Who has full coverage on their big Broughams?

My_favorite_Brougham · #1 (**permalink**) 04-06-07, 10:25 AM

How many of you out their have full coverage on your big old Caddies? Just curious because I've been considering it for various things like hail damage and parking lot damage, or even your own mishap. But is it really worth paying into for a car that's nearly 20 years old? I could easily spend more in a year for that than I did for the whole car. Basically, how should I handle the issue of protecting my priceless Caddy that insurnace companies consider worthless (ie. They'd total it for almost anything due to the low blue book value)?

N0DIH · #2 (**permalink**) 04-06-07, 11:05 AM

I do, as it is my primary car and if something happened, I don't have the resources to drop $4K or more on a car that is similar to replace it. I am not willing to finance a car, cash is the only way....

You might want to get stated value insurance too. Then if something happens they cut you a check for what you stated the value to be. Good for old classics being they won't give you jack to replace it if something happens to it. They would rather total it, they make more money that way.

90Brougham350 · #3 (**permalink**) 04-06-07, 11:08 AM

I couldn't afford full coverage, besides, my Brougham isn't worth fixing in an accident anyways. With the price these cars are going for, it's almost easier to find a new one on eBay or collectorcartraderonline and go from there.

N0DIH · #4 (**permalink**) 04-06-07, 12:09 PM

Everyone tells us we shouldn't have it on my old 96 Suburban, but when it got totalled last May by a hit and run semi in a construction zone where the speed limit was 45 and he was doing 70+....

But we ended up getting around $5400 from the insurance company for a 96 with 234K miles on it. And it was still drivable, so I bought it back for $500 and sold it for $1300 (should have got more, but we were buying another truck then) and that got us enough to get a 99 K2500 Suburban for $6400 (killer price) that we had to drive to Maryland to get. But we have the truck we really wanted. Hyrdoboost brakes, 12.5" front brakes, 13x3.5" rear brakes, fairly new tires, etc. Well worth it.....

So is it worth insurance? If you have to have it replaced, yes. Sure, we pay around $150 a month for my 94 Cad with full coverage, the 99 Burb with full coverage, and my 80 T/A with comp as it doesn't drive right now.

I used to pay $688 for 6 months for my 80 T/A when I was under 21..... So I don't think it is too bad. Still a lot, but it is just needed.....

If we had a lot of $$ to fall back on, then yes, I would consider dropping it. A friend of mine thinks that you can just drop full coverage and save that $$ per month and that is enough to replace the car if it gets whacked. Nope, we had the 96 truck 23 months and it got hit. So that would have maybe saved us $1200 tops. Not worth not having..... Not for me right now.

creeker · #5 (**permalink**) 04-06-07, 12:40 PM

Luckily where I live (british columbia ,Canada) the insurance is run by the province(state) they have a "collector car" rate,if you have another registered vehicle you qualify,even though I can use my collector car anytime
with no restrictions, I have full coverage, I pay $242.00 a year.

eldorado99 · #6 (**permalink**) 04-06-07, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creeker

Luckily where I live (british columbia ,Canada) the insurance is run by the province(state) they have a "collector car" rate,if you have another registered vehicle you qualify,even though I can use my collector car anytime
with no restrictions, I have full coverage, I pay $242.00 a year.

Well there is one restriction, you can't drive a collector car to work or school, but thats not what they're for anyway right?

Jonas McFeely · #7 (**permalink**) 04-06-07, 01:57 PM

As some of you know,my Brougham was "totalled" in December of '05 by a jerk off in an F-150. That is why it didnt have bumpers for 5 months.It does now. I was at a stop light,waiting,i look in my rear view and have time to say "oh shi..",and WHACK, didnt even hit his brakes.He hit me so hard i hit a Mercury Tracer in front of me,and that car hit a truck in front of it. I got out,and immediately went up to his truck screaming all kinds of obscenities.Later i made sure my passenger and person i was pushed into was ok.

His shitty Ford was actually totalled and had to be towed away.I drove my Brougham away.His insurance adjuster came out and took one look at my car and said that it was totalled(i had NO body damage,only bumper,headlight and tail light damge) and he would need me to sign my car over to him.Said there was over $4,000 worth of damage,bullshit.I was like F that S. So i signed a waiver saying i wouldnt sue Progressive or the guy who hit me and he cut me a check for $1800, the blue book on my car was only $1000.

Point is,if i had full coverage,they wouldnt have fixed it anyway,over a couple of damn bumpers.Im so damn sick of insurance companies.I pay $227 PER MONTH for property damage and personal injury liablity.I have had only 1 at-fault MINOR accident,over 2 years ago.And i have had NO speeding tickets.Shit.

rlyons · #8 (**permalink**) 04-06-07, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 85EvergreenBrougham

As some of you know,my Brougham was "totalled" in December of '05 by a jerk off in an F-150. That is why it didnt have bumpers for 5 months.It does now. I was at a stop light,waiting,i look in my rear view and have time to say "oh shi..",and WHACK, didnt even hit his brakes.He hit me so hard i hit a Mercury Tracer in front of me,and that car hit a truck in front of it. I got out,and immediately went up to his truck screaming all kinds of obscenities.Later i made sure my passenger and person i was pushed into was ok.

His shitty Ford was actually totalled and had to be towed away.I drove my Brougham away.His insurance adjuster came out and took one look at my car and said that it was totalled(i had NO body damage,only bumper,headlight and tail light damge) and he would need me to sign my car over to him.Said there was over $4,000 worth of damage,bullshit.I was like F that S. So i signed a waiver saying i wouldnt sue Progressive or the guy who hit me and he cut me a check for $1800, the blue book on my car was only $1000.

Point is,if i had full coverage,they wouldnt have fixed it anyway,over a couple of damn bumpers.Im so damn sick of insurance companies.I pay $227 PER MONTH for property damage and personal injury liablity.I have had only 1 at-fault MINOR accident,over 2 years ago.And i have had NO speeding tickets.Shit.

I don't know your age so that could be a factor but I live in Florida and i pay about that for full coverage on 2 cars, 1 truck and two motorcycles. I have no accidents on my record though. You may want to shop around a little.

nick stratta · #9 (**permalink**) 04-06-07, 02:43 PM

I have full coverage on all 4 - the '93 and '94 are £300 a peice here in the UK, the two '79's are on a group classic policy for another £300 on an any car under 20 years old basis, unlimited mileage. I may be getting a '76 FWD soon and that will go on the same policy for an admin fee only.

All policies are with the same broker and all are fully comprehensive including Class 1 business use, free windscreen indemnity and covered legal fees. Wouldn't consider it any other way .....

Don't risk it! It's not the cost of the car you are covering it si the cost of sorting out the mess if something happens and it's down to you.... that's why it's called 'insurance'.

regards
Nick

Jonas McFeely · #10 (**permalink**) 04-06-07, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlyons

I don't know your age so that could be a factor but I live in Florida and i pay about that for full coverage on 2 cars, 1 truck and two motorcycles. I have no accidents on my record though. You may want to shop around a little.

Esurance wants $450 a month,Geico over $300.I was paying $290 with Direct,and now im paying $227 with General.Ive done my shopping.I am 19 though,so i can expect to pay this for awhile...

v90hamm77 · #11 (**permalink**) 04-06-07, 03:24 PM

I have full coverage on my 96 FWB from Geico. I pay $100 a month.

N0DIH · #12 (**permalink**) 04-06-07, 04:17 PM

What most people don't realize too is when you have full coverage is YOUR insurance company goes to bat for you, so if there is damage, they fix it and pay for it, and they go off get the $$ out of the other company. Even if it is an individual. We had our truck sideswiped in front of our house and the neighbors did it. State Farm covered the truck without question and then they went after them. We did get stuck with the deductable, but that was it. And if they do get the $3600 from them, we get our deductable too, but of course at the end. So we don't have to worry about it at all. It DOES work out well that way.

So if you had full coverage, your insurance co deals with progressive or whoever the jerk who hit you. Then you go get your car fixed immediately and whatever coverages you have (towing, rental, etc) are also covered. then they nab the offender....

Yes, if you had full coverage you would be driving your car now and they would pay for it all.

I feel it is worth having an insurance company represent your interests. Without, you are on the line to get screwed badly, like Progressive did for you....

Quote:

Originally Posted by 85EvergreenBrougham

As some of you know,my Brougham was "totalled" in December of '05 by a jerk off in an F-150. That is why it didnt have bumpers for 5 months.It does now. I was at a stop light,waiting,i look in my rear view and have time to say "oh shi..",and WHACK, didnt even hit his brakes.He hit me so hard i hit a Mercury Tracer in front of me,and that car hit a truck in front of it. I got out,and immediately went up to his truck screaming all kinds of obscenities.Later i made sure my passenger and person i was pushed into was ok.

His shitty Ford was actually totalled and had to be towed away.I drove my Brougham away.His insurance adjuster came out and took one look at my car and said that it was totalled(i had NO body damage,only bumper,headlight and tail light damge) and he would need me to sign my car over to him.Said there was over $4,000 worth of damage,bullshit.I was like F that S. So i signed a waiver saying i wouldnt sue Progressive or the guy who hit me and he cut me a check for $1800, the blue book on my car was only $1000.

Point is,if i had full coverage,they wouldnt have fixed it anyway,over a couple of damn bumpers.Im so damn sick of insurance companies.I pay $227 PER MONTH for property damage and personal injury liablity.I have had only 1 at-fault MINOR accident,over 2 years ago.And i have had NO speeding tickets.Shit.

96Fleetwood · #13 (**permalink**) 04-06-07, 05:08 PM

I have had Nationwide full coverage on every car I have owned... they have stood by me in the thick and thin. When I had a incident with my Fleetwood, they sent me to a Blue Ribbon body shop with a 5 star reputation and no questions asked when I wanted all new OEM parts

bigbluebrougham · #14 (**permalink**) 04-06-07, 06:21 PM

I do!!! I agree with N0DIH, I can't afford a replacement car, so full coverage is the way to go! I am changing my coverage to $250 deductibles and getting some things fixed. For my car it is $60 a month with $500 deductibles and $68 for $250 deductibles. Makes sense to me to change over! I wonder why we are so cheap up here? My wife's 2000 Monte Carlo SS is only $60 a month for full coverage.

Motorboat · #15 (**permalink**) 04-06-07, 07:26 PM

My advice is to increase the deductible to at least $1,000.00. The farther you keep the insurance company from spending the first dollar the cheaper the premium will be.

While I know what my '88 Brougham with 65K is worth to me, I also realize that to 99.9% of the population it is worth very little. Fighting with an Insurance company is like wrestleing a pig, after awhile you realize that the pig is enjoying it.

Just my opinion, your's may differ.