Finally settled my insurance claim with Hagerty.

[2000GTS]

As some of you will remember from past posts, I was involved in a rear end collision with an uninsured motorist. The other driver hadn't paid her premium so her policy had been canceled a few weeks prior to the wreck. Not that it would have mad a difference she had only purchased the state minimum of $10k property damage. I believe this is way too low, most cars cost much more then $10k these days.

My policy was a stated value policy for an amount of $65k. Hagerty told me to send the car to a shop of my choice and have them write up an estimate for the repair and they would pay it. Looking back, this is what I should have done. Instead, I told them I wanted the car totaled, so they said they would send an adjuster out to look at it.

The adjuster said he needed the car at a shop to look at it, so i left it with Doug Levin, extremely glad I left it with him. The original estimate was for $30k. At this point I knew i wasn't going to fix the car, so there couldn't be any supplements made later. I had to get the first estimate right. Doug got this raised to $48k! This require him to spend alot of time on the car, including cutting away alot of panels to expose damaged pieces.

I accepted the $48k, then sold the car for $20k. End result, I got $68k for a 2002 GTS with 25k miles on it. As many of you know this is a great amount.



If any of guys are in simular situation I highly recomend sending you car to Doug Levin are some one who knows Vipers. It helps alot.

Bill

 

[Bugeater]

With Hagerty, can you drive the car at all?
I thought it was a policy for cars that were driven to-from car shows etc...

What were your policy limits, if I may ask...?

 

[2000GTS]

With Hagerty, can you drive the car at all?
I thought it was a policy for cars that were driven to-from car shows etc...

What were your policy limits, if I may ask...?

There are no mileage limitations with Hagerty. They just need to know that it is not a daily driver. When You buy the policy, you have to have another car insured with another company.

The policy has the same kind of limits as my other policy. $500 deductible, 1 million liability, and a stated value of $65k on the car.

I was also alittle nervous about using them when I first bought their policy 3 years ago. I've had 3 cars insured with them and saved about $5000 in premiums. And now that I've gone thru a claim with them and seen how easy they are to deal with i would highly recommend them.

Bill

 

[chickenwarrior]

Did you have to give them the title so they they could brand it first? Usually that is the case. Did Doug buy it? I can tell you $20K is a steal for that car. Certainly if it was a clean title. I wish I had been in on it...

 

[2000GTS]

They did not brand the title. I did sell it to Doug. I know $20k was a good deal on the car, I wouldn't say it was a steal as it had some frame damage and the rear tube was was damaged, but with all the help Doug gave on the car (without charging me a dime)I thought it only fair to sell him the car at that price.

Bill

 

[Dv8tor]

They did not brand the title. I did sell it to Doug. I know $20k was a good deal on the car, I wouldn't say it was a steal as it had some frame damage and the rear tube was was damaged, but with all the help Doug gave on the car (without charging me a dime)I thought it only fair to sell him the car at that price.

Bill

I agree with ya selling the car to Doug. He helped you and you helped him. Everyone's happy So what car are you going to get now, or did you already get one?

 

[ViperRay]

You did well.

Did Hagerty ask you from where and to where you were driving the car?

I have read their policy and thought it too restrictive (cannot take it on errands or to work for examples and these things make up most of my driving time in an average week).

 

[94RT10Ohio]

You did well.

Did Hagerty ask you from where and to where you were driving the car?

I have read their policy and thought it too restrictive (cannot take it on errands or to work for examples and these things make up most of my driving time in an average week).

These policies are rather easy to get around. You were out testing a new modification, heading to Jiffy Lube or to fill it up at the gas station... Honest

 

[2000GTS]

Dv8tor: I already bought a 2000 steel gray GTS.

Viper Ray: No hassles at all when I placed the claim. They did ask where I was going, I old them I was on my way to meet a friend for lunch (this was on a Tuesday afternoon). They never asked any other questions about it.

Bill

 

[Jeff Torrey]

...and you say that Hagerty's rates are good?

I pay about $800 for the Viper, $600 for my Lotus.

 

[BLWNASP]

Hey just wanted to say I really appreciate your follow up. this is very helpfull for us in the future.

 

[Danny Ocean]

The other driver hadn't paid her premium so her policy had been canceled a few weeks prior to the wreck. Not that it would have mad a difference she had only purchased the state minimum of $10k property damage. I believe this is way too low, most cars cost much more then $10k these days.

[soapbox] Isn't FLA grand? Did she even get a citation for driving without valid insurance? Maybe/maybe not. If she did, then she get's it re-instated (temporarily, of course), shows proof to the court and case dismissed.

They estimate up to 50% OF MIAMI DRIVER'S ARE NOT INSURED! Everytime I see someone driving a hoop-de that we all know isn't insured, my **** burns knowing that I'm paying $$$ because they aren't.

I hope our insurance commissioner and/or governor gets off his/their fat ****'s and enacts tougher laws. In Calif., no insurance = impounded vehicle and 6 mo. license suspension. FLA needs to crack the whip on these losers. No insurance = no vehicle. Impound it and sell it at auction. [/soapbox]

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA

 

[2000GTS]

I agree with you Danny, however, not only should they be tougher, but they should also raise the minimum limit. Instead of $10k property damage it should be at least 50k.

BTW, she did not get a citation because she had a valid insurance card at the time of the accident. She was canceled because she didn't pay her premium. Wouldn't have mattered even if she did, she didn't have enough coverage to cover the claim anyway.

Bill

 

[chickenwarrior]

They did not brand the title. I did sell it to Doug. I know $20k was a good deal on the car, I wouldn't say it was a steal as it had some frame damage and the rear tube was was damaged, but with all the help Doug gave on the car (without charging me a dime)I thought it only fair to sell him the car at that price.

Bill

I agree. That is what I figured and why I asked. Can't argue with that. Does Doug want to sell it or is he parting it out?

 

[Danny Ocean]

BTW, she did not get a citation because she had a valid insurance card at the time of the accident. She was canceled because she didn't pay her premium.

Not to beat a dead horse, but her insurance was not valid at the time of the accident if she had been cancelled prior, regardless of what the card reads. This is the scam these loser's (undoubtedly from a small island nation off our coast...starts with "H") perpetuate. Purchase insurance...get insurance card...cancel insurance...drive with "valid" card to avoid citations. Let's start impounding their rusted, oil-burning Camry's and see if that changes their tune.

You are too kind. I would have pursued the matter with the police or State A/G's office to have her cited. Someone's gotta teach 'em a lesson.

Remember, everytime you write that check for your auto insurance premium, ONE-HALF goes toward costs related to non-insured scumbags.

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA

 

[2000GTS]

Danny, I never said the insurance was valid, just that she didn't get a ticket because the cop found a current insurance car (she was unconscious and had to be rushed to the hospital in critical condition).

As for pursuing it, i don't think it would accomplish anything, other then wasting my time. A friend of mine had a similar experience. The woman that hit him had expired insurance also. She got a ticket for the accident but not for the insurance as she had a card. he actually had the opportunity to tell the judge about it in court, the judge did nothing.

In my experience, here in Miami, cops won't lift a finger unless it's a serious crime. I know for a fact that the county won't prosecute insurance fraud if its a small amount and an individual, and that's a criminal offense!

The two people in the other car were servely injured and they lost their car. So they were punished in a way.



Bill

 

[DodgeViper01]

I just called Hagerty to get a quote since it sounded interesting and they told me I can only drive the car 2,000 - 3,000 miles a year. That really stinks! Guess I am staying with Allstate.

 

[PDCjonny]

I just called Hagerty to get a quote since it sounded interesting and they told me I can only drive the car 2,000 - 3,000 miles a year. That really stinks! Guess I am staying with Allstate.

There are no mileage limitations with Hagerty. They just need to know that it is not a daily driver. When You buy the policy, you have to have another car insured with another company.

So which is it??

 

[2000GTS]

I just called Hagerty to get a quote since it sounded interesting and they told me I can only drive the car 2,000 - 3,000 miles a year. That really stinks! Guess I am staying with Allstate.

There are no mileage limitations with Hagerty. They just need to know that it is not a daily driver. When You buy the policy, you have to have another car insured with another company.

So which is it??

There are no mileage restrictions. However, they do question you about the use of the vehicle. They always ask how many miles you put on the car. They do this to get an idea about how the car is being used, not to qualify you for the policy. When I added the 2000 GTS a few weeks ago they asked me the same question again, I told them 6000 miles. A few days later an underwriter called, she wanted to know why so many. After I explained, she was fine with it and approved the car.

I've also read the policy, (BTW, I'm in the insurance business)nowhere does it say anything about mileage. Remember, ANY insurance co. that offers low rates is going to ask alot of questions to try and **** out the bad risks, this how they keep the premiums down.

Bill

 

[Socrates]

The other driver hadn't paid her premium so her policy had been canceled a few weeks prior to the wreck. Not that it would have mad a difference she had only purchased the state minimum of $10k property damage. I believe this is way too low, most cars cost much more then $10k these days.

[soapbox] Isn't FLA grand? Did she even get a citation for driving without valid insurance? Maybe/maybe not. If she did, then she get's it re-instated (temporarily, of course), shows proof to the court and case dismissed.

They estimate up to 50% OF MIAMI DRIVER'S ARE NOT INSURED! Everytime I see someone driving a hoop-de that we all know isn't insured, my **** burns knowing that I'm paying $$$ because they aren't.

I hope our insurance commissioner and/or governor gets off his/their fat ****'s and enacts tougher laws. In Calif., no insurance = impounded vehicle and 6 mo. license suspension. FLA needs to crack the whip on these losers. No insurance = no vehicle. Impound it and sell it at auction. [/soapbox]

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA

I couldn't agree more!

 

[Socrates]

I researched a lot of past posts in regard to the specialty car insurance companies before I insured my GTS. I've used Hagerty before on my classic cars, but they finally booted me out a few years ago because of one speeding ticket (the only one I've ever had). They are very restrictive about your driving record, and the general consensus from past posts I read was that they are way too restrictive overall, and there were doubts as to whether they would pay claims in various situtions. I pay more with State Farm, but I do have the peace of mind to know that they will take care of everything in the event that something happens.

 

[V10TT]

Bill what did you tell them to allow you to drive the 6k miles/year?

 

[DodgeViper01]

I researched a lot of past posts in regard to the specialty car insurance companies before I insured my GTS. I've used Hagerty before on my classic cars, but they finally booted me out a few years ago because of one speeding ticket (the only one I've ever had). They are very restrictive about your driving record, and the general consensus from past posts I read was that they are way too restrictive overall, and there were doubts as to whether they would pay claims in various situtions. I pay more with State Farm, but I do have the peace of mind to know that they will take care of everything in the event that something happens.

Yeah I had state farm and got booted to Allstate. Can not complain but I was just looking for something with a declared value just in case.

 

[CTViper]

I just canceled progressive on my 2001 Qvale Mangusta $1680 a year. Switched to Hagerty. $841 a year. They ask you how many miles do you drive it? To and from shows? What car clubs are you a member of? Have to supply them with a photo of the car. It's really a classic car insurance company, and it can't be your daily driver. I plan on garaging the Qvale and only drive it 1000 miles Max a year. Good for me but wouldn't do the Vipers. I don't pay much more for the Vipers With progressive and no restrictions. I also cancel the insurance in winter for 5 months which saves me a lot living here in CT. The reason Qvale is more expensive is if you even have very little damage they will total it. Parts come from Modena Italy and who knows what they cost and how many there are?

 

[cobramadness]

How were you able to keep the car(in order to sell it for $20k) if Hagerty "purchased" it from you for $48k?

 

[2000GTS]

How were you able to keep the car(in order to sell it for $20k) if Hagerty "purchased" it from you for $48k?

I never said they purchased the car for $48k. The claim was paid to fix the damage. Instead of fixing it, I sold it and kept the money.

Bill

 

[THOR]

Thank you Bill for making this post and following up with replies to all of the questions. I have been considering calling Hagerty as well for another car I own, and rarely drive. Great info! :thumb:

 

[THOR]

Thank you Bill for making this post and following up with replies to all of the questions. I have been considering calling Hagerty as well for another car I own, and rarely drive. Great info!

 

[cobramadness]

How were you able to keep the car(in order to sell it for $20k) if Hagerty "purchased" it from you for $48k?

I never said they purchased the car for $48k. The claim was paid to fix the damage. Instead of fixing it, I sold it and kept the money.

Bill

Oh I misread, I thought I read it saying that you had the car totalled(which to my understanding the insurance company purchases it from you). But apparently you were getting it fixed.

Now I have another question for you. Back when I was insured with Allstate and had an accident I took my car to an Allstate adjuster(with an estimate from local body shop) and they cut me a check in the exact amount of the estimate. Basically they just review the estimate to make sure it is legit and cut me the check. But when they did this for me they put both my name and the body shops name on the check. How did you get them to write a check to just you? Or is this just an Allstate thing?

 

[Robert Dyck]

I'm missing something.........when they gave you the $48K, didn't they then own the car?

How is it that you were able to get paid for the car, and then keep it to sell?