I am driving up from Melbourne to Darwin with a car load of my stuff. I have full comprehensive insurance with real insurance. I was wondering what my best option would be for coverage for my one way trip up e.g breaking down and requiring a tow, mechanical works, having things stolen and anything else that could go wrong along the way.
Thanks for your time.
Moving from Melbourne to Darwin.
L[Deactivated] on 06/12/2015 - 12:56
Last edited 06/12/2015 - 16:57
Last edited 06/12/2015 - 16:57
Comments
For roadside assist you'll want AANT top cover. Since you are moving up there you may as well sign up with them not the RACV… When you actually get there you can probably downgrade your package - ask them about your options.
http://www.aant.com.au/Membership/MemberServices/RoadService…
Does your comprehensive insurance include cover for theft?
Probably a good idea to have your car serviced if you haven't already. For the drive make sure you carry some basic emergency supplies e,g water, oil, a head torch… If you don't have a mobile phone on telstra then go and buy a blue tick prepaid one.
Don't drive before 7.00am or after 4.00pm….animal feeding times dawn and dusk…you will see plenty of roadkill where vehicles fitted with good bull bars have cleaned up whatever wanders/jumps on the road.
Make sure all hoses are not cracked or swollen…and follow knick007's good advice.
Best of luck with the move and the other people have some great advice. The problem is I keep hearing the theme from "Green Acres" in my head.
Its a long boring drive mate, i lived up that way a while back and done the drive a couple times. I assume you will be heading to adelaide then upwards on stuart highway. From personal exp If you are broken down youll find people do actually stop to see if you need a hand or ride to the nearest town.
Things to pack
Lots of water
Spare belts
A jerry can with fuel just incase
Snacks
6pack of eggs
Lots of musicAnd dont hang out to close behind trucks, they hit things and sometimes spit them out the back into the car behind.
Some toolsWhat car you driving? I did one trip in a falcon and cleaned up a small kangaroo which was enough to put a small crack in the radiator, next time around i did the trip in a 4wd with bullbar and drove overnight and it was good, just trucks and no annoying wicked camper cars doing 80kmph
As suggested above get aant premium which gets you a tow 200km to the nearest town, accom and rental car etc.
Just out of interest…why the eggs?
Possibly for the radiator. Or for food/barter purposes.
Or for throwing at other cars/hitchhikers along the way?
Watch them hatch on your dash. I actually packed them for bacon and eggs. I had just bacon without the egg whites cause they went in mentioned radiator. Good thing i watched that episode of bush mechanics
Stuff that… you haven't watched the documentary, Wolf Creek?
+1 for Wolf Creek possibilities. I don't think they ever caught the guy. You should be on the watch for rifle bargains and also some self-defence classes like Krav Maga.
Roads are generally good. Ensure fuel is topped up regularly, as soon as it hits half a tank. Dusk and dawn is the best advice above to avoid roos. (Not 4pm or 7am as dawn and dusk is hours before/later). Phone coverage is poor. If in trouble, stay on the highway under cover and wait. Difficult to get road service but the truckies will assist with their CB radios.
And when you get to Darwin, make sure you take advantage of the cheap air fares to asia.
Bikies.