Old car insurance

1

1965 Mustang

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Anyone ever have an insurance company refuse to pay a claim regarding an antique vehicle because the vehicle was allegedly being used against driving restrictions? ie: accident occurred in shopping center parking lot and thus being used for an errand or something similar?

Which companies are sticklers for enforcing use restrictions? I have found that some insurance companies will try very hard to deny claims.
 
1965 Mustang said:
Anyone ever have an insurance company refuse to pay a claim regarding an antique vehicle because the vehicle was allegedly being used against driving restrictions? ie: accident occurred in shopping center parking lot and thus being used for an errand or something similar?

Which companies are sticklers for enforcing use restrictions? I have found that some insurance companies will try very hard to deny claims.
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Never heard of it in real life (my social group). We need more detail, please.
 
You get what you pay for, you need to do your research.

You need to ask what 'exposure' your vehicle is covered for. Some are generous and others very limited, hence your current problem.

Research who underwrites the company you are interested in. There are four different companies all offering antique vehicle insurance that are all owned by a single parent. No comparison shopping within that group.
 
I have Hagerty. The large print suggests that their policy is liberal for usage.
However the fine print could be different. I have not been able to track down the fine print section of my policy.
 
Interesting question. I have Hagerty and it renews soon, so it would be nice to know. I use my cars for all sorts of odds and ends of trips, like going to the Y, grocery pickup, etc.
 
Hagerty has been, in my understanding, sold out long ago. They are 'Corporate' now.

So take that accordingly. Ya takes your chances with any big outfit like that....
 
I wanted to tour with my A, so I just got regular insurance so that I would be covered just like any other vehicle. It really wasn't a lot of money, to the point of why bother with antique insurance and all the restrictions and worry.


Depending on your intended usage, you should price out all options.


And if there is any reason for an insurance company to deny the claim, they will use it.
 
2speed said:
I wanted to tour with my A, so I just got regular insurance so that I would be covered just like any other vehicle. It really wasn't a lot of money, to the point of why bother with antique insurance and all the restrictions and worry.


Depending on your intended usage, you should price out all options.


And if there is any reason for an insurance company to deny the claim, they will use it.
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I have State Farm for my modern cars, homeowners, etc and Hagerty for my As. State Farm wanted about twice Hagerty’s premium for my As last time I inquired, plus they refused to drop liability and keep comprehensive for the one I’m restoring.
 
For me to have liability and collision, on the A, my third car on the policy, it was another $400 a year. I have an agreed upon value. To be "covered" pretty much whatever I do, it was worth it.
 
I have used American Collectors for well over 20 years. In that time I had to file 3 claims. One was a structural collapse of a garage and two were destroyed in a natural disaster.

They came through 100% and didn’t question the “Agreed Value” . I will be staying with them.

Now along the same lines with USAA, I have an older (2007) daily driver that was put on minimum insurance, and I declared that I would only use it less than 1500 miles a year. The car stayed in this status for at least 3 years. They had me send in pictures of the odometer each year to verify this status. I have no doubt that USAA will do anything and everything to deny coverage.
 
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I use American Collectors ,I made a towing claim and they paid it quickly with no questions asked. At a gas station the condenser failed and it would not start ,two miles from home .Ask for a roll back.
 
Insurance companies exist to make money and they do that by denying claims or dropping you if you have too many claims. That said, we have no choice in the matter. We should all read the fine print.

I am very curious whether anyone else had had the experience 1965 Mustang had given that I like to drive my cars regularly to keep them performing well, which includes errands and the like. I had JCT and changed to Hagerty due to lower premium and that they were the insurer for the Model A Restorer's Club. As a MARC member, I got a bit more of a discount.
 
Some Years ago my friend, who drove his Model A daily to work, had his 1931 Coupe almost totaled from the rear. JC Taylor was his insurer and never questioned any expense to repair the damage. Now things may have changed but his experience with them was excellent.
 
Thanks for your replies, the reason I thought about this is because, I recently rented a car from Budget Rent a Car at the Kansas City airport. I paid for it with my WSECU Visa credit card who loudly proclaim that renters using their cards are protected for damage to rental cars. I reserved a passenger car but Budget ran out of cars and gave me a pick up instead. The pick up got a couple of small scuff marks on the bumper corner facia and on a plastic fender guard in the same area. Very small but I figured a standard overpriced body shop would charge up to $1000 to fix it. (probably something I could have fixed myself for about $100) I filed a claim with the credit card company and they denied the claim because hidden way down in the fine print, pick ups are not covered. The crooks at Budget padded the charges by about $1000 with extra fees. (Administration/loss of use and diminished value of the vehicle) So I ended up paying $1950 out of pocket. (my regular car insurance only covers liability to other drivers) So the moral of the story is drive careful, read the fine print, don't believe what credit card companies say and don't rent from Budget. I guess the car rental companies or at least Budget screw people over who don't buy their expensive damage waiver coverage.
 
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had a friend denied by JCT many yrs ago- because he dismantled his stanley for restoration. barn caought fire and all became toast. he lost nearly 100k.


yes it is very important to read the small print.
 
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