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MG MGA - Need car insurance

I just realized that I hadn't received a current certificate of insurance for my '57 MGA like I have for all the other cars in the family. Seems like our insurance salesman forgot to finish what he started- get insurance for my MG- the main company outsources special cars. When I called and informed the salesman of my new addition in August I was given a cert. of ins. so I could obtain license plates- Michigan law. We get a bill every 6 months for our policies and SURPRISE!!! no MG is listed. I've been driving without insurance. His oversight not mine.

So, what company do you use? Is it good? Is it within financial realm of everyday folk? And most importantly how do I reach them?

As you can guess I need to acquire insurance ASAP.

Thanks
Jackie
Jacqueline Peabody

www.hagerty.com I and many others in our club use Hagerty. I have not had a claim, but others have and were 100% pleased with the results. You can get a quote on line, or call their toll free number. They will even fax your application to you.

Ed Bell

I use my regular State Farm agent for my MGs (and other vehicles). Very reasonable. They don't do agreed value but will accept an appraisal. A nice feature is they allow the car to be "out of service". You confirm it's parked, it remains insured, the plates remain on it, about 25% of the reqular premium. If you want or need to drive it, just give 'em a call.
Cheers,
GTF
G T Foster

I use Grundy at a stated value supported by an appraisal. Get a free quote at: http://www.grundy.com/. Some specialty insurance companies dont write full insurance in all states so you have to check your state rules.

Jim
Jim Ferguson

For my '62 MGA I use Condon and Skelly (NJ), which is underwritten by MetLife Auto & Home (RI). Policy allows 2,500 miles/year. Cost for Liability ($500,000) including Uninsured Motorist is $56/year. Comprehensive and Collision for an agreed value of $10,000 is $70/year. I've used them since 1985, but have never filed a claim with them. The insurance cards have come on time.
Steve
Steve K

I can second Hagerty.
Mark J Michalak

I also use Grundy for five of our MGs. I recently made a large claim and was astounded by the ease of the process and the level of customer service I received. I can elaborate by email if you like, but the short story is that I'm a customer for life. It doesn't hurt that their policy fits my riving style perfectly and their price was lower than anyone else for my particular cars.
Steve Simmons

Well, I got my insurance, but now I'm not so sure about the deal I received. I live in Michigan which is a "no fault" insurance state. Basically this means if you as sitting in a non-moving car and you are hit broadside and your car is totaled...YOU pay for your damage through your own insurance. Or what it really means is the insurance is horribly expensive, I know of no one that turns in a claim because if you do your insurance increases dramatically.

Like I said I got insurance, but it seems a bit on the expensive side. Just under $400/yr and the car is stored for 5 months out of the year. The only special bit to the policy is towing for within 100 miles of my home.

I read where you are paying much less. I don't know of any reason my insurance would be so dear. I did have 1 ticket 6 years ago, my first in 28 years. No accidents. I do have regular plates because historic plates would allow me to drive only on week ends and holidays.

Hmmmmm maybe I'll send applications in to additional companies and see what their quotes are.

Thanks for all the input.

Now I'm just waiting for a call that the service person has a slot for me and he can prepare my car for Spring. I called about 2-3 weeks ago and he's booked until late April. I thought I was calling early enough, I guess not.
Jacqueline Peabody

I just filled in Grundy's online estimate and it's almost 1/2 of Hagerty. But then maybe you get what you pay for. I just know I won't be putting 1000 miles/year on my MG. My full time car is 9 years old and just hit 40,000 miles and that's been used to move 2 kids in at least 6 college moves. That's where the majority of the miles come in.

I wasn't asked the amount of miles the car will be driven by Hagerty. Their main concern was that it had to be in a garage attached to my residence.

I guess I'll just have to decide what my next move is. Thanks everyone for all your input.
Jacqueline Peabody

Don't worry about Grundy's coverage. As I posted in another thread, I recently filed a rather large claim for my MGC. The service I received was beyond my greatest expectations, and my expectations were high. I was able to take the car to any shop I wanted to do the work, no second estimate needed. Within 24 hours of my call, the car had been inspected by an appraiser alongside my body man. A week later I had a check for the entire amount in my hands, again no questions and no hassle. When an additional problem came up during repair, they immediately sent another multi-thousand dollar check. My body guy, who typically restores some of the most exotic classics on the planet, said they were one of, if not the best and easiest insurance company to deal with in his career.

As for your quote being so low, that isn't unusual and it's why we shop around. One company may be cheaper for one type of car and another company may be the opposite. For me, Grundy was cheapest for the five cars I assigned to them. If Haggerty had been cheaper then i would likely have used them. Both companies are quite good.
Steve Simmons

Jacqueline,

Would you mind saying specifically how much the quotes from Hagerty and Grundy were and if there were any mileage restrictions on either of them? Also, what are the respective liability ($50K, $100K, $150K, $300K, $500K?) and collision/comprehensive coverages, or coverage-per-cost, as more coverage costs more money.

Steve
Steve K

My insurance from Hagerty was just under $400. I'd love to give you the exact cost, but there was quite a bit of confusion about what I thought I bought and in reality what I bought. So far I've received 3 policies each with a different final value.

I filled in their online quote with no mileage restrictions, I have a regular plate not a historic one. In Michigan with a historic you can only drive the car on holidays and week ends or enroute to a parade. I also asked for $100,000/$300,000 liability. I got a quote, I thought, for the top towing package, which is towing for free up to 125 miles for an additional $85/yr. My first quote was about $325. When I got the policy I discovered I didn't have the optional better roadside package. Also the cars value was listed as $25,000 and I paid $15,000 for her. I think the inflated value would be for a concours quality and as much as I love Diana she's in very good shape, but she does show some of her miles.

Gundy's coverage was for essentially the same limits and values, but I don't remember there being a stepped roadside package. Their insurance was about $180. It almost seemed too good to be true.

I did question the Hagerty people about their cost. I know Diana will always be in the garage about 5 months of the year. Including the 125 miles from Kalamazoo to Detroit to get her home, I didn't put 200 miles on for the time I had her before I put her away for winter. Without a historic plate Hagerty doesn't reduce insurance despite the reduced amount of miles driven. I may change policies/companies later. I just really wanted to get the car insured and focus on finding out where I can get a trailer for the MGA to tow my scooter.

Any other questions? I have to say I wasn't really impressed with the two people I dealt with at Hagerty. I fill out a form, they refer back to the form during our discussion, but the insurance policy when it does finally come isn't what we discussed. Didn't leave a very good feeling overall.

Jackie
Jacqueline Peabody

With both policies the collision and comprehensive deductible is zero.

I know that had a lot to do with the price.

Jackie
Jacqueline Peabody

Jacqueline,

Thanks for the information. Based on what you and Steve S have said, it seems Grundy is a good deal.

Steve K
Steve K

Jacqueline,

I have insurance with Grundy and found them a little less expensive than Hagerty. You have to carefully compare the coverages and restrictions. Be sure to compare the towing coverage. I had an appraisal so I knew the stated value I wanted. Be sure to get the stated value defined.

All things considered, I found the two companies comparable in their rates for the same coverage, etc. I have a 2500 mile per year estimated useage but nobody has ever asked or checked.

Just get the coverage and don't get burned like George Merryweather did a few years ago. (To low a value on the coverage-after the car was totaled).

Jim
Jim Ferguson

I have Hagerty, and had a hit and run on '62 T-bird. They paid with no problem. I have my MGA with them also. Lyle
Lyle Jacobson

Here's my experience with Hagerty, which so far has been positive.

I have a package with $35,000 replacement value and the optional 125 mile towing, zero deductible (not sure of the liability, but I think I took the max). Here on Long Island, NY, where I pay about #2,0000 per year on my wife's 2005 Acura, the Hagerty bill for our MkII is about $350/yr. I think that's one key issue here - the location of the car can really drive the price up/down.

I've used the Hagerty towing once, for a 129 mile tow (generator went on the NJ turnpike, at night in the rain on the way back from Key West last year) and they treated me like I was their only and best customer.

- Ken
Ken Doris

I'm know that location is a big determining factor in insurance costs. The area I live in is about the safest and the cheapest for insurance. I had thought that going through our car and homeowners insurance company would bring cheaper rates. Our insurance company doesn't insure collector cars. They farm the policy out to Hagerty after they add their own little profit margin.

I think I'll just leave things as they are. I was rethinking the value of Diana. I think I would be hard pressed to find a car in as good condition as she is in for the price I paid. I keep watching the auctions on eBay, the classifieds and I can't believe what people are asking and getting for a '57 MGA.

I think I'll use the towing benefit to have Diana towed to her appointment for her spring tune up. I'm looking forward to the snow being gone and going cruising on the roads skirting Lake St Clair.
Jacqueline Peabody

http://www.hagerty.com/
Russ Carnes

This thread was discussed between 19/02/2008 and 08/03/2008

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