TVR insurance flavor of the month

[dvs_dave]

The insurance for my Tuscan is up for renewal. I’ve been on a classic policy with one of the usual suspects for years now, but this time around feel that their renewal quote isn’t very competitive.

So who is the TVR insurer of choice these days?

[HiAsAKite]

I've been using RH specialists for my chim, classic agreed value policy. That said renewal is up 10% this year.

Who were you with?

[Byker28i]

I've got back to one of the classic insurers for an agreed value, which I couldn't get through the main insurance companies. They were cheaper but now my car is worth a lot more I wanted an agreed value.
Only trouble is it's underwritten by Ageas who has been less than helpful when I was knocked off my motorbike as they also insured the other party. 248 days now and still unresolved.

[ianwayne]

I went back to Footman James last year, a company I first used back in the 1990s.

They've had several umbrella owners over the years and now are only a call centre in Dudley unfortunately. They used to have a reception where you could speak to someone in person. Be aware that breakdown, legal cover, etc are now add-ons (guaranteed value is £10) so be aware it has the cover you require. Having a different ECU (Canems) made no difference to my premium.

They do, annoyingly spend a long time reading out prepared statements to you about declaration, truthfulness, changes to vehicle etc. I know it's probably necessary but they seem to make a lot more of them than other companies.

[nawarne]

Byker28i said:

I've got back to one of the classic insurers for an agreed value, which I couldn't get through the main insurance companies. They were cheaper but now my car is worth a lot more I wanted an agreed value.
Only trouble is it's underwritten by Ageas who has been less than helpful when I was knocked off my motorbike as they also insured the other party. 248 days now and still unresolved.

I had house insured with Aegas - OK during claim....but made whole procedure much more complicated than it needed to be - largely as a result of using 3rd party loss adjusters/claim handling companies. Had they had their own in-house claims assessors, we could have agreed a figure for the whole job and got on with it - rather than it taking >6 months.!!!

IMHO, you can't beat the established TVR insurers. They know the cars - you don't get asked how many seats there are in a Chimaera!! The two claims I've had were dealt with efficiently and politely.

Pal was with Equity Red Star and had a long, drawn out event for a 'no-fault' claim....Totally wrong, as far as I was concerned.
Nick

[N7GTX]

nawarne said:

Pal was with Equity Red Star and had a long, drawn out event for a 'no-fault' claim....Totally wrong, as far as I was concerned.
Nick

^^^ this. My hit and run bump was early Sept last year. Car was repaired after 3 months. Its 100% non-fault but until the other side acknowledge the claim my excess is still outstanding 5 months later with no sign of it being resolved as yet.
ERS are Classicline's company (or were when I took my policy out last May). Classicline have been quite good in helping out.

[Byker28i]

nawarne said:

Byker28i said:

I've got back to one of the classic insurers for an agreed value, which I couldn't get through the main insurance companies. They were cheaper but now my car is worth a lot more I wanted an agreed value.
Only trouble is it's underwritten by Ageas who has been less than helpful when I was knocked off my motorbike as they also insured the other party. 248 days now and still unresolved.

I had house insured with Aegas - OK during claim....but made whole procedure much more complicated than it needed to be - largely as a result of using 3rd party loss adjusters/claim handling companies. Had they had their own in-house claims assessors, we could have agreed a figure for the whole job and got on with it - rather than it taking >6 months.!!!

IMHO, you can't beat the established TVR insurers. They know the cars - you don't get asked how many seats there are in a Chimaera!! The two claims I've had were dealt with efficiently and politely.

Pal was with Equity Red Star and had a long, drawn out event for a 'no-fault' claim....Totally wrong, as far as I was concerned.
Nick

Yup motorbike wasn't recovered for 4 weeks for assessment by their 3rd party, by which time it had stood outside unloved and rusted, so they tried knocking down the value significantly. Delaying tactics, refusal to get/give information, refusal to accept a witness I had, which I believe was all because they insured the other party who had their car repaired within two weeks. I didn't find out until 4 months after the accident when I lodged a complaint they insured the other aprty.
So check if using a broker it's not placing the policy with Ageas.

[pincher]

I’ve been with MSM for a few years now - might be able to save myself £10 or £20 if I hunted around hard enough but I’ve always been very pleased with their CS and think that sometimes, good service deserves a bit of loyalty.

Not had to claim though(fortunately!), so don’t know how they perform on that front.

[Zippee]

I'm with Mannings who use Amlin as their insurer.
I've been in the sad position of having a claim and both were faultless in resolving hence I stick with them. Yes I can save a few quid elsewhere but for me the service I've received in the last has more than been worth the small amount of additional premium

[nawarne]

Zippee said:

I'm with Mannings who use Amlin as their insurer.
I've been in the sad position of having a claim and both were faultless in resolving hence I stick with them. Yes I can save a few quid elsewhere but for me the service I've received in the last has more than been worth the small amount of additional premium

^^^Absolutely - The acid test of any insurance is how the brokers and underwriters behave in a claim... It's just not worth focusing on the premium on its own.

Nick

[Deeman]

The educated buyer! No point in saving a few quid if the policy never pays out in the event of a claim or is so painful you lose the will to live. i rather he free of that ballache and go with one who womt make a crisis out a drama! Gets what you pays for usually

[Classic Chim]

Zippee said:

I'm with Mannings who use Amlin as their insurer.
I've been in the sad position of having a claim and both were faultless in resolving hence I stick with them. Yes I can save a few quid elsewhere but for me the service I've received in the last has more than been worth the small amount of additional premium

I’m with Manning ^^^^^^ what he says

[shorts!]

Classic Chim said:

Zippee said:

I'm with Mannings who use Amlin as their insurer.
I've been in the sad position of having a claim and both were faultless in resolving hence I stick with them. Yes I can save a few quid elsewhere but for me the service I've received in the last has more than been worth the small amount of additional premium

I’m with Manning ^^^^^^ what he says

What both of them say.
I have had to claim more than once, including a track incident aqnd they have always been helpful, prompt and professional.

[dvs_dave]

Decided to go with Manning. 440 quid all in, restricted mileage classic policy, including Europe and track day cover. Still seemed a little steep, but then it is worth a decent amount these days.

[bad company]

How old does the car have to be to get a classic ‘agreed value’ policy? I bought my Chim 500 new in March 2002.

[cammy71]

All relative to location, post code, car storage. I'm paying c£210 for T350C, 5k miles pa, wife and I fully comp, 13 yrs NCB, PNCB, in a locked garage, modded via a sports exhaust. Multi car policy (2x).

[ianwayne]

bad company said:

How old does the car have to be to get a classic ‘agreed value’ policy? I bought my Chim 500 new in March 2002.

I think it's 15 y.o. with Footman James. so you'd just qualify. I have my Chimaera with them. Other companies may vary.

You can get an online quote too, which is unusual for a classic policy:

http://www.footmanjames.co.uk/classic-car-insuranc...

[bad company]

ianwayne said:

bad company said:

How old does the car have to be to get a classic ‘agreed value’ policy? I bought my Chim 500 new in March 2002.

I think it's 15 y.o. with Footman James. so you'd just qualify. I have my Chimaera with them. Other companies may vary.

You can get an online quote too, which is unusual for a classic policy:

http://www.footmanjames.co.uk/classic-car-insuranc...

Thanks. It came to £326.87 with an agreed value of £16,000. I’ll see what my regular broker comes up with and look up if the £16k is about right. As I said I have the car from new and like driving it so 86,000 miles on the clock.

[Yex 450]

I've been with REIS for 4 or 5 years now and can't fault them. I have my car on a normal policy (not a classic, or 3rd car type thing) and think I paid c£400-425 last year including cover for 4 track days and a guaranteed value of £22,000.

Only had to use them once on a non fault claim and they were happy to help and always there for questions and advice when requested. As mentioned above regarding other firms I like REIS and will continue to use them as shopping around may save a bit but would take up time and may also need me to get a new agreed value from a new source which would also take up my time.

[Chim450]

ianwayne said:

bad company said:

How old does the car have to be to get a classic ‘agreed value’ policy? I bought my Chim 500 new in March 2002.

I think it's 15 y.o. with Footman James. so you'd just qualify. I have my Chimaera with them. Other companies may vary.

You can get an online quote too, which is unusual for a classic policy:

http://www.footmanjames.co.uk/classic-car-insuranc...

Thanks for the link. £231 for my Tuscan with agreed value of £40,000. Pretty reasonable!