Classic Insurance

[panhard65]

Just thought about getting classic insurance for my Rolls. I normally only put my classics on the trade policy but decided to compare meerkats with this one. Fully comp 3000 miles sdp only £80 !!!! Through a broker called autonet.

[seacow]

The Montego is with Flux Direct and its the only time that a) the policy went down and I couldn't beat it by shopping around.

 

As a general rule insurance companies offer an incentive year one and then it goes up so you really do need to shop around each time - even if just a couple of comparison sites.  I think in general though premiums are coming down - I have run quote on various shite last year and getting messages now 12 months later and they all seem cheaper!

[panhard65]

The bunch I have just signed up with kept pushing for me to do automatic renewal.  That really bloody annoys me I had it on an advertising contract for the business. They hid the bit about auto renewing in the small print. The OFT have issued guidelines that it is no longer acceptable for them to do it but they still chance their arm. I know they can get away with it to businesses but private individuals can report them. I could even claim a meerkat on the policy I have taken out so it should be even cheaper once that gets sold on ebay.

[seacow]

The bunch I have just signed up with kept pushing for me to do automatic renewal.  That really bloody annoys me I had it on an advertising contract for the business. They hid the bit about auto renewing in the small print. The OFT have issued guidelines that it is no longer acceptable for them to do it but they still chance their arm. I know they can get away with it to businesses but private individuals can report them. I could even claim a meerkat on the policy I have taken out so it should be even cheaper once that gets sold on ebay.

 

I thought that was the norm now. They still give you notice and a period to cancel but if you don't they take the payment. Loads of them do it.

[Alan_Green]

I thought that was the norm now. They still give you notice and a period to cancel but if you don't they take the payment. Loads of them do it.

Yes, auto-renewal is the norm. At first I disliked this but now see it will prevent people sleepwalking into driving around uninsured.  You get plenty of notice during which time you can switch.

[hazzalandy]

You should all feel blessed, a quick surf of a leading price comparison website reveals that the most expensive quote for me on my Land-Rover series 3 is 15,580! 

[Parcgwyn]

I had the same thing a couple of years ago from Flux on my S1 and Range Rover. That, and the fact I wasn't overly impressed with how AF handled a mate's claim, sent me searching elsewhere. With RH Heritage now, good package with breakdown cover including europe... think the Land rover renewal was about £75.

I had the same thing with AF when renewal came up for the Sherpa, now insured on my A35 policy with RH including the breakdown cover.

[AnthonyG]

What's the youngest age a classic insurer'd take, and what are the prices typically like?

 

I'm 19 next week and I have an extremely unrealisitic hankering for an Audi Coupe GT...

Your choice of vehicle is a Morris Minor or...a Morris Minor. You need to join the club, the firm they have a deal will insure 18 yrs old, possibly even 17 yrs olds on them.

[mercrocker]

At least two car-freaks of my acquaintance have teenage sons with Minors.  Both of the lads are running around in red-wheeled, whitewall tyred Minors whilst they build proper hot-rods mostly financed from the huge insurance saving.    They will both also no doubt be highly schooled in RWD, quick-steering fun by the end of two or three years as well.   Neither of them are suffering the pain of being butt-fucked while they pootle about in god-awful Asian econo-shite, either.

[jakebullet]

Anyone got a suggestion for bitsa series landrover?

 

Chassis plate says series 2a 88". Got a series 3 bulkhead, brakes from a dead 109, turner high performance* 2 1/4 petrol, disco steel wheels, overdrive.

 

Do I bother telling insurance the above, as no doubt if I stack it having told them they will easily be able to find something I haven't spotted that's not original. Doubt there's many 50+ year old cars that are all original.

[panhard65]

When I insured my old A40 twin can it was pretty straight forward 2 pages of A4 with all the modifications and it was still only about £130 to insure. The people I have insured the Rolls with are being a bit of a pain in the arse. As I didn't take out all the optional extras like legal cover and excess protection they keep ringing up asking why. I nearly told this pushy little shit to stick it this afternoon, what ever happened to just having insurance now they almost insist that you have extra legal cover and cover for the excess as well. I suspect they are a bit pissed as they only got £80 out of me.

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

What does the log book say is the year of manufacture?. I doubt if many insurance assessors would know the difference between a 2a and 3 bulkhead and or chassis. IFIRC the fairey overdrive was a Land Rover approved accessory when both models were in production.

 

They may have an issue with the Disco steels,especially if you are using the original wheel studs.

[jakebullet]

It's on series 3 hubs, so should be ok with disco wheels? I basically nicked the axle ends off my mates dead series 3 109 and put new brake cylinders etc in.

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

Yes the series 3 studs are load bearing, you may have noticed the Disco rims are thicker gauge steel so the studs aren't quite long enough for series 3 wheel nuts.

 

A full set 109 brakes will be adequate for the Turner lump,although best to inform your insurers you have up-graded the brakes.

[jakebullet]

Oh bum. I haven't actually got as far as trying the disco wheels on it. I just grabbed them a few years back purely because I remember seeing them on series trucks back in the day when the disco 1 was new, and I liked the look. Another thing for the to do list, fit longer wheel studs.

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

Longer studs are better although not essential,the originals are about 1/16 of an inch too short. I ran an 88 V8 on the originals studs with Disco rims fitted with 235 B F Goodrich all terrains for a few months and never lost a wheel.

 

Although make sure your nuts are tight!

[lisbon_road]

Anyone heard of Barry Grainger insurance?  I had a quote for the Vauxhall Viva of £52.  That's less than the MOT. 

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

Got a text today from AF informing me that they can offer the same cover as last year for £94-20p. Thats a £4-26p reduction from their previous renewal quote.

 

I'll give them a bell next week and suggest if they come down to £80 I'll reinsure it.

 

Save me buying a new disklok for my Pajero or reverting to this method.

[alf892]

Anyone heard of Barry Grainger insurance?  I had a quote for the Vauxhall Viva of £52.  That's less than the MOT. 

Because I'm a cheapskate I just tried this lot...........£78 for the year fully comp with agreed value.

 

I am with Lancaster but they want £117 up from £97l year. I rang in and they offered me £10 off but I explained the percentage rise from 97 to 107 was still too much bearing in mind both of my dallies went down this year. He got the hump then and told me to have a nice day............

 

Only thing is Barry Grainger policy would be with Chaucer which I think is Flux who were piss poor in the past........although principles are all very well until cash is involved.

[jonny69]

'Spose we should keep this sort of thread up to date.

 

-Currently with Peter James because they allow commuting on the policy and are reasonably priced.

-Was previously with Hagerty who I can heartily recommend because they fixed up my Anglia after it got quite smashed up. HOWEVER, note that they don't allow commuting (it's strictly leisure use) and it will either be expensive or they won't cover you if you don't have a garage.

-Have used Lancaster who were reasonable for an older unmodified classic (1954 Ford Pop) and allowed commuting, but I've seen a few people complaining about them of late.

-Adrian Flux are like my emergency fall-back option. I'd rather not use them because they are too expensive and I've heard they can be difficult when it comes to claims. I also can't stand their high-pressure selling and their snotty attitude on the phone. But they are open all hours and will always provide cover - if you're prepared to pay for it.

[vulgalour]

Since moving to a house with no drive or garage I'm finding classic policies are impossible to acquire at any less than regular policies, which is really annoying.  I'm with Adrian Flux at the moment as they were the most competitive but they quickly ramp up charges with any changes made, I'm not that impressed by them in all honesty for the same reasons many others have stated both here and elsewhere, they just seem like you get what you're paying for, which isn't a lot.

 

I've tried pretty much all of the companies listed here and none of them will touch me with a classic for under £400 at this address.  When I'm looking at £250 for a classic on a regular policy with the regular perks like NCB gaining, classic policies aren't making sense for me at the moment.