Which Insurance company are you with?

[pologti18t]

Have any of you guys tried Shannons?

[Corey_R]

Guys, DO NOT go with AAMI to insure your Golf.

I'd been with AAMI for years whilst I had a Toyota Seca and then Echo Sportivo, and I must say I was quite happy with them. But these are VW's we're talking about, not crappy Toyotas!. They do insurance jobs these days, if you're in an accidnet, you can't pick who is going to do the work, and even worse, they just give it to the lowest bidder This is also why many reputable and prestige repairers will not even quote for AAMI customers, or they at least charge a fee to quote for AAMI customers.

At least with NRMA you can get a few of your own quotes and as long as who you want is reasonable compared to the others, you can go with them. I'm with NRMA for my Polo GTI. For me I could get the comprehensive plus and it was cheaper than AAMI anyway (though that could've been due to mutli-policy discounts).

On my Oettinger/APR Golf GTI I was with Shannons. They were great, HOWEVER, their 'hire car' policy is ONLY for theft. They do not even have the option of paying additional on your policy for a hire car for the other situations may lead you to being carless. Hence, I was without a car for almost a month whilst waiting for my car to be finally written off and cheque delivered.
Shannons are very open to (legal) modifications and even you taking your car to a racetrack. They'll even insure your car on the racetrack for when you're doing advanced driving courses etc. They only won't insure you during 'timed laps'.

Anyone I know with YOUI who has actually had to claim has regretted it :/

Another option which friends of mine have recommended is QBE. I haven't personally used them before, but they have excellent 'new for old' replacement policy (will replace your car with a new one for up to the first 4 years! NRMA only does 2 years, and AAMI 1?) and they also have comprehensive options for things like bikes and other equipment carried on the outside of the car (QBE are one of the few insurers that would insure my friends $10k+ carbon fibre road bike whilst attached to the rear of his car).

[Hail]

I ended up getting insurance with NRMA for $1,300/yr and $800 excess, thats comp plus (unlimited hire car option, glass replacement).

Never had any problems with them, and you have the added benefit of:

* New for old cover (2 yrs)
* 24 hr assistance line
* Unlimited hire car option
* Glass replacement (all of it, not just the windscreen)

I got silly quotes from GIO, YOUI... my only other option was Suncorp who I've been with for 5 yrs.

[aeon]

No NRMA up here, they suggest using CGU on the website, for $1500 a year.. that's double the cost of going with AAMI!

$846 through my current insurance company (TIO... kinda like GIO for you southerners I guess).

[Corey_R]

Doesn't QLD have RACV? Or is 'Top End' meaning NT?
GIO are a competent insurance company who also let you repair with who you like (well, the last time a friend needed to anyway... didn't bother looking up their site )

[MurphyTheElf]

Doesn't QLD have RACV?

Nope. They would have RACQ.

My GTI cover note is with QBE simply because I knew their number and needed insurance to drive out of the dealership. They quoted just over $1000 for my spec with business usage. I'm going to shop around this week, but I'm pretty satisfied with that so far.

[aeon]

Yeah I'm in the NT... our equivalent of RACQ etc is AANT - might see what they offer.

[goodfella]

My cars are with AAMI...and I do get to choose my repairer. It helps when they are on the AAMI list as well. All it takes is a written quote from the repairer and then either drive it to the assessor or if its undriveable they come to the car.

[MurphyTheElf]

I've been calling around getting quotes today. I have a cover note from QBE while I shop around. I tried RAC (WA), QBE, Shannons and the Volkswagen dealer's insurance. They are all competitive with each other with some differences. Only Shannons didn't have an adjustable minimum excess ($650) while the others started at $350 and were fully adjustable. VW insurance had a 3 year new for old, while Shannons only had 12 months. The others were 2 years. VW also guarantee only genuine parts are used on the repair, plus they give options for better hire car and windows replacement conditions. The only problem (and it's a biggie) is that VW have a really stringent turbo policy for under 30's. I had to wrangle to get my 28 year old girlfriend on the policy - only successful because she has a great driving record.

So overall, I rank them:

VW
Shannons
RAC
QBE

If I get bored, I might try some more....

[Corey_R]

Don't forget man, NO hire car with Shannons....
and QBE you have the option of 4 year new for old replacement, plus external item protection (if that is important to you)