Insuring your truck with non-classic insurance

[NewTown_66]

I am having some issues with my insurance company and my wallet lately and was wondering if some of you may be in the same boat.

I have a '66 C80 truck that I am restoring and planning to drive as a peronal vehicle only. The truck is too tall to fit in a garage and therfore I can't get classic car insurance unless I build a new building to put it in. I have had it insurance for the past 3 months on a "commercial" policy with a GVWR of 25000 lbs and the premiums are killing me. I am going to be re-registering the vehicle at 2000lbs over the unladen weight and was hoping to be able to insure it as a 1 ton.

After speaking with an insurance agent today, I was told that they don't have records for vehicles this old that specify whether the truck is a 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton or more and that I may be able to insure it as a 1 ton with a personal auto policy. I say may because they said if I am in an accident and they find that I "misrepresented" the vehicle, they may not cover me.

Has anyone had experience doing something like this? I don't want to get screwed if I get in to an accident, but I don't want the already rich insurance companies to make a mint off me driving a truck 10 times a year.

[MacAttack]

Mine's up in October - with Farmers and I have similar concerns on my 65' C10.

I'm shopping everybody presently - classic insurers and regular companies alike.

I'm spending about $300 every six months for my 1/2 ton and when I told them I wanted to insure the truck for a set amount (because of the butt-load of cash recently invested therein) they balked and said I'd need to get it surveyed by a certified appraiser - at my expense and submit that report before they'd even look at insuring for more than a "regular 65' Chevy pick-up."

I'll be driving mine about 75 miles a week on the street and this insurance thing is extremely irritating. I'd be interested in some input too.

Mac.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

The only advise I can give you for sure.... never lie to you doctor, lawyer or insurance agent.
Years ago my brother-in-law said he lived in another county than where he actually did (used a friend's address) to get cheaper insurance. He had a major accident. That's when the insurance company started investigating to see if he was on the up-and-up. When they found out they told him; "you're on your own buddy, you lied on your application, now the policy is void." I wouldn't want to be in a situation where you were in an accident and someone was killed and you have no insurance.

[Woogeroo]

here are some tips about old trucks and insurance:

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/insurance.html


-W

[monolith]

Yeah,I wouldn't lie to insurance companies.

They have teams of investigators to ferret out the details.

[NewTown_66]

I was on the phone with the insurance company over an hour trying to figure out what the "truth" is. I don't plan to lie to them, but if I have the truck registered at 11000 lbs, and I'm not hauling anything with it.. ever, I should be able to insure it as such.

I tried to find out from them how they classify their "1 ton" trucks and on anything pre-72, they just took the owners word on it. They said that if they found out I was misrepresenting the vehicle after an accident, they wouldn't cover me. So I asked how they would find out if I "misrepresented" and they couldn't give me an answer. I am going to do some more digging before I switch my policy, but I am going to try every legal thing possible to get out of paying $2300/yr for insurance on a truck I drive 12-14 times a year.

The insurance agent I spoke with also told me that with the age of the vehicle, and what I plan to do with it, insuring it as a 1 ton wouldn't be misrepresenting it (but she isn't part of the claims group).

[Martin64]

I asked how they would find out if I "misrepresented" and they couldn't give me an answer.

And, for their protection, they aren't going to tell you how to get over on them. But those investigators are really good and would find out anyway.

[protrash64]

I have always run liability; some dont like it, but thats how I roll. I was with Farmers and my agent had 'classic car insurance' policy that was basically an agreed value system. I didnt qualify because I had a carport at the time. I would look into the agreed value coverage.....some companies have the criteria online for you to fill out.

I am now with Allstate and they will suspend coverage. If you decide to do a big overhaul or just not drive they will cover it on a suspended status for CHEAP. I think its 5 bucks a year; you can call and have it turned on for short periods if I understand correctly.

I feel your pain. I have always paid insurance and driven my pick-up about 300 miles in 8 years.

[jmedero]

Ok here I go. I have been a licensed 220 agent for over 10 years so I'll speak from exp. There are companies like Safeco who don't require you to appraisals. Others like progressive have stated amount policies available. If you say it's a 1 ton and something happens your truck I assure you that your screwed. You have to keep looking for the one that willeet your needs. I have my Nova insured with Sadeco for &20k at the cost of $580 a year. No long lost of things I can't do with my car either.
Hope it helps some.

[jmedero]

State farm also has a policy that might help you.

[72BlckButy]

that's who I have on my '69, State Farm.

[NewTown_66]

Originally Posted by jmedero

I have my Nova insured with Sadeco for &20k at the cost of $580 a year. No long lost of things I can't do with my car either.
Hope it helps some.

I don't have collision or comprehensive on my truck, just liability. With liiability limits set to $250,000 per person, $500,000 total/accident, just liability is $2300/yr.

Do you know how insurance companies classify what "size" vehicle they will cover? I know that a new 3500 Silverado has a GVWR of 10,000+ lbs and a curb weight of <6,000lbs. That gives the truck the ability to haul 2 ton on a 1 rated truck. Will an insurance company cover the vehicle in an accident if it has 2 ton of stone in the bed?

I am going to speak with a couple more local agents (State Farm and one that uses Safeco) tomorrow to see if there is anything else that can be done.

[ob1monkey]

can't help with the c80 insurance but for others here's what I pay for.

my 66 c-10 has just liability with geico, but instead of just totaling it out if It's in an accident they have to give me replacement value(cost of suppling an truck that equal to mine in reliability and shape) I got hit in the passanger fender by a tiburon, only damage to the truck was warped rim screwwed fender and alignment. Boy was I worried they were goingt o be like nope you trucks blue book was 600 you screwed. Instead the adjusted cut me a check for nearly 1000 to fix it and stated that since I drive it daily and it obviously runs good that he sees it as fair. I only pay 500 a year, not bad for 27 year old.

[TwoFiftyShifter]

I'm 18 and state farm quoted me yesterday to insure my 64 GMC, liability insurance. $64 a month. Not bad if im gonna drive it 2-3 days a week, but if it was a sunday driver I'd be pissed at that...... Has to be mostly restored to qualify for classic insurance alot of times. Many of you guys would qualify, I sure wont!