Hey guys, wondering if you have any advice for me
I'm in my early twenties and drive a 2001 Toyota Landcruiser that my mother handed down to me (still in her name). The insurance has just come up, was previously on aami. The quote for another year is ~$750 including 'safe driver credit'. I'm in uni making $200-$300 a week and was wondering whether renewing this or moving elsewhere would be best for my circumstances. Thanks guys
If it’s $750, is that including your name on it? Or is AAMI like NRMA in that they cover anyone who drives your car?
I believe it'd be a different quote if I put it in my name (green Ps), but I've been told by some people I should just let it continue to be under her name, unsure
You can leave it under her name, but you need to read the PDS to see if it covers any driver who drives the vehicle and whether there is an age excess too if you're at fault.
For example, my insurance is under my dad's name with NRMA because he's been with them a million years, but I get covered by his insurance despite not being listed on the policy as his policy covers any driver who drives his car with permission (which was useful when three different people drove into my car in the space of two years)
three different people drove into my car in the space of two years
There must be some kind of conspiracy to see who can drive into your car the most…
@HighAndDry: I know right? My car is red too, which is supposed to be a lucky colour in Chinese culture … My three not-at-faults were two rear ends and one failure to give way :(
@kerfuffle: Oh haha, ok - completely spitballing, but:
Maybe the other drivers were all male and this was some (still unlucky) result of red-green colour blindness? OR
Maybe the car being red makes the brake lights not as easily noticeable when you do brake (in case the other driver's already distracted - it might not show up in their peripheral vision as much). Though that doesn't explain the failure to give way.
I wonder if it's possible to get data somewhere to see if there's a correlation between car colour and frequency of not-at-fault accidents…..
@HighAndDry: Two were male (failure to give way and rear end, both at night), one was female (rear end during the day, right in front of cops). With the failure to give way, it's an unusual road but the lines are clearly marked and there's a give way sign, so the driver simply wasn't paying enough attention to his surroundings …
rear end during the day, right in front of cops
Oh at least this one seems easy enough to explain. I imagine the thought process would've been: "Omg cops! Just stay calm, stay calm, stay…" Craaash "Oh fudge."
@HighAndDry: Hahaha she was from interstate and a bit confused by the road signage; I felt a bit sorry for her but was still annoyed as she drove into my bumper a mere six weeks after it was replaced …
Have a play around on the other websites and if you get quoted cheaper, see if your current one is able to beat it.
It might be more expensive under your name (under 25) - but maybe you could try having it under your mums name and having you as a driver (I did that w/ mine when I was younger)
Does your mothers policy cover provisional drivers under age 25?
If you do plan to stay with AAMI - call them to renew over phone and they can drop the price by 5% approx (ask them politely saying it is expensive and you are thinking of switching).
How are you affording to run a car at all on $200-$300?
Between this and rent, barely
You should get on Youth Allowance / Austudy if you haven't already
My welfare ended when I recently finished studying but I went in to make a newstart claim today, thanks
@YoungFriendly: make sure you fill out the paperwork and give them their evidence they need as soon as possible, from the 1st July you'll only be paid from when you completed the claim not from when you began the process! Best of luck
Dude, it isn't a problem at all, I've been there. People would be very surprised by how much they can get by on while sacrificing much less than they thought.
$750 is pretty cheap if it is under her name but you are covered as a driver, considering your age.
Double check you are covered.
On $200 -300 income I suggest you sell the Cruiser and buy something more affordable to operate. LCs are very expensive to operate and maintain.
Get rid of the old Land Cruiser and buy a second hand compact car that doesn't burn a hole in your pocket each time you step on the pedal!
If you continue to insure the car under your mum's name without adding yours you are taking a big gamble. That's the purpose of paying for insurance because you don't want to gamble.
I'm also on my green P's and the insurance of my car is listed as my dad. However, I will be covered by paying extra excess. I reckon you should just renew it because once your name is on there, the price skyrockets. I'm going to wait until I'm 25 before getting the insurance listed in my name.
Have you got some quotes done under your name? Once you look at the price, I'm pretty sure you'll know which decision to make.
Have you ever tried to find out what would happen if you are at fault in an accident? Would you be covered or not?
If you drive the car mostly and you are not covered then the insurance paid under your dad's name is all for nothing.
I’m with Aami so under 25s are covered. If I was at fault, I would have to pay a hefty excess fee (age excess) on top of the standard excess.
That’s fair enough. You are covered (paying for it) only if there is an accident when you are at fault.
My advice would be to visit quite a few of the different insurance company websites and get some quotes.
You'll be surprised just how much difference in price there is.