Car Hire in Australia: need for SLI?

In summary, is it sensible to take out Supplementary Liability
Insurance (SLI) when hiring cars in Victoria, New South Wales, Northern
Territory and Queensland?

I have read past threads about car hire insurance but cannot find a
clear answer. This is partly because I cannot find out
just what is covered by the mandatory insurance.

By way of background:

o we are UK residents
o we shall be hiring cars in Melbourne, Sydney, Ayers Rock and Cairns
o we intend to take out separate insurance against excess, tyres,
windows etc from Questor or the like since the hire companies charges
seem exorbitant (eg AUD33 a day from Thrifty in Ayers Rock).
o the separate insurance providers invariably offer policies with and
without SLI. I know that SLI is highly desirable (in my view essential
unless one is a gambler) in the USA and Canada where there is otherwise
little or no cover for third party liabilities

What I can't find is the position in Australia (in the
States/Territories
mentioned above) as regards damage to third parties and third party
property. The hirers sites generally just say that compulsory third
party insurance imposed by the various State and Territory Registration
Authorities is included in the cost (often with a fee shown for it).
But I can't see what it covers and for how much.

Any advice - if only on where to look - would be much appreciated.

--
R

gravel roads, road trains, roos, completely different to what most tourists
have encountered b4, high likelihood of glass damage
but still more like buying the car again $230/week
$33/day isnt bad, for the rental co

--
_ _
"neverwas" wrote in message
m...
In summary, is it sensible to take out Supplementary Liability
Insurance (SLI) when hiring cars in Victoria, New South Wales, Northern
Territory and Queensland?

I have read past threads about car hire insurance but cannot find a
clear answer. This is partly because I cannot find out
just what is covered by the mandatory insurance.

By way of background:

o we are UK residents
o we shall be hiring cars in Melbourne, Sydney, Ayers Rock and Cairns
o we intend to take out separate insurance against excess, tyres,
windows etc from Questor or the like since the hire companies charges
seem exorbitant (eg AUD33 a day from Thrifty in Ayers Rock).
o the separate insurance providers invariably offer policies with and
without SLI. I know that SLI is highly desirable (in my view essential
unless one is a gambler) in the USA and Canada where there is otherwise
little or no cover for third party liabilities

What I can't find is the position in Australia (in the States/Territories
mentioned above) as regards damage to third parties and third party
property. The hirers sites generally just say that compulsory third
party insurance imposed by the various State and Territory Registration
Authorities is included in the cost (often with a fee shown for it).
But I can't see what it covers and for how much.

Any advice - if only on where to look - would be much appreciated.

--
R

almostbob wrote:
gravel roads, road trains, roos, completely different to what most
tourists have encountered b4, high likelihood of glass damage
but still more like buying the car again $230/week
$33/day isnt bad, for the rental co

Fair point (although I am not sure why road trains are a bigger risk
than French artics tail-gating me at 110 kph in the rain on the
autoroute). But damage to the car from gravel* etc are all covered by
the policies I am looking at. The main issue I have is whether or not
to include the SLI.

That said, another issue is whether car hirers in Oz are willing to sign
off a car on its return. Or do they - like those in the USA - insist on
you dropping the car off and leaving them to "find" scratches etc
later - possibly after the cars been scraped in their yard?

*though I'm too old to chance driving unpaved roads in a hire car in
remote locations so we'll be sticking to the Stuart Highway etc
--
R

neverwas wrote:

almostbob wrote:
gravel roads, road trains, roos, completely different to what most
tourists have encountered b4, high likelihood of glass damage
but still more like buying the car again $230/week
$33/day isnt bad, for the rental co

Fair point (although I am not sure why road trains are a bigger risk than
French artics tail-gating me at 110 kph in the rain on the autoroute). But
damage to the car from gravel* etc are all covered by the policies I am
looking at. The main issue I have is whether or not to include the SLI.

That said, another issue is whether car hirers in Oz are willing to sign off
a car on its return. Or do they - like those in the USA - insist on you
dropping the car off and leaving them to "find" scratches etc later -
possibly after the cars been scraped in their yard?

*though I'm too old to chance driving unpaved roads in a hire car in remote
locations so we'll be sticking to the Stuart Highway etc

My wife and I hired a 4WD campervan (brand spanking new) for 9 weeks in
Australia earlier this year from one of the major companies. We relied on the
hire company's insurance cover which seemed OK. We drove more than 16,000 km,
about 4,000 of that on dirt/gravel roads and tracks with quite a few creek
crossings. At the end of the hire the hire company rep gave the van a 60-second
inspection and signed it off on the spot.

--
Norman (from the UK)

On 3 Jan 2010 16:27:07 GMT, "Norman" wrote:

neverwas wrote:

almostbob wrote:
gravel roads, road trains, roos, completely different to what most
tourists have encountered b4, high likelihood of glass damage
but still more like buying the car again $230/week
$33/day isnt bad, for the rental co

Fair point (although I am not sure why road trains are a bigger risk than
French artics tail-gating me at 110 kph in the rain on the autoroute). But
damage to the car from gravel* etc are all covered by the policies I am
looking at. The main issue I have is whether or not to include the SLI.

That said, another issue is whether car hirers in Oz are willing to sign off
a car on its return. Or do they - like those in the USA - insist on you
dropping the car off and leaving them to "find" scratches etc later -
possibly after the cars been scraped in their yard?

*though I'm too old to chance driving unpaved roads in a hire car in remote
locations so we'll be sticking to the Stuart Highway etc

My wife and I hired a 4WD campervan (brand spanking new) for 9 weeks in
Australia earlier this year from one of the major companies. We relied on the
hire company's insurance cover which seemed OK. We drove more than 16,000 km,
about 4,000 of that on dirt/gravel roads and tracks with quite a few creek
crossings. At the end of the hire the hire company rep gave the van a 60-second
inspection and signed it off on the spot.
They will sign off on the spot as Norman says. I am not sure what
extra policy you are contemplating I do take extra coverage with me
through my travel insurance. I did have an accident in Tasmania, but
that time my coverage had been arranged locally so I do not know if
supplemental insurance was a part, but I did not have to pay even
though the front corner of the driver's side was clipped by a right
turning vehicle.
Joseph Coulter
Joseph Coulter Cruises and Vacations
www.josephcoulter.com

They will sign off on the spot as Norman says. I am not sure what
extra policy you are contemplating I do take extra coverage with me
through my travel insurance. I did have an accident in Tasmania, but
that time my coverage had been arranged locally so I do not know if
supplemental insurance was a part, but I did not have to pay even
though the front corner of the driver's side was clipped by a right
turning vehicle.
Thanks (to you and Norman).

An example of the insurance I have in mind is
www.questor-insurance.co.uk It seems to be pretty much a UK-based
product - possibly driven by the number of Brits who fly/hire rather
than enduring a channel crossing.

--
R

[Default] On Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:00:14 GMT, "neverwas"
offered the following words of wisdom:

almostbob wrote:
gravel roads, road trains, roos, completely different to what most
tourists have encountered b4, high likelihood of glass damage
but still more like buying the car again $230/week
$33/day isnt bad, for the rental co

Fair point (although I am not sure why road trains are a bigger risk
than French artics tail-gating me at 110 kph in the rain on the
autoroute).

Do NOT expect to find the same standard of roading in OZ as you enjoy
in Europe

[Default] On Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:00:14 GMT, "neverwas"
offered the following words of wisdom:

almostbob wrote:
gravel roads, road trains, roos, completely different to what most
tourists have encountered b4, high likelihood of glass damage
but still more like buying the car again $230/week
$33/day isnt bad, for the rental co

Fair point (although I am not sure why road trains are a bigger risk
than French artics tail-gating me at 110 kph in the rain on the
autoroute). But damage to the car from gravel* etc are all covered by
the policies I am looking at. The main issue I have is whether or not
to include the SLI.

Having spent a fair amount of time driving around the UK I must say
that one of the biggest mistakes you could make is expecting the
roading standards in OZ to be like those you're used to in the UK.

To put it another way, I live in New Zealand and I always get SLI
whenever I rent a car in either NZ or OZ because I'd rather pay the
extra premium for "peace of mind" than get a nasty surprise on my
credit card.

Having spent a fair amount of time driving around the UK I must say
that one of the biggest mistakes you could make is expecting the
roading standards in OZ to be like those you're used to in the UK.

Point taken - although with the past 4 weeks freezing weather here, and
the squeeze on public expenditure, I've seen more potholes and gravel
driving around East London in the past week than I met in 3,000 miles in
NZ.

BTW, If anyone wants to enjoy really good road surfaces in the Podes I
recommend Southern Spain: the combination of no frost and vast EU
subsidies (grrrrrrrrrr).

To put it another way, I live in New Zealand and I always get SLI
whenever I rent a car in either NZ or OZ because I'd rather pay the
extra premium for "peace of mind" than get a nasty surprise on my
credit card.

May I check that it is SLI - ie cover for third party liabilities -
rather than collision excess waiver or the like? Sorry to ask but I'm
wondering if I am using the wrong language.

--
R

On Sun, 03 Jan 2010 12:37:02 GMT, "neverwas"
wrote:

In summary, is it sensible to take out Supplementary Liability
Insurance (SLI) when hiring cars in Victoria, New South Wales, Northern
Territory and Queensland?

I have read past threads about car hire insurance but cannot find a
clear answer. This is partly because I cannot find out
just what is covered by the mandatory insurance.

By way of background:

o we are UK residents
o we shall be hiring cars in Melbourne, Sydney, Ayers Rock and Cairns
o we intend to take out separate insurance against excess, tyres,
windows etc from Questor or the like since the hire companies charges
seem exorbitant (eg AUD33 a day from Thrifty in Ayers Rock).
o the separate insurance providers invariably offer policies with and
without SLI. I know that SLI is highly desirable (in my view essential
unless one is a gambler) in the USA and Canada where there is otherwise
little or no cover for third party liabilities

What I can't find is the position in Australia (in the
States/Territories
mentioned above) as regards damage to third parties and third party
property. The hirers sites generally just say that compulsory third
party insurance imposed by the various State and Territory Registration
Authorities is included in the cost (often with a fee shown for it).
But I can't see what it covers and for how much.

Any advice - if only on where to look - would be much appreciated.