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While standard car insurance providers may agree to cover vehicles designed for off-roading on a case by case basis, you may find that your modified or accessorised vehicle needs specialised cover. It really comes down to the work you have done to your vehicle and if fits within the cover of a standard policy.
Specialised off-road car insurance policies are often largely equivalent to comprehensive car insurance with a few additional features.
Before you can get a quote, you’ll generally need to discuss it with an insurer and do a more in-depth application.
This is not only because of modifications, but also because you generally need to explicitly mention to insurers that you’ll be taking it off road, what kind of driving you do and how frequently you generally do it.
The additional options you’ll find with off-road car insurance depends largely on the policy. Some insurers might include some options automatically, while others won’t have them available at all.
Other options can include some savings as well as extra costs. For example, if you only go off-roading occasionally and don’t use the 4WD as your daily driver then you might want to look for a limited-use policy option or one that lets you specify a lay-up period.
The main exclusions to consider when you take out an off-roading policy are naturally whether or not a policy will cover you to take the vehicle on sand dunes, on a bush track or while you make your own track.
Other key exclusions you’ll generally find with almost all policies, no matter whether it’s standard car insurance or specialised 4WD, are:
However, just because a policy includes cover while off road, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will actually be covered.
There are some other key exclusions which might make or break a policy if you’re looking a more standard car insurance policy.
Read the guide to modified car insurance
Think about both the quoted premiums and the excesses when comparing costs. If a policy’s premiums seem suspiciously affordable, you might want to pay special attention to the excesses.
More than one excess can apply to a claim:
The excess can have a significant impact on your premiums. A higher excess naturally lowers your premiums, and vice versa.
Premiums are generally based on how likely you are to make a claim.
There are several comprehensive car insurance policies that offer an adequate level of cover for some 4WD vehicles. However, you should look at the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to see whether or not you'll actually be covered for the places you plan on going and things you intend to do in your 4WD or 4x4.
You might want to consider getting a specialised off-road 4WD car insurance policy as they specifically cater their policies to off-road 4WD vehicles. They usually come with additional add-ons as well, such as beach and other off-road driving cover.
There's really no one best policy when it comes to 4WD and 4x4 insurance as nobody is looking for exactly the same level of cover. Nevertheless, there are a few things worth looking out for when it comes to finding the right policy for you. These include:
While there are several well-known insurance companies that provide 4WD insurance, you may prefer to go with a specialist insurer. Here are some of the providers who offer 4WD insurance:
Alternatively, a comprehensive car insurance policy may be all you need for your 4WD. It really depends on what you plan to use it for.
When modifying your car, make sure that you don't compromise your insurance policy. With accessories and modifications you're generally only insured for what's specified in your policy document. With all car insurance, whether standard or specialised for 4WDs, you'll need to specifically ask about modifications.
Depending on the insurer, some might not cover any performance affecting modifications, while others will only cover a few kinds. Custom suspension, engine modifications, roll bars and generally anything that affects how the car handles in any way counts as performance affecting, and can be harder to find cover for.
Unless your policy specifically says they're covered, your modifications may not be insured. That's because modifications can void your policy. For instance, if your 4x4 is lifted more than 50mm, there's a good chance it doesn't meet your state's registration requirements. If you crashed your 4x4, it's likely they won't cover you for repairs – even if you had cover for this – as the modification would invalidate your claim. Be sure then, to outline every modification you've made as if you don't, it's likely it won't be covered.
Picture: GettyImages
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