Insurance

[Bierkan]

Getting my beast close to road ready. I currently have comp on it just in case my garage burns down. I know that I'm not interested in using my current insurance company as, due to it being an antique, they want me to limit my usage.

For those of you who actually drive your trucks as a daily driver or near daily driver, who do you use for insurance?

I know it varies state by state; I just want to have some idea as to who to approach and who to avoid before I start asking for quotes.

Thanks in advance.
James

[mr48chev]

I've never had a problem getting mine insured for daily driving and used both State Farm and Metlife (Snoopy) at one time or another. After years of having high risk because of my wife's tickets and wrecks I finally got Progressive but haven't put the 48 on it since it is torn apart right now.

The insurance offices around here may a different view of the older trucks as there are a good number of older trucks still being used as daily driver trucks hauling stuff and taking the driver to work every day just as they have for the past 60 years. The owners quite often don't even consider them anything special, just a truck that is paid for and one they can fix themselves as they have for a number of years.

If you have YOM, Classic or collector plates on it you may be up a creek though as that means it is special event only driving to most insurance companies.

I'd shop around and see what various companies say but unless you go though a specialty company you may run into issues having two insurance companies. Meaning one or the other may question why.

[OrrieG]

Mine is a unique case because my primary driver since 1968 has always been a classic car. 20 years ago I thought about switching from Allstate but found that no main line company would insure a classic as a primary driver. When I asked my agent she said as long as I had continual coverage I could transfer it to other old cars and they could not cancel BUT if there was a lapse in coverage they could. So I always have kept one of my cars on the policy, with enhance liability, designated value comprehensive and collision if the value was over $10K. When the truck was a part I could not insure it as a vehicle, but as auto parts under my house policy. I know I could not meet the requirements of the specialty policies because I drive my cars all the time, do not always have them garaged, and would exceed the mileage limits.

[Highsider]

You live in Iowa and may have heard of Grinnell Mutual.
They just added it to my regular insurance. All I had to do was tell them a reasonable "maximum value".
It isn't expensive and they covered my deer damage claim.

They will insure a Model A, too.

[Bierkan]

I have heard of Grinnell.

Basically, what I'm hearing is to stick with the usual players and not the specialty companies. This truck will be driven and it's no show queen.

What I'll likely do is look for the most reasonable deal on the complete package: the 50, the two cars, the three bikes and house with an option for renter's ins. I'm looking at a 6-month school later this year or next and will be living in an apartment/house/trailer/van-down-by-the-river.

[Highsider]

Originally Posted by Bierkan

I have heard of Grinnell.

Basically, what I'm hearing is to stick with the usual players and not the specialty companies. This truck will be driven and it's no show queen.

What I'll likely do is look for the most reasonable deal on the complete package: the 50, the two cars, the three bikes and house with an option for renter's ins. I'm looking at a 6-month school later this year or next and will be living in an apartment/house/trailer/van-down-by-the-river.

I have a couple of cars, 57, and an rv. Had them for years.
Just find yourself a local agent that carries Grinnell.

[Old Crow]

I've been insuring my F100 through my normal insurance and they want about the same as my '95 Jeep for liability only(around $400/year). Just added the '54 Panel to the policy and while going through the paperwork found the previous owers insurance card from Hagerty's.

Out of curiosity I did the on-line quote thing(for both trucks), and they do ask aprox how much you're going to drive it. I put 10k each on the site and they quoted me $265/year for both trucks.
Full coverage, agreed value($7k on the Chev, $4k on the Ford), Zero deductibles, roadside assistance, un/underinsured motorist etc. Better coverage than I have on the newer stuff I own that already has full coverage.
I also stated that both trucks are under construction, which will allow periodic value increases.
Going to do a bit more research, but the name is well known and respected. Just want to make sure of no limitations because I do use the F100 as a shop truck at times. If I like what I find, I'll pull the trigger.

[Highsider]

Hagerty denied me when I applied and told them it would NOT be garaged on a regular basis and that I planned to drive it several thousand miles per year.
I don't need them.
I have $15k value, $50 deductible, on the 57.

[Bierkan]

Originally Posted by Old Crow

I've been insuring my F100 through my normal insurance and they want about the same as my '95 Jeep for liability only(around $400/year). Just added the '54 Panel to the policy and while going through the paperwork found the previous owers insurance card from Hagerty's.

Out of curiosity I did the on-line quote thing(for both trucks), and they do ask aprox how much you're going to drive it. I put 10k each on the site and they quoted me $265/year for both trucks.
Full coverage, agreed value($7k on the Chev, $4k on the Ford), Zero deductibles, roadside assistance, un/underinsured motorist etc. Better coverage than I have on the newer stuff I own that already has full coverage.
I also stated that both trucks are under construction, which will allow periodic value increases.
Going to do a bit more research, but the name is well known and respected. Just want to make sure of no limitations because I do use the F100 as a shop truck at times. If I like what I find, I'll pull the trigger.

I just went there and got a quote for $277 a year, but I added spare parts, tools and travel inconvienence coverage which upped it $90. I put in $5000 value and 15,000 miles a year which is reasonable for me.

[53farm]

I've also gotten quotes from two or three of the big name "classic car" insurers. They all seem to offer pretty low rates compared to regular insurers for a modern daily driver as well as 24 hour roadside assistance, you can basically tell them what amount to insure it for, little or no mileage restriction, etc. My issue is that all the ones I have spoken to require the vehicle to be regularly parked in a locked, fully enclosed garage. I have an off-street driveway that has 5+ foot tall brick walls on both sides, and my one car garage is at one end. The front of the driveway is open to the neighborhood street of course, but its about as secure as a driveway could be. I explained this to them and was told they'd need to see a picture regardless, but it had to be basically kept in an enclosed space with a roof...albeit not necessarily on my property. Can be a storage unit, relative's garage, etc. I've thought about just taking a pic of it in my mother-in-law's garage, sending them that, and calling it good...but I guess I'd be screwed in the off chance that something happened. I guess TECHNICALLY thats a form of insurance fraud too...but I'm no lawyer.

I understand it I suppose, but kind of a bummer considering they were all like half the price per vehicle of what Geico, our regular insurer, charges us for the two late '90s Jeep Cherokees and one 1963 Chevy Bel Air driver. I knew when I called to put the Bel Air on the policy, and the Geico dude asked "so does it have air bags? (the one in the steering column, not the one in the suspension)" that Geico might not be the best long term option...but I didn't care and just wanted to get it on the road at the time.

The truck isn't on the road yet so it's not a problem, but hopefully will be this spring/summer and I'll have to figure something out. Don't think the wife is gonna be thrilled about a 4th car on the Geico policy. Good luck with your insurance hunt, let us know what else you find out.

[_Ogre]

i had haggerty until they found out how many miles i put on truck and would not renew my policy
i've had grundys worldwide for the past 5 yrs, they don't care how many mile i drive it

all classic vehicle insurers require locked indoor parking and a primary driver vehicle.
i have allstate for my regular stuff, they'd only insure for bluebook; make sure you get an agreed value policy

here in michigan we get royally screwed with a $265 fee for unlimited no fault insurance on top of our insurance premium
no fault insurance is a joke. no one is at fault in a wreck even if they run a red light.
most cop shops quit sending out cars for fender benders, your supposed to download the accident report on line
cost me $600 per year for a $335, $30,000 agreed value policy; if you live in detroit the minimum policy is $2000
no wonder most of detroit runs around uninsured... and i pay for it.

[Old Crow]

The locked garage thing is no big deal to me. I have a building big enough to take both trucks. Now, wether or not they get parked in there on any particular night is another thing. I live 20 miles out of town in the woods, damage from falling limbs is more likely than theft in my case. Everything but the motorhome gets parked under shelter in bad weather.
"Primary" vehicle not a problem, Jeeps in the winter, Harleys in the summer.
As far as mileage, I just figured the mileage on my pickup. I dropped the V8 in it like 4 years ago. 2 weeks after that I installed a zero mile speedometer. Seems I've driven it 16,000 miles in 4 years, including the year it was a daily commuter vehicle.
Don't know about the panel truck, it's only been on the road 5 days and my wife's already put about 500 miles on it.
I think I'll give 'em a call when I get the next bill from Farm Bureau. Been so long since I looked at the policy I don't really remember what I'm paying for any particular vehicle.

[BlueJeep]

This year when I get the truck back on the road I plan to check with Nationwide. They're the official insurance carrier of the Iowa Goodguys, so a reasonable person would assume they'd have a policy for our old trucks....we'll see.

[msaintg]

I went with hagarty and insured it as 'under construction'. then when it was complete, i went back and raised the insurance on it and insured it as 'complete' That is when I found out that the 'rate' was actually cheaper to insure a completed vehicle as compared to an under construction vehicle. State farm and other main insurers won't insure an 'under construction' vehicle at all. It must be complete and in show condition.

[Bierkan]

Originally Posted by msaintg

I went with hagarty and insured it as 'under construction'. then when it was complete, i went back and raised the insurance on it and insured it as 'complete' That is when I found out that the 'rate' was actually cheaper to insure a completed vehicle as compared to an under construction vehicle. State farm and other main insurers won't insure an 'under construction' vehicle at all. It must be complete and in show condition.

That's why I went with just Comp coverage for my under construction truck. After talking with my agent, that was the best way to cover it.

[Indian113]

I have Farm Bureau and stated value on both trucks plus I have coverage MH and bikes and Home + I saved a bunch over State Farm.

[Highsider]

Compared to my wife's 2012 Accord Coupe, nothing else on my policy costs much.

[tttuba]

I have has State Farm for over 30 years and they have no problem insuring as a daily driver. However I have always had regular plates on it and always had other vehicles on other policies. You can get a stated value policy or an antique rider if you want but If you are looking into that I would go over it with the agent and find out the differences in the policies.

[roger55]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

... make sure you get an agreed value policy..

Absolutely!!!! This is extremely important.

"Agreed value" is way different than "stated value". You do not want a "stated value" policy.

State Farm and most if not all other mainstream insurance companies DO NOT WRITE "AGREED VALUE" policies.

All my classics are insured with Grundy with "agreed value".

[_Ogre]

hagarty has a ''what's the difference between agreed value and stated value'' page

so does grundy http://www.grundy.com/agreed-value-insurance.aspx.
from grundy ''Stated Value is the worst option for any vehicle, because it will depreciate and deduct on the downside , but limit to the Stated Value the upside of your settlement. ''

if your insurance carrier doesn't offer agree value insurance, find a carrier that will. both grundy and hagarty have a proven track record with collector cars and trucks.

[Highsider]

Mine says, "Actual Cash Value Up To A Maximum $ XX,XXX."
It is the amount I told them when I began with them.
I indicated I wanted to now raise the value and they said I needed to have it "appraised". There is no resource for that in my area.

[roger55]

Originally Posted by Highsider

Mine says, "Actual Cash Value Up To A Maximum $ XX,XXX."

That's not an agreed value policy.

With agreed value, you specify the actual cash value, and in a total loss, you will never be paid less.

Grundy automatically ups my agreed value every year by a percentage. If I want it higher, I call and tell them that. Of course the higher the agreed value is, the higher the annual premium.