Who will insure Westy's for they're worth?!!

[tombosch76]

I have been around the block trying to insure my 84 Westy for the 76k I have put into it, and no one will touch it! Subaru 2.2 L conversion engine, body, paint, upgrades

- Hagerty - says they won't insure becasue it has a stove! I guess this is new because most people say they do insure
- Progressive - will only insure for KBB amount
- Geico - won't even touch it

Any advice!?

[llilibel03]

I went to the KBB site and they only go back to 1992. How do you even get a KBB estimate?
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87 syncro tintop
90 gl tin top
85 westy 2.0 tiico automatic (present)

[the joker]

This seems to be a hot topic I'm searching , Hartford? Liberty, Peerless .
keep us posted

[Ahwahnee]

$76,000 put into an 84 Westy? That's a rarefied zone few Vanagon owners have ventured into.

What you're needing may be more like the plans offered to Street Rods or Modified Cars rather than classic cars.

The underwriters' concerns will probably be how you will use the vehicle (for Hagerty the stove was a tip-off) and the moral hazard that may exist if a vehicle is insured for much more than other vehicles of the same make and model.

If you can interest an independent insurance agent in helping you he (or she) may have access to some carriers unknown to you that will accept such risk (for a price).

[jimf909]

I’ll be very interested to hear if someone will insure a Westy Camper for a given $ amount while allowing it to be used as a camper that is driven regularly (12 mos, 15K miles per year, etc.).

Right now I have Farmers and they tell me it’s covered for market value (w/ an engine conversion, etc.). That means if there’s a total loss they search for a similar vehicle and that’s what I get (which in no way will cover what I’ve got in it). I have given them an appraisal but that’s largely informational.

From what I’ve learned over the years it’s the best option that I have.
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- Jim

[dobryan]

What your bus is worth is not what you have spent on it. It is not worth $76k. It is only worth what you can sell it for on the open market. Get it appraised and see what that worth is then you can go to your agent to find insurance for that amount and be prepared to pay for it. There is no free lunch.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[Kirsche Wasserboxer]

[Westified]

I have an Agreed Upon Value of my 1984 Westy of $16,500. I sent them detailed photos and my agent told them I have all the receipts for my work done, which I do. I have spent $20,000 since 2010. I use State Farm Insurance. They have it insured as an antique vehicle. They don't require it to be garaged but I do garage it. I don't think we will get it insured for what we put into it. $76,000 is a lot to put into it. What have you done to it to rack up such an amount. It must be beautiful.
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1984 Westy Wolfsburg, owned since 1987. FAS 2.0 NA engine conversion in 2022.

[jimf909]

Kirschwasserboxer and Westfield,

Do either of you have restrictions on annual mileage?

Thanks.

Jim

p.s. NW Insurance group is less than two miles from my front door! I like that they represent many insurance companies.

https://www.nwinsgroup.com/
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- Jim

[ThankYouJerry]

First, you want an “agreed value policy” NOT a “stated value policy”.

Since you are in CA I’d recommend the insurer that Stephan of Stephan’s Auto Haus (high-end 1.8T conversion specialist extraordinaire) recommended to me years ago. I’ve been happy with them ever since, although fortunately, I haven’t had to file a claim:

Liliya Vizitiu
@ Farmer’s Insurance
Sacramento, CA
https://agents.farmers.com/ca/sacramento/liliya-vi...dium=Local

You will also need a qualified appraisal. I highly recommend Rhonda Madden out of San Rafael. No one better. Rhonda knows Vanagons/Westys and what they are worth in all conditions. She will use her knowledge, coupled with your receipts, and a through inspection to come up with an appropriate value. I got mine appraised and insured for almost everything I have into mine. 😳

http://www.creative-automotive.com

Edit=spelling
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1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD

[Kirsche Wasserboxer]

[ThankYouJerry]

[davevickery]

I think you'll need an appraisal to get anywhere near enough coverage. Insurance companies will not let you insure something for more than it is worth. They are afraid peple that might try to make a profit on an unrealistic agreed upon value.

I don't know if you should get an appraisal up front, or wait for the insurance company you are going with to give you names of appraisers they accept. But I would not mention you have an expectation of a $76,000 value unless the appraisal comes up to that.

The insurance companies have their own book values but I think you can still get a value from NADA classic car values and maybe some other places.
http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Cars/1984/Volkswagen/Vanagon/Camper/Values

[Abscate]

You probably can get someone to write you a policy for an agreed 76k but the premium will be 15k. Obviously not worth it,
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.ssS!

[elizer]

I have progressive for my car and motorcycle but they went strictly off NADA value for the westy (around $3,000). I went through their affiliate Foremost insurance and got it covered as an RV. No mileage restriction and garaging requirements. The original value we came up with was my initial purchase price and they welcomed appraisals and upgrades. Apparently, they insure some restored vintage airstreams so they are used to some RVs/Campers appreciating value.

This is how the policy reads:

LIMIT OF LIABILITY
A. Our limit of liability for loss will be the lesser of the:
1. Actual cash value of the stolen or damaged
property; or
2. Amount necessary to repair or replace the
property with other property of like kind and
quality.
However, the most we will pay for loss to:
1. Any "non-owned auto" which is a trailer is $1500.
2. Electronic equipment that reproduces, receives or
transmits audio, visual or data signals, which is
permanently installed in the auto in locations not
used by the auto manufacturer for installation of
such equipment, is $1,000.
B. An adjustment for depreciation and physical condition
will be made in determining actual cash value in the
event of a total loss.
C. If a repair or replacement results in better than like
kind or quality,

And then this...

APPRAISAL
A. If we and you do not agree on the amount of loss,
either may demand an appraisal of the loss. In this
event, each party will select a competent and impartial
appraiser. The two appraisers will select an umpire.
The appraisers will state separately the actual cash
value and the amount of loss. If they fail to agree,
they will submit their differences to the umpire. A
decision agreed to by any two will be binding. Each
party will:
1. Pay its chosen appraiser; and
2. Bear the expenses of the appraisal and umpire
equally.
B. We do not waive any of our rights under this policy by
agreeing to an appraisal.

This is the best I could find so far for Virginia. If something were to happen I hope all the $50k - $75k syncros will help me get a decent amount back.

I should also add that I had to send a bunch of photos of the pop to bed/bench bed, sink, stove, and refrigerator for them to qualify it as an RV. I also made sure that it would still be classified as an RV without a head.

[Abscate]

You will always lose a negotiation with an insurer over your loss.

If you want to get back a certain value from a loss, go with an agreed value policy and pay the premium. Otherwise, be prepared to take the perceived loss.
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.ssS!

[HBB]

Anyone with what they think is an agreed value coverage willing to post up the language of their policy?

I ask because in every example I've seen, the coverage limits are agreed value or actual cash value, whichever is less.

[dobryan]

[elizer]

Dave that is correct. I am still in the market for another insurance company, but everything else I have been looking at has been far worse in terms of coverage.

[jimf909]