Rego
Rules
As most people know, each and every State
has its own set of rules and regulations that need to be followed
when modifying a vehicle. If you make mods outside the guidelines
and don’t get the appropriate engineering certificate, penalties
can and will be applied. Keep in mind that the police are only doing
their job – sometimes with a little more vigour than necessary
- so blaming them isn’t going to help you, it just gives everyone
within the modified car scene a bad name.
The best way to avoid the problem is to keep
the car road legal and while the cops may still hassle you, they
won’t have anything to defect you over. To find out what’s
legal in your State, click on the appropriate link and see what
modifications can be carried out on your vehicle without worrying
about the ramifications.
Spending your hard-earned cash on new bits
and pieces for your pride and joy is a lot nicer than blowing it
on fines and removing the new parts that got you in trouble. Just
do it right the first time.
Shopping for Car
Insurance
By Simon Jreige
Just Car Insurance
There are different types
of car insurance policies you can purchase:
- Comprehensive car insurance
typically covers you for any accidental loss or damage to your
car and other people’s property, no matter who was at fault.
- Third party property damage
insurance covers you for damage you cause to other people’s
property and may protect you against accidental loss or damage
to your car caused by an uninsured driver. For an extra fee, some
insurance companies may extend the cover to include for fire and
theft damage (the level of cover may vary between companies, e.g.
the amount covered by Just Car Insurance for the fire and theft
extension is the current market value up to $5000)
- Compulsory third party
(CTP) personal injury insurance is compulsory and protects other
people who are injured in a crash, in which you are at fault –
in New South Wales and Queensland, you may choose your CTP insurance
provider.
Car insurance policies vary, as do the prices
that different insurers charge for their products.
Tips for buying car insurance
- You should shop around for car insurance
so that you may take advantage of potential savings. All you have
to do is call or go online to the various insurance companies.
- The age and model of your car are factors
in the cost of any repairs that may be required if it is damaged,
so you may wish to contact your/an insurer and discuss the premiums
for different models before you buy it.
- Many people seem to think that insurers
all offer the same prices for their products – they don’t.
Prices differ for a range of reasons e.g. driving history (traffic
offences, accidents and claims), type of car, where the car is
kept overnight, modifications, etc. Different insurers hold different
views about such factors, and this is reflected in their premiums.
- All insurance policies are different,
and have different inclusions and exclusions; read the policy
carefully to ensure it will provide the cover you require.
- A policy is only as good as the service
you receive if you have occasion to make a claim, so avoid making
a decision based only on price – consider how the insurer
will look after you in the event of a claim.
- Tell your insurer about any modifications
and/or accessories you are planning to put on (or already have)
to your car e.g. wheels, stereo, suspension, special paint, etc.
Inform your insurer of these items before they are done, as they
may affect your cover and/or your insurance premium. If you are
looking at modifying the car in the near future, you may as well
ask the insurance company if they allow for modifications/accessories,
so that when you put them on your car, they don't cancel your
policy because they won't cover them. It is important that you
understand any of the limitations the insurer may have in their
policy e.g. Just Car Insurance will insure a car with unlimited
modifications, provided they are legal, roadworthy and that JCI
has agreed to cover them in writing. The level of cover may also
vary depending on particular modifications and/or accessories.
- Answer honestly and accurately all questions
asked by the insurance company about your age and driving record.
If the wrong information is provided, you may not be covered in
the event of a claim.
- You can have an impact on the base car
insurance premium by the car you choose, maintaining a good driving
record (this includes accidents and driving offences) and by owning
the car outright. When you modify, or buy a modified car, you
may do one of two things:
- Limit the number of insurers willing to offer you cover, and
- pay a higher premium, as the car may cost more to repair.
Now that you are informed of the basics of
car insurance, all you have to do is find the one that's right for
you and your car.
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