Insurance

I've been trying to get insurance on the '61 as a classic vehicle. Just turned down by Condon & Skelly as they don't insure off road vehicles. This isn't an everyday vehicle and I thought the classic route would be cheaper than a regular insurer. Anyone have suggestions?

 

You can use regular insurance, but you will have no comprehensive. There is no antique company that will insure you to go off road. If you want full coverage, you could get the antique insurance, but don't tell them you take it off-road and just don't ever turn in a claim for off-road damage.

My dad has had his military vehicles and jeeps insured with Condon & Skelly for the past 20 years. Due to vandalism last fall, he had radiators stolen from 5 vehicles. He called last week to say they had dropped him and weren't going to renew him due to too many claims.

We have Hagerty. They are very hobby conscience and work to promote and protect the hobby. We had a little trouble adding our CJ7 when it turned 25 this year, but I explained to them that it was used for pleasure driving and club events only. If we ever do damage at Tellico, we know that we'll just be responsible for the bill and never turn it in.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I've been around this type of insurance for years and am happy to share my experience.

Beth

 

Beth, I thought the antique car insurance only allowed test drives and to/from meets - not pleasure drives. Not so?

 

I just received coverage with American Collectors Insurance in NJ. They were endorsed by my auto insurance (USAA). www.AmericanCollectors.com
800-360-2277

I am paying $58.00 a year for my coverage for my '60 CJ-5.
http://home.twcny.rr.com/kcbelanger/during restore/1.jpg
They have the standard rules. Only for recreational use and limited to 2500 annual miles, etc etc. They at first said that they usually do not endorse Jeeps, but I told them that it was restored and that it was "stock." They asked for pics. I must say that you will have better luck with nice clean pics, maybe of a past or recent rebuild/frame-off. To prove my point I sent them pics of my "stock" engine, my "stock" frame, and "stock" tires, and then a overall picture by e-mail. Also, said how I completely understand why they are hesitant to endorse such vehicles because of how they can be severely modified for off road driving. They are worth a shot.

Good luck

 

I'll give them a try, they're in Cherry Hill,NJ only about 20 minures from me. I'm also going to give Hagerty a try.

 

geico knows mine is modified and not even close to stock, and they had no problems with me. i thik i pay 30-40 dollars a month for full coverage

 

Your correct Tim, at least in Ma.. I have my CJ5 insured as antique and you can only drive it in parades, meets (any gathering of people with interest), and to/from repair. About $200 a year.

Personally, I drive it where I want when I want, and take full responsibility if issues occur.

 

Tim,

There is a difference between what your state laws say and insurance.

I haven't tried American Collectors, but I did visit their website after my dad's call and downloaded an application. Big thing for him is that not all insurance companies allow towing. He's big in the antique truck club and keeps up on all legislation as such. Some of the older companies that have been around like J.C. Taylor won't allow him to hook up his lowboy to his restored truck and heaven forbid if you load the half-track on the lowboy!

Kevin, you definitely have the idea and are on the right page.

B

 

The on line quote from American Collectors was $75.00 per year! It almost sounds too good to be true.

 

That's probably right. And the more vehicles you insure the cheaper it is. We pay $150 for half a dozen.

That's why in some cases I would prefer to save the money, keep it road legal for insurance, and then just not report any trail damage. It evens out in my mind.

Although the Gieco comment was interesting. We did find that the CJ7 was up to about $500 just for liability with them since it was a jeep even with our perfect driving records. Changing to antique tags and insurance this year was a real savings. Down side is I can't use it as a daily driver anymore. I do drive it once in a while to work, but am careful and have my "story" right in case I was ever stopped.

 

Yes, my main reason to go Collector instead of with regular insurance was that my insurance company told me flat out that if I get into an accident or have to file a claim, I would not get much because of how the value would be decided. Basically since not insured as a collector vehicle it would be figured by the purchase price for that year with depreciation. It would be up for interpretation by the adjuster coming out. American collector's base insurable limit is $3000. So I told them what I paid for mine and they said, "Well, we will insure you for 3000 minimum, looks like if you get totaled you will make a few bucks. However, you can increase your coverage amount after a year by sending in pics of any upgrades/restoring you have completed. My update will be a new paint job and I will probably increase it to over 6000. Looking at NADA classic car values, ECJ5's appear to have a robust value and to an insurance adjuster photos of how the Jeep looked before an accident along with an NADA print out go a long way in swaying them to the upper limit.

I am all for saving some money and would pay out of my pocket for any wheelin' damage I would do anyway. This keeps me covered for the other knuckleheads trying to hit me on the road!!

Another plus is TX can now register my Jeep for 5 years for under 100 bucks as an antique vehicle.

 

Yea, we have lifetime tags here for antiques and in PA too, though PA has gone way up in cost and much pickier.

Good luck!

 

I pay $200 per year for regular ins (not full coverage), but it covers theft and I am legal to drive it on the road whenever I want. I figure, if I wreck it, I will do the repairs anyway...

 

I got a "quote" from GMAC yesterday on my 62 "for under 350 /400 on the high side" geez it look like she would have gave me a better estiment

 

At $350+ a year for just liability is the reason I flat tow or trailer mine. When I have my 58 running again I guess I'll have to start paying it again.

 

State Farm here as well. Just called my agent told them I only wanted liability on it and insured for recreation use only. 5K miles a year allowed. Doubt I will ever come close to that number.

 

recently i put my insurance guy on the job to find me something, as of yet he has not found anything but he admits to not working very hard at it. i cut him slack since he knows i wont be driving my heep anytime soon.

 

BE VERY CAREFUL with the antique , or classic car insurance. Mileage is limited and if you read the fine print most policies dont cover any type of off pavement driving unless it is going down a dusty driveway. Also the vehicle must be garaged in most states for it to cover. I use simple liability as I really am not afraid of trail rash, and if I do get in an accident I am covered for any damage I do, Not worth saving a couple hundred bucks and risking my kids college funds on lawsuits not covered by insurance. If it is a trailer queen, or a weekend pavement princess, the the classic or antique insurance might be for you. I get the feeling from reading this forum alot, there arent many of either here. For what it worth