Collector Car Insurance

[doug russell]

Aron,

I have had mine with American Collectors for 5 years (609-799-7212).  No 
hassles but also no accidents/claims.  No multi car discount that I'm aware 
of.  At this point I'd have to give them a thumbs up.  Also, I understand that 
the laws are different from state to state and that this can make it seem 
quite archaic from a customer's point of view but probably should not be held 
against the company - per se.  However, your point about the service you have 
received is a good one and there is NEVER a good excuse for poor service - you 
are right to demand better (at least that's what you seem to be implying!!).

Dr. Doug
69 C Rdst
69 C GT
69 B Rdst
71 B GT


-----Original Message-----
From:	owner-mgs at autox.team.net  On Behalf Of Aron Travis
Sent:	Friday, April 25, 1997 1:42 AM
To:	diy_efi at coulomb.eng.ohio-state.edu; british-cars-pre-war at autox.team.net; 
mgs at autox.team.net
Cc:	Homebrew-Autos at bolis.com
Subject:	Collector Car Insurance

I have been shopping around for 'collector car' insurance and thought
I would share my findings with all you car nuts.
I can no longer afford State Farm for my fleet, so I called most of the
specialty car insurers.
These are only my opinions, I have no interest in any of these companys
other than getting insured, your results may vary, it's not my fault,
usual disclaimers, blah, etc. I am sharing my experiences as my right
to free speech here in Ammuuurica. Thank you very much.


J.C.Taylor- They wanted me to have insurance on each of the cars first,
	then transfer to J.C.Taylor. I just bought two MG Midgets, if
	I have to insure them with another company first I might as well
	keep the first company anyway. Something to do with the Florida
	laws. Person I talked to seemed rushed and didn't answer all
	my questions.

Grundy- They will only insure if I insure ALL my cars with them. I want
	to keep my daily driver with State Farm for convenience, plus
	my wifes '84 Audi would be absurd to get collector insurance for.
	Person I talked to kept putting me on hold while she figured out
	basic questions like 'do I get multicar discount?'. She was very
	accusitory about weather my cars were really in a locked garage.
	
Hagerty- Friendly, knowlegeable (knew a Galaxie was a Ford), gave me a
	good quote. Said mileage limits were around 2500-3000 per year
	but could be flexible if I could prove I went over 3000 for long
	distance shows,etc. Answered all my questions. But they can't
	insure my '78 Midget as it's not a classic yet, but no problem
	with the '72 Midget.

Tri-State Insurance Co of MN- They are not licenced to insure in Florida.
				So that's that.

Condon&Skelly- The woman I spoke to had a one way conversation with me,
		she wouldn't listen to me at all. I started to list the
		cars I had but she cut me off after the first one and
		gave me a quote on that one. When I mentioned later that
		I wanted to insure more than one car she said "So NOW 
		you tell me you have more cars?!, When were you going to
		tell me about the other cars?!". Through this whole
		process, where she would ask questions over and over,
		not listening to my answers, I was put on hold quite a
		few times. Also the most expensive of the bunch.
		Repeatedly confused MG Midget with MGB. Wanted four
		pictures of each car.


Basically I have five cars, one of which is a daily driver. The questions
I asked were, "Do I get a multicar discount?", "Any special rules for
Florida?", "Milage limits?", "What about if the car is damaged at a
body shop,etc?"
All of the insurers gave a multicar discount, some had special rules
for Florida (like can't live on an island or flood zone), all milage
limits were around 3000 per year, and if damaged at the body shop it's
the body shops problem. Some were concerned with engine mods and wanted
a picture of the engine too.
I might try to soften up State Farm to cut my rates somehow, as I'm
disappionted with my results. Hagerty may get my business otherwise....

-Aron Travis-
"always in a automotive frenzy"