Classic Car Insurance
Discussion
I`ve just received an email from LV= saying they will no longer sell classic car insurance. Been with them for years with an agreed value policy.
So its recommendation time. Getting and comparing quotes is easy, but you only know how good an insurer is when you make a claim.
Anyone had a full pay out on an agreed value policy? or had a major claim and repair that all went well?
So its recommendation time. Getting and comparing quotes is easy, but you only know how good an insurer is when you make a claim.
Anyone had a full pay out on an agreed value policy? or had a major claim and repair that all went well?
Not sure who to recommend but I used Adrian Flux in 2021 and regretted it. So an anti-recommendation if you like.
They were expensive and when my classic broke down they started playing shenanigans with the recovery process, refusing to recover to my home and instead just to a local garage because it was closer (i.e. cheaper).
When I cancelled a policy with them they said they would leave the remaining life of the policy active on their system if I wanted to insure another classic before the policy expired... this turned out to be a lie, they just wanted me to call them instead of somebody else. When I did buy another classic and attempted to continue the term they started the quotation process from the beginning and set up another 12 month policy. I went with it to avoid the hassle of shopping around but it was really expensive for a severely restricted policy. And as I say, when I wanted to use the breakdown cover they fought me on it.
They were expensive and when my classic broke down they started playing shenanigans with the recovery process, refusing to recover to my home and instead just to a local garage because it was closer (i.e. cheaper).
When I cancelled a policy with them they said they would leave the remaining life of the policy active on their system if I wanted to insure another classic before the policy expired... this turned out to be a lie, they just wanted me to call them instead of somebody else. When I did buy another classic and attempted to continue the term they started the quotation process from the beginning and set up another 12 month policy. I went with it to avoid the hassle of shopping around but it was really expensive for a severely restricted policy. And as I say, when I wanted to use the breakdown cover they fought me on it.
Yup, + another vote for Lancaster.My first year with them and I have thus far been delighted with price and service. I have tried a few other classic car insurers with well known brand names, and found them to be underneath the bar set by Lancaster.
I should add, I haven’t made a claim but needed to add another driver last week onto my vehicle, easy and painless.
I should add, I haven’t made a claim but needed to add another driver last week onto my vehicle, easy and painless.
I have used Hagerty for many years. They are really helpful on the phone (unlike some others) and seem good value, but thankfully I have never had to claim. The one time I had a breakdown, the recovery process was excellent.
However, three or four years ago someone wrote off their Ferrari 328. It was on an agreed value policy with NFU and the damage made the cost of repair borderline. NFU paid out on the agreed value, which was considerably more than the car was worth at the time, with no hassle whatsoever. It made me think twice about switching to NFU.
However, three or four years ago someone wrote off their Ferrari 328. It was on an agreed value policy with NFU and the damage made the cost of repair borderline. NFU paid out on the agreed value, which was considerably more than the car was worth at the time, with no hassle whatsoever. It made me think twice about switching to NFU.
I was with Lancaster but was unhappy with big 'admin' fees.
Classicline, Footman James and quotelinedirect I've also used in the last few years, but not had to claim recently so couldn't vouch for that.
Lancaster and quotelinedirect popped up on comparison websites,strangely. FJ don't, but they will do an online quote form their website.
Carole Nash and Hagerty are more famous names but I've not used either except for motorbike cover.
Classicline, Footman James and quotelinedirect I've also used in the last few years, but not had to claim recently so couldn't vouch for that.
Lancaster and quotelinedirect popped up on comparison websites,strangely. FJ don't, but they will do an online quote form their website.
Carole Nash and Hagerty are more famous names but I've not used either except for motorbike cover.
Edited by sixor8 on Thursday 23 June 17:44
I use A Plan in Thatcham for mine and have been with them for more than 10 years,
Only once have I had to talk to them about.a possible claim, when a tree came down in last years storms and looked like it had fallen onto my Cortina. In that call they were great and really helpful.
As it happened I didn’t need to make a claim as the bulk of the tree had very narrowly missed the car but from the initial contact I felt as though they would have been helpful.
ETA damn iPhone and sideways pictures!
Only once have I had to talk to them about.a possible claim, when a tree came down in last years storms and looked like it had fallen onto my Cortina. In that call they were great and really helpful.
As it happened I didn’t need to make a claim as the bulk of the tree had very narrowly missed the car but from the initial contact I felt as though they would have been helpful.
ETA damn iPhone and sideways pictures!
Highly recommend Adrian Flux. I insured my Karmann Ghia with the for what I paid for it plus a bit. I never got round to getting agreed value after the restoration was finished. Pretty much the day it was finished it was rear ended and written off. I ended up getting market value and a bit of personal injury I didn’t ask for. This softened the blow and I imported a replacement from South Africa.
I've used RHClassics for some time. Competitively priced agreed value cover but never had to make a claim. Main appeal is their "cherished salvage" approach, if they write off your car you gat a full pay-out but also get to keep the vehicle, I'm not aware of any other insurer that does this.
crankedup5 said:
Yup, + another vote for Lancaster.My first year with them and I have thus far been delighted with price and service. I have tried a few other classic car insurers with well known brand names, and found them to be underneath the bar set by Lancaster.
I should add, I haven’t made a claim but needed to add another driver last week onto my vehicle, easy and painless.
Thanks for the replies.I should add, I haven’t made a claim but needed to add another driver last week onto my vehicle, easy and painless.
I`ve gone with Lancaster, a very nice chap called us after I had done all the online stuff. All done and dusted in no time, the premium is a lot less than I was paying LV=. All I have to do now is submit the agreed value stuff, photos, form and so on.
May I suggest these people to you? At least give them a try anyway. I used them for many years and they were most helpful.
https://www.peterbestinsurance.co.uk/
https://www.peterbestinsurance.co.uk/
Old Merc said:
crankedup5 said:
Yup, + another vote for Lancaster.My first year with them and I have thus far been delighted with price and service. I have tried a few other classic car insurers with well known brand names, and found them to be underneath the bar set by Lancaster.
I should add, I haven’t made a claim but needed to add another driver last week onto my vehicle, easy and painless.
Thanks for the replies.I should add, I haven’t made a claim but needed to add another driver last week onto my vehicle, easy and painless.
I`ve gone with Lancaster, a very nice chap called us after I had done all the online stuff. All done and dusted in no time, the premium is a lot less than I was paying LV=. All I have to do now is submit the agreed value stuff, photos, form and so on.
Put simply I’ve had cars insured on Motor Traders policies, private car policies, and classic car policies.
I’ve had just one accident claim 13 years ago, and that was a non fault after being rear ended.
Lancaster won’t give me any no claims bonus. They don’t accept anything from a Motor Traders Policy, they won’t accept the no claims from my private car policy because it’s other cars, not my classic. Then to cap it off my previous classic car policy with LV= does not accrue no claims.
Lancaster say that no claim bonus and claim free driving are two different items? So I’m stuffed and confused? and will have to pay an extra £78.
The real test of any insurance company is when you have to claim. Thankfully I never have so could only recommend on things like their admin. A friend of mine is the only person I know who has claimed and he was with Hagerty who were brilliant with zero quibbles. I have since switched to them and have found them easy and pleasant to deal with.
RH Insurance are excellent - agreed value, full European breakdown cover, full salvage value + the car (i.e. if you write your car off, they pay you the full value AND give you the car back). www.rhspecialistinsurance.co.uk
Mellow Yellow said:
I've used RHClassics for some time. Competitively priced agreed value cover but never had to make a claim. Main appeal is their "cherished salvage" approach, if they write off your car you gat a full pay-out but also get to keep the vehicle, I'm not aware of any other insurer that does this.
RH Classics is a white labelled version of ERS or formerly Equity Red Star and now (I believe ) IQUW or something like that. Anyway, good luck if you need to claim.Having worked for an insurance underwriter for a couple of years (in a non insurance related role) my advise would be not to look at who the broker is (The Carole Nash, Footman James etc) but at who underwrites the policy because at the most important point in your relationship with "your insurer" it's the policy underwriter that determines the outcome.
Just my 2p.
After years with RH and never having claimed, I restored an (expensive at the time) MG and switched to Lancaster, as they were the MG Owners Club preferred insurer. They were much more expensive than RH, but sod it I thought. The policy set up was efficiency personified, and every interaction whilst they took my money was the epitome of excellent customer service.
Then, whilst on a driving holiday in France, a local drove into my pride and joy. There was extensive damage, a question mark over insurance (the other driver was driving a "friends" car, whose insurance had expired, and she had none herself on any other vehicle). In short, it was a mess. Fortunately, I am quite good with French, and I have a mate who has lived there over 25 years, and is better than fluent.
The claims process with Lancaster was cast-iron nightmare. Even though my car had been (perfectly legally) parked at the time of the accident, and I was thus not at fault at all. In the end, I actually gave up (I was lucky enough to have the money and contact base to do so), and had the car repatriated and repaired all at my own expense without claiming. I would never use them, or recommend them to anyone ever again - what happened was, in my view, an utter disgrace.
I have since heard of various other horror stories about them.
I have been with Hagerty ever since and cannot fault them in any way.
After years with RH and never having claimed, I restored an (expensive at the time) MG and switched to Lancaster, as they were the MG Owners Club preferred insurer. They were much more expensive than RH, but sod it I thought. The policy set up was efficiency personified, and every interaction whilst they took my money was the epitome of excellent customer service.
Then, whilst on a driving holiday in France, a local drove into my pride and joy. There was extensive damage, a question mark over insurance (the other driver was driving a "friends" car, whose insurance had expired, and she had none herself on any other vehicle). In short, it was a mess. Fortunately, I am quite good with French, and I have a mate who has lived there over 25 years, and is better than fluent.
The claims process with Lancaster was cast-iron nightmare. Even though my car had been (perfectly legally) parked at the time of the accident, and I was thus not at fault at all. In the end, I actually gave up (I was lucky enough to have the money and contact base to do so), and had the car repatriated and repaired all at my own expense without claiming. I would never use them, or recommend them to anyone ever again - what happened was, in my view, an utter disgrace.
I have since heard of various other horror stories about them.
I have been with Hagerty ever since and cannot fault them in any way.
My experience of claims assessors in France is also woeful, and it isn't the fault of the insurers I have found. A blonde ran into the back of my E-type, and I insisted on being there when the assessor came. He had absolutely no idea about classic cars and assumed that all panel parts were just bolt-on replacements like a modern Kia for example. He could not comprehend that panels need to be fettled and fitted time and again to get the shut lines right. He had no idea that different models had different parts with different prices (at the time the rear number plate chromes were 10 times a standard pair due to their rarity). To cut the long story short, he wondered if I might be interested in a job just for classic cars!
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