ChrisB720

Just wanted to get some opinion.... having a nightmare getting my first car insured for a competitive price in QLD - nothing flash - just a 1.8 Astra - I still have my UK licence as i only arrived last week, so I accept a small premium, but I have 10 yrs NCB - with the certificate of proof from my last company in the UK and they have told me they will not recognise it unless I provide the last 8 years Insurance history from the UK COMPLETE nightmare - ended up going from a Rate 1 to Rate 6 - which means an extra $500 p/a!!!!

PLEASE help me as I am starting to get paranoid this is some kinda Ozzie joke I need some top tips, companies or general counsel. Cheers

PS Budget Car Insurance ..... not in my books there not!!!!! Barstewards!

CCB

bushtukaman

I've found allianz to be the best for us, for five years, pricewise, cover, service ect.

Centurion

Get an Australian licence. Will take a moment of your life. Useful for everything. Then call someone like Suncorp and just ask for a quote. When asked about your NCD just say that you havn't made a claim in xx years.

If you make a song and dance about the UK, UK licence, certificates of proof it will confuse the issue. Just don't mention any of it. They will take your word for it and give you rating 1 for life.

If it ever came to being questioned in the event of a claim then you can produce all the documents, but I've claimed and never been asked for a thing.

Just don't over complicate it to the agent on the phone and just give the bare minimum of details. And get that licence.

brissyb

We came over with our no-claims certificate, of 4 years, had a quote of $ 34 per month for a 96 falcon, had a right off claim after that, in which they paid out on both cars within a week, so that was the no claims out of the window, now got a 04 magna, and our premium is $ 42 per month with Vero, via bank of queensland

Sherlock Holmes

RAC are quite good. You just tell em what your no claims is. You don't have to prove it. I still had UK licence when I first took out insurance. Made no difference at all. In fact, I think it helped!

tartankoala

Have you had quotes from more than one company?

DeadVim

My experience:
Suncorp - Great if you have staff discount!
RACQ - Competitive and have a good 'vibe'
Shannons - Good for classics and niche things
Allianz - MIL likes them
Youi - Horrible nasty practices, avoid

ABCDiamond

Go with a different company. Most of them will allow you full NCD, without the proof you are being asked for.

Budget is budget priced for straightforward risks only.

AAMI would probably give you a protected rating 1 for life from day one.

ChrisB720

All thanks for the advice ... I will re-attempt with some other companies which are more reasonable ... I have a 21-day cooling off period in any case, so it is not over yet. I will just approach companies one-by-one rather than using price comparison websites.

Thanks again for your help, have a good weekend, I will post how it goes. Cheers CCB

Buzzy--Bee

We were never asked for our no-claims discount when we first arrived, we were on temporary visas and UK driving licence and AAMI gave us rating one for life without having to prove anything.

BB

Scubaemma

Funny how different it can be for people. Youi were by far the cheapest for us.

DeadVim

Cheap yes, but cheapness has a pay-off somewhere.

I'm not in the mood to go into details but the MIL has just had a protracted and painful battle wiht them trying to prove a car that she could not possibly have been driving (and was not owned by her) was not involved in an accident (with a car insured by Youi).

They basically cut corners to establish who WAS driving the car then swore blind it wasn't their problem and did nothing to help.

Shysters ... it's the old adage ... it ain't how cheap the premium is, it's how they act when a claim comes in ...

moneypenny20

Never been asked to prove my UK NCB. It's always been accepted though and I've had a couple of large claims. Go to a different insurer.

CathnPaul

I totally agree Scuba, Youi have been great with us too. One I would have recommended. They were also the cheapest and were great to deal with. It is funny how it can be different for people.

spottydog

one thing to watch out with Allianz is, if you read the small print, their inexperienced driver excess applies until you have had an Australian drivers licence for 2 years.