Is there collector insurance if you use it to tow?

[centurion 455 ragtop]

I started this thread and hope you guys didn't mind I moved over mine and a few other responses.

Steve,

I have an insurance question regarding the Hagerty insurance. In my situation I think I'm behind the 8 ball.

You have seen the condition of my Centurion and I drive maybe, tops 3,500 miles a year, if I'm lucky. The car is garaged at my residence and I reside in a very low crime rated (almost non existant) suburban community. Between my wife and I (knock on wood) we have no accidents on record and zero tickets (being retired NYPD seemed to never be a problem )

Now the question... I tow with it. I only tow to Buick events that have racing involved towing ONLY my GS. At these types of events my Centurion is also entered in the show part of the events, such as the BPG Nationals, GS Nationals, Buicks at Norwalk, Buick Performance Weekend in New Jersey and the East Coast Buick Meet at Cecil County Maryland. I have been told though I never really officially inquired that being I tow with my Centurion that would void out the specialty car insurance.

As of now I only carry liability on the car That is why some of you have seen me scapping up spare parts, which is sort of "my" own insurance. I even checked with my own car insurance company and they do not have anything for me. So my friend, tell me oh wise one am I f@cked? Would appreciate any advise.


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[centurion 455 ragtop]

My3buicks
Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Mars, Pa
Posts: 229

the obvious

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Ok Rick, let's do the obvious - call various "Collector Car" Insurance companies and ask so you have first hand answers. I would say being you are also showing the Centurion your have a shot.
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Keith Bleakney
1967 Special Deluxe Hardtop Sport Coupe
1972 Centurion Convertible
2004 Buick Rendezvous CXL Plus
Club affiliations:
AACA, Lambda Car Club International, Allegheny Region of the LCCI, BCA # 11475, Pittsburgh Porthole Chaper of the BCA

[centurion 455 ragtop]

What a great picture!

Let me research this a little with Hagerty Rick. I want to give you definite answers, not guesses.
Why do you have the car insured with Hagerty if you're only running with liability?!?! Hagerty is designed to insure a car to it's value. You're not doing that with Hagerty. If you're not going to run it with full coverage, then you should just add it to your basic car policy. That would solve the potential tow problem issue.
That's got me a little baffled. (Keith has a good point too, but let me knock out Hagerty first and then we can go from there...)

Also, I think we should cut and paste this into a thread someplace else, as the topic is a little off for ebay parts and cars.... We have several things to talk about, so if you start a thread, I'll find it tomorrow with answers to post.

And lastly.... WHY THE HELL ARE YOU RUNNING WITH LIABILITY ONLY!?!?!
Dude, you gotta know better than that! Look what happend to Kimson!!!
Your ride is worth way to much to take that chance!!
I'm going to have to talk some sense into that thick head of yours!
__________________
Steve
72 Buick Centurion Convertible - Current
71 Buick Skylark Convertible - (mistakenly sold when I thought it was time to "grow-up"!!!)

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[centurion 455 ragtop]

Steve just to clarify it. I am not using Hagerty at all at this time. I have heard nothing but good things about that company. So if they have something I'll be happy to jump on it. I am under Liberty Mutual for all four cars I have registered (the racecar GS is not registered). Thanks for any help.

Keith your right on that. I need to collect a list of companies and start making some calls, just in case there is one out there.

I was told to get the car appraised (have to get off my arss and do that) so that at least I have a value on it. Other than that I would love to get some better coverage. Believe me I always nice size fire extinguishers in all my cars and in the garage. As far as theft I am well confident they cannot not steal it. Just ask Adam. I think he saw how I lock up the darn thing up. Just not worth their effort, so that they would move to another car in the lot. Bought myself a heavy duty car tire boot (same kind the PD uses) also have a kill switch and when at the hotels at night I have two portable motion detectors I place inside the car. If it goes off it buzzes the base unit in my room....that's when my good friend, louisville slugger comes out swinging:Brow: My biggest fear though is getting hit by some jackass driver.

[dewbers]

Ok guys, I have an official answer from Hagerty. Not one that will surprise anybody, but it's answer nonetheless.
"Your classic car coverage becomes null and void if your vehicle is used to tow another vehicle. It goes against the "spirit" of the policy coverages which are designed to protect a restored, refurbished or persevered classic or antique vehicle." :bawl:

I am not terribly surprised by this. Reason... Any vehicles liability automatically extends to a towed trailer. So if you tow a camper, your vehicles liability extends to it. Same with a utility trailer you might go get a load of wood with. In your case, same with towing a race car. Your "regular" car insurance takes this into consideration and builds those charges into their liability exposure price. Classic car coverage does not do this. The classic policies liability price is low because the liability exposure is low. (ie: limited miles, limited use (not a daily driver), limited # of people driving, etc.) Making sense ? Keith's idea may work. But truth is, most classic policies follow this same rule. There may be an exception, but I don't know of one. Best hope is that one of these companies will allow you to buy a rider to cover this activity. You might have luck with your current company, (Liberty Mutual) simply allowing you to keep the policy in force, but then extend classic coverage to cover the value of your car. They are already on the "risk" with the car to begin with, so perhaps they'll allow you to buy this extra coverage. I'd start there.

Tell me more about the tire boot. I'm loving this idea. The "CLUB" is not fool proof anymore, so I am looking for other idea's. I would also like to here more on the kill switch, which I know ZERO about!

Hope this helps Rick. (Sorry it's not better news!)
BTW, if you find someone to allow your to tow with your ride, make sure you get it in writing so there are no "oops" later when you might actually need the coverage!!

[dewbers]

All excellent points Keith. I would suggest posting something on that site and asking them. It may just be ignorance to the rules or perhaps they've stumbled onto something? (no offense met by the ignorance comment) I was told that some of the military vehicles are ok, b/c the trailers are an extension of the car and are consider "one" car. Same with some of these small trailers that are painted in the same scheme as the tow car. They insure both, and consider them one unit. But towing another car is different. At least in Hagerty's eyes..... The BCA or even BUICK V8 are both good sites to start. Keep me posted and if needed, I can advise at any time. I'm cheap.
And easy... :Brow:

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Good points guys. I may take a stab at my insurance company and ask them if I have the car appraised what would be the cost to cover it for damage protection (accidents, fire, theft etc).

As for the boot. Steve it's not cheap, if you buy it in bulk (like 6 0r 7 units) they cut you a price. I tried over on the BPG site and V8 Board and unfortunately got just tire kickers, so I just decided to do it on my own. It even comes with a fabric that protects the rims from getting scratched up. This is the web site where I got mine.
http://www.universalboot.com/ub/universal-clamp-parking.php

The unit is heavy duty aluminum and I also bought their lock (pick proof). It has a small spike in it to make the tire go flat if someone drives off with it on. I removed that part of it. I do have to paint it as it is bright yellow and at the Norwalk meet while putting it on a cop pulled up running my plate. I inquired and he told me he was checking the station on why they booted a car in the hotel lot. :D As they have the same style boot in their department. Pretty funny! When I am at the hotel the trailer is chained to the hitch and another long chain is run thru the frame of the racecar and wrapped around the axels of the trailer and then thru the trailer rim (the chain is a two inch link with your typical South Bronx pad lock. The boot is put on the rear tire of the Centurion. So you cannot roll the racecar off the trailer, you cannot remove the trailer from the car as its chained up, you cannot roll the trailer or remove the tires as they are chained, and the boot prevents driving off with the car along with a kill switch, and you cannot jack up the Centurion from the front and tow it out as the boot has the rear tire jammed. Total protection! Then my silent sensors would warn me as a would be crook is screwing with the cars. And that's when the equalizer comes to play:D Yes its a royal pain in the ass doing this, but I had a close call at the Cecil county Maryland meet 3 years ago and that made me get off my butt and do something.

A racecar Buick, truck and trailer was stolen from the parking lot AND my Centurion all hitched up was parked right next to it with no alarm or security stuff and...UNFRIGGIN LOCKED!!!! Yes, I deserved a beating for that almost unforgivable mistake!