Got a car-now can't find insurance

[Coyoteduster]

American Collectors made me send them a picture of the garage it would be stored in ..., so I sent them a picture of my garage door. ccasion14:

 

[usbuilt]

Finally found insurance. After I could not get anyone from my current carrier to call me back I tried Allstate and State Farm. Both returned quotes that were comparable. Both told me that they used N.A.D.A for reference when evaluating losses. I ended up going with State Farm because they were slightly less expensive for higher coverage. Thanks for all the help and advice. Now let's hope I never need it!

 

[WileE]

So, it looks like you got an "ACV" policy. Your particular state regulations may dictate the method of valuation. What they told you, and what is fact, may differ. Your policy wording + state regs will give you the answer.

 

[patrick66]

I can almost guarantee that if your car valued at say, $25K gets totalled, they are going to offer you a fraction of that amount to settle the claim.

Let me tell you a story...In 2003, a tornado destroyed my home, shop, and several classic cars I owned. Four of the five I had insured with Hagarty were in my shop, and one was at a friend's shop, getting a disc brake conversion done. Two other vehicles were my dailys - a '96 Dodge 3500 dually and a '70 F250 I got from my Dad. Hagarty came out after the tornado, took pictures of the four, and I had checks for all four in about three days. USAA insured the trucks. I barely managed to NOT get the Dodge totalled and it got fixed, and very well, I might add. The Ford was a total, as it flew through the air and landed at least three times before landing on its wheels. Before the storm, I had two independent appraisals of the truck and it was valued at $7,500, and insured for that. USAA offered me $2,450 for it. After three months of their crap, I took them to binding arbitration before the State Insurance Commission, where I ended up getting a little over five grand and the truck. Their adjuster knew absolutely noting about that era of Ford trucks. He insisted I took the factory air out of it (the truck never HAD it to start with!) and that the repaint it had was "not a factory red", which it was, and at least ten other BS things that he was talking out his *** about. I cancelled USAA after that; yet they tried to get me to come back for their business for nearly eight years!

So, yeah, I do know of what I speak. But hey, best of luck with your insurer, you're gonna need it when you file a claim, as State Farm and all the other standard insurance companies pull the same crap that USAA does! Hope you don't have the same experience I had.

 

[bkleenfltx]

I've had heacock for all my cars, been using them about 15 years. of course I've never had a claim either.... so who knows. Like mentioned above My Caddy 38.00, my Mopar 80. my Mustang 140

 

[mmissile]

I can almost guarantee that if your car valued at say, $25K gets totalled, they are going to offer you a fraction of that amount to settle the claim.

The key is not to settle. Eventually it costs them money to keep the case open. A buddy did it.

 

[patrick66]

It took me nearly a year to get that five grand! USAA sucks in every conceivable manner. And they intentionally make the process time-consuming, costly, and to end up working in their favor.

I told them many times - "YOU find me an equivalent truck for the money, because you and I know that isn't gonna happen". They tried to get me into trucks on CL that were complete junk and say "Hey, this is just like yours! What's wrong with this one?" The only 3/4-ton trucks comparable to mine were in the $7K to $9K range, while they kept pushing the $2K - $3K POS F150s that were thoroughly trashed or just plain worn out.

USAA people, if you are reading this, you can kiss my ***. I will ALWAYS be your best negative advertiser. Bet on that!

 

[69a100]

If any of you people are using Ameriscam Collectors, Drop them like a hot potato!!! They lie BIGTIME to your face, can't send out renewals, don't give a **** about you or your policy, and they make up the rules as they go along. DROP THEM ASAP!!!

 

[mmissile]

That's a nice looking Coronet. I linked a guy with one from Mi. to La. Same car? 440-4/speed?

 

[GetX'd]

Why don't you put your Coronet in your garage - and put one of your other cars in the carport. That way you're telling the truth and can get a agreed value policy with a Classic insurer. They don't mandate you have your daily drivers in the garage. Do - unless of course you don't have a garage at all.......

 

[roadrunnerron]

Finally found insurance. After I could not get anyone from my current carrier to call me back I tried Allstate and State Farm. Both returned quotes that were comparable. Both told me that they used N.A.D.A for reference when evaluating losses. I ended up going with State Farm because they were slightly less expensive for higher coverage. Thanks for all the help and advice. Now let's hope I never need it!

I've been in the business all my working career. As I read the posts I noticed a lot of half truth being spouted as absolute truths. Here are my comments.

• You have made the best decision under the circumstances. Enjoy your car and don't look back on this decision.
• State Farm is by far the largest personal lines insurer. It is not a fly by night insurer and in terms of overall client treatment is as good as it gets for a regular insurer.
• Agreed value and stated value are no big Whoops. The primary purpose of these arrangements is for underwriters to discount price the product and figure out what conditions, e.g. must be garaged, that need to be attached to the policy
• ACV means that you will have to negotiate a claims settlement should you have a claim. Be prepared by keeping a file on your car that includes pictures, work invoices, appraisals, selling prices of comparable vehicles and in general anything that speaks to the value and condition of your car. Keep this file in safe place separate from your car i.e. the file is not much good to you if it is in your car when the car is stolen. With agreed value you are doing all of this in advance and paying an appraisor a fee to record your information.
• Sounds like you already have good negotiation skills - you may need them. Claims settlement boils down to negotiating the buying/selling price of your vehicle the day before the loss happened. It involves two people negotiating using interpersonal skills. Claims that go to court are the result of a breakdown of negoitiations