Allianz's Payout Reduction Approved in Car Claim Dispute

5

The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.

The case involves a claimant who purchased a 2013 Range Rover Dynamic for $41,750 from a private seller on June 2nd of the previous year. Tragically, the vehicle caught fire and was deemed a total loss on the same day he picked it up.

Believing his new car was covered, the man submitted a claim to Allianz for the agreed value of $105,950, under a policy initiated the day of the incident. Initially, Allianz seemed to agree to the settlement amount; however, an investigation revealed a discrepancy in the model description.

The claimant had listed his vehicle as the more luxurious and costly 2013 Range Rover Autobiography MY14.5 model when, in fact, it was a Range Rover Dynamic. This misdescription resulted in an overinflated insured value.

As a result, Allianz recalculated the vehicle's worth and offered to settle the claim for a revised value of $66,630. After deducting remaining premiums and excess, the final payout amounted to $58,979.

The vehicle owner argued that he made an "innocent misrepresentation" because the insurer’s website provided a model with an outdated engine when he searched using his car's registration. He claimed he selected the Autobiography MY14.5 model since it had a similar engine type.

"I opted for the only model with my engine type and MY14.5 badging," the man explained to the complaints authority. "The website's labeling was incorrect and misled me."

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority concluded that while the policyholder's situation was understandable, it did not excuse the inaccurate car description, which breached policy terms.

"I acknowledge the complainant's challenge in finding his exact car model on the insurer's online policy platform," an AFCA ombudsman commented. "However, this does not justify misrepresenting the car's specification."

The AFCA stressed the importance of accurate car descriptions in insurance agreements, advising policyholders to make additional inquiries if unable to find the right model online.

This ruling reinforces Allianz's right to adjust the settlement based on a common law precedent, affirming the fairness of the insurer’s reduced offer. The case highlights the critical nature of precise data input when setting up insurance policies.

For further insights, the original article can be found on the Australian Financial Complaints Authority's website.

Published:Thursday, 5th Sep 2024
Source: Paige Estritori

Please Note: If this information affects you, seek advice from a licensed professional.

Share this news item:

Insurance News

Clear

Revolutionising Crop Insurance: DAS Unveils Cutting-Edge Data Tool

22 Nov 2025: Paige Estritori

Digital Agriculture Services (DAS) has introduced an innovative crop insurance solution in Australia, leveraging machine learning, automapping, and geospatial data to improve policy accuracy. This tool is designed to assist insurers, underwriters, brokers, and loss adjusters by precisely locating insured paddocks and identifying crop types, yields, and other critical details. - read more

Significant Drop in Farm Liability Claims Reflects Improved Safety Measures

22 Nov 2025: Paige Estritori

WFI Insurance has reported a notable decrease in farm liability claims across most categories, including a 75% reduction in falls from height over the past year. This decline suggests that Australian farmers are adopting more effective safety practices, leading to fewer accidents and injuries. - read more

Insuregroup Achieves Significant Growth in Truck Insurance Policies

22 Nov 2025: Paige Estritori

Insuregroup, a specialist insurance brokerage serving Australia's transport and logistics sector, has recently achieved a significant milestone by processing over 10,000 insurance policies since its inception. This accomplishment includes a 25% year-on-year increase in policy count, highlighting the escalating demand for comprehensive truck insurance solutions among Australian freight operators. - read more

ACCC Greenlights Allianz's Acquisition of RAA Insurance

22 Nov 2025: Paige Estritori

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has recently approved Allianz's acquisition of RAA Insurance Holdings, a decision that has sparked discussions about the future landscape of Australia's insurance industry. This approval follows closely on the heels of the ACCC's earlier endorsement of Insurance Australia Group's (IAG) acquisition of RACQ Insurance, marking a trend towards consolidation within the sector. - read more

Australian Fleet Operators Confront Escalating Collision Risks

22 Nov 2025: Paige Estritori

Australia's transport and haulage sector is currently navigating a period of heightened operational risk, marked by an uptick in both the frequency and severity of motor collision claims. This trend underscores the pressing need for fleet operators to adopt proactive risk management strategies and leverage advanced insurance solutions to safeguard their operations. - read more

Click for more Insurance News