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MG MGA - HELP! INSURANCE TO DRIVE AN MGA IN AUSTRALIA

Joining the Australian MG National Meeting in Adelaide at Easter and the 'White Lady' is now on the high seas from the UK, after several twists and turns.

One important detail which I had {mistakenly!} imagined would be straightforward and free of hassle: INSURANCE to drive downunder.

Shannons in Oz was mentioned by several Aussies as the preferred Insurer. A call direct to Shannons, as well as indirect assistance from an MGCC member - result, NO! we only insure you if you are RESIDENT in Australia.

Hagerty, my UK Insurer: NO! Australia is outside our territorial sphere.

RAC in the UK: Insurance scheme backed by Hagerty, again NO!

AA: No clue.

MG Car Club: No experience on the subject but a suggestion to approach Peter Best. Result: Spoken with both Aviva and Allianz; unable to help, "Oz is outside of their territorial limits."

CARS Europe: Advise to speak with TYSERS. Result: "We provide insurance cover for all rally participants, such as the Beijing to Peking, unable to help an individual.

Each of the above-mentioned has been extremely helpful and sympathetic to my request, especially TYSERS, who explained that it comes down to supply and demand, BUT, we cannot help you. The message is that Australia is similar to a far-off galaxy, and acquiring insurance cover to drive your MG on the moon may well be an easier proposition.

Dave Godwin has invited Yani and me to join the Gold Coast MGCC members on their 5,000km return trip after the Natmeet. This is of course a trip we look forward to with great anticipation.

So Australians: HELP! Can anyone give some practical advise how to insure my MGA for a 2 month period in your vast and beautiful country?

All help most graciously appreciated...

Doug



Doug Wallace

Planned route Adelaide to Gold Coast...

Doug Wallace

Sorry, first post should of course read... Beijing to PARIS..
Doug Wallace

Doug, maybe if you are in the RAC over there, there may be a possibility of the reciprocal arrangement with the RAA in Sth. Oz. The Adelaide number is 08 8202 4567 or look up www.raa.com.au. Good luck and hope to see you in Adelaide. I have given my name for concours judging in either. MG TC, TF or A, I have previously judged MGA's.
Regards, Don TF 4887 "Figaro' TC 1736 "Sibelius'
Don Walker

Doug
I will ring Shannons tomorrow to see what can be done on your behalf.
The Melbourne guys have multiple cars insured with them including myself.

cheers
Ian Prior
Ian Prior

Doug
An option, if you can't get full insurance without living here--
There is an insurance called Backpacker insurance which allows foreign drivers to get third party property insurance to cover anything/anyone you might crash into up to $5mil-but unfortunately your own car isn't covered with this one
Also I understand you will need an International Drivers Permit to claim any insurance

Fingers crossed, Ian can come up with something better

willy
William Revit

Don, thanks for the contact number for the RAA in SA., I will give them a call.

Ian, that would be most appreciated, anything you can do to help with Shannons. I have been in contact with Cowden's Insurance in SA who promised to try to help but still waiting for something positive back.

Willy, I have already applied for and been issued with an International Drivers Permit, thanks for this information.

Doug

Doug Wallace

Doug, attached is a link from the Australian Automobile Association; some of the info may be of help as it relates to insurance:

http://www.aaa.asn.au/storage/BRING%20YOUR%20CAR%20TO%20AUSTRALIA.pdf
Nick Kopernik

It appears that the above link will not work properly if you just click it on (an error will occur). Copy the link URL and then paste directly into your browser and then do a search; the pdf should come right up.
Nick Kopernik

Nick, thank you for this link, good information, the Kings Cross just may be a viable option..

Cheers,

Doug
Doug Wallace

Doug
Unfortunately Shannons won't come to the party as you aren't an Australian Resident

I have contacted the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria ( RACV ) and I can take out insurance on your behalf. However, it would need to be a full 12 month term and then claim back what you don't use on a pro rata basis. You can't take out Classic insurance for older vehicles due to your high usage in the time you will be here and therefore the initial cost would be high as it is a normal type policy.
Sounds easy but a bit complicated. I will contact you off group to discuss.
Might be better to get the insurance in SA as that is where you are starting from.
I also think you may have to register the car going by the web site Nick mentions, Happy Days.
cheers
Ian
Ian Prior

Why do we seem to have this insurance problem? I went with Ian Prior and his group with our cars to the UK in 2015, and we had the same problem, which was eventually solved via one of the party. Insurance companies Worldwide seem to have this reluctance to insure, even though they may be represented in the Country you intend to take your car. Even the well known classic car insurers seem to draw a line at there back door...I'll have a "go" at Shannons, who would probably be the largest insurer of classics in Australia....they refuse to look at helping enthusiasts taking their cars overseas...WHY? I know that they are really only Brokers, and underwrite via Suncorp Metway I believe, but surely there is a solution to this BS!
Gary Lock

I agree Gary - lets light up their Facebook and Twitter pages!
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Ian, thanks for all your help and calling the RACV; please hold off for the moment, as I seem to be making some progress with Cowden's brokers in SA.

Seems that fully comprehensive insurance is a definite no-no for overseas visitors using their own overseas-registered cars. The car needs to be registered in South Australia and an International Visitors Permit must be applied for.

CTP - Compulsory Third Party Insurance, from what I now understand, is required at the time of registration. TPPD - Third Party Property Damage seems also a legal requirement; Cowden's are working on this for me.

Thanks Gary and Mike too...

Cheers,

Doug
Doug Wallace

I'll await to hear what Shannons have to say following my Facebook post!
Mike

Mike Ellsmore

Mike, I've just added my "two bobs worth" to your Shannons FB page.
Gary Lock

Well said Mike, and love your "two bobs worth" Gary!

Doug
Doug Wallace

Good luck with your insurance Doug, although living in Sth. Oz and owning many classic cars I can't say I've ever heard of Cowdens. Did you have any luck with the RAA?
Regards, Don TF 4887 "Figaro' TC 1376 "Sibelius'
Don Walker

Thanks Don for the help, COWDEN's was recommended to me by Geraldine and they are the ONLY insurer until now who has shown willingness to obtain a quote for me for TPPD - Third Party Property Damage insurance, a legal minimum.

I now know that the car has to be registered in South Australia and my understanding is that the registration process must include mandatory CTP - Compulsory Third Party insurance, also a legal minimum. For visitors like myself who are bringing an overseas registered vehicle into Australia on a temporary [holiday] basis, using a Carnet de Passages en Douane {CPD}, then fully comprehensive insurance is out of the question.

Still not finalised but looking more promising.

Thanks to Mike and Gary for posting their protest on SHANNONS Facebook page. There is under current conditions with regard to insurance, very little incentive for classic car enthusiasts to consider bringing their cars to tour Australia.

Many thanks to all who have given me some very helpful pointers and to the MGCC of South Australia.

Doug

Doug Wallace

Would be interesting to know what the situation is in New Zealand where Aussies sometimes take their cars on holidays - most probably a lot easier as they are generally most efficient than us!
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Mike, when we took our MG's to NZ in 2008, we managed to get insurance through AON. The cars had to be registered on a temporary basis, and checked for a "Warrant of Fitness" at a testing station. We were allowed to use our existing number plates for the registration period.
Gary Lock

Doug

Fingers crossed for you mate

I don't know if this will be available to you but it might be worth asking--

With Third Party Property insurance---Most insurance companies in Aust offer an extra to this policy called Fire and Theft
With this option, which costs very little-around $30 on top of whatever the policy is, the policy then covers your own car against fire damage or theft up to usually around $5000 - It won't be anywhere near the value of your car, but it's $5000 better than nothing

A lot of motorists here run with this instead of full comprehensive insurance---including me
I've never had full comprehensive ever, I run with 3rd party property with fire and theft and take the punt on my own car for any damage I might do to it myself

Not long now-sorry that your trip has been burdened with this lot - hopefully all will work out for you soon
willy

William Revit

Doug

I will get a contact for you in Europe who arranges insurance for just this type of travel, and apparently does it worldwide. She insures the camper van of one of my friends when he takes it to other parts of the world including Australia.

Please remind me on Wednesday by email if you haven't heard from me by then

Dominic Clancy

Dominic,

Thanks for this, sounds very promising.

I remember reading on another thread that you will be in Asia next month, please contact me if you come to Bali, I will be here until departure to Adelaide on 12 April for the Aussies Natmeet.

Doug
Doug Wallace

Maria M. Alessie
Assurantiekantoor Alessie
Eliotplaats 174
3068 VL Rotterdam
The Netherlands

tel +31 10 4 555 946
fax +31 10 4 555 948

alessie@alessie.com

Not planning to come to Bali, sorry
Dominic Clancy

Thanks for the contact Dominic..

Cheers,

Doug
Doug Wallace

Finally some good news: secured TPPD - Third Party Property Damage insurance for the MGA for our Australian adventure - for the Adelaide National Meeting and Dave Godwin's Adelaide to the Gold Coast road trip.

Special thanks to Ian Prior for offer of help and advice, as well as to Mike Ellsmore, Gary Lock, Don Walker, Willy Revit, Nick Kopernik, Geraldine Hough from the Natmeet committee, and others for ideas and advice, much appreciated!

COWDEN's of Adelaide came up with the cover through Allianz.

The "White Lady" is scheduled to dock in Adelaide today..

Doug
Doug Wallace

Great to hear Doug. Hope to catch up with you at the end of Daves trip.
Gary Lock

Look forward to meeting you in Adelaide Doug. If you are in, or are going to the Concors, I will have my TC there, although I will be judging in the TF division. If you are coming down Goolwa Beach way on the Fleurieu Peninsula, about 90 km South of Adelaide during your stay, drop me a note via my email.
Regards, Don TF 4887 "Figaro' TC 1736 "Sibelius'
Don Walker

This thread was discussed between 14/02/2017 and 14/03/2017

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