Classic car insurance
Discussion
I use Classic Insurance Services - https://www.classicinsuranceservices.com/
After comparing a few, and having problems with rotating cars from storage to home from some policies I've settled on hagerty both for my v8 mgb and my more modern 916 gtv v6.
They include breakdown and European cover as standard and any changes I've made have been at zero cost. The agreed value was free just needing half a dozen or so photos...
They include breakdown and European cover as standard and any changes I've made have been at zero cost. The agreed value was free just needing half a dozen or so photos...
I think the majority of them are as good / bad as each other. The problem being everyone wants the cheapest insurance...
The true test comes when you need to make a claim.
I've heard horror stories about lots of them. Luckily I've not had to make a claim for many years.
I used Bertie Gilbart-Smith last time, have a "fleet" insurance with a mix of modern and classic / vintage cars.
One weird bit is that if the car is "near" your house and not garaged then it isn't insured. (So for me if taking one of the vintage cars to compete and it's on the drive on trailer ready for an early departure it's not insured.) Apparently the same for most of the classic policies.
The true test comes when you need to make a claim.
I've heard horror stories about lots of them. Luckily I've not had to make a claim for many years.
I used Bertie Gilbart-Smith last time, have a "fleet" insurance with a mix of modern and classic / vintage cars.
One weird bit is that if the car is "near" your house and not garaged then it isn't insured. (So for me if taking one of the vintage cars to compete and it's on the drive on trailer ready for an early departure it's not insured.) Apparently the same for most of the classic policies.
I’m with Lancaster and they did increase the premium at renewal.
I contacted them pointing out that I now only use the car in the summer, it’s on SORN for six months. They were very good, my annual premium is now less than last year. The agreed value procedure was also very quick and satisfactory.
I contacted them pointing out that I now only use the car in the summer, it’s on SORN for six months. They were very good, my annual premium is now less than last year. The agreed value procedure was also very quick and satisfactory.
Thanks again, it’s always interesting to hear of others experiences regards car insurance.
I’ve just gone with Footman James.
TBH, I went to Lancaster who had insured my classic camper van, good service and price last year. Phoned them for quote on my Swift and was hanging around for 15 minutes in queue system.
Got to speak to operative and went through usual stuff then asked to hold while he went to underwriters. Eventually emerged with good quote but then lots of add ons offered which bumped up the price a fair chunk. None the less I took out the insurance and asked for a hard copy of policy.
A week later I had to add a named driver, rinse and repeat the faff above but only to add driver this time.
3/4 hour later a high cost quote to add driver.
Lousy service hanging on the line added to annoyance level.
Decided it wasn’t for me and cancelled the policy. Never did receive the hard copy of policy.
I’ve just gone with Footman James.
TBH, I went to Lancaster who had insured my classic camper van, good service and price last year. Phoned them for quote on my Swift and was hanging around for 15 minutes in queue system.
Got to speak to operative and went through usual stuff then asked to hold while he went to underwriters. Eventually emerged with good quote but then lots of add ons offered which bumped up the price a fair chunk. None the less I took out the insurance and asked for a hard copy of policy.
A week later I had to add a named driver, rinse and repeat the faff above but only to add driver this time.
3/4 hour later a high cost quote to add driver.
Lousy service hanging on the line added to annoyance level.
Decided it wasn’t for me and cancelled the policy. Never did receive the hard copy of policy.
Edited by crankedup5 on Thursday 24th August 11:41
crankedup5 said:
Thanks again, it’s always interesting to hear of others experiences regards car insurance.
I’ve just gone with Footman James.
TBH, I went to Lancaster who had insured my classic camper van, good service and price last year. Phoned them for quote on my Swift and was hanging around for 15 minutes in queue system.
Got to speak to operative and went through usual stuff then asked to hold while he went to underwriters. Eventually emerged with good quote but then lots of add ons offered which bumped up the price a fair chunk. None the less I took out the insurance and asked for a hard copy of policy.
A week later I had to add a named driver, rinse and repeat the faff above but only to add driver this time.
3/4 hour later a high cost quote to add driver.
Lousy service hanging on the line added to annoyance level.
Decided it wasn’t for me and cancelled the policy. Never did receive the hard copy of policy.
Sounds similar to my experience with Lancaster. Despite that, I kept my policy with them for one of my classics, mainly because one year they offered to increase my mileage to 10,000. I suspected this was a mistake, but happily took it. If I recall rightly, there was little if any extra cost, and it was subsequently renewed on that basis several times. I’ve just gone with Footman James.
TBH, I went to Lancaster who had insured my classic camper van, good service and price last year. Phoned them for quote on my Swift and was hanging around for 15 minutes in queue system.
Got to speak to operative and went through usual stuff then asked to hold while he went to underwriters. Eventually emerged with good quote but then lots of add ons offered which bumped up the price a fair chunk. None the less I took out the insurance and asked for a hard copy of policy.
A week later I had to add a named driver, rinse and repeat the faff above but only to add driver this time.
3/4 hour later a high cost quote to add driver.
Lousy service hanging on the line added to annoyance level.
Decided it wasn’t for me and cancelled the policy. Never did receive the hard copy of policy.
Edited by crankedup5 on Thursday 24th August 11:41
As another poster has mentioned, there is a common quirk with classic policies where, if it is agreed that the vehicle will be kept off-street when at one's home address, it is not covered within a certain distance of that address if parked on-street. I think it was 500metres with mine.
Rumdoodle said:
crankedup5 said:
Thanks again, it’s always interesting to hear of others experiences regards car insurance.
I’ve just gone with Footman James.
TBH, I went to Lancaster who had insured my classic camper van, good service and price last year. Phoned them for quote on my Swift and was hanging around for 15 minutes in queue system.
Got to speak to operative and went through usual stuff then asked to hold while he went to underwriters. Eventually emerged with good quote but then lots of add ons offered which bumped up the price a fair chunk. None the less I took out the insurance and asked for a hard copy of policy.
A week later I had to add a named driver, rinse and repeat the faff above but only to add driver this time.
3/4 hour later a high cost quote to add driver.
Lousy service hanging on the line added to annoyance level.
Decided it wasn’t for me and cancelled the policy. Never did receive the hard copy of policy.
Sounds similar to my experience with Lancaster. Despite that, I kept my policy with them for one of my classics, mainly because one year they offered to increase my mileage to 10,000. I suspected this was a mistake, but happily took it. If I recall rightly, there was little if any extra cost, and it was subsequently renewed on that basis several times. I’ve just gone with Footman James.
TBH, I went to Lancaster who had insured my classic camper van, good service and price last year. Phoned them for quote on my Swift and was hanging around for 15 minutes in queue system.
Got to speak to operative and went through usual stuff then asked to hold while he went to underwriters. Eventually emerged with good quote but then lots of add ons offered which bumped up the price a fair chunk. None the less I took out the insurance and asked for a hard copy of policy.
A week later I had to add a named driver, rinse and repeat the faff above but only to add driver this time.
3/4 hour later a high cost quote to add driver.
Lousy service hanging on the line added to annoyance level.
Decided it wasn’t for me and cancelled the policy. Never did receive the hard copy of policy.
Edited by crankedup5 on Thursday 24th August 11:41
As another poster has mentioned, there is a common quirk with classic policies where, if it is agreed that the vehicle will be kept off-street when at one's home address, it is not covered within a certain distance of that address if parked on-street. I think it was 500metres with mine.
I've only used Adrian flux once, will not again.
Lancaster covered two of my cars for over 5 years, but, renewals were always a faff. Discovered that delaying the renewal would lead to them contacting you and typically the increase would go away......! In fact one year I got about 15% reduction. Don't know if this is due to time of year, status of the business or what. Either way you certainly need to be pretty hard nosed to get a reasonable deal, simply renewing means you will be taken advantage of.
Lancaster covered two of my cars for over 5 years, but, renewals were always a faff. Discovered that delaying the renewal would lead to them contacting you and typically the increase would go away......! In fact one year I got about 15% reduction. Don't know if this is due to time of year, status of the business or what. Either way you certainly need to be pretty hard nosed to get a reasonable deal, simply renewing means you will be taken advantage of.
Telephoned and two emails saying I wish to cancel my policy forthwith 25/8/23.Today a returne email saying OK we will cancel it 8 days from the 25/8/23 or if you want to cancel sooner ring this number. WTF, talk about take the piss! no doubt the extra days would have cost me much more money in cancellation fees. Lancaster, never again.
austin said:
Rumdoodle said:
crankedup5 said:
Thanks again, it’s always interesting to hear of others experiences regards car insurance.
I’ve just gone with Footman James.
TBH, I went to Lancaster who had insured my classic camper van, good service and price last year. Phoned them for quote on my Swift and was hanging around for 15 minutes in queue system.
Got to speak to operative and went through usual stuff then asked to hold while he went to underwriters. Eventually emerged with good quote but then lots of add ons offered which bumped up the price a fair chunk. None the less I took out the insurance and asked for a hard copy of policy.
A week later I had to add a named driver, rinse and repeat the faff above but only to add driver this time.
3/4 hour later a high cost quote to add driver.
Lousy service hanging on the line added to annoyance level.
Decided it wasn’t for me and cancelled the policy. Never did receive the hard copy of policy.
Sounds similar to my experience with Lancaster. Despite that, I kept my policy with them for one of my classics, mainly because one year they offered to increase my mileage to 10,000. I suspected this was a mistake, but happily took it. If I recall rightly, there was little if any extra cost, and it was subsequently renewed on that basis several times. I’ve just gone with Footman James.
TBH, I went to Lancaster who had insured my classic camper van, good service and price last year. Phoned them for quote on my Swift and was hanging around for 15 minutes in queue system.
Got to speak to operative and went through usual stuff then asked to hold while he went to underwriters. Eventually emerged with good quote but then lots of add ons offered which bumped up the price a fair chunk. None the less I took out the insurance and asked for a hard copy of policy.
A week later I had to add a named driver, rinse and repeat the faff above but only to add driver this time.
3/4 hour later a high cost quote to add driver.
Lousy service hanging on the line added to annoyance level.
Decided it wasn’t for me and cancelled the policy. Never did receive the hard copy of policy.
Edited by crankedup5 on Thursday 24th August 11:41
As another poster has mentioned, there is a common quirk with classic policies where, if it is agreed that the vehicle will be kept off-street when at one's home address, it is not covered within a certain distance of that address if parked on-street. I think it was 500metres with mine.
Result - I decided not to renew with Hagerty as they should have made this clear when additional drivers were added to the policy.
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