A Brisbane man has urged vehicle owners to check their insurance policies after his car became infested with mould and had to be written off.
The man had a fixed value insurance policy on the vehicle, which was left in the driveway of their home when they recently travelled to Sydney. Upon return, the Holden Colorado was covered inside with mould, including the cabin upholstery, seatbelts, floor mats and even the baby seat.
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said he believed that a faulty door seal on the vehicle could have been the cause.
“It was parked in the driveway while we were away, but we think maybe a door seal was faulty or something because water has got in somehow,” he said.
“When we came back, it was just covered in mould. It was everywhere.”
When he made a claim, his insurer, Youi, wrote the vehicle off, and the man noted it was one of the issues with fixed value car insurance policies. He was offered $14,000 for the vehicle by his insurer but believed it was worth at least $20,000.
The man noted that used car prices are rising and has encouraged other owners to ensure that the agreed value on their insurance policy reflects what the vehicle is worth. He had tried contacting his insurer to see if there was anything that could be done, but the insurer noted that the price was agreed upon at the commencement of the policy per the documentation that he signed.
“It’s probably fair enough,” he said, “but I just want people to be aware and check if their car isn’t valued properly.”