Insurance modification costs

[RLI]

G,day folks,

I am inquiring about insurance cost premiums for modification to Nissan Navara D40’s and D22’s with the following being fitted ie; 2 or 3inch suspension and body lifts and 33 or 35inch tyre size increases.

For those of you with the above mentioned modifications already fitted to your D40’s, and D22’s and for those that have the modifications insured. Could you please share your experience with dealing with your respective insurance company and could you also share what you new premium costs are now and what you had to do to satisfy your insurance company, so you could be legally covered.

Do you need an engineering certificate to have the above mentioned and if so what is the average cost of getting one, especially if you are living in NSW.

Is their one specific insurance company out there that specialises in 4x4 modification policies?

Finally, are there certain insurance companies to stay clear of?

Regards,

RLI

 

[Cleasc]

Talk about a broad question...

Do you have a D40 or D22??
2inch and 31's (I think) is legal, 3inch and 33's is def illegal.

My understanding is that anything over the 50mm lift and 50mm increase in tyres is illegal and requires an engineers cert.

Once you have an engineering cert. there shouldn't be any reason the insurance companies wouldn't cover the vehicle (depending on ur driving history). But there are so many factor to take into account when estimating what premium you will pay.

I'm currently with CGU and pay around $60/month ($700ish/year) for a D22 with 2" lift and 32's plus a decent stereo system. But I'm 30 with a good driving history. But a mate of mine (same age) pays over $1500/year for a piece of shit daihatsu applause because he's a useless driver and had so many DUI's I'm surprised he hasn't been locked up yet.

So, to summarise... go and get some quotes from the actual insurance companies.

 

[Tiburn]

23yr old male. $70 per month with Allianz through a insurance broker. with all the mods below listed.

 

[jjohn]

My understanding is that Insurance Co's don't share statistics on comprehensive policy's. Explained to me this way. Co X has 1700 D40 Navara's insured and total loss of 7 = low risk. Co Y has 1700 but a total loss of 750 = higher risk. So the premiums reflect that. Very simply put. So it pay's to shop around. They are like banks, in business to make $ and it's not allway's best to have "muli policy discount. But you may not be bothered. I say, what's my time worth? Obviously your risk is harder to calculate with BIG mods, especially if they are SEEN to be borderline illegal or definitely so. My ins, Suncorp, charges NO more for my accessories but list them. I have NO serious mods tho. I know I didn't really answer your Q. Just sharing!

 

[Old.Tony]

You have to be careful with insurance companies. Their primary goal is not to provide you with insurance, but to provide a financial dividend to their shareholders and investors.

Basically, if they can weasel out of paying for something, they will - it's a business.

This means that vehicle modifications are going to catch an assessor's eye. Some modifications can be covered by your current policy without change - for example, a 50mm suspension lift is (in NSW) legal and therefore not something an insurance company could refuse a claim on.

The refusals begin when the modifications either stretch the laws or break them. A 75mm lift breaks the law BUT because you can have the lift certified by an engineer, the law "stretches" to allow it. Extended shackles, however, can't be engineer-certified (as far as I know, the engineers were instructed to refuse certification on these) so the use of these will void the insurance policy.

Modifications that fall outside the ADR specifications and that do NOT have an engineer's certificate render the vehicle unroadworthy and THAT is the means that the insurance company uses to refuse a claim.

They could refuse a claim if you had bald tyres - they are certainly within their legal rights to. The trick is to keep the vehicle roadworthy, so that it would pass a pit inspection at all times. If you have a certificate for some modification, it (or a clear copy of it) should remain with the vehicle at all times.

The bugger of this is that engineer certificates aren't cheap. Last I heard, a NSW engineer certificate ran at a minimum of about $1,000 for each modification made. Some modifications require more - because they have more extensive testing, like a big (100-125mm) lift would need a lane-change test.

 

[jjohn]

^Much better said^

 

[Bosshog]

As always Tony has summaried it superbly.

A good mate of mine is an insurance broker and a keen 4WDer. The key thing is to ensure that all mods are legal and all mods are listed with the insurance company otherwise they will not be replaced if the vehicle is stolen or written off.

Examples

Another mate had an AU Falcon ute and was T boned. Ute was written off but he had a lovely polished alloy sports bar fitted that wasn't listed on the policy. The insurance would not allow him to remove it from the wreck as they now owned the vehicle.

My mother hit a roo about 6 months ago and wrote off her 15 y.o. Merc. It had an after market six stacker CD unit etc in the boot listed in the policy. We negotiated the extraction of the unit from the wreck as part of the settlement. Now if only I could find a place to fit that massive sub-woofer in my D40.

 

[RLI]

Talk about a broad question...

Do you have a D40 or D22??
2inch and 31's (I think) is legal, 3inch and 33's is def illegal.

My understanding is that anything over the 50mm lift and 50mm increase in tyres is illegal and requires an engineers cert.

Once you have an engineering cert. there shouldn't be any reason the insurance companies wouldn't cover the vehicle (depending on ur driving history). But there are so many factor to take into account when estimating what premium you will pay.

I'm currently with CGU and pay around $60/month ($700ish/year) for a D22 with 2" lift and 32's plus a decent stereo system. But I'm 30 with a good driving history. But a mate of mine (same age) pays over $1500/year for a piece of shit daihatsu applause because he's a useless driver and had so many DUI's I'm surprised he hasn't been locked up yet.

So, to summarise... go and get some quotes from the actual insurance companies.

G,day folks,

Tony's response is what this tread is about. I am looking for the appropriate information to help inform new members and current members of this forum that maybe contemplating modifying their respective Navara’s but are unaware of the pitfalls and further cost’s that may come with those modifications.

I for one would love to have higher ground clearance under my current D40 which currently has a 2inch lift and 265 x 75 x 16 wheels and tyres. However, I would like to know and I am sure a lot of other people out there would like to know how easy or difficult it is to get those modifications insured.

I was merely asking if the information was amongst our members that it could be shared to help others. If the information is not amongst us, then I will research the answers to the following questions below and any other inquiry that you may have and provide it to the forum.

1. What is the correct process involved in getting modifications approved in
the various states around Australia?

2. How much does it cost to get an engineering certificate in the various
states around Australia?

3. Is their a specialised insurer out in the market place that caters for 4 x 4
modifications? ie Shannon’s

4. Is their a substantial premium cost to have your modifications insured?

5. What are the potential pit-falls for an insurer failing to pay-out a claim
after an accident has occurred?

With the amount of modified vehicles listed on the forum and general enquiries about serious modifications, I thought my thread would be helpful to others.

PS, Thanks Tony for your input.

Regards,

RLI

 

[Bosshog]

RLI

Your 265 x 75 x 16 wheels and tyres are an illegal fitment without an engineer's cert. It is for this reason I have only gone to 265/70s. If you were in an accident and the assessor could link the illegal tyre size to the cause then they may not pay up.

1. What is the correct process involved in getting modifications approved in the various states around Australia?

I looked at certifying the Calmini 5 inch lift and 285/75s here in SA. It is a drawn out process but can be done. I needed to hire an aerodrome for the day. Undertake numerous lane changing tests and braking tests. All up including the suspension, wheels, tyres, flares for the wheel arches, areodrome hire and engineer's costs I had no change from $10k.


2. How much does it cost to get an engineering certificate in the various
states around Australia? In SA about $1000 + GST for each mod to be certified.

3. Is their a specialised insurer out in the market place that caters for 4 x 4
modifications? ie Shannon’s

TCIS in Adelaide are specialist 4WD insurance brokers. But they are too expensive IMO. Oddly, Allianz will happily insure all your legal mods except if you have modified the factory exhaust in some-way-shape-or-form. I have used CGU in the past and they are great. I am currently with Lumley's because they offer good discounts for drivers with a long history of no accidents. All my mods are legal and listed on the policy.

4. Is their a substantial premium cost to have your modifications insured?

Yes you pay extra to cover your mods. It is not much more though.

5. What are the potential pit-falls for an insurer failing to pay-out a claim
after an accident has occurred?

Obvious one would think. One of my employees was involved in a accident many years ago when he was driving an unregistered and uninsured car. He went to court and was order to pay. He negotiated $25 per week for many, many, many years.

BH

 

[Aussie Frontier]

I have gone through all the Engineered process
I have after market upper control arms, struts and wheels.Basically $275 per item to get certified. Yes your non standard wheels are meant to be checked too.Running a wheel that is not load rated for the truck will void any insurance as it is not legal.Different states have different rules as far as tires go. I legally have 265/75/R16or 265/70/R17 on the truck but where they are legal in the ACT they are illegal in VIC AFIK.
Body lifts are legal in some states and not in others.
Good thing we have a National Code of Practice that the states are meant to go by however all have their own ideas whats what. ACT follows them to the letter.
Insurance upped my excess to $700 from $600 due to the vehicle now being "modified".
Insured with GIO and cant remember exactly how much a year I pay but it is decent compared to others.
I have to keep a full copy of the Engineers report in the truck at all times to prove its legal.

 

[Brett 76]

I plan to get a 3" lift and upgrade boots to either 32's or make 33's fit. But here in WA, i am not too sure of exact cost's and rules. Hopefully someone from wa can help. But i believe i have to print and fill out a Application to modify a vehicle. http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/LBU_F_VS_ModificationLightVehicles.pdf

Once that is hopefully approved, install modification and get it signed off by engineer. THEN inquire regarding insurance costs.

Brett

 

[RLI]

G,evening Gents,

Great reponses, keep the info coming, it would be great to get some input from any one in Queensland, VIC, TAS, WA, and NT.

Regards,

RLI

 

[loco12]

I have gone through the precess of engineering my D22 in tas.
Had to fill out an application to modify the vehicle, then wait to get "approval in principal" then modify the vehicle (i did theis back to front as i had done the mods first), then get the engineer inspection and lane change test. In tas they use the national code of practice so if it doesnt meet that it wont pass, i got knocked back on 285/75 tyres.
i got 3" lift with control arms, 1.25" body lift, 265/75's, modified track width, and steel wheels engineered including lane change test all done for $825.
insured with aami listed all mods including stuff that didnt need to be engineered $600 p/a.

 

[murf6]

G'day loco,

Mate thanks for your info on that. I am about to go through the process of modifying and having approved my new D40 here in tas. Did they have any issues with the body lift fitted to your ute as it has airbags? where did you have to complete your lane change test? I have heard of people having to hire out race tracks etc for this. What engeerer did you use mate? Sorry for all the questions but any further info you could pass on would be greatly appreciated

Cheers murf

 

[loco12]

Murf,
no issues with the body lift and airbags, they didnt even question it. i just stated the material and grade of bolts i used to make the kit and it was all good.
like i said only issue i had was with the 285/75's as they didnt meet the national code of practice, so they stay in the shed and only get put on for trips now.
the engineer i used was Steve Caplice at Fogerty Auto in Hobart and the lane change test was done at Baskerville race way and driven by one of the HQ racers, Steve did 6 4x4's on the day to help keep the costs down for all of us. would highly recommend Steve if your in the south.
the paperwork took about 3 weeks to get back after posting it and submit as much info/detail as you can just to make the transport departments job as easy as possible.

 

[RLI]

RLI

Your 265 x 75 x 16 wheels and tyres are an illegal fitment without an engineer's cert. It is for this reason I have only gone to 265/70s. If you were in an accident and the assessor could link the illegal tyre size to the cause then they may not pay up.

1. What is the correct process involved in getting modifications approved in the various states around Australia?

I looked at certifying the Calmini 5 inch lift and 285/75s here in SA. It is a drawn out process but can be done. I needed to hire an aerodrome for the day. Undertake numerous lane changing tests and braking tests. All up including the suspension, wheels, tyres, flares for the wheel arches, areodrome hire and engineer's costs I had no change from $10k.


2. How much does it cost to get an engineering certificate in the various
states around Australia? In SA about $1000 + GST for each mod to be certified.

3. Is their a specialised insurer out in the market place that caters for 4 x 4
modifications? ie Shannon’s

TCIS in Adelaide are specialist 4WD insurance brokers. But they are too expensive IMO. Oddly, Allianz will happily insure all your legal mods except if you have modified the factory exhaust in some-way-shape-or-form. I have used CGU in the past and they are great. I am currently with Lumley's because they offer good discounts for drivers with a long history of no accidents. All my mods are legal and listed on the policy.

4. Is their a substantial premium cost to have your modifications insured?

Yes you pay extra to cover your mods. It is not much more though.

5. What are the potential pit-falls for an insurer failing to pay-out a claim
after an accident has occurred?

Obvious one would think. One of my employees was involved in a accident many years ago when he was driving an unregistered and uninsured car. He went to court and was order to pay. He negotiated $25 per week for many, many, many years.

BH

G,day Boss,

Oh shit! Thanks for the advice mate I will look into that.

When i bought the D40 in Victoria last year it was fitted with 265 x 75 x 16's Cooper ST's. I just presumed that was the tyre size for the D40. When I replaced them with the Pirelli’s, I only went for that tyre size due to what was already fitted.

I am annoyed now because that should have been pick-up when I had the roadworthy hear in NSW.

Thanks mate,

PS, I have now learned something!

Regards,

RLI

 

[Bosshog]

Thanks mate,

PS, I have now learned something!

Regards,

RLI

That's the best thing about the wonderful forum - we all learn from sharing knowledge and ideas.