Insuring older cars
 

I've been thinking dropping part of my insurance that covers my '94
Accord because I suspect that to State Farm it's worth less than to me.
So I called up my insurance agent to find out what they would pay if the
car was totalled. I suspect they figured out why I called and I just
could not get them to return my call. I wonder if there is any way I
could find this out from the Web. Any ideas?

Re: Insuring older cars
 

Cameo wrote:
> I've been thinking dropping part of my insurance that covers my '94
> Accord because I suspect that to State Farm it's worth less than to me.
> So I called up my insurance agent to find out what they would pay if the
> car was totalled. I suspect they figured out why I called and I just
> could not get them to return my call. I wonder if there is any way I
> could find this out from the Web. Any ideas?

Assuming you're talking about comprehensive or collision coverage for
loss or damage to your car, not property damage or personal injury your
car may cause-- they'll pay you as much below "book value" as they can
convince you to accept.

I'd bet "book" on a 16 year old car is isn't a whole lot more that the
cost of four good seats at an NFL game, a few beers for everyone and
later dinner at a table-cloth restaurant...

Re: Insuring older cars
 

Cameo wrote:
> I've been thinking dropping part of my insurance that covers my '94
> Accord because I suspect that to State Farm it's worth less than to me.
> So I called up my insurance agent to find out what they would pay if the
> car was totalled. I suspect they figured out why I called and I just
> could not get them to return my call. I wonder if there is any way I
> could find this out from the Web. Any ideas?

State Farm - enough said. :(
I don't know that buying comprehensive makes sense on with 2~3000$ car.
Between the deductible and the absurd book price they will pay you,
you're probably better off buying liability only and taking your
chances. At the least, demand they quote you a payoff value before you
give them another dime. If they won't cooperate, simply threaten to
move the house, etc., insurance to another company. I guarantee you'll
enjoy watching the wormy agent squirm!

Re: Insuring older cars
 

Patrick Cleburne <pat@csa.gov> wrote in
news:hen8o9$ff1$1@news.albasani.net:

> Cameo wrote:
>> I've been thinking dropping part of my insurance that covers my '94
>> Accord because I suspect that to State Farm it's worth less than to
>> me. So I called up my insurance agent to find out what they would pay
>> if the car was totalled. I suspect they figured out why I called and
>> I just could not get them to return my call. I wonder if there is any
>> way I could find this out from the Web. Any ideas?
>
> Assuming you're talking about comprehensive or collision coverage for
> loss or damage to your car, not property damage or personal injury
> your car may cause-- they'll pay you as much below "book value" as
> they can convince you to accept.
>
> I'd bet "book" on a 16 year old car is isn't a whole lot more that the
> cost of four good seats at an NFL game, a few beers for everyone and
> later dinner at a table-cloth restaurant...
>

when my 1994 Integra GS-R was stolen in 2007,my ins.company paid only
$3995.
It had only 70K miles on it,it needed paint and a little bodywork.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com

Re: Insuring older cars
 

Greg wrote:
> Cameo wrote:
>> I've been thinking dropping part of my insurance that covers my '94
>> Accord because I suspect that to State Farm it's worth less than to
>> me. So I called up my insurance agent to find out what they would pay
>> if the car was totalled. I suspect they figured out why I called and I
>> just could not get them to return my call. I wonder if there is any
>> way I could find this out from the Web. Any ideas?
>
> State Farm - enough said. :(
> I don't know that buying comprehensive makes sense on with 2~3000$ car.
> Between the deductible and the absurd book price they will pay you,
> you're probably better off buying liability only and taking your
> chances. At the least, demand they quote you a payoff value before you
> give them another dime. If they won't cooperate, simply threaten to
> move the house, etc., insurance to another company. I guarantee you'll
> enjoy watching the wormy agent squirm!



I've had State Farm for years and have never had a problem. I also carry
comprehensive on both of my ancient early 1980(s) Civics at a cost of
about $10 each for six months. Both cars range from $1,200 to $3,000
book value. I consider this a good investment.

JT

Re: Insuring older cars
 

Grumpy AuContraire wrote:
> Greg wrote:
>> Cameo wrote:
>>> I've been thinking dropping part of my insurance that covers my '94
>>> Accord because I suspect that to State Farm it's worth less than to
>>> me. So I called up my insurance agent to find out what they would pay
>>> if the car was totalled. I suspect they figured out why I called and
>>> I just could not get them to return my call. I wonder if there is any
>>> way I could find this out from the Web. Any ideas?
>>
>> State Farm - enough said. :(
>> I don't know that buying comprehensive makes sense on with 2~3000$
>> car. Between the deductible and the absurd book price they will pay
>> you, you're probably better off buying liability only and taking your
>> chances. At the least, demand they quote you a payoff value before
>> you give them another dime. If they won't cooperate, simply threaten
>> to move the house, etc., insurance to another company. I guarantee
>> you'll enjoy watching the wormy agent squirm!
>
>
>
> I've had State Farm for years and have never had a problem. I also carry
> comprehensive on both of my ancient early 1980(s) Civics at a cost of
> about $10 each for six months. Both cars range from $1,200 to $3,000
> book value. I consider this a good investment.
>
> JT
>


I think not. You're flushing $40 down the tubes. Would you really put in
a $250 glass or bumper claim on a car that old? They'd bump your total
premium twice what they paid you the next renewal...

Re: Insuring older cars
 

Patrick Cleburne wrote:
> Grumpy AuContraire wrote:
>> Greg wrote:
>>> Cameo wrote:
>>>> I've been thinking dropping part of my insurance that covers my '94
>>>> Accord because I suspect that to State Farm it's worth less than to
>>>> me. So I called up my insurance agent to find out what they would
>>>> pay if the car was totalled. I suspect they figured out why I called
>>>> and I just could not get them to return my call. I wonder if there
>>>> is any way I could find this out from the Web. Any ideas?
>>>
>>> State Farm - enough said. :(
>>> I don't know that buying comprehensive makes sense on with 2~3000$
>>> car. Between the deductible and the absurd book price they will pay
>>> you, you're probably better off buying liability only and taking your
>>> chances. At the least, demand they quote you a payoff value before
>>> you give them another dime. If they won't cooperate, simply threaten
>>> to move the house, etc., insurance to another company. I guarantee
>>> you'll enjoy watching the wormy agent squirm!
>>
>>
>>
>> I've had State Farm for years and have never had a problem. I also
>> carry comprehensive on both of my ancient early 1980(s) Civics at a
>> cost of about $10 each for six months. Both cars range from $1,200 to
>> $3,000 book value. I consider this a good investment.
>>
>> JT
>>
>
>
> I think not. You're flushing $40 down the tubes. Would you really put in
> a $250 glass or bumper claim on a car that old? They'd bump your total
> premium twice what they paid you the next renewal...

And what's the deductible? $1000 deductible on a $1200 car isn't worth
much. You'd probably be better off putting the $40/mo into a bank
account and drawing interest on it.

Re: Insuring older cars
 

"Greg" <nospam@null.net> wrote in message
news:iGGPm.54463$W77.52226@newsfe11.iad...
> State Farm - enough said. :(

Oh? I can't complain about how they handled my past few issues.

> I don't know that buying comprehensive makes sense on with 2~3000$
> car. Between the deductible and the absurd book price they will pay
> you, you're probably better off buying liability only and taking your
> chances. At the least, demand they quote you a payoff value before
> you give them another dime. If they won't cooperate, simply threaten
> to move the house, etc., insurance to another company. I guarantee
> you'll enjoy watching the wormy agent squirm!

Convinced. I just called them and cancelled both collision and
comprehensive coverages, thus saving over $70 per 6 months in premium.
According to Kelly's Blue Book, I could be lucky to fetch $3,000 for it.
It's worth more than that to me.

Re: Insuring older cars
 

Cameo wrote:

> "Greg" <nospam@null.net> wrote in message
> news:iGGPm.54463$W77.52226@newsfe11.iad...
>> State Farm - enough said. :(
>
> Oh? I can't complain about how they handled my past few issues.
>

Insurance is very personal, it seems. I've had Geico for many years
now, and have always heard horror stories about how they'd handle
claims. I had my first accident with them early this year, and tried to
handle it strictly through the OP's insurance (Allstate), which drove me
absolutely mad. When I called Geico to let them handle it, they took
care of everything within a couple of days, and fought with Allstate on
my behalf, never involving me for more than a few questions.

In the end, if this is what I can expect from them, I may never leave
Geico, no matter what they charge me.

--
Joe - Linux User #449481/Ubuntu User #19733
joe at hits - buffalo dot com
"Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
time..." - Danny, American History X

Re: Insuring older cars
 

Thus spake "M.M." <nobody@nowhere.com> :

>Patrick Cleburne wrote:
>> Grumpy AuContraire wrote:
>>> Greg wrote:
>>>> Cameo wrote:
>>>>> I've been thinking dropping part of my insurance that covers my '94
>>>>> Accord because I suspect that to State Farm it's worth less than to
>>>>> me. So I called up my insurance agent to find out what they would
>>>>> pay if the car was totalled. I suspect they figured out why I called
>>>>> and I just could not get them to return my call. I wonder if there
>>>>> is any way I could find this out from the Web. Any ideas?
>>>>
>>>> State Farm - enough said. :(
>>>> I don't know that buying comprehensive makes sense on with 2~3000$
>>>> car. Between the deductible and the absurd book price they will pay
>>>> you, you're probably better off buying liability only and taking your
>>>> chances. At the least, demand they quote you a payoff value before
>>>> you give them another dime. If they won't cooperate, simply threaten
>>>> to move the house, etc., insurance to another company. I guarantee
>>>> you'll enjoy watching the wormy agent squirm!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I've had State Farm for years and have never had a problem. I also
>>> carry comprehensive on both of my ancient early 1980(s) Civics at a
>>> cost of about $10 each for six months. Both cars range from $1,200 to
>>> $3,000 book value. I consider this a good investment.
>>>
>>> JT
>>>
>>
>>
>> I think not. You're flushing $40 down the tubes. Would you really put in
>> a $250 glass or bumper claim on a car that old? They'd bump your total
>> premium twice what they paid you the next renewal...
>
>And what's the deductible? $1000 deductible on a $1200 car isn't worth
>much. You'd probably be better off putting the $40/mo into a bank
>account and drawing interest on it.

At .05% he's still making money.

We dropped comp on our 96's in about 2001.

Look at the dealer price in "the book". Which ever "book" is less.
Then drop 5-8%. We currently carry comp on our 07 and 08, with $1000
deductible.
--

- dillon I am not invalid

"Get a shot off fast. This upsets him long enough to
let you make your second shot perfect."

-- Lazurus Long

Re: Insuring older cars
 

Patrick Cleburne wrote:
> Grumpy AuContraire wrote:
>> Greg wrote:
>>> Cameo wrote:
>>>> I've been thinking dropping part of my insurance that covers my '94
>>>> Accord because I suspect that to State Farm it's worth less than to
>>>> me. So I called up my insurance agent to find out what they would
>>>> pay if the car was totalled. I suspect they figured out why I called
>>>> and I just could not get them to return my call. I wonder if there
>>>> is any way I could find this out from the Web. Any ideas?
>>>
>>> State Farm - enough said. :(
>>> I don't know that buying comprehensive makes sense on with 2~3000$
>>> car. Between the deductible and the absurd book price they will pay
>>> you, you're probably better off buying liability only and taking your
>>> chances. At the least, demand they quote you a payoff value before
>>> you give them another dime. If they won't cooperate, simply threaten
>>> to move the house, etc., insurance to another company. I guarantee
>>> you'll enjoy watching the wormy agent squirm!
>>
>>
>>
>> I've had State Farm for years and have never had a problem. I also
>> carry comprehensive on both of my ancient early 1980(s) Civics at a
>> cost of about $10 each for six months. Both cars range from $1,200 to
>> $3,000 book value. I consider this a good investment.
>>
>> JT
>>
>
>
> I think not. You're flushing $40 down the tubes. Would you really put in
> a $250 glass or bumper claim on a car that old? They'd bump your total
> premium twice what they paid you the next renewal...



You betcha... I don't give a damned about style, fancy technology and
the like. I do place a high value on reliability and servicability of
which the latter is not a factor in modern tin of any kind.

JT

Re: Insuring older cars
 

M.M. wrote:
> Patrick Cleburne wrote:
>> Grumpy AuContraire wrote:
>>> Greg wrote:
>>>> Cameo wrote:
>>>>> I've been thinking dropping part of my insurance that covers my '94
>>>>> Accord because I suspect that to State Farm it's worth less than to
>>>>> me. So I called up my insurance agent to find out what they would
>>>>> pay if the car was totalled. I suspect they figured out why I
>>>>> called and I just could not get them to return my call. I wonder if
>>>>> there is any way I could find this out from the Web. Any ideas?
>>>>
>>>> State Farm - enough said. :(
>>>> I don't know that buying comprehensive makes sense on with 2~3000$
>>>> car. Between the deductible and the absurd book price they will pay
>>>> you, you're probably better off buying liability only and taking
>>>> your chances. At the least, demand they quote you a payoff value
>>>> before you give them another dime. If they won't cooperate, simply
>>>> threaten to move the house, etc., insurance to another company. I
>>>> guarantee you'll enjoy watching the wormy agent squirm!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I've had State Farm for years and have never had a problem. I also
>>> carry comprehensive on both of my ancient early 1980(s) Civics at a
>>> cost of about $10 each for six months. Both cars range from $1,200
>>> to $3,000 book value. I consider this a good investment.
>>>
>>> JT
>>>
>>
>>
>> I think not. You're flushing $40 down the tubes. Would you really put
>> in a $250 glass or bumper claim on a car that old? They'd bump your
>> total premium twice what they paid you the next renewal...
>
> And what's the deductible? $1000 deductible on a $1200 car isn't worth
> much. You'd probably be better off putting the $40/mo into a bank
> account and drawing interest on it.


Uh, the deductible is $250...

JT

Re: Insuring older cars
 

Thus spake Joe <joe@spam.hits-spam-buffalo.com> :

>Cameo wrote:
>
>> "Greg" <nospam@null.net> wrote in message
>> news:iGGPm.54463$W77.52226@newsfe11.iad...
>>> State Farm - enough said. :(
>>
>> Oh? I can't complain about how they handled my past few issues.
>>
>
>Insurance is very personal, it seems. I've had Geico for many years
>now, and have always heard horror stories about how they'd handle
>claims. I had my first accident with them early this year, and tried to
>handle it strictly through the OP's insurance (Allstate), which drove me
>absolutely mad. When I called Geico to let them handle it, they took
>care of everything within a couple of days, and fought with Allstate on
>my behalf, never involving me for more than a few questions.
>
>In the end, if this is what I can expect from them, I may never leave
>Geico, no matter what they charge me.

Geico did a dynamite job when I had an accident involving a thrown
retred and a Jersey barrier. Plano cops listed it as "no fault" and I
submitted that as part of my claim. They jacked my rates by 20%. And
then threatened to drop me because I had a radar detector. So I said
AMF and went to State Farm. And now Progressive. We (my wife) have
had two accident claims and hail damage and our rates only went up an
amount I could attribute to inflation.
--

- dillon I am not invalid

Money can't buy happiness.
But you can rent it.