Consumer Information

Overseas travel insureance

Insurance situation arising from travel
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Buying insurance

Cover your property losses
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Guidelines for resolving disputes

This is how member companies resolve disputes.
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Commercial insurance

Insure against businessesdisruption
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Motor insurance

Motor vehicle insurance can cover you against accidental loss or damage to your vehicle,
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Personal insurance

The types of cover available under personal insurance
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Marine insurance

Cover for commercial vessels and personal pleasurecraft
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Insurance fraud

An insurance claim is considered fraudulent when it is based on facts that are simply untrue
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Do not insure your child's car in your name

Under 25-year-olds have higher premiums because they represent a greater insurance risk.

Drivers under 25 years of age have a far higher number of accidents and claims than older drivers.

Parents who try to reduce the cost of insurance for their children by insuring the vehicle in their own name are misleading the insurance company as to the identity of the principal driver. This is fraudulent.

The insurance policy should be in the child's name - even if the parents are paying the premium.

Nominated Drivers

If you choose a motor vehicle policy that restricts the people who drive your car to:

• Drivers you nominate, or
• Drivers over 25 years of age

Then stick to it. You will not be covered if someone either under the age of 25 or not a nominated driver, drives your vehicle.

Restricted Licences

A person (usually teenagers) on a restricted licence must not drive between 10.00pm and 5.00am without a licensed adult supervisor, nor carry any passengers at any time without an adult supervisor.

There is also a virtual ban on alcohol.

Make sure the conditions are adhered to. As a restricted licence holder, if you have an accident while breaching the conditions of your licence, and this contributes to the accident, you will not be covered by insurance.

Drink Driving

The Insurance Council recommends you do not consume any alcohol before driving a motor vehicle.

All insurance companies will decline a claim where:

• The driver is found to be over the legal alcohol limit, and
• The intoxication contributed to the crash.

Some insurance companies may also reserve the right to decline your claim if:

• You were under the legal alcohol limit
  
  BUT
• The alcohol consumed contributed to the crash.

Although most insurance companies have changed their policy wordings to being over the legal limit, you should check your policy wording to make sure.

Disqualified Driver

Your insurance will usually be voided if you drive while disqualified or allow a disqualified driver to use your vehicle.

Unsafe Vehicle

If you drive a vehicle that has an obvious defect that causes a crash, it is likely you will not be insured. Defects that you should be aware of and have repaired include:

• Faulty steering
• Poor headlights
• Bald tyres, and
• Worn brakes

Do not assume that a current warrant of fitness will protect you.

If there is a defect you should have known about, and it caused your crash, that can still jeopardise your insurance. Hidden defects that you couldn't be expected to know about will not affect your insurance.

 

 

 

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