Insuring 1978 SC?

[lespaul]

I tried to insure my new to me 1978 SC for comprehensive coverage with USAA and they sent me to a "collectibles" insurer. The "collectibles" insurer would not insure it for anything but transportation to and from car shows. I told the rep that I want to daily drive the car 7 months a year (in VT) not take it to car shows.

Who do you insure your daily driver "collectible" with?

Brad

[OsoMoore]

I've insured my daily driver 1979 911 SC with AAA. It is my second car, but I am clear to drive it as often as I like with no mileage restrictions. It was about $60 per six months, but was predicated on it being my 2nd car. I was paying $400 per six months on my primary car (2006 Suzuki SUV).

You have to be a AAA member, but that is quite cheap and the free 5-mile towing has been useful a couple of times.

[lespaul]

Wow. That is cheap. I am a AAA member and will check it out.

Thanks!

[RDM]

Umm… USAA.

Could be something about your state.

[ghamilton]

Hagerty; must have garage; not daily driver(must have primary vehicle) no mileage limits.
You can get agreed no questions asked value/coverage.

They are car guys and support the hobby.

Ask others.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by ghamilton

Hagerty; must have garage; not daily driver(must have primary vehicle) no mileage limits.
You can get agreed no questions asked value/coverage.

They are car guys and support the hobby.

Ask others.

Exactly what I use and I have nothing but positive things to say about them. They have an incredibly personal touch and seem genuinely interested in having you as a customer and the well being of your car.

Really, it's a shame they only do classics. I want them for my primary.

[Peter Zimmermann]

I have our house and primary cars insured with Traveler's (GREAT company, BTW). They agreed to insure our SC for "agreed value" based on a professional appraisal which I had to get. It is written as a collectible with 5K miles restriction. The good part is that it's OK for my wife to occasionally drive the car to work. Then I bought our '74 914/4, and they added that as a collectible, and accepted my agreed value amount. Cost for the 911 is $375 for 6 months, but the stated amount, for comp & collision, is costly at $218 of the $375.

Also, Traveler's flex payment plan is second to none.

[CCM911]

I have everything with State Farm. Very reasonable.

I think it is time for you to shop.

[kodioneill]

American collectors, 625.00 a year for 85 carrera and 82 sc insured to $30,000 with variable mileage options I chose 5k per year. Garage needed and photos. Great company. I had a stone chip in the windshield called them had a check in two days.

[NYNick]

The problem with USAA is the value. They'll insure it no problem as a DD, but won't do agreed value.
I've had them for 38 years.

[Schwarzeritter]

I used to have State Farm. However all my cars are under AAA. Because I don't drive all my cars and my daily is very understated my insurance is nearly nothing.

AAA will base the vehicles value upon market and vehicles or similar milage and condition. If you want classic car insurance. Well, that's a different story my brothers mint Dodge Dart Demon had to meet some pre requisites.
Such it could not be is daily driven or primary vehicle ie you need to show proof or a motorcycle or car etc other then the intended classic.
Next you'll need garaged parking of course ( in our case ) this was a non issue.

They won't insure vehicles typically under valued under 15,000 for classic car insurance. They on exotics can be very touchy about what they'll cover.

If you have been a AAA member for a particular amount of time they'll give you discounts.

I recommend AAA. Document everything and discuss options with an agent.

Some classic car insurances are strict about where you can drive too, how many miles per year, age too, who has access, where the car is parked, occupants that could possibly drive it etc

[porwolf]

My '79 Targa is insured as second classic car with State Farm in Los Angeles, expensive territory. Full insurance on it is about $300 a year. 24,000 agreed value, 3000 miles/year, unlimited use. '82 Landcruiser FJ60 is my primary car with liability only. Tried to get AAA 3 years ago. They told me can't do, the Porsche is over 30 years old!

[tirwin]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

Exactly what I use and I have nothing but positive things to say about them. They have an incredibly personal touch and seem genuinely interested in having you as a customer and the well being of your car.

Really, it's a shame they only do classics. I want them for my primary.

It's time for my renewal and I think I'm going to check with Haggerty.

Seems like we had a discussion about this a year or so ago. There was a lot of discussion about what constitutes collector car insurance and agreed value. It seems to me that insurance falls into a few categories.

Your 911 is a daily driver/primary vehicle with a traditional insurer. No agreed value. No mileage limits. The problem here is that if the worst happens you might be fighting the insurance company because they will most likely undervalue the car in a total loss.

Your 911 is a secondary vehicle insured with a classic car speciality insurer. May or May not have mileage restrictions. May require appraisal. Usually wants pics of the car and the garage. Usually insures to agreed value. May have restrictions on where/when you can drive the car. Some policies specifically say no coverage if you're driving to work. There was a lot of discussion about whether these restrictions are really enforceable. One lawyer said he had represented a client (and won) in a case where the insurance company tried to claim no coverage.

I have had good and bad experiences with insurance companies. I don't care how nice any of them are when the sky is blue. It's the time you need it that you find out how they really are. Insurance is always a cold, hard numbers game and sometimes it simply doesn't matter how long you've been a customer or that you've always paid your bill on time. They will treat you like a baby's diaper if they believe it is in their interests and the actuarial tables say so.

Do your homework.

[lespaul]

I am going with Hagerty. I received a nice quote on my '78 SC. Agreed value of $35K, Liability coverage of 250k per person/500K per accident, same for uninsured coverage. 5000 miles per year allowed with acknowlegement that I have another primary daily driver. Garaged. One photo. Total premium $360/year. Seems darn reasonable.

For an extra $40 per year, they are also insuring my 73.5 T that is sitting in the garage undergoing work (in case my house burns down) up to $25K.

Note -- Homeowner's coverage will not cover the car in the event of a fire loss.

Once the 73.5 is back on the road, I am increasing the limits.


I love USAA, but they will not cover my cars for their real value -- just "cash value."

[tirwin]

Lespaul,

Does Hagerty put restrictions on when/where you can drive the car? Do they have a clause that you can only drive it to car shows, PCA events, etc?

[lespaul]

Tim,

Hagerty does not appear to restrict when or where you drive the car.

Brad

[OsoMoore]

For my DD SC, Hagerty told me they didn't want to insure it if I was going to drive it to work every day.
When I did get AAA, they required me to get an appraisal first. When I spoke to my agent earlier this week, he said that in the event of a total loss they would determine market value. This is where you can provide input. PCA assists in this with average value stats.

[lespaul]

To be clear. Hagery wants you to have another DD or primary transportation vehicle. Beyond that and the mileage restriction, they said nothing about not being able to drive it to work. That said, I have not seen the actual policy they would issue which may have more restrictive language.

[tirwin]

Thanks for the feedback.

My car is not a DD. But then again my idea of a long commute to work is a two-dog pileup at the bottom of the steps -- so even my primary vehicle doesn't get many miles on it. I would like the peace of mind of having no restrictions on where/when I drive with agreed value.

[tirwin]

Originally Posted by lespaul

To be clear. Hagery wants you to have another DD or primary transportation vehicle. Beyond that and the mileage restriction, they said nothing about not being able to drive it to work. That said, I have not seen the actual policy they would issue which may have more restrictive language.

It would be good to get confirmation of what's in the fine print. I'm currently with Leland West and they do have restrictive language in their policies. It may or may not be enforceable (how can they prove your intent?) but I'd prefer not to ever be in the position to test that theory. I get the idea of not being a DD as their risk goes up with people who regularly commute to work, but the grey area seems to be what if you just want to drive to dinner on a nice spring night or take a road trip? It is not clear to me if this is within the "spirit" of the agreement and frankly the answers I've gotten in response to these questions don't leave me feeling warm and fuzzy. Seems like it is an area they want to intentionally leave vague and open to interpretation -- theirs of course.

Edit: Other than this one question with Leland's coverage, I don't have any complaints. The price is right for agreed value with no mileage restriction. They offer a PCA member discount. I have never had to file a claim so I can't comment on how they are to deal with in the claims process.