I'm looking for input on who you guys are using for insurance. I did a search and it looks like most people like Grundy, followed by Hagerty. What I am really interested in is who has had to use them for a claim. I learned the hard way last winter that if their claims service*****s your screwed. I got hit by somebody else last winter (not my fault) and Allstate was totally useless. Also do any of these carriers offer decent roadside service? or should I just use AAA? Thanks, Todd
My vote for Grundy. I have experiance from both sides of the fence. Meaning, I carry Grundy on all my Hot Rods & I own a shop and have delt with them on the claims side. Very easy to deal with on both sides. A buddy of mine in Flordia just had a total loss claim on a 32 roadster. From time he called in the claim to havin a check( for the agreed amount) in his hand was less than 3 weeks. Try that with Allstate, Farmers, state farm and any of the others. Good luck
If you really want to find out about claims practice tactics get the book "From Good Hands to Boxing Gloves ". Written by an attourney named Berardinelli from AZ . this article gives a brief overview. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_18/b3982072.htm Or just recently . http://www.bodyshopbusiness.com/Content/Site303/News/01_01_2008/690192009RIDBRD_00000027614.pdf http://www.santafenewmexican.com/SantaFeNorthernNM/Local-news-in-brief-Nov--14--2009 I could go on for hours. Most carriers will use some or all of the tactics. Your best bet is to have them do all negotiating or commitments in writing. It amazing what they say in writing vs the spoken language. Sadly thiswill delay a claim which is exactly what they are hoping for. For even more fun follow the suit in AZ against Allstate for the Mc Kinsey claims software that is currently in class litigation. Basically an unfair claims practice to pit the average consumer against a trained claims rep with a software program that is programed against the consumer. A couple of other sites and articles. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/09/insurance.hardball/index.html http://www.safecollisionrepairs.com/ Sorry ! Hot*****on pushed . If you had to deal with these guys daily you'd understand.
I have State Farm on all my hotrods since 1970 and have had only one claim with no problems. That aside, I wonder what would happen if I had a complete loss and they had to shell out the stated value of 80 to 100,000? I have just gotten Grundy for my shop insurance, and am thinking of changing from State Farm. Do they insure high value cars like SF with just an appraisal? Suggestions.
For RSS go with AAA. If you get the "Plus" service,you'll have up to 100 miles Free towing. AAA offers vehicle reg and don't forget all the free maps you can carry! Also,AAA RSS calls get precedence over all others.
They will insure anything with a bonefied apprasial I got 1 insured right now with them for 90K BTW -- My buddy in Flordia had agreed value of 42 K on the glass 32 roadster and they paid off with out ??
The only claim I've ever had in my entire life was on my Off Topic minnie winnie about 1978, I believe it was. Got drunk, on my way into the trailer court a damned tree jumped out in front of me. I almost outsmarted it, just kissed the front fender. Insurance guy came out the next day and wrote me a check for nearly ten times what it took me to fix it myself. Bondo and Acrylic Enamel. State Farm. Right after that I quit buying loss type insurance, figured out if I cut down on the beer I wouldn't need it.
I currently have my "Classic" 1979 ford in the body shop completing the repairs to damages caused by another driver.( I only say classic, because it's 30 years old and nice.) It took 2 months for them to decide that my truck was worth fixing. On the advice of my lawyer and friend I only dealt with them in writing as I wanted proof of everything. Initially they appraised my vehicle's damage at 2,700 dollars and market value at 1,500 dollars as it is "just an old truck" and "totaled" it. I told them I would not be accepting a totaled****le, would be keeping the truck, and that there appraisal and comparable trucks were no where near the condition of mine. I sent them a current appraisal of 7,500 dollars and a receipt for $6000 dollars worth of rebuilt engine. I own my own business and invoiced my parts and time to install accordingly . they then realized I wasn't going away and that it would be in their best interest to fix the vehicle. or talk to the lawyer..... there are still******ing and moaning about the current price tag....about $5000 in repairs and just the other day they called to "update me on the progress". The field agent told me that even though it had exceeded the original estimate for repair that they would still fix it....even though it was borderline being totaled. I just about lost it. I asked him if he had looked at my private party appraisal of 7,500 and what the cost of repair was. He said no he hadn't seen the appraisal, but had the one from progressive. which I replied was not accurate. I told him" My math may be off, but I'm fairly certain that his companies policy stated they would repair damaged up to 80% of total value and that the damage equaled about 66%. AND IF THAT IS IT...PLEASE CALL ME WHEN IT IS FINISHED" click..... I think he got the point... moral of the story DON"T PLAY NICE and know your policy or the co. policies.
Hitchhiker; One point, might not seem like much, but if they call back again, I would stick to what my lawyer suggested and not discuss, because if they get you to say one thing that can be msinterpreted it might come back to bite you. That field agent didin't call to "udate you" he called to trip you up.
I have American Collectors, Jalopy Journal sponsor. See my avatar? Nov 8th I hit an 8 point buck going 70, appraiser was out the next Friday. Wrote a good estimate, oked me tearing it down before he came out. Couple of weeks had a check.
I have J.C. TAYLOR on all my classic cars for 30+ years with one claim involving a hit and run.I made the call and gave then the information and was simply told go get it fixed and send us the bill. I did they paid in full and never ask any thing else.They did not require me to get multiple estimates or even ask how much damage.Simply said get it fixed your covered. I will hang with these guys.
Good point! I appreciate the advice. One note on the subject. The insurance I am dealing with is the other persons insurance. They are not legally bound to pay me anything. Their only responsibility is to their customer. If their insurance doesn't want to pay...then I sue the person that hit me.....then the insurance is acting in "Bad Fiath"....a big mess for them.... another note I should make is the father of the girl that hit me has been very helpful. He has restored a couple of older Mercedes, so he feels me on the car guy end of things. He wanted to pay out of pocket but after he realized how much it would cost decided going through insurance was the only option. I don't fault him for that and he told me if I had any problems with them to call him and then he would call the insurance and "raise hell". It was nice knowing he was willing to help me out like that.
Thanks, I'm going to have to give these guys a call. Grundy denied me because I live outside the country, even though the car is stored inside, never to be driven. Seems like easy money to me, but Grundy won't touch it
I also have American Collectors and had to file a claim last year. My experience was also good. Appraiser came the following week. Wrote a very fair estimate for the parts and no problems when I amended the parts list. They answered all my questions and were a real help through the process. I would recommend American Collectors and they are a HAMB supporter. Now, if I could just get my lawyer to hurry up and get me some $$ for my back issues...
I have had Grundy since 1979. I was in a wreck in June 08. A woman ran a stop sign and totaled my '60 Chevy Police Car. (see pics in my profile) Grundy sent me a check for $1,000.00 even though it was not my fault. The other Ins Co only wanted to give me $2,000.00 for the car. Since I had agreed value with Grundy, they paid that amount plus my injuries. I'm sure there are other good companies out there, but you must have COLLECTOR car insurance. Regular insurance will only give what is book value. Then it becomes a hassle. My 2 cents worth. Tim
I also got hit by a Allstate customer who made a left turn into my 29 Pk Up a couple yrs back. He was in the right of way cause he had a green arrow, except that there was NO green arrow at that intersection. I was moving to The Islands, and had to take the truck to the shipper the next day, so by the time I got an estimate and contacted Allstate, I was in St.Thomas, VI. After many faxes, pictures sent, phone calls, NOTHING. So I finally called, and asked for some one in Management, and told the lady my story and mentioned that they spend millions on advertising, looking for new customers and can't deal with old business, and old unpaid clains. It seams counter productive to me. I mentioned going on the HAMB and spreeding the word about the real Allstate. Sha said the check would be in the mail for the repairs and that was it. I just moved back to Florida and got a deal with Geico for both the wifes car and my 29 Pk Up. Iceman
About 25 years ago. I had a very nice 71 Chevelle. It was parked in front of the apts where I was staying. One night some thugs took the keys from a passed out party'r and went for a joy ride. From the evidence left behind,,they powershifted and lost control of the Mustang and hit the Chevelle across the front end with the broadside of the Mustang. They fled on foot and were not aprehended. The Insurance would not pay on several fronts. The Owner said the car was stolen but he didn't have his keys so it really wasn't stolen in the Insurances eyes and not covered. To me they said it was a criminal case and not covered,as the Owner wasn't driving. I got the Police Report and all the facts and sued them. I was out of a good car and was supposed to accept the Insurances decision. They basically told me to go away,,but I persisted and it went to Court over a year later. Through some loophole I didn't understand, I was only able to get the $12.oo a day Rental Vehicle Fee. It amounted to about $4000.oo. That's when I knew that the Insurance Companies don't do whats right or wrong,,just whats profitable only for them.
yes insurance companies are NOT your friend, they may pretend to be but their not. my only problem with the collector car companies is that they will NOT cover your collector car as a daily driver. i've been told to insure a newer car with them and claim that i was on a rod run or pleasure drive if i had a claim. what if they didn't take the claim, in their policy it states "cruise or pleasure" only, my "friend" the rep forgets what he told me and i'm out everything. i have farmers, with an agreed amount and soon i'll get an appraisal. i don't own a new car and my newest car is my daily, rain or shine (1964 chevy panel) so i couldn't even qualify for insurance, if i understand their policy right.
Haggerty, this past April. I had to take one of my 73's out as a spare car. Well I was running late after opening my buddies store and I guess following an old lady (92) that stopped several times to make it across an intersection should have told me something. I didn't see her stop a third time and put my bumper guard through the rear plastic bumper of a 95 Caddy. We swapped info and I c alled them right away. I had to do a police report later. They gave me no hassles and called me with updates, their adjuster was a car friend who called me after he got her estimate. They looked over her padded estimate and found the necessay parts for the damaged Caddy. Who knew plastic was so expensive. Me I scraped the chrome on the bumper. Things were tough at the time financially for me and they paid off the claim w/o hassles. The old lady, well I knew her and her husband. The accident was my fault for not looking. Their local rep even called me to make sure eveything was taken care of. First accident my fault in 35+yrs.
Just my 2 cents you may want to look at other insurance companies besides Geico they had a huge profile on 60 minutes at one time. I personally had some problems with them many years ago and I can tell you I would not even consider them they were great at giving a discount terrible at paying a claim.
gieco is one of the most expensive insurance companies out there. i've got progressive for my bike and they've been absolutely wonderful. i made 3 claims for 2008 with 2 of those being total loss claims. they handled all of my claims immediately and i had full resolution within 3 weeks on all of them. they paid for my helmets, jackets and gloves every time and gave me full replacement value for them, not depreciated value. they also paid 80% value for all after market parts. for 2009 they decreased my rates by $300 for the year, even after all those claims.
I'm with Grundy, they wanted 1/2 the price Haggerty did. We went with an agreed value, not an appraisal. The local agents that i asked wouldn't cover me because of a DUI 6+ years ago.
I have a friend that had his 48 ford truck in his garage that burnt to the ground. He has grundy, they paid off on his truck with no problems at all. I think they charged him 200 dollars to keep what was left. He just wanted to keep it.
I have Grundy & had a pretty good claim 2 years ago. Car professionall appraised & agreed coverage. Driving my roadster on the 210 freeway on the way to a car show. Pick-up several cars up the road loaded w/ scrap lumber unsecured lost the load of mostly 4x4's & 4x8's & some 2x4's. Car ahead of me swerved & hit a piece w/ tire, launching it at my windshield. Hit the top of frame right above my head. While I was dodging & ducking the projectile, I hit several others w/ the front suspension. Toasted the grille & insert, broke a vintage Halibrand wheel, blew out both front tires & ripped the suspension nearly off the car. It was expensive as hell. Grundy couldn't have been better. Told me to pick a shop- hourly rate didn't matter. Adjuster showed up at the shop 2 days later & I had a check for the full repair in less than a week. When other hidden damage was discovered, they paid w/o question. A+ in my book.
Someone rear ended me and totaled my '63 356B Coupe, a car I spent two years restoring. Hagerty paid up on our agreed value policy, no hassles, no questions asked. Nationwide (the other guy's insurance company) got a "qualified appraisal" and tried to screw me out of about 1/3 of the value. Moral is this. If you have a collector car, make damn sure you have got it insured for a correct value with an "agreed value" policy. It will help ease the pain of your loss....a little.
Well here's a little tip: if you're under 18, you're screwed. If you're under the age of 23, you can only buy Haggerty and that's only if you have a daily driver insured under your own name. Name insured under the parent(s) is not okay. Grundy, Geico, All American, J.C. Taylor, you name it, they won't touch you. If you're 23, you can hang with All American, too. At the ripe old age of 25, the insurance market actually opens up. Some require you to be 28. As a 19 year old, I've thankfully never had to file a claim under Haggerty but this thread makes me relax a bit. Hopefully, I never will. EDIT: This isn't necessarily for the thread maker but for anyone of age reading it. Seemed like a relevant thing to mention.
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