4WD Insurance? Eng. Certificate req'd.?

[Mitch]

Hi all, I am probably like a lot of people out there at the moment trying to find some 4WD Insurance for our modifications and what we are actually covered for.

Every instance where I have tried, DGA, TCIS, AAMI, RACV, Australian Four Wheel Drive Insurance (OAMPS) and maybe a couple of others I am awaiting to hear back from, have, after many questions getting through to get the bare facts (read, fine print!), stated that they will cover any modifications to my Vehicle "PROVIDING THE VEHICLE IS LEGALLY ROADWORTHY" which means that without an engineers certificate, my vehicle is not covered. Standard fitments, lights, winches etc are covered as accessories.

The Modifications we have on our GU II 3.0 are, 3" OME Spring lift and 33" Tyres and since in Victoria this does not conform to Vic Roads ADR (Australian Design Rules) the vehicle is essentially unroadworthy. The only way we see around this is to get an Engineers Certificate to get a compliance plate. ??
Who has pursued this path, and what sort of costs are involved??

We do not want to have an accident and not be covered due to oversize tyres or modified suspension. It is not worth the chance of hoping someone doesn't notice when it is in the insurance companies interest to notice these things so they do not have to pay out!

Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated!!

Mitch.

The below is the typical response I have been getting, this one was from DGA:-


From: [mailto:]
Sent: Monday, 13 November 2006 4:05 PM
To: Kelly Downie
Subject: RE: Insurance Quote Request

Hi Kelly,
Can you (or the appropriate person in your organisation) please provide me with some detailson what Modifications DGA Insurance will cover on my 4WD?? I sent in the appropriate electronicform via the Internet initially to your organisation which detailed my modifications so I could get a quote.
The reason I am asking is that on the quotation provided to me, it doesn't state what is acceptableand what is not.
Unfortunately no specifics are stated within your Product Disclosure Statement onwhat is OK and what is not. I am sure you are probably asked these questions all the time.
The reason is I have a suspension Upgrade/Lift from Old Man Emu and need to know if this modificationis covered along with a tyre size increase of 285x75R16 ?
Can somebody please get back to me so I can proceed with your Companies Insurance Cover for my Vehicle?

Their Official response:-
Hi ,

You will need to check with Vic Roads, if the vehicle is roadworthy we cover it, if it is outside their guidelines, we do not offer cover.

Regards,

Kelly

[waveriders]

I had my last Patrol engineered cost was about $600. You provide a list of mods to the engineer and he test that they are OK. YOu then take the certificate to the RTA (in NSW) and they keep a copy and note the system and your rego papers. No changes to the compliance plate are made. I used to then keep a copy of the rego papers and a copy of the engineers certificate in the car just in case.

"You will need to check with Vic Roads, if the vehicle is roadworthy we cover it, if it is outside their guidelines, we do not offer cover"

I assume that if you have a pink slip (NSW) or equivalent than the vehicle is roadworth whether or not you have an engineers certificate.

[mickyd213]

I thought with tyre sizes you could go 2" above standard. Don't know about suspension

[Mitch]

Thanks Waveriders, appreciate the info. It looks like I will be going down that path to have peace of mind in the event that if required, I will be covered by my insurer. The insurance Companies sure don't want to let you know the facts!

In relation to Tyre size Mickeyd213, I think in the relevant ADR (Australian Design Rules) currently you are only allowed to go 15mm greater than the reccommended tyre overall Diameter. Someone mentioned to me today that Vic Roads are looking at bringing in an increase in this overall Tyre diameter rule early next year to 50mm which will satisfy a lot of us.

Damn regulations! There are too many discrepancies between all our State Motoring Bodies. Trying to find answers seems to be like pulling teeth!