Hire car insurance for Mitchell Plateau

by Peter
(Netherlands)

On the way to the Mitchell Plateau

We understand that our hired 4wd car insurance only covers the Gibb River Road, and not the Kalumburu Road and Mitchell Plateau Track. Does someone know if you can get an additional insurance for those?

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Hire car insurance for Mitchell Plateau

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by: Birgit

Hi Peter,
This is not so much about purchasing insurance, it's about permission and your rental agreement.

For many drives like that you need written permission from the hire company. It depends on the company. They all have different rules, regarding which roads exactly are excluded from what. But all of them definitely require you to get written permission first for that trip, that's if they give it at all.

Here is a good FAQ and reasonable summary for most big hire companies. Scroll down about half way to the heading "Roads".

The Mitchell Plateau Track is still not a gazetted road (or "recognised" road or track). No car hire company that I know allows you to travel anywhere but on gazetted/recognised tracks. If you do so anyway it is totally at your own risk.

Your problem is not finding insurance. You can't get insured for the consequences of breaching your hire agreement. You need to find someone who is willing to hire you a vehicle and give you permission to take it to the Mitchell Plateau. Or ask the hire company you already selected for that permission. And THEN you can look at what they are willing to do in terms of insuring the trip.

That's what I know. If any readers have managed to get permission/insurance for a trip to the Mitchell Plateau, please let us know.

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Submitted by: Birgit

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Hi Peter, This is not so much about purchasing insurance, it's about permission and your rental agreement. For many drives like that you need written permission from the hire company. It depends on the company. They all have different rules, regarding which roads exactly are excluded from what. But all of them definitely require you to get written permission first for that trip, that's if they give it at all. <a href="http://www.australia4wheeldriverentals.com/A4WDR_FAQ_Main.htm" target=_blank" rel="nofollow">Here is a good FAQ and reasonable summary for most big hire companies.</a> Scroll down about half way to the heading "Roads". The <b><a href="http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/mitchell-plateau-track.html">Mitchell Plateau Track</a></b> is still not a gazetted road (or "recognised" road or track). No car hire company that I know allows you to travel anywhere but on gazetted/recognised tracks. If you do so anyway it is totally at your own risk. Your problem is not finding insurance. You can't get insured for the consequences of breaching your hire agreement. You need to find someone who is willing to hire you a vehicle and give you permission to take it to the Mitchell Plateau. Or ask the hire company you already selected for that permission. And THEN you can look at what they are willing to do in terms of insuring the trip. That's what I know. If any readers have managed to get permission/insurance for a trip to the <b><a href="http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/mitchell-falls.html">Mitchell Plateau</a></b>, please let us know.

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Thanks
by: Peter

Thanks Birgit,

This is very helpful.

Our plan was to drive up to the Mitchell Plateau Campsite and do a hike to the falls, but now understand Kea will likely not giving a written permit for that destination.
Maybe (maybe) they will for Drysdale Station Airstrip, so we can make a scenic flight.

We (my wife and I) discussed this and decide to skip the self-drive to the Mitchell Plateau and do a organised tour.
We pick up the 4wd after the tour and stick to the GRR only.

many thanks again,
kind regards,

Peter & Marjolein
(excuses for my bad english)

Don't be put off!
by: Charles Callis

Australian 4WDHire said we could take the vehicle up to the Mitchell Plateau,no written permission required - their terms and conditions effectively give carte blanche to go off road, but no insurance for it. Insurance anyway only covers you for collision damage, but this is the biggest risk on that track. Provided you drive carefully and watch out for other vehicles at bends and rises, there shouldn't be a problem.

Only the wording varies
by:

No matter which company, you can ignore the requirement for written permission and pay any damages out of your own pocket. And that's what Australian 4WD Hire so graciously allows.

They say, "Feel free to go and pay your own bills." where others say, "Don't go without written permission or you won't be covered."

So to say they "allow" it where others don't is a bit misleading. There is no difference except for the wording. The outcome and costs of any damage would be exactly the same.

Avoid Australian 4WD Hire like the plague!
by: Anonymous

I just wanted to throw in here, Australian 4WD Hire are some very dodgy characters and I thoroughly recommend NOT going with them at any cost. First they tried to increase our hire rate and throw on some additional fees 6 months after we made our booking, and then when we finally agreed as we were only 2 weeks out from our holiday and not likely to find another suitable vehicle in peak season, the sent an email (no courtesy call) to say they suddenly had no vehicles available and their Force Majeur in the contract said they didn't have to provide us a vehicle at all. This is after being charged the wrong amount twice. Save yourself the heart ache!