TheSamba.com :: View topic - Canada Dune Buggy Insurance Is No Longer Possible?

Wed Mar 18, 2015 7:05 am

unless you have a pre existing policy with hagerty they will no longer insure dune buggies. my dad has had the buggy insured for over 15 years with them. ive been waiting 8 years to meet their criteria and I find out as of 6 months ago they will no longer insure dune buggies. to my knowledge this is the only company that would insure dune buggies in Canada. they DO NOT want these cars on the road. I think this is absolutely ridiculous and something needs to be done.

Wed Mar 18, 2015 7:33 am

I'm not sure that you have much option. Can you force the insurance company to insure a product that they don't wish to insure? How are others handling the insurance issue in Canada? Other Canadian buggiers will surely chime in -

Good Luck!

bnc

Wed Mar 18, 2015 8:18 am

Check with All-State, they are insuring my 'out of market' Mexican Beetle, maybe you'll have some luck with them.

Wed Mar 18, 2015 8:32 am

Just like the USA, Canada's regulation on insurance is by province (state). In Quebec, we have a couple of options including a comprehensive insurer called La Turquoise which happens to be a division of Intact Insurance.

I was also able to get liability insurance on my red buggy through RBC Insurance but I can tell you that your success on getting the insurance from them will depend on the agent. I disclosed exactly what the buggy was and they insured it. I have not heard anyone else having success with RBC Insurance.

To stack the odds in your favor, when you call for insurance, be sure to ask for kit-car insurance and not dune buggy insurance. The term "Dune Buggy" resonates as off-road to almost all insurance firms and they hang up even before you have the chance to tell them your name...

I was working with a fellow enthusiast from Ontario last summer also having some challenges getting his buggy insured.

We tried contacting my Quebec contact at La Turquoise to see if they could offer any advice but did not have any info on out of province insurance.

The only lead we got was a collector's insurance called Lant Insurance Broker.

In the end the he found an insurance company/broker that offered appraised value in Brantford. If you like I can try to shoot him an email and see if he's willing to help you out.

Hope this helps a little.

Wed Mar 18, 2015 8:49 am

Im dealing with the lant directly right now. my buggy is appraised as a 1957 dune buggy. modified from the beetle chassis. lant, hagerty, and Aviva are all connected and wont give me any consideration.

Wed Mar 18, 2015 9:42 am

Everyone who uses the Samba should enlist with the SEMA Action Network (SAN). SEMA is also active in Canada. Its the largest and most influential organization working for protection of our hobby. Enlist with them, tell them about the insurance situation and tell them you heard about SAN on The Samba.

http://www.semasan.com/page.asp?content=startpage&g=semaga

Wed Mar 18, 2015 9:50 am

I agree and just signed up. we need to start taking action. everybody on this sight needs to join and start sticking up for there rights

Wed Mar 18, 2015 10:18 am

This thread needs to be made a sticky

Wed Mar 18, 2015 12:40 pm

I've been insured for a year with Intact, went through a broker, stating it was a modified beetle, wich it basically is. I faxed him a professional evaluation paper containing all the mods and it is insured for the full value. I didn't have any problem.

Vincent9993, I'm also from around Montreal, do you know any good VW mechanic/engine builder in QC? You can PM me with infos :-)

Wed Mar 18, 2015 1:08 pm

Im tring intact right now. On my appraisial is say "1957 dune buggy"
Hope they dont jump to any conclusions. It is just a modified beetle.
Ill let you know what happens

Wed Mar 18, 2015 1:22 pm

dunebuggy1957 wrote: I agree and just signed up. we need to start taking action. everybody on this sight needs to join and start sticking up for there rights
Thanks for the heads up about SAN.

I just signed up as well.
Yes I tried for a week to get insurance as well. Finally found a broker that says he can do it but I'm not ready for the road yet. Hopefully by July.
Maybe I will get a rude awakening when the time comes but he indicated it shouldn't be a concern. Apparently he insure quite a few street rods in the area. Now if there is nothing more unsafe than some of them :shock:

Mine is open pipe frame, T4, automatic 003

Wed Mar 18, 2015 1:24 pm

How do we (you) :D keep this going. I bet there are a lot of owners that don't know this might be our ticket

Wed Mar 18, 2015 1:24 pm

What insurace company does your broker deal with??

Wed Mar 18, 2015 1:48 pm

dunebuggy1957 wrote: What insurace company does your broker deal with??

He never told me and I never asked because I was so far from needing it at the time

Wed Mar 18, 2015 3:42 pm

Hi Everyone. I just signed up as well. I'm sure we are all bothered by this. As it was said a Dune Buggy is no different than a T-Bucket or 32 Roadster when it pertains to safety.

Wed Mar 18, 2015 3:45 pm

can you just register and insure it as a vw bug? we used to do that here in Florida. Then later after the rebuild I put special insurance on it due to the cost of the build.

Wed Mar 18, 2015 4:03 pm

Unfortunatly that wont work here

Wed Mar 18, 2015 4:22 pm

I went to the licence bureau (DMV) and I needed an appraisal first before getting it transferred. I have the/a ownership card for a 58. They told me it must be registered as a 58 because that is what is on the "original" ownership.
I'm really alright with that!

Wed Mar 18, 2015 8:00 pm

dunebuggy1957 wrote: I agree and just signed up. we need to start taking action. everybody on this sight needs to join and start sticking up for there rights

Rights?

I'm not sure that there is a 'right' to insurance -

bnc

Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:33 am

Move to B.C. The weather in Ontario is crap.

We have ICBC which is Gov't owned insurance. My buggies are registered as 1966 and 1974 VW Beetles. Body style: Dune Buggy.

Took a little time searching the first time I registered one but now it is no problem.