Classic Car Insurance woes

[Puddles of Oil]

I have very specific needs for my classic car insurance. Has anyone found a company that does these three things:-

1/ Agreed Value
2/ Unlimited Mileage
3/ Cover the car when left with the soft top down.

In 1983 when we bought my car (Sunbeam Alpine), it wasn't a classic, just a 1960s old banger. We covered around 20,000-25,000 miles each year and put it round the clock for the first time in 1987. These days I do 8,000-10,000 miles a year in her. The car is valued at £22,000 and I want to be able to leave it in a supermarket or pub car park without putting the top up every time I leave it. (I use a crook lock, have a tracker and lock and alarm the car).

Hagerty used to provide my insurance but now put a maximum limit of 5,000 miles on the policy which is no good. Lots of companies won't cover a convertible if you leave the roof down!

If you've found a proper insurance company that offers these three things please let me know.

Thanks,

Puddles.

[austin]

Have you tried using a broker who knows the classic market well?

One of our cars no roof, keys or anything but they are happy to insure it, (and yes it can be left outside in a car park etc.)

Must admit I'm not sure on the mileage though. (And we couldn't tell as it doesn't have an odometer!)

[RATATTAK]

Have you tried A-Plan ?

[FHCNICK]

Classicline certainly do points 1 & 2.

No idea regarding the soft top though.

All the best
Nick

[tog]

I've never had a convertible so can't comment on that, but Footman James cover my cars with agreed value, unlimited mileage and business use. It's nominally a multi-vehicle classic policy, but there is also a modern car included as one of the vehicles.

[RSpiston]

Give Heritage Classic Car Insurance a try - they *might* be able to meet your needs - 0121 248 9229

If they do, let me know before taking out a policy as I can then get a referral beer token !

[GordonGekko]

Hagerty cover all of my collection on the same policy and make it very easy to add/remove cars when needed.
Cover and pricing is very good, with genuinely enthusiastic staff.

Highly recommended by a satisfied customer!

[Puddles of Oil]

Hagerty used to be my insurer but they have changed their underwriters and are no longer the 'can do' company that they were. In fact the answer to everything is 'Computer says no'. among the things that they no longer offer is unlimited mileage with agreed value. They won't even cover 10,000 miles like most of their rivals do. Their maximum is 5,000 miles which is not enough for me.

[aeropilot]

Puddles of Oil said:

Hagerty used to be my insurer but they have changed their underwriters and are no longer the 'can do' company that they were. In fact the answer to everything is 'Computer says no'. among the things that they no longer offer is unlimited mileage with agreed value. They won't even cover 10,000 miles like most of their rivals do. Their maximum is 5,000 miles which is not enough for me.

Yep, I've heard of an increase in 'restrictions' coming about in past year or so in line with the massive 'normal' insurance price hikes, and to keep classic prices down, they are increasing restrictions to compensate. Mine has gone from unlimited to 10k as well, which isn't an issue for me. Mine also removed commute use as well, which isn't an issue for me now, but would have been a few years ago, when in summer if weather was OK, I'd drive it to work as would go to an evening weekday monthly classic car meet on the way home from where I was working at the time.
For most people, its not an issue, and many classic car owners won't even get close to doing 5,000 miles per annum let alone 10k.

I can remember the days back in early 90's when a good few classic insurers wouldn't allow more than 3k per annum max on agreed value policies...!

[Puddles of Oil]

Who are you with now at 10,000 miles?

[Stick Legs]

How would they ever know the top wasn’t up?

Most people stealing cars aren’t taking a classic anyway, I’d go one further that most ‘youths’ wouldn’t be able to get a Sunbeam Alpine going with the keys.

[s p a c e m a n]

Have you tried just normal insurance rather than classic? Ariel atom has no roof, someone must insure those

[aeropilot]

s p a c e m a n said:

Have you tried just normal insurance rather than classic?

Won't be agreed value though......massive risk driving a classic without agreed value.

[tog]

aeropilot said:

Won't be agreed value though......massive risk driving a classic without agreed value.

As long as you keep your value up to date! Harry Metcalf spoke about this on one of his videos - he said his classics are insured at market value, so if values rise he is still covered to the correct value.