Beyond prestige cars and motorcycles, Dawes can arrange cover for a range of rare, unusual, and extremely valuable vehicles.

Dawes Senior Technical Underwriter Tom Hall says that Dawes’ industry knowledge and ability to arrange tailored insurance solutions emerges with these niche vehicles.

“With the in-house expertise of our underwriters, and our Chief Valuer Mark Petersen, Dawes has the industry knowledge needed to make sure these sorts of unusual and wonderful vehicles are insured for their precise value.”

“For example, a phase III GTHO Falcon could easily be worth a million dollars now, while a regular GT Falcon that looks very similar could be worth four times less. You need to know which one is which, and that’s why you need an insurance expert partner.”

Here are some of the unusual vehicles Dawes arranges insurance for that you might not expect.

1. Exotic Motor

Dawes specialises in arranging cover for high-end exotic motor vehicles such as Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Rolls Royce – typically vehicles with a value of more than $500,000.

“You can't just ring up an insurance company and request a quote on a Ferrari,” Tom says. “Dawes is your go-to motor underwriting agency if you’re looking to arrange cover for exotic motor vehicles, as we can arrange insurance for vehicles up to $5 million (sums insured) for the right customer.”

2. Classic Trucks, Tractors and Ex-Military Vehicles

Dawes also arranges insurance for some classic trucks, tractors and ex-military vehicles on club registrations, or if they’re being stored under storage restoration cover.

Tom says that some vehicles they arrange cover for include tanks and have arranged storage cover for a collection of World War Two military tanks owned by one client.

“Some of these kinds of vehicles are quite expensive,” he adds. “A Churchill Crusader, for example, requires half a million dollars of cover.”

3. Steam Traction Engines

Steam traction engines are basically steam trains with wheels, Tom explains, adding that they typically date from the early 1900s and can weigh well over 35 tonnes.

“We arrange insurance for not two or three, but four different steam traction engines,” he says, including my favourite 1912 Fowler traction that has full, unrestricted road registration and is occasionally driven on the road by its owner.

4. Stretch Limousines and Hearses

Dawes can also help brokers with insurance for their clients’ specialist working cars. This may include stretch limousines, such as those hired for weddings or other functions, and also hearses and follow cars, used in funeral processions.

These vehicles require specialist cover due to their unique usage and value.

“While many may simply be prestige models of mid-market brands, such as Ford, their conversion can make them significantly more valuable,” Tom says.

“A hearse conversion can easily run to $100,000 with features such as marble flooring and rollers to get coffins in and out.”

5. Left Hand Drives, Kit Cars and Hot Rods

Another rare vehicle type that Dawes can arrange cover for is left-hand drive cars, which are often classics imported from the US.

“It’s usually no problem to arrange cover for these types of vehicles,” Tom says, “we can also arrange cover for modified classic cars, kit cars, and hot rods.”

First class insurance with Dawes 

If a client turns up with something a little bit unusual, a call or email to Dawes underwriters should be a broker’s first step toward finding the right cover.

“We are your expert partner to help you identify these cars, help you value these cars and arrange the right insurance to your clients for these cars, providing they fit within our risk appetite.”

Visit our website or call us at 1300 188 299 to learn more about our first-class insurance for first class-vehicles.

Dawes Underwriting Australia Pty Ltd t/as Dawes Motor Insurance (ABN 18 050 289 506, AR No. 342982) (Dawes) is an Authorised Representative of SGUAS Pty Limited (ABN 15 096 726 895, AFSL 234437) (SGUAS) and acts for the insurer, Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (ABN 15 000 122 850, AFSL 234708) (Allianz). Consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination available by contacting Dawes on 1300 188 288 or visiting www.dawes.com.au, before deciding if it is right for you.