So we've been with the RAC for the past 10 years.
Its worked out well probably because we havent claimed much
However recently we needed them badly and they let us down - i won't go into it.
Anyway now looking for house and contents insurance and insurance for our 2 cars and roadside assistance
Who do you recommend?
We are in WA and use HBF (moved over from RAC some time ago). We've only had a couple of minor claims for fences and windscreens, but back in the March 2010 hail storm we copped about $6,000 damage to patio, fences and skylights etc and they were very good to deal with.
When looking to ensure a $10k car for our 17yo P-plate daughter they were who we ended up with also...
Not an endorsement, just our experience.
PS - I had a bad experience with RAC insurance on a couple of motor vehicle claims - but to be fair - that was 20+ yrs ago...
I changed from RACQ a couple of years back, (to aami), then my van got written off in the tornado at Lennox Head in June last year. They were fantastic, paid out within a week, and paid the agreed amount. So now they get all my insurance, and the reason I changed was that RQC were getting too dear anyway. 
Sorry to hear that PR - it really sux when you pay yer fees in good faith for years and at the hour of need you dont get treated well.
Have had good experience with a four lettered company with a couple of A's in it. Missus written off two vehicles (one her fault / one not) and both times the service was prompt and well explained.
That said the same company has come under fire for their treatment of flood victims in QLD.
Not to hijack your thread - missus and I took the kids to India earlier this year and on the way over found out that the father in law was seriously crook. When we landed in Delhi we contacted our insurer to inform them that we would be making a claim for prebooked tour (1 week) - they are still assessing the claim 5 months later. Contrast this with Singapore air - who rebooked our flights home (we had just arrived) transferred us to a hotel (free) so that we could rest before our flight home 24 hrs later - gold
AAMI's, doesn't get any worse... farkers!
Allianz is good, but it costs more.
GIO are a good middle road option... somebody with Honda insurance (GIO) took the front of my car off and they sorted it out hassle free and with a rental car... so I swapped to GIO. Where as AAMI didn't want to know if I didn't take it to some second rate crap merchant.
Also another tard went in to the back of me, and it took AAMI 5 months to finally approve a quote at their 2nd rate place... then when I got there at 7 am they said I had to pay first! WTF!
After 6 months I had the car in for 3 weeks, with no loaner, and it came out with the bumper/fender only 95% painted and kind of scratched, and with grease hand marks inside.
RUNTS!
Ive just switched my home and contents from RAC to Allianz.
Ive still got 2 cars with RAC but Im planning on changing them soon. Maybe switch them to Allianz as well, although I need to look into that some more.
Im a bit over RAC. Havent really had problems with them (only had 1 car claim though), I just dont think its good to stay with one insurer too long.
It seems the longer you are with an insurer the more you pay.
Hey Relo
Funny you bring this up, I just changed everything this morning.
SGIO are beating any quote by 10% at the moment. I got a really good price from Allianz for contents and two cars and was just about to cancel contents from SGIO when the sales person mentioned this deal. By combining everything into one bundle I save around 300 smackers a year. Never had a problem with SGIO as well.
I think SGIO also cover sporting goods when away from home - like in your locked car etc - under your home & contents package.
Costs a bit extra but not much so well worth it.
Need to keep receipts, serial nos. and photos.
We're insured with GIO and after a breakin and then car damage with the Perth hailstorm, I can only say that I am happy with their service.
They like any other insurer take a bit of discussion prior to a payout - such as, well there is hail damage in my car that wasn't there yesterday and as you are the insurer - you are now the proud owners of my vehicle. They paid up ok and were more than happy to help me out.
This is only my experience.
Was with RAC (2 x cars and house) for aaaages.
1st time ever claimed (car break in) they fkd us around, lost our claim - delayed assesment and generally made the whole shemozzle far more exxy, time consuming and stressful than it ever needed to be.
Had to get on the phone and hassle every day for a couple of weeks just to get the ball rolling.
How to make an average situation into a very aggravating BIG situation? Go with RAC insurance.
Told them they were going to lose 2 x car, house policies etc forever after the handling. Seems they couldn't give a fk as they had 10yrs of premiums up their grubby sleeves and that was all they gave a stuff about. They made it pretty clear to us anyway.
Avoid them like plague.
Hey mate,
I have a bunch of policies with SGIO; car, 4WD, boat, caravan, house and contents etc
They are awesome! I practically wrote off my last 4WD 10km South of Carnarvon hitting a black cow at high speed in the night with spotties dipped for oncoming truck. A coupla cowboys towed what was lef of the car back to the town. By the time I got back 30 min after impact. SGIO had a taxi waiting for me at the Caltex, had a hotel booked and waiting for me in town, and paid for my flight back to Perth. I couldn't have asked for better service.
They made it easy. Repaired my 4bee good as new and didn't effect my no claim bonus at all. I'm stickin' with them for life if they keep that level of service up.
DM
so they aren't helping with the car through the fence PR ?
****ing wankers
I have been with WFI for a while now
Lost two fences in two storms and just sent through a quote. never had it questioned. Almost instant payout and when i was robbed gave em a list and that was also paid out on without question .
Iam with RAC, just had a car crash Mrs Dcat backed in a parked car and they payed on the spot, had a big water damage bill when a pipe broke in the ceiling, they were first class payed no questions asked, replaced all the lost content, building fixed at no cost to me even sent a cleaning contractor the same night to take care of carpets and water everywhere did not spent one cent! Highly recommend RAC! 
Just to put it out there, I got some Swann Insurance almost 5 years ago for my motorbike as they were by far the best value option for bikes. Since then I changed my ute to Swann, GreenWife's Toyota Echo, and then her Aurion when the Echo was destroyed by the hailstorm (and paid out for with a minimum of fuss by Swann). Have had two other claims aside from the hailstorm, no major dramas with either of them (though have had to call them now and then to remind them get on with it). Every time I shop around they still come up with the best price.
CommInsure have been pretty good for us.
I admit, we are slightly over exposed to Comm Bank... Home Loan (smallish
), Credit Card each, Accounts, 2 Cars Insured, plus Home & Contents.
Claimed on the wifes car.... when she was pregnant she pranged into everything she could fine. 3 out 4 corners of the car had scrapes, and some panel work too. CommInsure we very kind to us. Fixed everything with 1 claim. Probably about $3.5 to $4.0k.
What is it with pregnant females and cars. only time my wife ever hits anything is when she's pregers. must be a hormonal thing.
I shop around for the best deal each time for insurance, and the last few years budgetdirect has been the cheapest i could find for car insurance, and they were one of the few companies who were happy to insure my new van which is classed as a commercial vehicle. Only had a windscreen claim in this time and it was quick and easy to claim.
For house & contents i have been using Real Insurance, and now landlords insurance thru them, and they have been the cheapest though i havent yet had to make a claim, they also give you 10% of the total policy cost back in cash if you stay with them and don't claim for 3 years apparently.
Good luck Relly
