Garage roof on top of my Prado!!!

[Shan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shan]

Had a very eventful weekend... storm on Saturday took my neighbours tree and landed on my garage roof, which then came and rest on the top of the prado . Luckily on Friday I had put the roof tray on for the weekend and it pretty much saved the car...

Only some minor damage to the roof tray and a small dent on the front left panel..
And there goes my plans for the weekend !!!!

Special thanks to the SES and CFA crews !!!!!

[VKPrado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close VKPrado]

Holy s%#t! That is one close call. Good to hear everything has turned out alright and that no one was hurt in the experience. Just goes to show that no matter what mother nature throws at the Prado it still pulls through.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Good to hear that all is ok..
If a Hilux is unbreakable, then the Prado is Indestructable!.

[Shan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shan]

Hell yeah !! It's a one tough car... It managed to hold half the weight of the roof no problems..
And the roof tray... I must admit got the best part of the impact...

I have been told by one of the friendly SES members that the damaged to the car will be covered by the home and contents insurance... I'm renting and my agent is the one dealing with the insurance people. Agent just got back to me saying I have to make a claim to my car insurer to get it fixed...

Any advice guys?

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

Unfortunately the car is neither a home content nor fixture. See the car insurer if you've got full comp. If not you may have a battle on.

Cheers Jim

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

You can claim through your car insurance, but that means your neighbour is liable for the damage, and your insurance company will go for them, hopefully they have insurance, because then the insurance companies will deal with it together. it comes down to how much you like your neighbour and if they can afford to fix it without claiming on insurance too.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Will be interesting to see how the insurance goes. I had (had a gumtree but died ??) a gumtree next door to me and when ever we got a bit of wind, branches were snapping of it, then the storms would come and I wouldnt let our 3 year old sleep in her bedroom as I didnt trust it, anyway neighbour wouldnt trim it, council would do nothing bout it (private property) told them Ill sue there arse if it comes down on my house and/or hurts our 3 year old. Anyway i asked insurance company if it comes down on my house who pays for the damage ?? NRMA's answer was ME. Hang on I dont own the tree, council wont cut it down, neighbour shore as shit wasnt going to and yet I had to pay an excess through MY insurance if it did any damage ?? Dont have to worry anymore the tree seemed to die from some thing !! so totally gone now and I can and wife can sleep peacefully................Cheers Steve

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Early this year the Prado was driven into the garage with roof rack on. Negative clearance of about 50mm. Luckily there was an infill panel lower than the top plate supporting the roof but the panel lift door was cactus and there was some damage to the Prado. Two separate claims, one on house insurance and one on car insurance. Two separate excesses more like it. Anyway the car came out well and I didn't bother to fix the superficial damage to the Prado and brute force over ignorance fixed the roof rack. Oh and the door is now full height and there is positive clearance of 10mm should the exercise be repeated.

[foxclan Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close foxclan]

Eventful indeed Shan.
Glad to hear no one was injured and Prado only sustained minor damage.
Unfortunately we have been through a similar experience. 2004
Had a big Blow come through in a strip. lay ed 7 feral pine trees on the house, 3 across the pool ending on the shed. (wife & daughter 18months old at the time both upstairs)
One roller door also blew in on the carport, of coarse the Camry wagon had to be behind this door. The rear of the Camry ended getting a fair scrape by the time the door flapped up onto the roof and back down.
Had to fork out $300 for the excess on the car repairs. Only $100 excess on the house and contents repairs and replacement items which ran into many thousands
These F.ing trees where growing on the council verge/nature strip and too F.ing big to be safely living near houses.
To top things off I believe councils have exemption from liability for damages done by trees on their property.
Where - as household insurance covers public liability and damages generated from the property.
Good Luck hope you have a positive outcome.
Cheers Troy

[Shan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shan]

Thanks for all your tips and advises guys !!!

After searching around a bit and speaking to an insurance company as if I'm to buy a new policy, I can confirm that all of you are right...

The car is considered another property and does not fall under contents of the house..

Given that damage to the prado is minimal ($250 if you forget the small dent in the left panel) I can live with that...

But it's very frustrating to know that you have to pay an access for a car which is parked and locked inside a garage when bloody neighbors tree decides to crash through..

Thanks again and I'll keep you guys posted !!!