How to Insure a Classic Vehicle (1 Viewer)

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I have a 1989 Land Cruiser that was recently stolen and recovered. Unfortunately, I only had liability insurance so will be paying for the repairs out of pocket. It had been explained to me that the book value was low so comprehensive didn't make sense but now that I have talked to people in Claims they are saying they do in fact take market value into consideration so I have now upped my coverage to include comprehensive and collision. Then another department told me about Classic Car insurance where they actually appraise the vehicle. The rig has not been restored but it is a well cared for 300k mile classic vehicle that I love. Can anyone offer some advice on how to properly insure the vehicle?

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Mine also fully covered. Now I need to look at Hagerty. I looked into the additional insurance you mentioned because it sounded great, but found out right before activating it with them that you must keep it garaged and only drive it in parades or to car shows. They would not insure it for casual driving!!! Crazy. No way to get the current market value on these even fully insured as far as I know. Anyone else?
 
I have a 1989 Land Cruiser that was recently stolen and recovered. Unfortunately, I only had liability insurance so will be paying for the repairs out of pocket. It had been explained to me that the book value was low so comprehensive didn't make sense but now that I have talked to people in Claims they are saying they do in fact take market value into consideration so I have now upped my coverage to include comprehensive and collision. Then another department told me about Classic Car insurance where they actually appraise the vehicle. The rig has not been restored but it is a well cared for 300k mile classic vehicle that I love. Can anyone offer some advice on how to properly insure the vehicle?
I have mine insured through "Farm Bureau". Each State has their own branch. I have full coverage, and continue to add to it as I make upgrades to my truck (provide your insurer with a list of "investments" that you made). Honestly, at least here in KY, Farm Bureau has never even inquired about the market value of my truck, but I have let them know how much the market value has skyrocketed in the last several years.

And, I've had to use my insurance. Some douche, who must have been going 20-30 miles per hour... while reversing!... hit my driver's door and destroyed it. The total for repairs (minus my deductible) was a couple of grand. Farm Bureau had it fixed without ever asking a question.

P.S. My '88 is exactly the same color as yours! Love your truck, and glad that you got it back.
 
WOA thanks for starting this thread, I will be cancelling my current policy and switching to Hagerty! Same price and covered for value entered.
 
I have Grundy (collector car) Insurance - about half the cost of Hagerty with the same coverage. I have had Hagerty in the past and have nothing against them, but they have gotten very expensive over the years. My truck sees very limited use, per the collector car policy restrictions.
 
State Farm, stated value....I think I have mine set at $30K...the BAT Price :)
 
A car collector at Jackson-Barrett last week highly recommended Safeco. I haven’t looked it to it yet.
 
+1 for Grundy, they didn’t squawk about the agreed value one bit, and it was 1/5 the cost Hagerty quoted me. They only wanted to see I had another vehicle as a primary.

Only qualm is that it’s purely a “pleasure” vehicle so It’s not covered off-road, so there’s that.

Maybe I’ll shop Safeco next year
 
When I contacted Hagerty, after recovering mine from being stolen, the agent said it would not be insured if I took it off-road. In fact he said that I could take it over to my fathers house but if I stopped at the supermarket and something happened it would not be insured. I haven't pursued it further as I am still doing repairs to the vehicle that the thrives damaged but will need some type of classic insurance. For those who have Hagerty, did I get an agent that didn't know what he was doing?
 
I have Hagerty ins for my 63 Galaxie. It is restored to a Cruise- in, type vehicle. Not a show vehicle but not a daily driver by any means. I consider it a collector car. I would consider my land cruiser the same if I had 1. restored it to stock condition, 2. garaged it. 3. only used it for Cruise Ins, shows, parades, and an occasional sunday drive.

If you click on the link I posted above and READ the page, at the bottom of the page under "vehicle that may not qualify" it says "off road". Also if you click on the "truck and suv" more info link you will read that they consider brush guards, suspension lifts with larger wheels etc to be extreme off road and are NOT accepted. I imagine if your land cruiser is in stock condition and you do not off road your vehicle you will be fine. There is a difference between keeping a vehicle as a collectors vehicle and driving it to shows, versus taking it off road. Any time you go off road you risk scratching, denting and damaging you vehicle way beyond what you would on road.

The three big things I see in the insurance qualifications page is 1. the prefer that when your classic vehicle is not in use it is stored in a private garage, 2. You and other drivers in your home have to have another primary vehicle that is registered and insured in your name (for going to the grocery store) and 3.it says USAGE... club meets, exhibitions, occasional drive.
 
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I've had American Collectors Insurance since purchasing my FJ60. They were recommended by USAA. Great premiums, exceptional coverage, exceptional agreed upon value ($49,500 at present) but like many of you have stated above, comes with a mileage restriction (I think mine is at 5K per year but you can go up to 10-15K per year???) and requires garage parking or similar.

 
When I contacted Hagerty, after recovering mine from being stolen, the agent said it would not be insured if I took it off-road. In fact he said that I could take it over to my fathers house but if I stopped at the supermarket and something happened it would not be insured.

<rant on>
This is the kind of crap that makes me want to put liability insurance only on my collector cars and screw the effort to actually cover it for agreed value. It appears that 100% of collector car insurance has holes in it that you could drive.......a collector car through. Of COURSE, they would prefer your collector car be stored in a climate-conditioned vault in an Argon-Nitrogen atmosphere and NEVER be driven. Perhaps they'd like me to just send them money for a car I don't have insured with them - would that meet their policy requirements? My cars are not worth $500K, I could eat their loss if needed.
<rant off>
 
Just curious if any of those that have a Hagerty policy actually spoke with an underwriter there? Here's my recent experience,

I recently discussed my coverage with my current insurance company and my agent recommended Hagerty for my LC with rave reviews and provided me an estimated quote with them that seemed quite reasonable but she was unable to answer any real specific questions about coverage and limited use restrictions. I was advised to give Hagerty a call and speak to them directly myself about my intended use.

I spoke with a Hagerty representative and explained that my 80 was not my daily but I intend to USE and DRIVE it. I was completely honest and transparent with them about my usage and wanted honest answers. I would consider my usage mild compared to many on this forum. I explained that I would be using my LC around town, trips to the mountain to go skiing/snow showing, trips to the woods to access trail heads for hiking and backpacking as well as remote camping.

A couple of the first questions I got from Hagerty were, how many miles a year do I anticipate, how often will I be going up to the mountain in the snow, where do I leave the vehicle when I am hiking, do I keep it garaged. I answered all of their questions honestly. I put on average 6k - 8K miles a year, make a half dozen trips to the mountain during winter, do dozens of off pavement roads exploring or leaving the vehicle at trail heads to go hiking, and I do not always park in the garage. After a brief pause, I was told that they would need to check with underwriting and would get back to me. Latter that week I got a return call from Hagerty saying that they would not be able to provide coverage based on my usage description and that they are specifically in business to cover property that is being preserved but not necessarily used as intended.

Just to confirm, a couple of months latter I filled out an online request for quote on the Hagerty website and got an instant quote and message that I would be contacted by a representative. a few days latter I got a call back and the exact scenario played out. I had to laugh when I was told a second time they wouldn't be able to provide coverage for the LC then was asked if I would be interested in a quote for my boat. I said that I would pass and asked if their coverage was only good as long as you never put the boat in the water.

If you have a classic that gets uncovered occasionally and is taken out for a sunny Sunday drive they may work for you but I would caution anyone that is considering Hagerty or has a Hagerty policy on a vehicle that is actually being used, especially if you haven't been upfront and provided full disclosure of your intend use, they may not be there for you when you need them the most.
 
I've had American Collectors Insurance since purchasing my FJ60. They were recommended by USAA. Great premiums, exceptional coverage, exceptional agreed upon value ($49,500 at present) but like many of you have stated above, comes with a mileage restriction (I think mine is at 5K per year but you can go up to 10-15K per year???) and requires garage parking or similar.

I have USAA also, not sure if it was the same American Collectors they transferred me to, but right before signing up, I found out I could only drive it in parades or to car shows. They would not insure pleasure drive or mileage. Insurance is FUN. :bang: Just got back off the phone with USAA and they said it would be based on a 1984 vehicle currently and suggested going with someone that would insure for the actual value if there was a total loss!
 
Not an LandCruiser owner yet, but we've had Grundy for my wife's old 78 Datsun 280z and my 09 Nissan 370z, for an agreed upon value, (30k hers/20k mine). When we signed up we had to provide pictures and details about the cars. It was surprisingly cheap, like $650 a year for both vehicles. Grundy had had no restrictions like Hagerty does about only driving it to shops or car shows etc.. No mileage restrictions. Their only caveat was that you had to have a primary vehicle with normal insurance.
 

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