TheSamba.com :: View topic - Insurance - Who's gonna cover my ride AND let me drive it!

Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:49 am

Desertbusman wrote: Who provides classic insurance without requiring a locked garage? Here a carport is better than a garage unless the garage is refrigerated during the hot 6 months Are they going to know it wasn't in the garage?

Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:59 am

everyone I talked to wanted a locked garage.

No one will care if it's not locked UNTIL you have a claim, I'm sure.

Wed Jan 03, 2007 8:22 am

andk5591 wrote: re question about whether insurance company is aware that a they are insuring buggy instead of a bug, as the car ius titled. Yes - they have pics of the car and it would be really stupid to try to tell them otherwise. Would be interesting to explain to the insurance adjuster that the impact converted the metal into fiberglas LOL.

You wouldn't believe how many do just that......... :shock:
It works until there is a problem.
Then the insurance company has an out and would probably use it.

Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:40 pm

Desertbusman wrote: Who provides classic insurance without requiring a locked garage? Here a carport is better than a garage unless the garage is refrigerated during the hot 6 months

A chain across the end of the carport would be just as secure as most aluminum-foil garage doors.

Sun Jan 14, 2007 5:15 pm

I haven't checked out these links here yet, but a few years ago the policies I looked at (e.g. Hagerty's) would only allow driving in parades and to shows, but stated that limited pleasure driving was alloed. It turns out that stuff like driving to go to dinner was not covered, apparently because cars would be left unattended. Do these insurance companies allow going to the store, restaurant, etc.? I told them I live in Arizona so whenever I drove, it was a pleasure. On the other hand, Metlife Auto took my comprehensive $$$ for several years before I found out that they'd pay ZERO because it had no book value ('71, Convertible at that), so I would've had to fight them for any payment. Like: wasn't that fraud, taking my money with no chance of paying anything out.....anyway, I quit Metlife Auto flat out right then.

Sun Jan 14, 2007 5:33 pm

Cusser wrote: I haven't checked out these links here yet, but a few years ago the policies I looked at (e.g. Hagerty's) would only allow driving in parades and to shows, but stated that limited pleasure driving was alloed. It turns out that stuff like driving to go to dinner was not covered, apparently because cars would be left unattended. Do these insurance companies allow going to the store, restaurant, etc.? I told them I live in Arizona so whenever I drove, it was a pleasure. On the other hand, Metlife Auto took my comprehensive $$$ for several years before I found out that they'd pay ZERO because it had no book value ('71, Convertible at that), so I would've had to fight them for any payment. Like: wasn't that fraud, taking my money with no chance of paying anything out.....anyway, I quit Metlife Auto flat out right then.

You need pics and documentation of what you have, and then you can do what is called "agreed value" with the ins. company. And classics DO have a book value. Look it up at edmunds.com. I have also been able to establish value for customers on older cars by researching current auction prices and completed listings on cars with "no book value" on eBay.

Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:54 am

Yes, what you say Tram, agreed value is what we want. Where in a claim it would be full pay for the agreed amount.

I provided a disk with pictures and full parts and cost listings. And I should really include an appraisal. My company doesn't appraise. But I don't think it's all that easy to take care of the problem. Mine is insured for an XXX dollar amount. The insur. co. and I both agree on that. But from what I understand that might not quarantee anything. Supposidly it's common for insur. companies to pay the lesser of: 1. the stated amount. (my XXX amount), 2. actual current value., 3. or cost to repair or replace. Someone warned me that the XXX amount was the estimated value right after the restoration. But many years later there is wear and tear. I asked the agent about this and he said that it's probably worth more now. But say so doesn't sound very legal.

Where I got nervous was with my mobile home insurance. It is insured for a XXX dollar amount. I just asked them to confirm if it was totaled by fire, or whatever, if I would get a check for the XXX amount. No. They would repair or replace it with them spending no more than my XXX amount. But whatever is the cheapest, repair or replace. Same with the VW. The home is old, but in awesome condition, and worth many times more than the average value for something that old. They say they would replace it with one of equal value and condition as mine. Yea, a pile of ashes or rubble?? No longer being able to give it an actual value. The whole thing sucks!!

For our VW's, evidently some of the various classic policies state different miles it can be driven each year. Some sound reasonable, some not.

Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:52 am

When I checked into this a few years ago, yes, they allowed up to 2500 miles, but only if you didn't leave unattended (like while having dinner); that gives them an "out", maybe more important for a classic Jaguar than an old VW...

Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:43 am

Desertbusman wrote: Yes, what you say Tram, agreed value is what we want. Where in a claim it would be full pay for the agreed amount.

I provided a disk with pictures and full parts and cost listings. And I should really include an appraisal. My company doesn't appraise. But I don't think it's all that easy to take care of the problem. Mine is insured for an XXX dollar amount. The insur. co. and I both agree on that. But from what I understand that might not quarantee anything. Supposidly it's common for insur. companies to pay the lesser of: 1. the stated amount. (my XXX amount), 2. actual current value., 3. or cost to repair or replace. Someone warned me that the XXX amount was the estimated value right after the restoration. But many years later there is wear and tear. I asked the agent about this and he said that it's probably worth more now. But say so doesn't sound very legal.

Where I got nervous was with my mobile home insurance. It is insured for a XXX dollar amount. I just asked them to confirm if it was totaled by fire, or whatever, if I would get a check for the XXX amount. No. They would repair or replace it with them spending no more than my XXX amount. But whatever is the cheapest, repair or replace. Same with the VW. The home is old, but in awesome condition, and worth many times more than the average value for something that old. They say they would replace it with one of equal value and condition as mine. Yea, a pile of ashes or rubble?? No longer being able to give it an actual value. The whole thing sucks!!

For our VW's, evidently some of the various classic policies state different miles it can be driven each year. Some sound reasonable, some not.

"Replacement Value" here is key. It means that they CANNOT just walk away giving you nothing. That's where things like eBay come in. You can show the documentation of what you had, and show what similar vehicles are going for, both in the recent past and in real time. I had a customer whose insurance company was going to total their 84 Mercedes 300TDT wagon for $1700 because that's what NADA says it's worth. But, I was able to provide them with Edmunds' book value as well as Kelley which TROUNCED NADA's undervalue. I was able to further boost their payoff by showing what real- world replacements cost on eBay, reminding the agent that transportation costs would be additional. Within about five minutes, the agent revised his valuation to $6900.00, which is more real- world. It wasn't that the agent was trying to be a prick, he just didn't know how else to research it (or didn't have time) other than the info he had on his desk. Once we handed him some evidence, he was fine with it.
Habitually find cars similar to yours on eBays using auctions that have ended, and every time you see one, print it out and keep it in a file. Believe me, an insurance company does NOT want to go to court with a client with tons of documentation like that. The more documentation, the better. It proves that you are NOT being unreasonable, you're just asking them to fulfil their contract. If the documentation is all in order- what you had, and what it is worth, a judge will look at it, look at your policy, and order the insurance company to pay. They know this.

Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:06 am

Cusser wrote: I haven't checked out these links here yet, but a few years ago the policies I looked at (e.g. Hagerty's) would only allow driving in parades and to shows, but stated that limited pleasure driving was alloed. It turns out that stuff like driving to go to dinner was not covered, apparently because cars would be left unattended. Do these insurance companies allow going to the store, restaurant, etc.? I told them I live in Arizona so whenever I drove, it was a pleasure. On the other hand, Metlife Auto took my comprehensive $$$ for several years before I found out that they'd pay ZERO because it had no book value ('71, Convertible at that), so I would've had to fight them for any payment. Like: wasn't that fraud, taking my money with no chance of paying anything out.....anyway, I quit Metlife Auto flat out right then.
Call Hagerty at (800) 922-4050.
You will talk to a live human being.
He or she will explain the details of their policy.
Very easy people to work with. :D

Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:37 pm

Hagerty was one that would NOT let me take it to a store, to a restaurant, etc.

Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:51 pm

Someone said the VW coverage is nil. But they use us for advertising anyway. Maybe they learned how to do it from VWOA :lol:

Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:17 pm

After canceling Geico in 2003, they kept billing me for $55, said it was because I quit them without having other insurance, so they covered for a while; I kept sending them proofs of insurance, then got a letter on a Saturday demanding payment by Monday or they'd send to collection agency. After 45 minutes on phone found out it was because I had added my daughter as a driver; I aplogized for not paying any such bill to add her, but they said they never sent one, but were going to roll it into a renewal. I said "excuse me, Joseph, but I'm going to use the word "f*ck" in the next sentence" then screamed "HOW THE F*CK WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT" and he told me there was NO WAY that I could have. I told him if Geico sent that bill to a collection agency (maybe getting $10 for that debt) that they could be assured that I would NEVER consider Geico again, and tell everyone I knew, and that he should ask his supervisor if that was worth $10 to geico. Anyway, Geico DID send to a collection agency, which I did not pay as I figured I never needed to borrow money again, then I decided to buy some property so I disputed the charge with the collection agency. This time, faced with investigating costs, Geico and collection agency dropped the charges. That's my experience with the Lizard.

Tue Aug 19, 2025 2:54 pm

I checked all posts that have to do with insurance and this post is the only one that would remotely apply to what I'm mentioning. I just read that some insurance companies are no longer covering Cybertrucks for several reasons although being ugly is not one of them. In 1975 I was involved in an accident with my 1972 Corvette. The other party was at fault and paid for the damages to my car. Nevertheless my insurer at the time(Aetna) dropped me saying they would no longer cover Corvettes. I talked to a lawyer who said that an insurance company can drop you any time for any reason. This is just to inform others here as to what can happen to anyone with any vehicle. BTW, does Aetna insure any vehicles now?

Tue Aug 19, 2025 11:18 pm

mrinnovation1 wrote: I checked all posts that have to do with insurance and this post is the only one that would remotely apply to what I'm mentioning. I just read that some insurance companies are no longer covering Cybertrucks for several reasons although being ugly is not one of them. In 1975 I was involved in an accident with my 1972 Corvette. The other party was at fault and paid for the damages to my car. Nevertheless my insurer at the time(Aetna) dropped me saying they would no longer cover Corvettes. I talked to a lawyer who said that an insurance company can drop you any time for any reason. This is just to inform others here as to what can happen to anyone with any vehicle. BTW, does Aetna insure any vehicles now?

I’ve heard Aetna will move mountains for you in my State…YSMV.

Wed Aug 20, 2025 7:10 am

Cusser wrote: Hagerty was one that would NOT let me take it to a store, to a restaurant, etc.
Above was posted in 2007.

Now I have my 1970 VW, 1971 VW convertible, and 1988 Mazda B2200 with Hagerty. Nowadays, Hagerty does allow flexible usage, pleasure driving, etc.

Wed Aug 20, 2025 7:35 am

I am pretty pissed off at the insurance industry in general. After having a very bad experience with USAA last year. I had been with them for over 40 years I canceled my policy with them. I no longer op for any replacement coverage even on my house. If I have a loss its on me and I am fine with that. I have managed to get coverage for liability for my cars and property for $ 469 a year. It was a little scary at first but now I don't even think about it. I am lucky in that I have no wife or children to worry about. By the way after all was said and done with USAA I got $5k on a $15k loss.

Wed Aug 20, 2025 11:03 am

It's called being self insured and for some it can be the best and least expensive option. On my daily driver cars I carry liability and property damage only,( required by law) , no collision or comprehensive. On my home I carry a policy with no wind damage coverage and a high deductible. So in both these types of policies you are assuming a larger part of the risk for a lesser premium and are partially self insured.

Wed Aug 20, 2025 11:21 am

Haggerty turned me down because I had 2 traffic tickets in the previous 3 years. one was for speed and the other for improper use of lanes. Petty things.

Wed Aug 20, 2025 12:28 pm

I had Hagerty some years back but did not go to them this time as I remembered a requirement that every licensed driver in the household had to have his own daily driver before a classic vehicle could be insured with them. Did I get that right and is it still a requirement? We have 3 licensed drivers but only 2 daily drivers. I had heard that Hagerty would forgo that requirement but then the premiums were much higher.