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Date:         Tue, 3 Feb 2009 14:08:40 -0800
Reply-To:     "Gregory S. Morrison" <gsm@GREGORYSMORRISON.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Gregory S. Morrison" <gsm@GREGORYSMORRISON.COM>
Organization: Declude, Inc.
Subject:      IMPORTANT!  Stated Value Quote/Vanagon insurance
Comments: To: Michael Sullivan <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <eccfedcc0902031257y916f67ex6e7b30dfbdf551ee@mail.gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Did you know that your Westfalia or your Westfalia Syncro is more likely than not grossly underinsured?

Based on my research I discovered that traditional casualty insurers will only insure our Vanagons for "Book" value. That is defined as the value as determined by NADA or Kelley Blue Book. Here's the problem: the values those companies ascribe to our Vanagons is way, way low. This is most evident in the case of Westfalias and Syncro Westfalias.

I have a 1986.5 Syncro Westfalia Weekender that is in extremely nice condition with very low miles, complete history, all the upgrades, yadda, yadda that I am only insured for about $5,000. The mainstream insurance companies will not listen to me or consider my proof as to its actual value. (From what I gather their benchmark is ebay sales of stock Vanagons with over 250,000 miles. They simply won't listen to me when I tell them there are other models that they are not considering.) And, yes, I do think about that almost every time I take it out of the driveway, "How much money will I lose if it gets wrecked? A lot!"

The only other way that I have received stated value coverage is for specialty/collector cars via Haggerty and others that are (1) rarely driven, (2) never driven to work, (3) always parked indoors, and (4) that the owner have another fairly new car...to prove that you aren't always driving your collector car.

If we all contact the "Books" with our proof maybe they'll listen to us so that we don't get a post from some poor soul that not only lost his/her beloved Vanagon, but also lost the bulk of their investment as well.

And then when we get this figured out, we can then figure out why our liability insurance cost is more-or-less multiplied by the number of cars we own. In other words, if one person owns three cars that person will probably be paying almost three times as much for insurance even though he/she is not driving three times as much. Why isn't the liability portion (e.g., the expensive part) tied to the driver?

Good luck, Greg 86.5 Syncro Westy

On 2/3/09 12:57 PM, "Michael Sullivan" <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> Got this quote today and cannot beleive the rate. Limited to 2500.00 > annually, though, but I think that limit can be raised. This is for a > 91GL. thoughts? > Dear JOHN M. SULLIVAN: > > Thank you for contacting American Collectors, the nation's leading provider > of collector vehicle and collectibles insurance. Our collector vehicle > insurance program provides: > > Agreed Value* coverage - your vehicle's full insured value (less any > applicable deductible) is protected in the event of total loss, with no > value depreciation. > > > Low deductible - in most states a zero deductible is available. Unless > you've selected a higher deductible, you'll have no out-of-pocket expense in > the event of a claim. > > > Flexible miles - you're not limited to "parades only." Enjoy driving your > collector vehicle up to the mileage limit you select (multiple mileage tiers > are available in most states). > > > Towing & Labor for Collectors (TLC) Plan * - TLC offers you extra > peace-of-mind by providing reimbursement for emergency towing, roadside > assistance, lockout and more. Choose your desired level of TLC - click here > for more information, or ask a representative for details. > > > The American Collectors "Real Person" guarantee - you always have the option > of getting a real person on the phone during our business hours (M-F, 8:30 - > 6:00 ET). > > > Online policy management - if you like the convenience of managing your > policy online, visit us anytime at > www.AmericanCollectors.com<http://www.americancollectors.com/> > > Based on the information you provided to us, please see your premium > estimate below. This estimate is non-binding; no coverage is offered or > implied. > > To apply for coverage, please call and select option 3. Please have the > following items handy: > 1. Driver's license numbers for all household residents > 2. Dates of birth for all household residents > 3. Collector vehicle information (year, make, model & VIN) > 4. Your personal auto policy limits of coverage > 5. Visa or Mastercard > > Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve your insurance needs. > > Sincerely, > Online Sales and Service Department > American Collectors Insurance, Inc. > > > > * Not available in all states. Ask a representative about your state > availability. > This e-mail was automatically generated from a non-response mailbox; please > do not reply to this emai > > Collector Vehicle Premium Estimate > > Collector Vehicles > > TypeYearMakeModelRequested > ValueAnnual > Mileage > 1. Original 1991 Volkswagen VAN $5,000 2500 > > > > Coverages > > Vehicle1991 Volkswagen > Bodily Injury (25K/50K)$10.00 > Property Damage (25,000)$7.00 > UM/UIM Bodily Injury (25K/50K/25K)$12.00 > Basic PIP (2,500)$5.00 > Liability Total$34.00 > Comprehensive($500) $31.85 > Collision($500) $32.00 > Basic Towing ($40.00)$3.00 > Vehicle Total$100.85 > Annual Premium: $100.85 > Auto Theft Prevention Surcharge: $1.00 > Total Due: $101.85 > > Our policies are subject to a non-refundable, minimum earned premium of > $30.00. The premium estimate is based on the information you provided. We > reserve the right to amend the vehicle value and/or the rating category upon > review of the photos. > > -- > Michael in San Antonio > 91GL AT 'Gringo' >


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