HAS ANYONE INSURED THEIR AERO CAR WITH AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE??

[Mopar John]

Today Linda and I went over all our car insurance with an American Family Insurance agent. He informed us that they have classic car insurance and have good rates compared to most of the stand alone classic car insurance companies. I am looking for someone who has them and or someone who has gone through a claim process and share that experiance.
Thanks! MJ

[Aero426]

AmFam or State Farm will not have a true "agreed value" policy where you are guaranteed the $$$ in event of a total loss.   Definitely not suitable for a high end car.   Agreed value is not the same as "stated value". 

[Charger-Bodie]

AmFam or State Farm will not have a true "agreed value" policy where you are guaranteed the $$$ in event of a total loss.   Definitely not suitable for a high end car.   Agreed value is not the same as "stated value". 

I agree . Main stream auto insurance is for main stream autos. Get Hagerty or one of the other specialty insurers.

[Arnie Cunningham]

I have been with AmFam my entire life.  They are great for regular insurance but I would not use them for collector cars.  I have an honest agent so I asked a direct simple question: If my car is totaled, is American Family going to write me a check for $100,000?  The answer was No.  You should also be aware that their insurance does not cover ANY deviations from stock.  If your aftermarket rims and tires or stereo gets stolen - not covered.

Most of you will think I am insane when I tell you this - I don't carry any insurance on my car except what is legally required by law to drive it on the street.  I had to give up worrying about things I did not want to happen.  It was bad for my health.

Brennan R. Cook

[hemigeno]

Personally, I would not insure a doghouse with AmFam.  Long story about why that is, but they won't sucker me any more.

As stated, I would go with one of the specialized collector car insurance companies.  Some have more restrictive terms than others, but I can't see where any of them would be a bad choice for your cars, John.

[XS29LA47V21]

Some good thoughts above, I just switched after years of knowingly... being with State Farm, not really insured well (for several reasons).  Two different friends had shop and heavy car losses associated with tornado some years back and both had to involve attorneys to retain the remains of cars, the ins. co. wanted to total them.  I chose to confirm a stated value, avoid policy tied to an appraisal and most of all I am very likely going to want to fix the car I love (policy includes 1st rights to keep the remains).  Frankly it is all a racket isn't it.

[nascarxx29]

We used on our cars American Collectors and Condon Skelly

[Mopar John]

Thanks for all the replies! If anyone else has a view on collector car insurance please reply especially if you had a claim!!
MJ

[Charger-Bodie]

Thanks for all the replies! If anyone else has a view on collector car insurance please reply especially if you had a claim!!
MJ

As a body shop owner and Muscle car owner,I have had and delt with claims. Hagerty and Jc Taylor were the easiest to deal with on classics. Repairs with conventional insurance isnt too bad either. I think where you would really lose out is in the event of a total. The specialty companies are going to pay what its insured for the mainstream co.s wont.

[GPULLER]

I'm insured with State Farm with my house and vehicles.  I only carried liability on my Charger for years just because I thought nobody would insure it with full coverage because my car isn't restored.  I called my agent to asked about stated value.  They told me they do offer a collector car policy with a stated value but the cars have to be restored to get the cheap rates.  I was able to get a policy that has a stated value but my car isn't fully restored so the rates aren't as cheap.  I drop my coverage to comp while the car is in storage so it should work out to about the same money as the specialty insurance company's.
State Farm tells me that if my car gets totaled they will give me the stated value now, but I don't want to test that to see if its true.  I work work at a body shop and deal with insurance companies daily, and know how difficult they can be to deal with at times.  Probably change after this year.

[Mopar John]

  Are there any collector insurance companies that drop the premium down during the winter months up north when the collector cars and not being driven and are in storage?
Thanks! MJ

[Charger-Bodie]

  Are there any collector insurance companies that drop the premium down during the winter months up north when the collector cars and not being driven and are in storage?
Thanks! MJ

Most are by the year premiums so they probably just average it out.

[Aero426]

  Are there any collector insurance companies that drop the premium down during the winter months up north when the collector cars and not being driven and are in storage?
Thanks! MJ

No, it's typically a one time fee for the whole year which covers driving and storage.   I'm sure they feel that significant damage may be as likely to occur in storage as the few times the car is on the road.

[oldcarnut]

I'm insured with State Farm with my house and vehicles.  I only carried liability on my Charger for years just because I thought nobody would insure it with full coverage because my car isn't restored.  I called my agent to asked about stated value.  They told me they do offer a collector car policy with a stated value but the cars have to be restored to get the cheap rates.  I was able to get a policy that has a stated value but my car isn't fully restored so the rates aren't as cheap.  I drop my coverage to comp while the car is in storage so it should work out to about the same money as the specialty insurance company's.
State Farm tells me that if my car gets totaled they will give me the stated value now, but I don't want to test that to see if its true.  I work work at a body shop and deal with insurance companies daily, and know how difficult they can be to deal with at times.  Probably change after this year.

I have SF on my house and cars too.  My agent told me that now SF won't insure as a collector classic unless its completely restored.  They insured my Coronet RT after taking pictures of everything and looking at the values  (back then) that I printed up for ref. only to tell me that their Classic guy had his own set of values to go by and that those weren't availible for me to look at myself.  I had a big stuffed dog laying at the time of picture taking between the seats and after he got the pictures, I was told that I was hiding a nitros bottle and the engine was built for racing there by uninsurable    I had to go back and prove no such bottle existed or had parts on it for using it.  Finally got a policy value that I was told would be the actual payoff for a loss.  Its now at a insured value from 3yrs ago for almost twice what I can actually sell it for now--anyone need one cheap I'll tell you where its parked  )  They wouldn't insure my Bird clone as a work in progress even though I have reciepts for well over 20g now and it hasn't moved in two years out the garage so its just got liability and comprehensive on it.  From what I was told by the agent that they have one guy that does all the classics and he's difficult to deal with and picky.  If it weren't for the savings of having the others things with them too I'd dump them.  When the car is completed I'll be shopping for somebody else .

[ksquared]

AmFam or State Farm will not have a true "agreed value" policy where you are guaranteed the $$$ in event of a total loss.   Definitely not suitable for a high end car.   Agreed value is not the same as "stated value".  

I agree . Main stream auto insurance is for main stream autos. Get Hagerty or one of the other specialty insurers.

OK, these English guys definitely aren't "main stream," but you might want to check them out, especially if you're looking for "something completely different.  It's:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO2R_DDZPCM

[wingedone]

Thanks for all the replies! If anyone else has a view on collector car insurance please reply especially if you had a claim!!
MJ

It appears your asking about any collector car insurance company's now, so I will pipe in.

Been with ACI for 11 years since getting the old cars.  One claim on my wifes 69 Camaro that needed a new windshield.  No problems, the glass place came to us, put in the new glass without any issues and ACI picked up the entire tab.

Every year I check and every year they are within a few dollars of Grundy and Haggerty.

There all good I hear.

[XS29LA47V21]

I just recently switched from SF after nearly 20 yr with house, cars, "all discounts", etc,   Couple years ago I strayed and had a GN for a daily driver which received Hale damage, SF was very difficult in my opinion.  They also required yearly appraisals on my other running cars, not hard, just a time/hassle.  I am paying significantly less with Hagerty, including non driving cars which SF would not touch.  Thank you for the comment above regarding Hagerty, I was a little concerned because my premiums where so much lower than SF.  I like the idea that nothing happens to my cars and be well insured.

[1970Moparmann]

I currently have American Family on the cars and just got off the phone with the assistant.  I point blank asked her what happens when I have a total lost and she will get back with me.  Currently, each car is about $200 a year in the "Show Class" rate.

I'll respond once I hear back from my agent.

[Mopar John]

I would like to thank everyone who has replied to this topic! Now here is the latest that I have been thinking about, The fellow named Carl who had an accident with his original Daytona. What happens when neither the owner nor the insurance company finds the correct parts to fix the Daytona? Do you settle on a dollar amount and sign off the insurance company? What about loss of use? It's been a while since Carl was able to drive his Daytona!
  Also the two Superbirds that were in the auction wind storm in Arizona. Does anyone know who fixed those cars and how that went? What insurance companies were involved? My hope is to keep all of us from learning the hard way!
MJ

[1970Moparmann]

John,

Here is the response I received from American Family after I talked to the admin who works at the office.  She contacted the underwriter.   She did say that I should give you as much information as possible in case something does happen.  She said to give pictures, copies of receipts, basically anything that would help if something did happen.   Makes sense....

Hi, Mike.



I heard back from the Underwriter.  The Endorsement 21, which is that Stated Amount Coverage Endorsement, starts with "important policyholder message",  this states that if the vehicle is damaged or stolen  the maximum we will pay is (1) the actual cash value or (2) the amount necessary to repair or replace or (3) the maximum amount shown on this endorsement, whichever is LESS.



We cannot guarantee that if your Stated Amount is, say $30,000, that you will receive that exact amount in recovery if the vehicle is stolen or damaged.



American Family is known for its excellent claims service and it is important to make sure the vehicle is properly insured.  An appraisal, photos, any and all receipts, etc., that apply to the exact value of the vehicle should be available to the adjuster in the event of a claim.  As we discussed, you can send this information to me so I can update the policies and I'm happy to keep pictures, etc., in your file here.  It's important to remember that after the vehicle is originally insured, if you put more work into it to be sure and update the information we have.



I don't know if any insurer can "guarantee" a payout after a claim but if you know of any specialty insurers of these type of vehicles, perhaps you can receive more information from them.  I am not aware of any companies but maybe in your circle of friends and enthusiasts you can get a referral.

[wingedone]

John,

I don't know if any insurer can "guarantee" a payout after a claim but if you know of any specialty insurers of these type of vehicles, perhaps you can receive more information from them.  I am not aware of any companies but maybe in your circle of friends and enthusiasts you can get a referral.

Oh, I am sorry, but that is BS!   

What, does she live under a rock?  "guarantee" is what haggerty, ACI, etc are all about.

[hemigeno]

American Family is known for its excellent claims service

[RECHRGD]

I use American MODERN insurance.  They are tied to USAA as the collector car option.  They state an "insured" value of 35K on my policy.  They have pictures of the car and my premium is based upon that amount.  If my car was totalled or stolen and they tried to get out of paying the full "insured" amount, I would have them in court the next day!  Bob

[darkfiire5000]

Started with American Family when the wife and I first got married, switched after a few months charged us about double on our house and cars. Plus when you do have a claim it takes a good 2 months to even have anything done about it.

[adauto]

I currently have American Family on the cars and just got off the phone with the assistant.  I point blank asked her what happens when I have a total lost and she will get back with me.  Currently, each car is about $200 a year in the "Show Class" rate.

I'll respond once I hear back from my agent.

I'd be intrestred in the response you get. I have 2 cars w AMFAM. Both are insured for appraised value, which is the only way they would insure them here (Wis).  My rates have been real good I must say, fortunately I've never had a claim on either of my "girls" but........

[1970Moparmann]

Response from the company a few posts above.