General Just been refused classic car policy

[kolza]

Just been refused classic car policy for my lovely Formula '91.

Currently I'm with Admiral ( 9 day to go) as using fully comp multi car policy, at this moment panda is as "normal" second car, but now she's over 20 year old. My renewal is £504 fof 51 reg primera 2.0 sport estate and £404 for a panda. It does not sound right to me, they can't insure panda as classic car due to their book value being less than a £1000.
What multicar car + classic car policy do you recon guys?
How does agreed value policy works?
I will give a go with peterjames and footman james, will appreciate any help and advice.
(29 years old, 12 year EU driving licence, 6 year no claim discount + my Mrs 27 years old, provisional driving licence, 1 year NCDB )

Many thanks
Kolza

 

[urchin]

try adrian flux at kings lynn, they are good for newer classics got my 4x4 panda with them on a classic policy and its a daily driver also got my cinquecento sporting on a classic with them and thats a 1994 model. you will not get agreed value though unless its garaged.

 

[kolza]

Yes, it is garaged (nice 3 space unit)
With current insurer it was cheaper as kept on the street, probably due to higher risk of damaging the car while entering/exiting garage.Will add Adrian Flux to my call list, do they do multi-car policy?

 

[Palio]

Definitely need a proper classic policy. Peter James are best & cheapest in my experience - my Panda's work out around £25 each but that's on a multi classic policy so will be more for a single car. You get unlimited mileage, agreed value, breakdown cover, and there's no garaging requirement if you're in whatever they deem to be a good area. It's all good, except there's no good reason not to keep buying cars........

Agreed value is basically where you tell the insurer what value you think the car is, and send them photos to support it. If you're not being silly, they agree the value and it's put onto the policy. Should the worst happen, you don't have to start haggling with loss adjusters over whether the car's worth £200 or £2000!

Book value is rubbish, whatever book they are using! If you need help with the value for a classic policy post up a few pics on a thread & you'll get a selection of views. If it's in good condition you're probably in the £1000-£1200 area for insurance values, maybe a bit more if exceptional. They shouldn't quibble around that figure - I have 3 Panda's with £2000 valuations, so Peter James in particular will already have a precedent for decent Panda values.

Hope this helps, Gavin.

 

[urchin]

Yes, it is garaged (nice 3 space unit)
With current insurer it was cheaper as kept on the street, probably due to higher risk of damaging the car while entering/exiting garage.Will add Adrian Flux to my call list, do they do multi-car policy?

not sure mate.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I gave up with classic car policies after the trouble I had trying to get a policy last year, just insure ours on normal policies. From own experience if it's a 3rd party claim they'll payout what you insist on if you've legit reasons, and if our fault then it'll be a case of tough really. Checked Adrian flux site (I think) at work the other day and they say you have to substantiate your agreed value, can't just pull a price out of the air.

 

[Palio]

That doesn't surprise me - several members had trouble with AF recently. They refused policy renewals without an accredited engineer's report! As a result every one moved their classic policies elsewhere (all to Peter James as it goes) - caveat emptor in my personal view with an AF policy.

Agreed value is always subject to the underwriter's rules, and they look at various prices/sources as well as other agreed value policies already underwritten. Valuations are sometimes requested from a Club valuer or other legitimate source, but generally Peter James (for example) only require these for cars under 20 years old (presumably as there is less of an established classic market for them to check).

You should always base agreed values on fact not pull them from thin air - a good Panda will sell (eventually) at £1000-£1200, so it's not a case of making up values. A good underwriter will be aware of a likely valuation for a Panda, so you won't have trouble at a sensible level.

 

[VmanC]

I was with admiral last year and they really messed me around when someone hit my Daughter's Nissan while it was parked. Eventually paid out and reinstated no claims discount but it took alot of phone calls (that they charge you for! ).
Then when the renewal came through it was almost twice the previous year! Once they've got you they hope you won't bother to shop around and boost up the premium, they all do this not just Admiral.

The only way to keep prices low is to change insurers every year or go through a broker, the ones you're going to try are as good as you can get from my experience. I've used Footman James this year for some of mine, and Adrian Flux for some others, but I think that next year I will go with Peter James as Gavin got a really good deal from them.

Not all companies class the Panda as a classic though.

My Daughters policy this year was done with a female friendly company through 'compare the market.com', that way you get a nice fluffy Meercat doll for free too, if you like that kind of thing .

 

[kolza]

Just had a call back from PeterJames, they can not add provisional driver to the policy so for my person only PJ quote was £1.3k (no cost breakdown available).
Been in touch with Admiral this morning and asked them to knock some money off from panda policy, ended up with £31 discount off the original cost. Sounds a bit better but still not fully satisfied.

Will try the " female friendly" company option.

Any other tips&trics?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I was with admiral last year and they really messed me around

Don't start me on Admrial - I'm having a right with getting a windscreen changed with them on the Stilo atm. My business will be going elsewhere come renewal!

 

[unclespevie]

should be fun for me then with the onyx when its time for insurance......

does state on the log book as 750L panda (convertable ??????? i think)

will let ya know, in fact i might do some ringing this weekend for fun...

kevin

 

[lewey]

I've just been through the insurance renewal process this weekend for my cars. I think the good times are over for cheap modified insurance. I called lots of recommended specialists. Some had minimum policy prices that are many times what I had got used to paying, so I didn't even bother getting a quote.

Managed to get the Panda with FJ again for a good price, but they refused to renew the Unos. The modifications make the percentage power increase over standard on the track Uno 400%. Only AF were willing to overlook that and gave me a quote I could stomach at under £200. All others that I did try to get a quote from weren't ultimately willing to cover me at any price! Many quote for much faster and more modified cars that are typically driven terribly, like Imprezas, but there we go.

Peter James and others can offer very low premiums but not when you modify your cars and all of my cars are or are planned to be seriously modified.