Insurers not covering certain makes/models

Agricola

I know certain imports / modified / big engined stuff would not be covered by a lot of companies but just wondering what would the reason behind not covering a 1L 25 year old Toyota Starlet! Spotted a low miler on DD which looks in decent nick and it's a year older than the Mini I have covered with First Ireland but they wouldn't look at it....
Is it the modified / boy racer scene with these cars that puts them off?

savagethegoat

they are very reluctant to cover anything over 15 yrs . This is a quite recent development. You wold get a classic policy on it though.

Is it a Jap import by any chance?

Agricola

No, thats the thing. I already have a classic policy with First Ireland and was asking them about adding this Starlet to it. I assumed it would be no bother as the car meets all the criteria. I've already had 2 classics insured with them on the same policy before as well.

It's not an import either no, it has a brown logbook. I'm assuming they just don't cover any of these small Jap hatchbacks and they tar everyone with the Glanza brush but I don't know and they wouldnt say on the phone.

*Update*
Just spoke to FI again to see if I could get an answer and apparently it's simply down to the underwriter (AIG) having a defined list of what it deems classics and many older cars aren't on it. The broker's hands are obviously tied. He told me they don't even cover MR2's which I thought was incredible!
This will be a hard car for him to sell if it neither qualifies for standard or classic insurance!

ianobrien

Maybe try other insurance companies. If another company would classify that Starlet as a classic, I'd give considerable thought to moving your business to that insurer even if I didn't buy the Starlet

Kenny Logins

ianobrien wrote: »

Maybe try other insurance companies. If another company would classify that Starlet as a classic, I'd give considerable thought to moving your business to that insurer even if I didn't buy the Starlet

Ha! Why, discrimination or something? :pac:

I've been insured with F.I. for a while and I'm very happy with the service. If that was made possible in part by excluding Japanese cars, fine.

kadman

Kenny Logins wrote: »

Ha! Why, discrimination or something? :pac:

I've been insured with F.I. for a while and I'm very happy with the service. If that was made possible in part by excluding Japanese cars, fine.

First they came for the jap cars..........and i said nothing, for I drive a german beetle.:p

nophd08

Did you try Autoline? If not ask for a lady called Lesley. I know that they classic insure jap imports.

hi5

It would make you think twice about even buying a new Japanese car if its going to be worthless in 10 years time?
Do classic insurance companies have statistics to show a higher claims level for certain brands/models, I always thought classic car claims were almost non existent, would love to see the figures?

Collector car enthusiasts need to band together and show a hand of force against these institutions who think they can ride rough shot over anyone they like.

fancy pigeon

My 300ZX tt is insured with FBD. I had no problems insuring it, yet it is a 1989 car. It's a Jap import.

I did also got a quote for my 1995 Mercedes 220 diesel last year again with FBD.

I would say ask around first

Diabhalta

I don't know, maybe just because the car is old it doesn't automatically mean it's a classic? Like Nissan Micra for example, K10 maybe but K11 Micras can be 22 years old today and somehow I don't see why it should be insured as a classic. It's a Micra. A shopping trolley on wheels. And a hatchback, that's quite a new (and boring in my opinion) design. 1998 Ford Focus will be 20 years old in 2 years... A classic? Oh please no! Scrap them all!

Kenny Logins

Twin cam. Civic. Starlet. MX5.

Enough to make any underwriter nervous.

Diabhalta

I have seen some older fella few times driving a white Starlet (stock I have to add) here in Cork. But if I would be in charge of an insurance company there is no way I would insure a car to anybody who is wearing a tracksuit. Get a pair of jeans and we can talk about your (stock) Starlet

On the other hand it's only FWD so you can't go sideways in it. That's a factor to consider as well.

Agricola

Kenny Logins wrote: »

Ha! Why, discrimination or something? :pac:

I've been insured with F.I. for a while and I'm very happy with the service. If that was made possible in part by excluding Japanese cars, fine.

I've been with FI for three years and they have always been helpful in anything I've asked of them. Even come renewal time they don't mind a good haggle and I've gotten great premiums from them. Unlike other companies.. cough.. Axa... cough, who wouldnt budge an inch. (Which is why I went to FI)

Starlet aside, not deeming a Toyota MR2 as a classic is ridiculous though.

nophd08 wrote: »

Did you try Autoline? If not ask for a lady called Lesley. I know that they classic insure jap imports.

I did try autoline for a quote for my Mini and it was down about 40 quid on FI. Have a few weeks to think on that. I might see what they say about the Starlet.

Diabhalta wrote: »

I don't know, maybe just because the car is old it doesn't automatically mean it's a classic? Like Nissan Micra for example, K10 maybe but K11 Micras can be 22 years old today and somehow I don't see why it should be insured as a classic. It's a Micra. A shopping trolley on wheels. And a hatchback, that's quite a new (and boring in my opinion) design. 1998 Ford Focus will be 20 years old in 2 years... A classic? Oh please no! Scrap them all!

Ok, I see your point but that's a classic car enthusiast talking. I doubt insurers give a shít about the pedigree of one car over another. All they care about is if the car and the insured person meets all the criteria and how big of a risk is this car to be on their books. Obviously they are just discounting entire makes/models simply because some of them have a reputation.

Personally, I think if a car is over 20 years old, is road worthy, the insured person has a daily driver policy elsewhere and they agree to limited mileage etc etc, then any standard, original Irish, non modified car should qualify.
I remember seeing a lovely 1980 Corolla DX at Terenure a couple of years ago, took me back to my childhood as my Dad had one when I was a kid. I don't see why that man's pride and joy is any lesser than the millioneth MG Midget or Spitfire.

Diabhalta

Could it be because the car is a hatchback? There is nothing classic about hatchbacks in my opinion.

Kenny Logins

Diabhalta wrote: »

Could it be because the car is a hatchback? There is nothing classic about hatchbacks in my opinion.

Can't even think of one?

Agricola

Behold....

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/AMC_pacer_082009_D42119.jpg

Diabhalta

They must have a reason why they don't want to insure it. And they won't tell you that reason.

Silvera

Agricola wrote: »

Behold....

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/AMC_pacer_082009_D42119.jpg

^^^ I'd nearly agree with Diabhalta in that case ^^^

Classic hatchbacks...

Opel Manta Hatch (I'm an Opel fan;))
Ford Capri Hatch
Lancia Delta Integrale
Golf GTi
etc etc etc

alastair

Diabhalta wrote: »

Could it be because the car is a hatchback? There is nothing classic about hatchbacks in my opinion.

Pretty much all the original 'hot hatches'.
Porsche 924
Porsche 928
Volvo 1800ES
Scimitar GTE
Jensen Interceptor
BMW 2002 Touring
Innocenti Mini
Fiat 127 (hatch version natch)
Mazda RX7
XR4i
Austin A40 Farina
etc, etc.

There's loads of them tbh.

Diabhalta

Liftback and shooting brake isn't the same as hatchback.

Agricola

fancy pigeon wrote: »

My 300ZX tt is insured with FBD. I had no problems insuring it, yet it is a 1989 car. It's a Jap import.

I did also got a quote for my 1995 Mercedes 220 diesel last year again with FBD.

I would say ask around first

Just tried FBD. She initially didnt want to know when i said Starlet and mentioned "no high performance veHICles"
Once I told her it was 1L, unmodified, original Irish, RHD etc, then she said it would be fine. Great I thought, I'll just add my 24 year old Mini now and I'm away.....
Nope, FBD only cover 25 year old plus cars under classic!

Insurance really is a massive ballache.

alastair

Diabhalta wrote: »

Liftback and shooting brake isn't the same as hatchback.

Why not? They're all hatchbacks.

mgbgt1978

Kenny Logins wrote: »

Twin cam. Civic. Starlet. MX5.

Enough to make any underwriter nervous.

I have an MX5 (93) as a second car on a classic policy with Autoline (1st Car is a '76 Mini). The cost to add the Mazda on the policy was........



........18 Euros !!!!

Kenny Logins

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

I have an MX5 as a second car on a classic policy with Autoline (1st Car is a '76 Mini). The cost to add the Mazda on the policy was........



........18 Euros !!!!

Yeah, I admit I was pushing it a bit adding the MX5 in there.

dr.fuzzenstein

Kenny Logins wrote: »

Yeah, I admit I was pushing it a bit adding the MX5 in there.

You're on thin ice there, Logins!

SpitfireIV

Agricola wrote: »

.........seeing a lovely 1980 Corolla DX at Terenure a couple of years ago, took me back to my childhood as my Dad had one when I was a kid. I don't see why that man's pride and joy is any lesser than the millioneth MG Midget or Spitfire.

I take exception to that, Spitfire's are certainly not as plentiful as Midgets or MGB's, otherwise I wouldnt have got one

I drive a 98 Starlet as a daily, have had it for the past 4 years so we'll see how I get on next month when my insurance is up, I've also dropped a 96 Starlet engine into the Spitfire

red sean

CroppyBoy1798 wrote: »

I take exception to that, Spitfire's are certainly not as plentiful as Midgets or MGB's, otherwise I wouldnt have got one

I drive a 98 Starlet as a daily, have had it for the past 4 years so we'll see how I get on next month when my insurance is up, I've also dropped a 96 Starlet engine into the Spitfire

So do you tell the insurance co. you have a Toyota Spitfire or a Triumph Starlet?

SpitfireIV

A Triota Starfire :-)

antodeco

Ive my two minis with FI and never had any issues. They rate they charge is low, so dont mind it too much!

galwaytt

Diabhalta wrote: »

Could it be because the car is a hatchback? There is nothing classic about hatchbacks in my opinion.

Lancia HPE says you're wrong.

Or Scimitar.

JohnBoy26

Diabhalta wrote: »

Could it be because the car is a hatchback? There is nothing classic about hatchbacks in my opinion.