Normal Insurance For Vintage Car.

Alan Ashe

Hi guys. I know this has been asked many times, but I feel that I have to open a thread and ask again because I am unable to get an answer to my question, ANYWHERE!!!
The facts, 79' Range Rover. Fully and professionally restored with the newer 3.9 engine installed, all of which has been signed off and certified by a motor vehicle engineer.
I want to put normal (non classic) insurance on it so as to use it as an every day, primary vehicle.
FBD quoted me €500 about eight months ago, however, apparently they have new rules now and I am not eligible anymore.
First Ireland seem hesitant. Axa, the same.
Straight no from Acorn, AA, Aviva, Autoline.

I know I could go the cheap route and just get classic insurance, but I want t use this as my primary vehicle.

I spoke to a guy some months ago who mentioned that there is a company in the west of Ireland that cover specialist cars such as Ferrari's and Bentley's and that they would cover my vehicle due to it being "different". American based underwriters. Anyone heard of them? I've lost the guys number since, figures!!!

All advice and help is appreciated.

JoeySully

perhaps you could get around it if you were already insured by a company and then do a permanent insurance swap to the classic car.

If it doesn't work then just cancel the insurance and you should get a "almost" full refund

hi5

That specialist insurance for Ferraris and the likes is similar to classic insurance, you need a second car also.
Topquote.ie advertise it.

Alan Ashe

JoeySully wrote: »

perhaps you could get around it if you were already insured by a company and then do a permanent insurance swap to the classic car.

If it doesn't work then just cancel the insurance and you should get a "almost" full refund

I guess I could consider that as a last resort, although I prefer a clean cut insurance policy.

Alan Ashe

hi5 wrote: »

That specialist insurance for Ferraris and the likes is similar to classic insurance, you need a second car also.
Topquote.ie advertise it.

I'll try Topquote now, but if I need a seperate car then it would be no good to me.

Alan Ashe

Half an hour on hold with Topquote, they obviously don't need the bloody business!!!!

corktina

do you not have a main car as well? There's nothing to stop you using the Range Rover daily on a Classic policy other then the mileage limits, and you can be a bit creative there as I've never heard of the mileage being checked.

Alan Ashe

corktina wrote: »

do you not have a main car as well? There's nothing to stop you using the Range Rover daily on a Classic policy other then the mileage limits, and you can be a bit creative there as I've never heard of the mileage being checked.

I get your meaning, but what happens if you have a crash and your at fault, on the way to work? I've a lot of money spent on this vehicle so I want to be sure I know proper coverage.

corktina

My classic policy covers normal SDP usage. I think most of them do, apart from mileage limitations, they are just normal policies with a special premium.

Alan Ashe

corktina wrote: »

My classic policy covers normal SDP usage. I think most of them do, apart from mileage limitations, they are just normal policies with a special premium.

So you insure an alternative vehicle as a primary vehicle? Does that not cost a lot?, considering you need road tax and an NCT/DOE for the other vehicle.

Skatedude

My daily driver was a 93 bmw 740 on classic insurance and it's my daily and only car which the insurance company, AIG, are fully aware of.
The only stipulation was the millage limit per year which i never went near exceeding.
How much millage would you be doing per year?

Alan Ashe

Skatedude wrote: »

My daily driver was a 93 bmw 740 on classic insurance and it's my daily and only car which the insurance company, AIG, are fully aware of.
The only stipulation was the millage limit per year which i never went near exceeding.
How much millage would you be doing per year?

Sounds interesting. I wouldn't be doing much mileage, less than 10k anyways. What's the phone number you used with AIG? Did you need to fill out any paperwork prior to a quotation? They are sending me out paperwork to fill out!

Alan Ashe

Skatedude wrote: »

My daily driver was a 93 bmw 740 on classic insurance and it's my daily and only car which the insurance company, AIG, are fully aware of.
The only stipulation was the millage limit per year which i never went near exceeding.
How much millage would you be doing per year?

Also, do you use and keep your no claims bonus? Have you fully comprehensive?

Filmer Paradise

Hi OP.

I considered going down the same route as you a couple of years ago.

I heard that Carole Nash Insurance were good for this kind of situation.

Never got enquire about it myself.

Give them a try & tell us how you got on.:)

Alan Ashe

Filmer Paradise wrote: »

Hi OP.

I considered going down the same route as you a couple of years ago.

I heard that Carole Nash Insurance were good for this kind of situation.

Never got enquire about it myself.

Give them a try & tell us how you got on.:)

Hi , I did already. They said they "could not facilitate me"!!! I could try again, but my mind is melted from all the calls and application forms from the last two days.
For the record, I'm 31 with a full license and full no claims bonus with no claims or convictions.

500man

Try barretts 01 2845401 they will do it for you

Skatedude

Alan Ashe wrote: »

Sounds interesting. I wouldn't be doing much mileage, less than 10k anyways. What's the phone number you used with AIG? Did you need to fill out any paperwork prior to a quotation? They are sending me out paperwork to fill out!

It was a classic policy and i was limited to 6000 miles a year, but i think they do have a higher limit available.
They also said they can give you classic insurance on cars 15 years and older, so it dosent need to be 20+

I used first ireland as a broker.
http://www.quoteclassiccarinsurance.ie/

And the policy is with AIG 1890272727

cplwhisper

call AXA Athlone next week on 0906473455, guy there called Paul might be able help.

he off at minute but worth a review for you

pryantcc

I have exactly the same problem and outlook as you. I want proper cover, not something the insurer is going to wriggle out of in the case of a claim by saying it was a "classic" policy and the car was being used as a commuter. I also have the modification issue with a newer engine. My detaills:
1971 Merc 280SE with 3.0 diesel and manual gearbox conversion.
30,000 miles per year commuting.
Car value ~10K

I haven't finished my build yet, but I did make progress with AXA 1890 247 365 about a year ago. They were willing to give me fully comp with glass and roadside rescue for 587 Euro. they required from me a form from main dealer to say my conversion was OK and a certificate of roadworthiness from automotive engineer.

If you're still having trouble, there's a body called the "Declined Cases Committee" 01 6761914 who can force an insurer to quote you "reasonably".

Let us know how you get on!

Alan Ashe

pryantcc wrote: »

I have exactly the same problem and outlook as you. I want proper cover, not something the insurer is going to wriggle out of in the case of a claim by saying it was a "classic" policy and the car was being used as a commuter. I also have the modification issue with a newer engine. My detaills:
1971 Merc 280SE with 3.0 diesel and manual gearbox conversion.
30,000 miles per year commuting.
Car value ~10K

I haven't finished my build yet, but I did make progress with AXA 1890 247 365 about a year ago. They were willing to give me fully comp with glass and roadside rescue for 587 Euro. they required from me a form from main dealer to say my conversion was OK and a certificate of roadworthiness from automotive engineer.

If you're still having trouble, there's a body called the "Declined Cases Committee" 01 6761914 who can force an insurer to quote you "reasonably".

Let us know how you get on!

Thanks for the reply. It's a sad situation when companies wont insure a vehicle that is safe. I hope you don't have any problems with the main dealer, as I know a guy who could not get anything from Landrover to confirm the work he put in was safe. Very tricky subject matter. The engineer, in my case, was a Landrover engineer in the 80's, so he knew what he was looking at when he inspected mine.
I'll definitely keep the "Declined Cases Committee" number written down and use them if necessary.
And of course, I will keep everyone here posted about how I get on, so many look for help and then when they find it they stop posting.

unkel

Another option is to be a named driver on your partners policy, have your partner insure your RR on a classic policy and be a named driver on that one too. That was the construction First Ireland suggested to me, and they were fully aware the classic was my daily driver

NOTE THOUGH: classic policies (in your own name or as named driver) do not qualify for NCB and in fact if you will lose all your build up NCB if you do not have a normal insurance policy in your own name for over two years!!!

Testacalda

corktina wrote: »

do you not have a main car as well? There's nothing to stop you using the Range Rover daily on a Classic policy other then the mileage limits, and you can be a bit creative there as I've never heard of the mileage being checked.

I remember reading the small print in my classic car policy with Axa (which is comprehnsive with all bells and whistles), it specifically states that I am not covered for driving to or from my place of work.

So a daily commute may or may not be covered in other clasic policys, worth checking out.

Alan Ashe

500man wrote: »

Try barretts 01 2845401 they will do it for you

Thanks for that 500man. I called Barretts. Very friendly and helpful. One of there guys is calling out to the house Tuesday to chat with me about it. Seems a bit odd, him calling out, but if it gives me a good quote I won't complain!!

Alan Ashe

Testacalda wrote: »

I remember reading the small print in my classic car policy with Axa (which is comprehnsive with all bells and whistles), it specifically states that I am not covered for driving to or from my place of work.

So a daily commute may or may not be covered in other clasic policys, worth checking out.

Yeah, it's the small print that will catch ya!! I want to be right from the get go. Peace of mind when out on the road.

pryantcc

Alan Ashe wrote: »

Thanks for that 500man. I called Barretts. Very friendly and helpful. One of there guys is calling out to the house Tuesday to chat with me about it. Seems a bit odd, him calling out, but if it gives me a good quote I won't complain!!

It may be worth mentioning that you're not the only one looking for this kind of cover!

Alan Ashe

pryantcc wrote: »

It may be worth mentioning that you're not the only one looking for this kind of cover!

Thank you for your input..

Alan Ashe

So just a quick update on the latest for anybody who might be interested. I've had offers to quote from some insurance companies but sometimes they stipulate that the road tax must be paid in full and not the vintage rates. Anyone else ever heard of this? It was only one or two companies, but I had just assumed that vintage rates automatically applied to private vehicles after 30 years from the date of first registration.

Alan Ashe

pryantcc wrote: »

It may be worth mentioning that you're not the only one looking for this kind of cover!

I totally agree with you on your point. I've spoken to people in the vintage scene who would love to have "normal" insurance on their vintage/classic vehicle, so as to be covered in the event of an accident. Maybe the market is too small though, for insurance companies to really consider it, unfortunately.

macplaxton

Alan Ashe wrote: »

but sometimes they stipulate that the road tax must be paid in full and not the vintage rates.

Bobbins. Never heard of that.

Alan Ashe

Yep, I was just as surprised. €1809 or €56, anybody would choose the latter.

pryantcc

Alan Ashe wrote: »

So just a quick update on the latest for anybody who might be interested. I've had offers to quote from some insurance companies but sometimes they stipulate that the road tax must be paid in full and not the vintage rates. Anyone else ever heard of this? It was only one or two companies, but I had just assumed that vintage rates automatically applied to private vehicles after 30 years from the date of first registration.

I can't see how the two are related. The criteria for vintage tax is cut and dry. There's nothing in there at all about mileage covered, etc.
I can't imagine the hardship you might have convincing someone in the DOE that you want to change the tax class to one that costs 20 times more!