Classic car ins
Author
Discussion

Clifford Chambers

Original Poster:

28,501 posts

205 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
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My old merc is now old enough to qualify so happy to save a few quid.

Footman James—-------Reasonable quote
Lancaster--------------------Twice the price
Hagerty------------------------Also fair


Anyone else I should try?

davidgt4

239 posts

268 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
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I've used RH for many years for old cars and bikes

55palfers

6,228 posts

186 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
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Just renewed my old Merc with Lancaster. Best price I could find by a decent margin! Used Confused.com
Was with ClassicLine (for 8 years) but they couldn't / wouldn't match renewal quote from Lancaster.

john2443

6,492 posts

233 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
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I also use RH SPECIALIST INSURANCE.

george123

467 posts

204 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
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Adrian Flux.....£242.00 last year vs £150 this year for the same

droopsnoot

14,037 posts

264 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
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I use Heritage Insurance, used to be Norton. Fortunately never had to claim, so I can't say what they're like at that.

85Carrera

3,503 posts

259 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
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Hagerty are very good.

I would not use Adrian Flux again.

ReverendCounter

6,087 posts

198 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
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Peter Best

caley64

127 posts

244 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
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Done ok last few years with ClassicLine.

Castrol for a knave

6,867 posts

113 months

Wednesday 24th February 2021
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Used the same broker for years but I think they are getting lazy, expensive renewal premium and with the likes of Markerstudy.

I rang L V direct and used their classic policy (not Highway).

30% cheaper, much better cover, 90 days in Europe, agreed value and £200 excess on my 928.

I do have another LV policy so got some discount. I had to claim on their standard policy a few years ago when I hit some crap in the road and had no issues.

moffspeed

3,309 posts

229 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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I've always used Hagerty, very friendly and knowledgeable on the phone, premiums have been sensible and competitive eg £140 this year for my Fulvia Coupe, slightly higher figure previously for a TVR S3C. Having said that I have never had to make a claim so can't tell you how they would perform then.

I've read some horrible net reviews of Lancaster but I always approach on-line reviews with caution as they are so easily manipulated. If reviews are to be believed a significant issue with Lancaster seems to be extortionate cancellation/alteration fees.

For what it's worth Which ? magazine did a survey last year and Hagerty came out tops at 74% satisfaction followed by Heritage at 70% and Adrian Flux 66%. No sign that Lancaster or Footman James were included in the survey so it's not necessarily that helpful to you...

Edited by moffspeed on Thursday 25th February 11:59

sortedcossie

939 posts

150 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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I've tended to use a reasonably priced broker, who usually put me with ERS. Never had to claim so can't comment on that, but I have noted that premiums have steadily gone up last 2 years for very limited use policy so i'll be researching myself next month.

Mellow Yellow

904 posts

284 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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Another vote for RH. Very comprehensive policy, includes European breakdown, agreed value and "Cherished salvage, Unlike other insurers, free and automatic return on all vehicles over 20 years". i.e if your car is written off, you receive the agreed value and you get the salvage too. It's a nice feature, there have been stories on here, of people who've lost their P&J when an insurer has written it off and sold it on without even giving the owner a chance to buy it back.

richs2891

903 posts

275 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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I've used https://www.aib-insurance.co.uk/
for the last few years

restoman

984 posts

230 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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There is so much more than price to consider when insuring your classic, or anything else for that matter, but most people seem to think that cheapest is best......

Escort3500

13,063 posts

167 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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85Carrera said:
Hagerty are very good.

I would not use Adrian Flux again.
Nor me, their ‘service’ is woeful.

distinctivedesign

180 posts

100 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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Another vote here for Hagerty.

Over the years I have used Footman James (now a shadow of what they used to be), Peter James (what PJ did after he sold Footmans), Adrian Flux, RH, and Lancaster.

As others have said, watch the fees with Lancaster, and hope you never have to claim. AF used to be very good - but I am talking twenty years ago, and a number of people I know have been disappointed with them more recently. RH were always very good for more workaday classics, but weren't that great on the expensive stuff.

Hagerty seem to be good, and knowledgeable across the board, in my experience. They are also especially good fro anything modified - a couple of the staff there run classics which are heavily modified.

Castrol for a knave

6,867 posts

113 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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distinctivedesign said:
Another vote here for Hagerty.

Over the years I have used Footman James (now a shadow of what they used to be), Peter James (what PJ did after he sold Footmans), Adrian Flux, RH, and Lancaster.

As others have said, watch the fees with Lancaster, and hope you never have to claim. AF used to be very good - but I am talking twenty years ago, and a number of people I know have been disappointed with them more recently. RH were always very good for more workaday classics, but weren't that great on the expensive stuff.

Hagerty seem to be good, and knowledgeable across the board, in my experience. They are also especially good fro anything modified - a couple of the staff there run classics which are heavily modified.
It was a toss up between LV and Hagerty for me.

Lancaster and Flux just spammed me with endless calls, well into the evening.


I agree - it is about cover not price.

My previous Markerstudy policy was poor - and I was disappointed this had come through a well known broker. The Hagerty and LV offers were much more sensible, with good cover, acceptable excess, no problem with mods (I have an X pipe) and LV have just emailed to say I have class 1 business for free due to covid (no idea why).

No limited mileage either, but I think that might be a glitch so I will check.


Pilotguy

436 posts

281 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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I’ve used Classicline for a few years now. Agreed Value, Breakdown, Salvage Rights, Car Club discount, multi car policies.

Escort3500

13,063 posts

167 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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Pilotguy said:
I’ve used Classicline for a few years now. Agreed Value, Breakdown, Salvage Rights, Car Club discount, multi car policies.
Me too, for American, classic British tin, modified cars and hot rods