Vintage Car Insurance

[DREAMZ]

Can anyone recommend a good insurance company who specializes in vintage cars. I know somewhat about milage restrictions but what about the condition of the car now versus when I start redoing it or when it gets done.(Someday). I live in the northeastern U.S. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[MikeW]

This appears to have some good information including a link to an insurance company that specializes in vintage cars:

http://zhome.com/Classic/CCInsur.htm

[carguyinok]

I use ANPAC http://www.american-national.com/index.html

They are very good with there classic car insurance. Look at there program they call CHROME. They offer mileage allowances of 7500 miles a year. They also offer insurance for cars under restoration with a true replacement value set up front.

[ZmeFly]

i like the idea of how they work better then who i was going to recomend which was haggerty

[Zvoiture]

Kinda off topic, but I have USAA and my '77 has a salvage title. They told me they could give me Liability and all that but could not underwrite any comprehensive coverage on a car with a salvage title. I got this "can't" attitude from two levels of employees until I insisted there must be a way now that I have a little over $6000 in receipts on it and it is 100% roadworthy. Finally got a honcho and if I write them a letter explaining the imporvements and a brief history, along with copies of some of the major receipts and a cost breakdown(I volunteered this part because I have one in EXCEL), they will grant me comp.

steve

[EScanlon]

Steve:

Trust me on this one, if you had to go "up the chain of command" before you found someone who says that if you write a letter....yada yada, I GUARANTEE that should you EVER have any sort of claim on the comprehensive portion, that the opposition you will run into will resemble the D-Day Invasion. In fact, I would bet that they would "disapprove" any claim, regardless of what, when, where etc. I'll bet that the person you talked to didn't bother to discuss premiums, pushing it off on the "We'll have to see....", or roughly translated: "How much can we take you for?" like a hawker at a carnival.

You are much better off finding a NEW company with which you can get some cooperation at the lower levels than having to fight your way "up" the ladder.

That the attitude at the bottom of the corporate ladder is lousy is a perfect illustration of "sh!t" rolls down hill.

[240ZX]

FYI,

I went through the exercise of looking into different classic car insurance companys and then called my insurance company (Farmers Ins.) to see what they offered. For about $50.00 more a year than the classic car insurance companys I got pretty much the same deal. Yes there is a mileage limit (5000 mi/yr) but my Z is not a daily driver. Basically, you decide what the value of your car is and they charge you accordingly. Example: Let's say you think your car is worth $25,000.....that's what they will charge you for! If the car is stolen, burns up, or is totalled you get $25,000. Pretty simple deal and I am insured with people I've been with for years and trust.

[Marty Rogan]

Just be careful that you get an "AGREED UPON VALUE POLICY". An Agreed Upon Value Policy is one where you both agree on the value to be paid in advance of a claim.

Do not confuse this with a stated value policy. On those, they will charge you premiums on what you state as the value, but will look at book vlaues on the car when you go to make a claim.

As always, READ THE FINE PRINT on how they actually pay out on a claim.

Remeber, most insurance claims agents are there to settle for the lowest possible amount.

By the way, I have a little known Classic Agreed Upon Value Policy with State Farm. It costs me about $40 for 6 months, and they will pay me $9K if my Z is totalled.

Good luck!

Marty

[240ZX]

Marty is absolutely correct. Thanks you for giving more detail than I did.

[beandip]

I recently contacted my farmers agent because I am dismanteling the Z and it wont be driveable for some time. He suggested that we change the policy to one of not driveable and I am covered with comp. only , covering fire and theft. Cost $9.00 per year. When the car is ready for the road , at that time I will take pictures and he will insure the car with an agreed upon value policy . If Farmers will do it others should , check with your agent. There is a limit on milage and that varies with the policy . :classic: