Date:         Tue, 30 Mar 2004 12:59:17 -0600
Reply-To:     Paul & Becky Oliver <oliver8@TDS.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Paul & Becky Oliver <oliver8@TDS.NET>
Subject:      Re: collison insurance on 83 westy?
Comments: To: Oxroad@AOL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Sounds to me like you need a new insurance agent and or company. Older
vehicles can be covered but it probably may cost more than $186 a year.

I'll try to get a hold of an old friend who was "in the game" for a number
of years, (owned his own insurance company) he's always told me the straight
facts.

I believe he once told another friend of ours (who has a lot of antique
cars) that he could by insurance coverage at a set pay out price. In other
words, if you value the car (van) at $15,000.00, then you want coverage for
that amount and will pay the premium. If you get smacked they will pay up to
15 to cover repairs or replacement. Kind of like "life insurance"  for your
car.

But instead of the value dropping on antiques, it goes up and so, I would
think, would your premium. And most people don't drive antiques on a daily
basis, just "touring" and to meets/shows. The annual miles driven would be a
major factor.

I'll get back to my ex-insurance friend and find out.

Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Oxroad" <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 12:53 AM
Subject: collison insurance on 83 westy?


> What's the list wisdom on collision insurance for, let's say a 1983.5
> Westfalia with 150K in very good condtion? My insurance company says they
don't
> recommend collision on cars older than 10 years. In fact the agent did all
he could
> to discourage me from adding it to my current policy.
>
> As far as what the vehicle would be worth to them the agent couldn't tell
me.
> But he did say they wouldn't pay out any additional money on the vehicle
to
> allow for "classic" value if the car is a classic. (I'm not sure what that
> meant either....read on)
>
> The agent said a good way to get an idea of what the car is worth is to
check
> the auto trader for similar vehicles and that would give me an idea of
what
> the pay out would be if the vehicle was totaled. The value I found today
of
> course would be affected by depreciation as the year goes on, the agent
added.
>
> The short of it is collision on the bus would cost an extra $186 a year on
my
> insurance. It kind of seems worth it to me to have the collision, but then
> again not if they're going to say "20 year old vehicle? Here's your $200,
that's
> what it's worth."
>
> In California does the Westfalia count as an RV and would that offer an
> insurance break? I'll bet It would need a toilet.
>
> (my buddy just did $3000 worth of damage to his 93 Chevy Caprice Classic
LTZ
> , white with red leather interior. His fault. no collision insurance. The
body
> shop gave him $500. for the car as is. Tough break. That's what got me
> thinking)
>
> Jeff
> 83.5 Westy
> LA,CA