Today I have been searching around to get some quotes to Insure my XJS V12 convertible as the NCB has now lapsed after an 8 year layup.

Where one of the questions they all want to ask, is 'How Much Is Your Car Worth'

Since 'megabucks' was rejected, I made a guesstimate of 20 grand, which lets face it gives them a good excuse to quote you a high premium.

But what they fail to mention in almost every case, is in the event that your Car's written off, they are only intending to pay you the Trade Price and since I know a Car dealer as a close personal friend.

I asked him to give me a guess as how much that might be.

He reckoned about £3,000 to £5,000 if I was lucky!

At which point I understandably nearly fell through the floor, as I've never seen a good one for less than £10,000 and mine is a convertible at that.

So what's the point of asking you a value, for a sum which some of them are unlikely to pay out!

 

OB, Insurance companies, like Bankers, are in the business to MAKE MONEY!! If you believe their PR, even for a second, that "We're here to help you," well, that's quite naive.

Wrap your brain around the fact that our Classic Cars are of value only to us and fellow 'club members' and you'll be much more content. LOL

As I expected, another Great story!
(';')

 

Over here in the states, I use Hagerty for my insurance as they specialize in classics/collectables. Basically, I specify what the car is worth to me, and not what the actuaries think it would cost to replace it. And they don't depreciate the value w/ age either.

So, in the event of a total, I get that amount. The guaranteed value for my XK8 is $20,000 and for my XJSC is $16,000. With $1000 deductibles, and limited use (<4,000mi/yr combined), I pay about $1,200/yr total- not too bad for peace of mind in my opinion. And I'm only 21, so that raises the price too.

Also includes a $750 parts allowance and guaranteed flatbed towing in the event of a breakdown. They'll even cover your tools and any other memorabilia you have with the car (for a fee, of course...)

 

Unfortunately I think you could be right!

But its very unfair the way some of them do business, as according to my Car dealer friend a lot of them will pay you out a fraction, of what it would cost to replace your much loved Car.

Bear in mind that it only needs to be classified, as an uneconomic repair and that being the case they will simply write it off.

Then once having done so if their small print allows, you could find your Car sold off as Salvage, for maybe more than they paid you out.

 

Find a company that specialises in classic cars and get an Agreed Valuation from a recognised club.
The JEC will do that for you (you have to pay but I can't remember how much).
Basically you and the valuer come to an agreed value, the valuer gives you a certificate which you then send to your insurers and they will honour that in the event of a claim.
Bear in mind that most of the time you are not dealing directly with an insurer, you are dealing with a broker whose only interest is in sucking as much commission out of the deal as they can: Sharon, who is 22, hasn't got the faintest idea what an XJS is, she just pushes buttons on her keyboard and sends your details out to whomever is likely to insure you.
No disrespect to Sharons or 22 year olds intended.
I didn't have an agreed value on my '93 Coupe and it is only because the garage that I used made a presentation to the insurers (after an inadvertent front end/deer incident) that the car wasn't written off; £3500 of damage on a £5000 car.
It's not worth not having an agreed valuation because then there are no grey areas.
And if you can get protected no claims on the policy that is also a good thing.

 

You've really gone and done it now!

Your story is so upsetting that I want to emigrate!, as over here in the UK they always ask what 'You' think that your car is worth.

And if you are not 'Streetwise' in the way like what I am, then you can find yourself lulled into a false sense of Security and rest easy in your bed having sweet dreams of a payout of enough to replace you car.

In the event that the worst might happen.

Only to find that if it does those same sweet dreams then turn into a nightmare!

My Merc was in a totally empty Car Park and I wasn't even in the car, when some old 'Biddy' drove into my door! as she made a failed attempt to park her old rust bucket next to mine.

So as I legged it over, to see what damage She'd done, She then came out with these immortal words!

'You are really going to hate me for this!' and do you know what She was Right!

Then when She got home She changed her mind and denied the incident ever happened at all!

But I had got more witnesses than She could shake her stick at, plus enough paint samples to fill a one gallon can!

So faced with the overwhelming odds that were stacking up against her, I gave her the option of paying up, or else I would take her to Court.

She did a 'Grands' worth of damage! but since I felt a bit sorry for this Shortsighted stupid old bat, I settled for £500 by not sending it over to Mercs to have it done.

Then I told my Insurance Company that I wouldn't be making a Claim and as such everything was Cool, so they wouldn't need to go dusting the Cobwebs off their Safe because of me.

But their way of showing their gratitude for this generous gesture on my part, was to try and make this 'not at fault' 'no pay out on their part' count against my hard earned no claims bonus.

 

Sharon sounds nice! is she single? (lol)

A protected no Claims Bonus sounds a really good idea! except there is but just one little problem, in as much as on this XJS, I don't have any bonus to protect yet.

But even so I have a cunning plan!

In the event of an accident, whether my fault or not, providing its not a write off in the true sense of the word, it may be worth me paying out for the damage myself!

At least that way I get to keep the Salvage, which if taken for a local repair instead of a Specialist, I could probably then sell on for a Princely 'ish' sum just like some Insurance Companies do.

How long did your fridge full of Venison last?

 

Unfortunately the deer was gone before I was; somebody in a plumbers van stopped and threw it in the back. Completely ignored me the miserable sod.

 

How on earth can a Plumbers van beat an XJS?

That Deer was clearly 'roadkill' on an epic scale, especially if then washed down with a nice glass of Italian red.

 

They're all Ferengi, OB, with enormous lobes!! Of course they only pay a fraction! They're in business to MAKE MONEY, NOT PAY IT OUT!! They don't care about our emotional attachments to our machines, because they are INSURANCE COMPANIES and have no heart! YOU EXPECT FAIRNESS??

I have never had a car damaged to the point it couldn't be brought home, I have never had to bail the car out of the storage lot. I have also never had a claim against my own insurance company.

When the Other Guy (hereinafter referred to as OG) smacks up my car, his insurance determines what said vehicle is worth. If repair estimates are more than that amount they consider the car a total loss and that company sends me a check, I sign a release and I can do what I want with the money. If the car was in a storage lot, I pay them from that money, and/or repair the car from that money. (I have seen some real pretzels in residential driveways waiting for resolution of insurance. If it was a serious injury or death accident, of course no one wants to look at the thing, hence the storage yard.)

In fact, there was once a crew cab pickup that lived here when someone ran a stop sign and shoved the front suspension into the middle of next week. (no serious injuries) OG's insurance company determined its worth was little or nothing but it was rare and we liked it so took I the money, put the pickup on the RACK and had the frame straightened (cost was Well within what they paid and we had a very nice dinner out besides), we did the rest of the body work ourselves and I drove it a couple more years. Then I sold it to a friend and he drove it several more years after that.

So I suppose I can't complain about my own insurance company, but as I have mentioned, we have a long term relationship with the agency. They are Real People in a small town who know on which side their bread is buttered. That's probably why we've stuck with them.
(';')

 

Hi Elinor

I'm up late tonight, trying out my first attempt at posting Photo's on the Forum.

I totally screwed that up a few times but I finally think that I've got the hang of it now!

So as its quite addictive, expect a lot more Photo's with my posts.

Insurance wise in the UK, these Companies are not friendly and only seem to want to take your Cash.

But if you have an accident, even if it's not your fault they try and count it against you, as an excuse to put your Premium up!

Even worse your loyalty means nothing at all to them!

As it is invariably cheaper to always take out a new Policy even with the same Company! on-line.

Although I would love to give you one of my ailing fleet, I can do even better than that, as I have come across something that can make you very Rich beyond your Wildest Dreams!

Assuming that you still live in Montana?

As I was watching a documentary about this guy who lives there and has buried some treasure worth gazillions of pounds and has given out clues as where to find it!

I wouldn't be surprised if you already know about this? but it could be an incentive to get out the spade and start digging!

If you manage to find it I would love a 64 Mustang, in any color as long as its RED as I am quite easy to please!

 

I saw your photos. It's a very good job actually, shows what you intended to convey. Pictures are good in a post; worth 1000s of words and all that, easier to understand too.

Insurance companies MUST blame any claim against them on the claimant, and deny everyone the first time, or they are accused of mismanagement by stockholders. How did you miss that, OB!! I know, you were bathing in radiator water when that was reported.

It's true I grew up in Montana, but I came to California right out of high school and my eyes were opened; I realized I was always a California Girl, just born in the wrong place. I have no further reason to cross the borders into Montana ever again and have no plans to do so.

With all due respect, OB, you have no idea of my Wildest Dreams. They certainly don't involve finding any buried treasure even if it wasn't in Montana, which I strongly doubt. That would only get the attention of the Tax Man and my life would never again be so simple as discovering the next Jaguar repair.

Think about it. If he indeed has all this Loot hidden, why doesn't HE spend it? Why entice others to expend all their efforts, except for his own entertainment (not much to do in Montana, it's true).

Do you have any idea of the area of Montana? 147,164 sq miles (381,154 km²) compared to the area of Great Britain 88,745 sq miles (229,848 km²). I'm not going to bother!

We have Spring here finally anyway, and I want to drive my Jaguar. I did find a Red Mustang for you, alas, the Transporter was infected with the Heartbleed Virus and is offline until further notice.
(';')