Comprehensive Insurance

Jabba (Keenan) · #1 13-01-2010, 04:15 PM

Hi all,

I am up to renew my car insurance and would like to hear some input from fellow IIS members on what insurance companies you think are worth looking into.

I was previously with RAC which is a Western Australian company as I was living over there before. They were fine, but I never really deal with them or made any claims either.

So far I have heard/seen good reviews for the following companies:
GIO, AAMI, NRMA.
So I got a quote for GIO which was cheapish, also got one for NRMA which was pretty expensive. But I dont mind paying the buck if its going to be worth it.

So any advice people can offer would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers

multiweb (Marc) · #2 13-01-2010, 04:29 PM

Was with NRMA. Now I'm with GIO for everything. House/content, cars even workerscomp. Over the years never had any problem with claims. They're as good as the next one I guess. When it comes to insurance I look more at the service rather than the cost. It's when you claim and it hits the fan that you know if they work for you or not. So far so good.

Jabba (Keenan) · #3 13-01-2010, 07:45 PM

I notice everyone will have their own opinion on insurance providers.

I've heard only decent reviews for GIO. I am strongly thinking they might be the go.

Thanks Marc.

Baddad (Marty) · #4 13-01-2010, 07:49 PM

Hi Keenan,

I can only speak for House and contents insurance. Refer to my thread " AAMI Rescued us". The claim for the collapsed swimming pool wall was paid out. To the tune of over $21,000. Speaking with people in the know, the opinion was no other insurance company would have honoured the claim.

We have made several claims ranging from storm damage to theft. All have been paid out. The burglar was caught by the way. We live in a small community and all are on acreage. A thief does not hide for long.

Maybe of some help to you.

Cheers Marty

that_guy (Tony) · #5 14-01-2010, 01:57 AM

the insurance company my mum uses won't pay up for storm damage on the roof because It's technically not "Part" of the House insurance...??

Lee · #6 14-01-2010, 07:18 AM

We use AAMI, no problems with claims in the past. Premiums competetive too, probably not the cheapest, but cheapest isn't always best.

Hagar (Doug) · #7 14-01-2010, 07:35 AM

I have been with AAMI for years with no problems with any claims. I always ask them to review the renewal each year and it almost always comes in cheaper than the renewal document quote.
Prices very competative and service is very good.

stephenb (Stephen) · #8 14-01-2010, 07:52 AM

We also have been with AAMI for year (house, contents, cars) easy to understand policies, never have any issues, and always competitive. The 2 car insurance claims we did have, the claim process was seemless and hassle-free.

Louwai (Bryan) · #9 14-01-2010, 07:59 AM

If it's only the car & you are not looking to group all your insurance together, try Ecar insurance. www.ecarinsurance.com.au

There is also Ebike (same company)who I have my bike insured with.
For my bike, SUNCORP etc were $1000/yr, Ebike is $460 for the same cover.
I've had 1 claim for attempted theft damage & the claim was approved within 3 business days.

Ecar is the same company so i can only assume they wouldhave the same service.

Shep · #10 14-01-2010, 08:57 AM

I HATE AAMI! I'm just in the works of getting more re repairs done under their "lifetime guarantee for repairs". They passed extremely shoddy repairs a few years ago which now all need re doing, more time wasted stuffing around with repairers. If they had of done their job properly the first time and done the inspections at the workshop while the work was in progress and inspected it properly at the end (like they say they did in their policy!) then this wouldnt have happened. Its probably all good if they just pay you out but with repairs, ugh I'm so over it!

Baddad (Marty) · #11 14-01-2010, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by that_guy

the insurance company my mum uses won't pay up for storm damage on the roof because It's technically not "Part" of the House insurance...??

Hi Tony,

AAMI has paid out several times with no hassles for re-roofing the house and shed after a violent hail storm, also the spa cover. Twice for lightning strikes, computers and DVD players damaged.

It sounds that your Mum could use this info to apply a little leverage against her insurance company.

Cheers Marty

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #12 14-01-2010, 09:12 AM

Been with RACV for many years, never a problem. I even took my wife's daughter out for her first driving lesson about an hour after she got her license...within half an hour we were back with about $3500 in damage...she had mounted the kerb turning a corner and slammed into a tree at about 20kph, went right through the passenger side headlight and panels. I pulled the hand brake on as hard as I could but the car was in first and she slammed her foot on the accelerator. I hadn't got around to telling them I may be taking a learner out, but it didn't matter to them. Other than the excess of $600 they paid up. My wife's insurance company said she would have to increase her premium on her 8 year old Lantra to more than $1500 per year if she was going to teach her daughter (needless to say, she switched to RACV).

The most important thing about insurance is not how much they cost, what they say they will cover or do for you...but more what they ACTUALLY pay. Cheap (or expensive) insurance isn't woth a cracker if ultimately they won't pay out when you make a valid claim.

Barrykgerdes · #13 14-01-2010, 09:35 AM

The secret to teaching kids (who don't have a natural ability) is to get them into an open area and teach them (on a manual transmission) how to accelerate, change gears up and down, steer, emergency braking, spinning, slides etc till they can master these I don't let them onto the road.

Baz

mithrandir (Andrew) · #14 14-01-2010, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by that_guy

the insurance company my mum uses won't pay up for storm damage on the roof because It's technically not "Part" of the House insurance...??

This is where having the building and contents insurance with the same company is helpful. Unless there is a specific exclusion they can't say it's not their problem.

Jabba (Keenan) · #15 14-01-2010, 09:49 AM

Thanks for the advice from everyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louwai

If it's only the car & you are not looking to group all your insurance together, try Ecar insurance. www.ecarinsurance.com.au

There is also Ebike (same company)who I have my bike insured with.
For my bike, SUNCORP etc were $1000/yr, Ebike is $460 for the same cover.
I've had 1 claim for attempted theft damage & the claim was approved within 3 business days.

Ecar is the same company so i can only assume they wouldhave the same service.

I gave them a try, got a quote and they declined me for the fact my license was suspended 3 years ago

Anyway Looks like I might go with AAMI.

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #16 15-01-2010, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrykgerdes

The secret to teaching kids (who don't have a natural ability) is to get them into an open area and teach them (on a manual transmission) how to accelerate, change gears up and down, steer, emergency braking, spinning, slides etc till they can master these I don't let them onto the road.

Baz

Unfortunately she had earlier said "uncle John let me drive around in his paddock when I was in Qld a couple of months ago" and "dad often lets me drive his car into the garage, or back out onto the street"...she didn't mention they were both autos

blindman · #17 15-01-2010, 10:22 PM

Was with GIO (car) PAY ATTENTION then had a claim, btw not my fault,
then renewal time came, with suddenly increased premium HELLOU, now I am with Budget (A&G Insurance) and they also allow repairer I choose, which is the most important thing guys.
Do not want to disturb you BUT how it works (most of them) when you decently crash the car, "auction" is organised - the CHEAPEST repairer get a job !!!
Too late then for cry.........generic or used parts........PHD mechanics
will give you headache........until you get rid of the bomb.
Clear skies guys
Nev

Louwai (Bryan) · #18 16-01-2010, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blindman

now I am with Budget (A&G Insurance) and they also allow repairer I choose, which is the most important thing guys.
Nev

That's something I really liked with Ebike (Ecar), when I initiated the claim for the repair of attempted theft damage to the bike, they told me to get 1 quote from the repairer of my choice.
It wasn't a large claim, approx $2k. But within 3 business days of me initiating the claim, the repairer had received a fax confirming for them to proceed.

Unfortunately it took 2mths to fix because the parts had to come from Japan. But that wasn't the insurer's fault.

Louwai (Bryan) · #19 16-01-2010, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shep

I HATE AAMI! I'm just in the works of getting more re repairs done under their "lifetime guarantee for repairs". They passed extremely shoddy repairs a few years ago which now all need re doing, more time wasted stuffing around with repairers. If they had of done their job properly the first time and done the inspections at the workshop while the work was in progress and inspected it properly at the end (like they say they did in their policy!) then this wouldnt have happened. Its probably all good if they just pay you out but with repairs, ugh I'm so over it!

Yep, I've had similar experience with AAMI.
My wife was hit in the front left cnr. Lotsa damage. Was a Mazda 929 (the really big one) Built like a tank.

The repairer (AAMI preferred) did a 'patch up' job.
After getting the car back I wasn't happy with the way it drove. Told them I was getting Mazda to check it over.
Turns out the ctr point of the left front axil was 24mm closer to the rear of the car than the right side.
The entire chassis was bent & needed to be stretched back into place. There is no way a true wheel alignment could have been completed on the car.
The AAMI repairer obviously was just trying to patch it up to save money.

THEN,
The electric mirror & window on the left front door stopped working. They worked fine before the accident. AAMI refused to replace / fix them becasue as far as they were concerned it was fair wear & tear for the age of the car.
Funny how it was only the left front door & none of the others.....

So after all that, I will never go back to AAMI.

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #20 16-01-2010, 10:17 AM

I think there are a lot of people have difffernet opinions, I noticed a couple with problems. You may want to try http://www.insuranceombudsman.com.au/

The important thing is to read the T & C which most people don't do. I am still yet to determin whether a person information spoken will be valid for T & C.