How do you insure your Speedster?
What’s your annual premium?
How many miles can you drive?
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I use Hagerty for about $500 a year. I drove 4-5k miles a year and Hagerty was aware of it. When I had my accident the settled quickly and with no problems.
I also use Hagerty. They have been very easy to work with. My annual premium is in the neighborhood of $400. It’s based on the value of the vehicle, not the fact it’s registered as a 1969 VW!
My mileage is quoted as being well below 5,000 miles annually and I’ve been pretty good about keeping it under that.
I will gladly send you a PM with the specific cost, deductible, etc. when I get home and have the policy in hand if you like.
In these policies and others, is overnight parking in a private (meaning your own private garage) secure garage required?
American Modern, $475.00 per year, 5K miles per year, $30K Agreed Value.
Must be kept in a garage.
Ryan in NorCal posted:How do you insure your Speedster?
What’s your annual premium?
How many miles can you drive?
Maybe they follow you on Instagram and see what you’re doing. Bwaaa Haaaa
I use Grundy, they insured my car while it was being built using photos I sent. The original quote was about $500 with an agreed value of $36,000, the cost of the car. After 8 years and nearly 30,000 miles Grundy's policy now costs me $303.00 a year with an agreed value of $40,000.00. I know it sounds weird but they paid out over $9,000 to repair a busted fender and total repaint of the whole car in less than a week after adjuster inspected the damage. The check was sent to me and not the repair shop.
Grundy is good, had a quick payout after i got hit/run while in the store. it is actually underwritten by Philadelphia Idemnity,,they dont insure classic motorcycles
I forgot to mention that I had an agreed value of $35k.
GRUNDY agreed VALUE IM6: $128,000(2017 BUILD SHEET APPRAISAL)/ $1600 per year.
Car GARAGED and PLEASURE driving ONLY(NO commuting/etc.)
For what it's worth, I added my Beck to my USAA policy. $200 for 6 months and reduced in winter when she's stored till spring. I do not care for restrictions on using my car. I probably would not get full reimbursement in case of a total loss but I can document what its replacement value is so perhaps it'd be close. I'm willing to assume some risk to have the freedom to drive when/where I please and garage it as I please.
American Modern, under 600$, 6k miles per year, 35k agreed value based on build sheet and inspection by a local adjuster. I originally had Allstate (2013-2015) underwritten by American Modern). In 2015 when apAllstate stopped offering a daily driving “commuting clause” I switched to AM, which still offers a version of this.
The AM commuting clause allows daily driving- to work, kids stuff, grocery store, date night— 2 days per week, 104 days per year... which in Seattle translates to the sunny driving season & some fall and winter driving as well,
In addition to the commuting clause, the policy also offers the standard club/parade/show/ service unlimited mileage coverage, trip interruption coverage, and pet coverage ( my dog comes with me when we drive up to Canada or Oregon to visit family/ vacations... not sure what the value of this is, but I could not have it removed from the trip interruption clauses to reduce cost).
i did check with Grundy and Hagerty and neither offered a commuting clause. They said I could use it for whatever I wanted, but did not want to put it in writing. Their written policy was specific about limiting coverage to club events/parade/show/ service limit/test driving., and specifically called out that driving to work/ stores/ etc was not covered.... this scared me since I do use my car to go to work/ pick up kids from school/ grocery runs.
Surprisingly, the agency’ i work with is in Cincinnati not Seattle. When I called American Modern back in 2015, they connected me with them ( because back then they did not have local offices in WA since Allstate represented them). I have been using them with awesome results and customer support since.
I did check about bumping the agreed value to 40k this year... that would raise the cost to 740$, and require an additional inspection and new set of mixtures by a local adjuster. based on recent increase in values they were happy to bump the coverage up if I wanted to... which I ended up not doing.
John Nickerson '57 Beck posted:For what it's worth, I added my Beck to my USAA policy. $200 for 6 months and reduced in winter when she's stored till spring. I do not care for restrictions on using my car. I probably would not get full reimbursement in case of a total loss but I can document what its replacement value is so perhaps it'd be close. I'm willing to assume some risk to have the freedom to drive when/where I please and garage it as I please.
If that is not an agreed value policy, which I would bet it’s not, I don’t think you will get even $5000 out of your insurance company if it is totaled. I’ve read many instances of this happening, and the result is never good for the owner. There is a reason there are specialty companies that exclusively write agreed value policies.
i have used Hagerty for years now to insure my antique motorbikes, and just this past Friday they didn’t want to insure my latest project, because it is a 3 wheel cycle. I told them it will never even be registered, and they did agree to cover it.
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USAA is for military/vets or so im told
I think, direct relatives are also welcomed.
We have Hagerty, agreed value 28 K about $400/year. Had one claim required repainting rear quarter panel on a Boss 302 mustang, $1200. no hassle ,pick your own shop no deductible. Was very happy with service.
American Modern...$320.00 premium...$100,000/$300,000/$50,000 Liab...$5000 med...$100,000UM...3000 miles...locked garage...Agreed value $36,000...no deductible..plus some other misc coverages...
What ever company you use be sure you get it in writing that they will allow occasional driving for other than "pleasure driving." Hagerty would say it was OK, but wouldn't put it in writing. American Modern will. I think it's called a Rider or an Exclusion or something like that.
Rider
My advice is to choose an insurer whose rates and policies are acceptable, and make sure that you operate within those limits. The last thing any of us need, if we are unfortunate enough to get in an accident, is to have coverage denied because we were operating outside of coverage limits. If there were injuries as well as physical damage to cars, denial of coverage could be financially catastrophic.
LI-Rick posted:John Nickerson '57 Beck posted:For what it's worth, I added my Beck to my USAA policy. $200 for 6 months and reduced in winter when she's stored till spring. I do not care for restrictions on using my car. I probably would not get full reimbursement in case of a total loss but I can document what its replacement value is so perhaps it'd be close. I'm willing to assume some risk to have the freedom to drive when/where I please and garage it as I please.
"If that is not an agreed value policy, which I would bet it’s not, I don’t think you will get even $5000 out of your insurance company if it is totaled. I’ve read many instances of this happening, and the result is never good for the owner. There is a reason there are specialty companies that exclusively write agreed value policies. "
I have gotten quotes from Hagarty, Grundy, American Modern and American Classics and all have driving restrictions. Also, their liability coverages are far, far below what I carry on my vehicles. A serious accident with injuries could very well go far beyond the coverages they quoted. USAA tells me that in event of a claim, their adjuster will determine what the current market value of my car is and will use that amount. This seems like a fair practice to me and what I expect from a reputable company, which I believe USAA to be.
I bought my Speedster to drive, not to look at or work on, so I will take my chances with my regular insurance.
For 'Unrestricted miles' and 'Agreed Upon Value' I insured my Speedster through AAA (46 year member). Maybe a little pricey at $675.yr., but I use my car as a daily driver in SoCal so I wanted to drive it whenever I please, like @John Nickerson '57 Beck and a few others.
Previous VS Speedster I logged 100,000 miles over 13 years. Current VS, I've logged 39,000. mile in 4 years.
I think that you would be fine with most any of there recommendations noted on this thread! 
MusbJim posted:For 'Unrestricted miles' and 'Agreed Upon Value' I insured my Speedster through AAA (46 year member). Maybe a little pricey at $675.yr., but I use my car as a daily driver in SoCal so I wanted to drive it whenever I please, like @John Nickerson '57 Beck and a few others.
Previous VS Speedster I logged 100,000 miles over 13 years. Current VS, I've logged 39,000. mile in 4 years.
I think that you would be fine with most any of there recommendations noted on this thread!
Jim, Are there parking / garage issues with AAA? Like you long time AAA 40+ years.
Thanks, Art
Hey buddy! Yeah, it's like most other carriers providing the coverage we SOCers are looking for, a garage is part of the stipulation.
This is the first I've heard that AAA offers an Agreed Value policy. Does your declaration page actually say unrestricted mileage with no stipulation about "pleasure driving" only?
Troy Sloan posted:This is the first I've heard that AAA offers an Agreed Value policy. Does your declaration page actually say unrestricted mileage with no stipulation about "pleasure driving" only?
I read it as @musbjim and his insurance agent have agreed that if something happens to his car the agent is going to find "similar" cars to determine the value. If his insurance agent knows the car isn't a VW and agrees to insure it and something happens to it Jim will be able to get the value of his car based on what used Speedsters are selling for.
This happened to me with a trailer I owned that was totaled. The insurance company came in with an offer and I showed that that based on the trailer specs their number was too low and they paid me the figured I showed because it was based on market demands.
Jim and his insurance company haven't "Agreed" on a set amount for his car. They've agreed that he'll get what the market bears to replace his Porsche Speedster replica.
Agreed Value is of course the way to go it saves the headache of countering the Insurance company's low ball first offer. One needs to be savvy doing the market research to back up your thoughts on actual valve. When I totaled my big truck I was able to get another $7,200 by presenting actual values and receipts for recent work done.
Sounds like your saying that Jim may not have anything in writing. If that is the case, I wouldn't feel very comfortable about that. In fact, that is why I left Haggarty, they said it was OK to drive it to work, but would not put it in writing.
I am OK with the "headache" of documenting what my Beck Speedster is currently worth on the used market. I have no restrictions and can use my car as I want and that's worth something to me. It helps that I think my company is ethical and will do the right thing should I have to file a serious claim.
American Modern, $250,000/$500,000/$50,000, pleasure use only, garaged, 3000 mile limit, @$25,000 agreed value, $250.00 premium.
Best to have the " Pleasure Use" clause defined in detail. Some allow for club activities, parades, occasional pleasure use. Some policies do not allow for errands, occasional to work drives etc.
Alan Merklin posted:Best to have the " Pleasure Use" clause defined in detail. Some allow for club activities, parades, occasional pleasure use. Some policies do not allow for errands, occasional to work drives etc.
EXACTLY...great parameter..I did just that with GRUNDY and they gave me a full definition with parameters of use and clear NO NO stuff like commuting, etc. A very smart proactive suggestion!!
Banzai Pipeline posted:Alan Merklin posted:Best to have the " Pleasure Use" clause defined in detail. Some allow for club activities, parades, occasional pleasure use. Some policies do not allow for errands, occasional to work drives etc.
EXACTLY...great parameter..I did just that with GRUNDY and they gave me a full definition with parameters of use and clear NO NO stuff like commuting, etc. A very smart proactive suggestion!!
Quoted from the policy:
"...used primarily for occasional pleasure use. We define this as activities consistent with or related to participation in vehicle shows/exhibitions, vehicle club activities, parades, and leisure/pleasure drives. Leisure/pleasure drive does not include incidental driving to work unless policy is properly endorsed..."
We take more than a few leisure/pleasure drives.
GRUNDY SENT ME CLARIFICATION: notice it says for "occasional pleasure use" which leaves open almost any circumstance on any given day as any given day can and will qualify. Certainly if you were going to STARBUCKS for a HOT COCOA, one might consider that occasional pleasure use.....the ARE looking to collect premiums as the actuarial evidence supports the business model.
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I'm currently looking for quotes too. The title for my Speedster is a 1969 VW Sedan. I spoke with a Hagerty representative last weekend. They sent an email requesting a "Custom modified worksheet on the 69".
I am not the original builder of the Speedster replica so not sure what info I can provide aside that it is a CMC kit model.
Question: I live in California. For registration, do I need to have an inspection of some sort for a safety sign off? Will the insurance Hagerty provides trigger a kit car status and no longer able to be registered as a 1969 VW? The currently registration expired in June 2019, California registration.
I'm hoping to get the Speedster back together in the next month, I'm getting my ducks lined up.
Thank you everyone!
George-
Call American Modern and ask for an Agreed Value policy with a rider that allows you to occasionally drive the car for other than "pleasure."
Troy Sloan posted:Call American Modern and ask for an Agreed Value policy with a rider that allows you to occasionally drive the car for other than "pleasure."
Thank you for the response. I'll do that. I'm new to replica's and I want to make sure I don't shoot myself in the foot making an uninformed decision.
contact Grundy Ins.
I checked out Hagerty's, American Modern, American Classics, and a couple others. I had to pay a little more for Hagerty's, but I felt their reputation, and policy was the best. American modern wouldn't actually put occasional pleasure driving in the policy, and they out source to other venders. The lady I talked to could never get the quote right, she kept wanting to insure it as a BMW Beetle, I finally just gave up.
356GS posted:I checked out Hagerty's, American Modern, American Classics, and a couple others. I had to pay a little more for Hagerty's, but I felt their reputation, and policy was the best. American modern wouldn't actually put occasional pleasure driving in the policy, and they out source to other venders. The lady I talked to could never get the quote right, she kept wanting to insure it as a BMW Beetle, I finally just gave up.
Well that is news, it's been a while, but they were the only ones who would issue a rider when I was looking. I'm pretty sure I saw someone post about another company who would it recently, but I don't know if it was in this thread.