they will assess your car and submit their quote - Just Car will chose the lowest tendered quote. That will be who repairs your car, so no, you don't have a choice.

http://www.justcarinsurance.com.au/just-car-for-repairers/competitive-quoting-system

Your experiences are different because you were not making a claim against your own policy - you were not at fault - so you can have your car repaired by whoever you want and Just Car will pursue the at fault party's insurance company for the damages. If you're claiming against your Just Car policy - either because you are at fault, it is a single car incident, or there is no party to lay damages against - you will be subject to the Competitive Quoting process. No choice of repairer.

Also - I think I mentioned before - but Just Car is a subsidary of AAMI - they are one and the same company. Just Car is really just a 'brand' of AAMI that markets to young drivers with performance cars who can't get insurance with anyone else. Which is probably what the OP is learning. And they charge for the privelige,. So technically, you're currently experiencing AAMI. But I'd do some research before renewing your policy.

I'm not trying to sound like a prick - but I have made two 'not at fault' insurance claims in my 10+ year driving history.. The first took 6 months, required me to hire a lawyer and ended up in court the second took 3 months and was such an unpleasent experience that I withdrew my claim and dealt privately with the other party. I could write pages on the pitfalls in customer service that I encountered, but don't want to come across biased or jaded.

But trust me, I'm very picky about who my policy is with - and I'm just trying to help people avoid reliving my nightmare.

[Seano350GT]

I'm 20, with NRMA and i'm paying just over the 2k mark with 800 excess. Just car's quoted less at 1.8k but only with a massive excess. Shannons quoted over 4k.

I'm 21 and i pay $2200 a year with RACQ my excess is about the same and i've lost my licence before but no claims before. Just sucks that RACQ don't allow unlimited mods lol so i'm changing soon.

[SMOKEYV35]

I'm with RACV - I'm 29, no at fault claims, no bad driving history. I pay $890 full comp including optional glass cover with a $600 excess and a $26k agreed value. The policy covers all mods so long as their RWC, as per normal.

[colin.ssc]

Sorry Colin, I think you'd better have a read over your PDS.

Just Car does not allow you exclusive choice of repairer. You're welcome to submit a quote from that you have sourced your choice of repairer, but Just Car can chose to ignore it and force you to go through their 'Competitive Quoting System'. This basically involves you taking your car to a centreal assessment centre where there will be a number of quoting agents working there on behalf of panel beaters - they will assess your car and submit their quote - Just Car will chose the lowest tendered quote. That will be who repairs your car, so no, you don't have a choice.

http://www.justcarin...-quoting-system

Your experiences are different because you were not making a claim against your own policy - you were not at fault - so you can have your car repaired by whoever you want and Just Car will pursue the at fault party's insurance company for the damages. If you're claiming against your Just Car policy - either because you are at fault, it is a single car incident, or there is no party to lay damages against - you will be subject to the Competitive Quoting process. No choice of repairer.

Also - I think I mentioned before - but Just Car is a subsidary of AAMI - they are one and the same company. Just Car is really just a 'brand' of AAMI that markets to young drivers with performance cars who can't get insurance with anyone else. Which is probably what the OP is learning. And they charge for the privelige,. So technically, you're currently experiencing AAMI. But I'd do some research before renewing your policy.

I'm not trying to sound like a prick - but I have made two 'not at fault' insurance claims in my 10+ year driving history.. The first took 6 months, required me to hire a lawyer and ended up in court the second took 3 months and was such an unpleasent experience that I withdrew my claim and dealt privately with the other party. I could write pages on the pitfalls in customer service that I encountered, but don't want to come across biased or jaded.

But trust me, I'm very picky about who my policy is with - and I'm just trying to help people avoid reliving my nightmare.

I have made a claim on my own policy. PDS will say you will not be allowed to choose your own and you can submit your choice of repairers and all that, but what I am telling you is that, my experience with them for the past 8 years has been top notch. Much better than RAC, SGIO and other recommended insurers.

I am sorry that you have shitty dealings with insurance companies and I am very picky who my policy is with as well. Mind you, I use to sell insurance so I know the shits of what those idiots would do. But hey each to his own

[SMOKEYV35]

all good - by nature i'm a fairly untrusting person - so I always err on the side of caution. I'm sure people have had good experiences with them - just as there will be people who have had bad experiences with my current insurer.

I would just want to be able to know that if my car get's damaged, I can drive it into a high-end panel shop and not get turned away. I had my BMW maliciously damaged earlier this year - a drunk guy fell through a cafe barrier, and knocked the whole thing onto the side of my mint condition car causing 6k of damage. The car was an 'Individual' meaning it had custom paint from BMW, so I wanted only an authorised BMW repairer to fix it as it required the whole side to be blended and I wanted the paint to match right. Literally every place I went to, the first question they asked me was 'who are you insured with' - when i said 'AAMI' they said, 'sorry, we won't work with them' - they said that every quote they prepared on AAMI jobs AAMI knocks back - and if they cut their throats on a job to win it - AAMI always pays late. I rang AAMI for a list of their approved repairers - they sent me to two shops in my area and BOTH of them said 'we won't work with AAMI, and we've asked them to stop sending us their customers - so i'm sorry that you're here but we can't help'. And this was my experience BEFORE the claim process even started.........

As I said, AAMI is Just Cars and Just Cars is AAMI - so I hope your luck continues to be better than mine.

[Colt357]

i am with aami atm, i ran into the back of someone last year and the claim was easy. dropped my car to the assessment centre, taxi voucher there and back, car was repaired and detailed in a week. so i am very happy with the service aami provides. because i live in sydney racv is out of my reach, tried budget direct and quoted 2.5k, nrma 1.8k but at 29k agreed value.

[SMOKEYV35]

Yeh - it's just one of those things. Case by case. A work colleague was with AAMI and was backing out of a car park, at the same time another driver was - they collided and obviously both claimed it was the fault of the other. Her car excess was waived, her car repaired and back on the road within 2 weeks. At that stage I was 2 months into my AAMI claim......before eventually withdrawing it through sheer frustration.

I'm glad people have had better luck - I wouldn't wish a bad experience on anyone - but I can only speak from my own experiences. Obviously they must get some stuff right, otherwise they wouldnt be in business.

I must just be one unlucky cat. I've had a car written off (not at fault), 3 cars keyed, and the incident above......none of the claims have been easy. Hopefully I have better luck with the V.

And as a side not for Melb folks - be v careful where you leave your car at the moment - there have been 3 skylines stolen in the past 3 days that I am aware of. Obviously a bit more than coincidence.

[N3ptuNe]

I'm struggling to find anyone other than JustCars!!! Whom I want to evade As Much As Possible! We have had firsthand dealings with them. Their repairers couldn't colour match shit from Sugar! Their Assessors are just as blind, and I gained 3 new dings, primer paint visible, etc etc etc I could go on for 30 paragraphs of the nightmares we had with them!

I have called just about everyone and no one insures Japanese Imported 2008 370GT SP Coupes

[camr33]

Just want to go on the record here: Just Cars is not a subsidiary of aami. Both companies are owned by suncorp group, who also own Shannons, APIA, GIO and a few others. Their policies are not alike, they are all run as their own independent businesses.

When choosing a policy, the devil is in the details. Choice of repairer is important, especially with JDM cars. But you need to be careful, as some companies actually mean choice from their list of repairer! Or will not guarantee the workmanship if you use your own.

Do not go with companies like budget, youi, real insurance or any "online" companies with "any" insurance as most are not based in Australia, so good luck resolving any issues. Plus, their policies are crap.

Insurance is risk based- the higher the risk, the higher the premium. Expect to pay a packet if you live in central nsw or vic or under 25. Mods put the price up as well.

[N3ptuNe]

I'm 35 and my car is srock I plan on keeping it that way. Justcars seem to tailor to fully modified cars, and their best offer was $1400 which is rediculous. Perhaps 90% of their clientele are under 25 and they forgot to quote for matured drivers and make less commission on a sale.

Edited October 1, 2014 by N3ptuNe