First Yank insurance

[croyde]

Seems ridiculous. In my 50s, full NCD. no claims or convictions, driving since I was 18 yet these days getting insurance for my cars and bikes is just getting harder and harder.

Have wanted a Yank since I was little and am thinking of treating myself. Given up on something new and shiny as I just can't get any quotes but seeing a slightly used and abused mid 2000s Crown Vic P71 this weekend and have just given the two recommended brokers a try.

I'm in London so A-Plan was a no way without a garage and Adrian Flux was having problems as everyone was quoting £1000+ but one company has come up with £340. That's a second car, 3000 miles a year, social and domestic only.

Anyone else insuring a Yank in London has these same problems? Any other companies I could try? Ideally I would want to use it as a daily but getting someone to stick Business use on one sounds impossible. I'm freelance so different places of work.

Cheers.

[Richie C]

I'm with Classicline (not for an American car admittedly), but they seem to list them as a specialism.

http://www.classiclineinsurance.co.uk/american-car...

[PanzerCommander]

Standard protocol with US cars it would seem. "We can't insure you without LHD experience" is a line trotted out by many insurers, and under 30 was a no-no by a fair few insurers when I bought my ‘Stang nearly 5 years ago as was not garaged.

Try Classic Line and Performance Direct.

Is it parked on the street or on a drive?

[croyde]

It will be parked in a car park opposite my flat but there is no barrier etc.

[fatboy18]

Go and buy a few American car mags, lots of companies advertise in them.

If you try all the main stream companies they simply do not want your business and the premium's will be through the roof!

Join an American car club, you will qualify for a club discount so its worth the investment

Here's a few for you to try
A-plan 01635 874646

Diamond insurance consultants
01442 825481
Stevenage insurance services
01483 313251
Footman James
0843 357 1787
Brentacre
01792 650933
Classicline insurance
01455 639 000
Graham - Sykes
01395 255100
Performance Direct
0800 997 8350
RH Insurance
01277 206911
Osborne & Sons
020 8388 6000 (I used to insure my old chevy Camaro with this lot in the 80s)

[mikial]

fatboy18 said:

Go and buy a few American car mags, lots of companies advertise in them.

If you try all the main stream companies they simply do not want your business and the premium's will be through the roof!

Join an American car club, you will qualify for a club discount so its worth the investment

Here's a few for you to try
A-plan 01635 874646

Diamond insurance consultants
01442 825481
Stevenage insurance services
01483 313251
Footman James
0843 357 1787
Brentacre
01792 650933
Classicline insurance
01455 639 000
Graham - Sykes
01395 255100
Performance Direct
0800 997 8350
RH Insurance
01277 206911
Osborne & Sons
020 8388 6000 (I used to insure my old chevy Camaro with this lot in the 80s)

Roy Osborne .....based near Rosehill, I too insured all my muscle cars from the mid seventies with Roy , right up to 2010 in fact. He had a 454 SD Firebird back then , not sure if he still works there or his son runs the business now but worth a try for sure .

[LuS1fer]

Try Classicline.

LHD experience can be an issue.
Cars over 7 years old are easier to insure.

[rawy]

Another vote for classicline

They cover my camaro, private carpark, no garage £180 a year 3k miles - They had to ask underwriters to agree, but they did.

Rawy

[guitarcarfanatic]

LHD experience? How is this quantified?

Just say you lived overseas for several years in your younger days and owned a left hand car - how could this possibly be disproved?

[croyde]

Have been asked this. I did own a LHD Citroen DS years ago and I have hired cars in the States and Europe with no issue and surely driving my own English RHD cars across Europe should account for something.

Classicline wouldn't quote as wouldn't Osborne. Seems the issue is either a London postcode or my job, TV Cameraman but this would be a second car, a hobby and I'm not looking for commuting or business cover. Still computer says no.

I really did not think this would be so difficult, especially as I have a perfect record and I'm in my 50s. The Crown Vic is barely more powerful than my current Beemer so what is the issue?

What makes me laugh is when the company says it's run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts and then you are put through to some dippy girl who has never heard of the model of car that you wish to insure and then they gasp when you say it's a 4.6L

[PanzerCommander]

guitarcarfanatic said:

LHD experience? How is this quantified?

Just say you lived overseas for several years in your younger days and owned a left hand car - how could this possibly be disproved?

You have to have driven a LHD car in the UK for one year usually, if they ask. Some do some don't. My premium dropped by 1/3 after the first year of owning my 'Stang, despite me adding more mods than I bought it with.

[Cledus Snow]

I bought my first yank in 04. (72 Chevelle convertible) aged 24, no LHD experience and kept on a drive. Sureterm insured it with no issues.

[PanzerCommander]

croyde said:

Have been asked this. I did own a LHD Citroen DS years ago and I have hired cars in the States and Europe with no issue and surely driving my own English RHD cars across Europe should account for something.

Classicline wouldn't quote as wouldn't Osborne. Seems the issue is either a London postcode or my job, TV Cameraman but this would be a second car, a hobby and I'm not looking for commuting or business cover. Still computer says no.

I really did not think this would be so difficult, especially as I have a perfect record and I'm in my 50s. The Crown Vic is barely more powerful than my current Beemer so what is the issue?

What makes me laugh is when the company says it's run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts and then you are put through to some dippy girl who has never heard of the model of car that you wish to insure and then they gasp when you say it's a 4.6L

It’s ludicrous isn't it, all I can think is that it is because of the London post code. I'm 30 and use a highly modified (all mods declared) Mustang on the roads as my daily driver and other than a few sorry we can't quote you in the first year I have had no problems the mileage is the usual average 10,000 miles per year and it costs me £490 with Adrian Flux.

Try using a non-classic policy if you can. I have noticed that insurers aren’t keen on insuring a car on a classic policy (a mate found this when he was looking at an MGB) that is not kept on a private drive as a bare minimum, some won’t cover unless its garaged.

[croyde]

You are right when it comes to first year. I rode motorbikes from '78 until a bad accident in 2003. After 6 years I returned to biking but with no NCB. No one would touch me on stuff I had ridden before, Sports Bikes. I had to go naked and even then it was hard.

Bought a Street Triple and then nearly cancelled the order as the few quotes I could get were north of a grand and a half. Finally I got a quote of £700 TPFT and went with it. After a year the renewal was £200 and now it's about £180.

Luckily I have had one quote on the Vic for £340 as a second car, so if I get the car, I might get a nice surprise next year.

[Aydena]

Footman James came up trumps for me.

1989 Dodge ram van, no ncd, 23years old with 6 points. £180 for the year.

They gave discount because it was an ex Air Force van, maybe worth asking if they do it for ex police?

[croyde]

Just tried them cheers. They don't cover modern US cars.

[fatboy18]

In the Viper club we use 'Competition Car Insurance', Long shot but might be worth a call Are you a Croydon Post code? With all the st that happened over there a couple of years ago with the riots premiums have gone right up!

[croyde]

Used to be from there but now in leafy SW London. I had far far less trouble insuring my new Boxster a few years back.

[fatboy18]

How you getting on, any luck yet?

Another way around it might be one of these Multicar polices?

'What makes me laugh is when the company says it's run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts and then you are put through to some dippy girl who has never heard of the model of car that you wish to insure and then they gasp when you say it's a 4.6L'



Couldn't agree more, Try insuring a Viper! How many ltrs Sir .....8Ltrs ....Sorry?
What model is it 'its a 2000, GTS'.....'Is that an SRT/10 Sir?'.....'No it isn't!
'What year is it?' ....'I told you' ....'2000' 'Is that a 4 door?' God give me strength! .... 'Its not showing on our system Sir! 'Oh well then, Update your bloody system....... Don't you love call centres.

Edited by fatboy18 on Saturday 3rd May 08:57

[fatboy18]

Here's a link to an American Auto Club in the UK, worth joining one of them for discounts
http://www.american-auto-club.co.uk/sponsors.php