Insurance is cheap!

I just got my Hagerty policy for my Vintage. $220 annually, $25,000 agreed value. Zero deductible. I am pretty happy with that. Not a lot of season left to enjoy it but I know I am covered if I do.

i use grundy, about same price, agreed value, no deductible and unlimited driving miles. www.grundy.com

By "agreed vaalue", does that mean it stays at $25k until you decide otherwise - or is there some pre-determined depreciation built into the poicy in future years?

Seems like with unlimited mileage, an owner could rack up some serious high mileage - like Jack Crosby driving all over the country, and so on.

Well... I have continued to raise the value of other cars I insure through Hagerty. Each time they appreciate I just call them and adjust the agreed replacement value. They never have an issue with it, and I cant recall it ever affecting my premium.

I have heard good things about Grundy too but my Allstate agent was connected with Hagerty so it was easy that way.

I must admit that Hagerty was uber-expensive on a few other later model special interest cars I have. So I have a separate policy for them.

OK, so this is pretty strange. I've been the only active Speedster owner in the Peoria area since 2000. In the past couple of months, there've been two more.

It's good to meet you, man. Shoot me an email, and I'll try to connect with you (and Bob G.) yet this season.

Agree valus is what we as owners want, since there is NO depreciation. Stated value is what insurance companies want, since you pay premiums based on value $xx, then they declare the value is $xx-xx in case of a total loss.

Always go with Agreed Value and be sure that you are not short changing yourself on the liability portion of the policy....
Bottom line, you get what you pay for. ~Alan

Hey Stan!

Yup I know Bob. In fact it was driving his car that kicked me into gear to buy mine. I saw you listed but thought you may have sold your car (I think it may have been John with his CMC that was selling). We will have to all get a quick photo at my building in town so we can show off our little central US click. I understand that Bob has another acquaintance looking for one too.

I'm the guy out in Tremont with the silver Intermeccanica. This is the third speedster I've owned (I've learned a little bit along the way), and it'll be the one I keep for as far down the road as I can see. It's John Davidson who has the ivory CMC he's trying to sell. There's another guy in Morton (Brad Grimm) with an orange wide-body CMC, but he's never poted here as far as I know.

Bob was in contact quite a bit while he was in the "looking" phase, but only a couple of times since he bought. I'm stupid-busy in the summer, but have a bit more breathing room this time of year. I'd love to connect with either or both of you before the snow is flying in a month or so. Shoot me an email.

Welcome to the madness Michael.

Hey thanks Tom!

Stan: Oh yes I know Brad and his orange fat tub too. My staff spoke with him not long ago about a red early Jag Saloon.

I sent Bob an email a week ago but no answer. No matter as I will just drive out & surprise him like he did to me! Maybe your next! :)

The problem I had with Hagarty and the others was they restrict you to driving your car only for "pleasure" and you are not allowed to drive it to work. When I would ask about it, they would say no problem, it's ok if you drive it to work now and then, but the contract doesn't say that.

I found a company American Modern Insurance Group, through Atlas Insurance Agency in Amelia, Ohio who allowed me to drive my car to work.

My policy includes a "Collector Vehicle Occasional Commuting Endorsement" that deletes the "to or from work" restriction. Otherwise, it's the same as my old Hagarty policy with an agreed value of $30,000 for $411/year.
My "Declarations" page states:
Mileage Tier: Mileage limit of 6,000/year
Usage: Occasional commuting to work, Occasional pleasure use
I'll post my agents contact info, if anyone wants it.
Troy

I'm with Troy on this..... I too had to dump Hagerty because of driving restrictions and agent "double talk".

Kit Car Builder Magazine arrived today with a good article on Insurance....and as always, Max Zimmer's column "Actual Mileage" is a pisser' ~Alan

I thought Max was taking a day off from work for his Birthday?!

Michael, I remember when I came to your shop with my Speedster after you and I talked on several occasions over the span of a year about my hunt for one. When you stepped out the door of your place you had a huge grin and said, "Do you know how many of my customers talk to me about buying a car like this and NEVER do it?" Well, now we have a chain reaction going!

This is great! You will find that this group is composed of really terrific people. Your counsel and the generous help and advice I have received from Stan Galat, Dr Clock, Dave Mitchell, Dale Bates, Michael Beaucage and a few dozen others has been a tremendous help to me in getting the right first Speedster.

Now let's have some fun! I'll call you and Stan in the next couple days. I like the idea of a group picture we can post.

Look out SoCal, we're almost up to a strength of half a dozen in Peoria!

Bob man I have too tell you that your car is infectious. At 1st I was thinking "man... I dont want Bob to think I am some kind of nut buying one of these right after he did" but man - I was serious when I told you I was jealous!

It looks like rain this weekend and I have a 24 hour road race I am doing in a 944 in Joliet but I do want to get a photo if possible. Perhaps Grand View Drive or Grand Prairie. We will make it work.

Sure glad you made this happen. Thank you and your car.

Michael:

To the contrary, I'm just glad you got a Speedster. Ran into our friend with the black Ferrari this morning at our kid's school. You must have his jeep in looking for under 4 sec 0-60! Told him there was another Speedster in town, so expect to be asked about it. Your car looks super! Hard to tell but is that Meissen blue? Can't wait to see it.

Also updated my e-mail address on the site, sorry about the problem getting in touch.

Bob

Michael
Thanks for the picture of my car in your last message. Oh, and have a great race this weekend. Are the four round rubber things on the car supposed to be pointed at the ground ALL the time?

Bob

Hhaha. Yes... Our friend did mention it via-text this morning. He is very excited being the uber-car guy that he is.

You know, his Jeep was a V6 auto... I converted it to a Hemi 6-speed manual... Then put nitrous on it... And now he wants more... I LUV HIM.

See you soon.

Michael - I like the old-school look of your car with the wheels color matched to the car. 'Welcome to the Madness' and happy motoring!!

Ah, I see another person of refined tastes. Yup, lub dem color-matched wheels!

Thanks gents.

Ohhhh that red car is CRAZY good. When I saw the color matched wheels on my Vintage I really liked it - but yours are so perfect. Whoa. Well done.

I dumped Hagerty yesterday and switched to Geico. With dropping the coverage during the storage months, the cost was a wash, maybe a tad less. Hagerty wanted to restrict me to 3500 miles/year and felt that driving to work once/week was "excessive". F'em. So easy, a newbie Speedster owner could do it.

OK, Gents,

I've not renewed with Hagertys as of today. Merlot is waiting transport to Special Edition for Carey's loving touch. They want to pay only for a paint blend...no way in H--L that is acceptable with either Carey or myself. Merlot paint is only $1000/gallon. The stuff is impossible to match! I don't plan to renew until the car is up to my stands and new conditions. Merlot has only 3000 miles or less! Picky? You damned right I am!

The major problem is that there is a heater tube molded into the body along the bottom sill. This took a pretty good hit all long the left lower areas were the rubber/aluminum trim is located. Just to recap the hit and run damage: Speedo broken, possible bent engine/tansaxle mounting or the adjustable swing axle leading arms, engine developed a funny miss(no power), entire rear assembly moved to the left by an inch,stainless moon hubcap flatten against the left rear wheel attaching nut. This is the stuff that has my concern. A friend's wife spun his 356C into a mountain cut, smashing the axle shaft into the transaxle assembly. Big bucks! Merlot will be transported to Special Edition Monday or Tuesday via AAA Auto transport.

Thanks for the update, Aaron! Here's hoping Merlot is back on the road soon, and as good as new!

Aaron... My transport company deals with 90% salvage ( VW to NJ ports ) from major insurance companies. Did you know that, if the vehicle is not repaired to a condition that is was prior to the loss you do not have to accept the vehicle and... the insurance is required to pay you off.
I've had what appears to be near perfect vehicles on my truck heading overseas only to find out that they were refused by the owner for less than quality repairs.

Let me know which "AAA Auto Transport" company you are using ( City, State and MC & DOT numbers) there are at least a dozen under that name on the DOT site that I use.
I can check them out for you prior to shipping i.e. past safety and current liability and cargo insurance coverages, deductables etc.

~ Alan .... dba 30 East Auto Transport LLC.

Alen,
Damn...I forget that you did this kind of transport. If these guys don't call with the pickup on Monday or Tuesday, I'll call you. This is the link to their site https://www.aaaautotrans.com/.

Any way that you can advertise on here?

Aaron,

I only run WV to NJ 2 x weekly, however I can broker a move for anyone.

AAA has well over 600 positive ratings on Central Dispatch and no negatives are noted.
They are listed with the FMCSA as a "Property Broker" aka Transport Broker. (No trucks of their own)
AAA has a a current DOT number on file with the FMCSA
They have, as required a current Bond posted on 11/11/09 to be able to operate as a Broker.
Insurance is with Liberty Mutual Financial Coprp. Norman Ok.

FMCAS info below


Motor Carrier Details
US DOT: N/A Docket Number: MC689238
Legal Name: AAA AUTO TRANSPORT INC
Doing-Business-As Name:
Business Address Business
Telephone and Fax Mail Address Mail

Mail
14 MONARCH BAY PLAZA STE #475
MONARCH BEACH CA 92629 (213) 254-2008 37 MUSICK
IRVINE CA 92618 NO
Authority Type Authority Status Application Pending
Common NONE NO
Contract NONE NO
Broker ACTIVE NO
Property Passenger Household Goods Private Enterprise
Yes, No No No
Insurance Type Insurance Required Insurance on File
BIPD $0 $0
Cargo NO NO
Bond YES YES

BOC-3: YES
Blanket Company: TRUCK PROCESS AGENTS OF AMERICA, INC
Web Site Content and BOC-3 Information Clarification

Thursday , November 04, 2010 at 17:07:18
FMCSA Home

United States Department of Transportation - Federal

Tom.
Did you actually get an "agreed value" policy from GEICO? If not, what would they give you for the car if it was totalled or stolen?
On the VW pan based cars, that are registered as a VW, the owner would get the value of a 1969 or ??yr VW. Probably around $1500 or so.
Troy

Troy, yes. Purchased price depreciated over time.

Btw, checked Grundy today. Same driving to work restriction as Hagerty. I'll stick with Geico.

Cute Hagerty add.... Sent it to a lady friend: she didn't think it was funny!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65lsqCFQTCk

Tom,

You did the right thing by dropping Hagerty. They are not an insurance company, just an insurance agency. My insurance was farmed out or outsourced to One Beacon Insurance. Anyway, that's the insurance company that sent the check. See my new topic above.