Date:         Tue, 30 Mar 2004 01:53:21 EST
Reply-To:     Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject:      collison insurance on 83 westy?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

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