Driving your 4WD on dirt, gravel and sand

Driving a 4 wheel drive car is a skill, and having the knowledge to proper driving is essential to keeping you and your family safe. Here are some great tips for you when driving your 4WD on dirt, gravel and sand.

When travelling on an unsealed road, visibility is impaired by the dust that your tyres kick up. You should therefore travel at slower speeds than you do on a tarred road, in order that you have enough time to react safely, and brake if necessary while still maintaining traction with the surface of the road.

If there are oncoming vehicles and if you can see up ahead, travel on the crown of the road where there will be less loose sand and gravel. If you encounter an oncoming vehicle, or one behind you that wants to overtake, move slowly to the left to avoid a sudden loss of control should you hit loose stones or gravel.

If you are travelling in a convoy, keep a suitable gap between you and the car in front – anything from 100 metres to 500 metres. This will help you to stay out of the dust cloud from the car in front – providing better visibility and also ensuring that your air intake filters don’t get blocked.

Grip is very important when driving on unsealed roads – don’t switch off your Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). Drop your tyre pressure a little if the road is very corrugated, as this will increase grip and also give you a more comfortable ride.

When driving on sand, consider your momentum and keep in mind your tyre pressures. Lowering your tyre pressure will increase the length of the tread, and keeping up enough momentum to keep the vehicle on top of the sand, will help you to floating across the sand rather than churning through it. Don’t forget to watch your turning circles after dropping your tyre pressure – if you take too tight a turn you could have the tyre peel off the rim. Always drive up and down a sand dune in a straight line – if you try to drive diagonally across a dune you may roll your vehicle.

The golden rule is – don’t deflate your tyres if you don’t have the means to re-inflate them. On unsealed roads, slow down and look ahead.

Fancy yourself as a 4WD car owner? Contact Carbiz today to find your perfect match – a better way to buy and sell your car.

When planning a journey, review our emergency car kit essentials and check Carbiz roadside assistance information.

Back to News

You may find these interesting

What To Do If Someone Hits Your Parked Car

Coming back to find your parked car damaged is never fun, but knowing how to respond correctly can save you time, money and stress.

Firstly, understand that getting upset is natural, but taking a deep breath will help you make better decisions. Examine your car thoroughly and document any visible damage, taking multiple photos from different angles, including close-ups of dents, scratches or broken parts, and capturing the surrounding area, such as road signs and markings, for context.

Next, see if you can locate the driver responsible. Sometimes, people leave a note with their contact information and insurance details. If there’s no note, look for witnesses nearby who may have seen what happened. You can also check for CCTV from nearby businesses, homes or on the street, as some areas have coverage. If you’re unsure, consider contacting the local council to find out whether cameras are in place that might have captured the accident.

If the driver didn’t leave a note, or if they did but are unresponsive or the information they provided seems incorrect, contact the police to report the accident and provide all the information you have, including photos, footage and witness statements. Be sure to request a copy of the police report, as it can be useful when dealing with insurance.

If you’re still having a hard time getting a hold of the at-fault driver and therefore cannot claim directly through their car insurer, it’s time to lodge a claim with your own insurance provider, if you have one. Provide them with as much information as possible, including the police report. From there, your insurer can determine whether your coverage, along with the information you have, will cover the damage to your car.

If your car insurer happens to find information about the at-fault driver and is able to have them lodge a claim so the costs of the damage are recoverable, you can contact Carbiz for a replacement car while your car is being repaired or until it’s been deemed a total loss. This ensures you’re not left without a car during this time, giving you peace of mind and the ability to keep your life moving.

For help organising your next steps, read our car accident insurance claim checklist and explore accident replacement vehicle options.

What It Means When Your Car Is Declared A Write-Off After An Accident

Updated 6 October 2026.

When an insurer declares a car a write-off, it has assessed the vehicle as a total loss under the policy. The damage may make repairs unsafe, or the cost of repairing the car may make a repair uneconomical. A write-off does not always mean the car is visibly destroyed.

How is a write-off decision made?

The assessment can take account of the vehicle's value, repair costs, salvage value and the policy terms. There is no single repair-cost percentage that determines every write-off across Australia. Ask the insurer for its assessment and the basis for its decision.

A total-loss insurance decision and a vehicle's written-off registration category are related but different matters. Whether a car can return to the road depends on the damage classification and the rules of the relevant state or territory.

Statutory and repairable write-offs

Statutory write-off: the vehicle meets specified damage criteria and cannot be re-registered for road use.
Repairable write-off: repairs may be technically possible, but the vehicle has been assessed as uneconomical to repair. This label does not itself authorise repairs or guarantee re-registration.

Requirements vary across Australia. In NSW, an eligible written-off light vehicle needs an Authorisation to Repair from Transport for NSW before work begins. Only limited applications are considered, and vehicles with statutory write-off damage are excluded. Approval, compliant repairs and the required inspections are separate steps.

What happens to your insurance payout?

The settlement depends on your cover and circumstances. It may be based on an agreed value, a market value or a replacement-vehicle benefit if your policy provides one. An excess, outstanding premium or finance arrangements may affect the amount you receive. Ask for a written breakdown before accepting the settlement.

Keep the assessment, photographs, policy documents and correspondence together. If you disagree with the valuation, provide relevant evidence and use the insurer's complaints process. See AAMI's explanation of total-loss claims for an insurer's example; your own policy determines your cover.

Getting around after a not-at-fault accident

If you need a replacement vehicle, tell Carbiz that your car has been declared a write-off. Eligibility, vehicle availability, the hire period and the terms of the agreement need to be confirmed for your circumstances. A write-off does not automatically entitle everyone to unlimited hire.

Contact Carbiz to discuss your accident replacement vehicle options. For a practical checklist, read what to do after receiving a write-off decision.

26 October 2017