[smilesperhour]

Currently pay about $67/month with Shelter Insurance for 25/50k full coverage. I dont mind the premiums at all, the problem is my car keeps getting modified more and more somehow and in the documents I sign, there's a specific line that states that "no performance enhancing parts are placed on the vehicle." This causes me to lose sleep sometimes, because I'm not sure the implications if I actually submit a claim. So I'm looking for a company thaht will cover me, even though I have some mods. Love to hear any of you that were still covered if you have experience wrecking a modded vehicle. Thanks

Josh

[David70]

What type of mods are you talking about and are you concerned they won't cover anything or want them to cover the mods also?

When you say "25k/50k full coverage" what are you referring to? Seems really low.

[gtaccord]

I pay less than that for 100k/300 thru progressive. With 25k/50k you may as well not have insurance at all.

[smilesperhour]

Originally Posted by David70

What type of mods are you talking about and are you concerned they won't cover anything or want them to cover the mods also?

When you say "25k/50k full coverage" what are you referring to? Seems really low.

I guess I had changed it. It IS 50/100K per yr and 50K property/50k Bodily.

Mods are tune, FMIC, DP, CP, exhaust.

Ya, my main concern would be that they cover the vehicle at least, not necessarily the modded parts, but at least the vehicle (un modded parts) @100%. You have any experience with a claim?

Thanks

Josh

[smilesperhour]

Originally Posted by gtaccord

I pay less than that for 100k/300 thru progressive. With 25k/50k you may as well not have insurance at all.

Sorry I checked and my other vehicle is 25/50. My BMW is 50/100K. I'll check into Progressive though. I actually heard a guy the other day had a tuned car and mentioned they treated him decent, better than his last wreck with Geico. He said the Prog. adjuster threw in a few extra grand for the mods.

Have you ever had to make a claim on a modded vehicle?

[gtaccord]

I have unfortunately had two cars totaled while with progressive. Both modified. In both cases they allowed me to remove all the aftermarket parts at the salvage car after they had paid out. Progressive also allows you to carry an aftermarket parts rider which can cover any non factory parts as long as you have receipts/proof of purchase. This is fairly common. I actually only carry minimum extra coverage since most factory parts (wheels, suspension etc) are as expensive or more so than aftermarket parts.

Lots of people have bad experiences with most insurance companies, progressive included. I have only had good experiences with progressive which is why I have stayed with them for 10 years.

[MalibuBimmer]

Originally Posted by smilesperhour

Sorry I checked and my other vehicle is 25/50. My BMW is 50/100K. I'll check into Progressive though. I actually heard a guy the other day had a tuned car and mentioned they treated him decent, better than his last wreck with Geico. He said the Prog. adjuster threw in a few extra grand for the mods.

Have you ever had to make a claim on a modded vehicle?

You do understand, don't you, that if you hit a high end German car, or are involved in a multi-vehicle collision your insurance (whether it be 25-50 or even 50-100) will not do much to protect you?

My clients often ask me how much insurance they should get. The lawyer's answer is -- and it's true here -- as much as you can afford.

[David70]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

You do understand, don't you, that if you hit a high end German car, or are involved in a multi-vehicle collision your insurance (whether it be 25-50 or even 50-100) will not do much to protect you?

My clients often ask me how much insurance they should get. The lawyer's answer is -- and it's true here -- as much as you can afford.

Good point. Somewhat ironic that if he hits many of the people he is asking for insurance advice from that he probably won't have enough insurance to cover the accident. My advice would be to get higher limits of insurance.

[Smokester]

Originally Posted by smilesperhour

Currently pay about $67/month with Shelter Insurance for 25/50k full coverage. I dont mind the premiums at all, the problem is my car keeps getting modified more and more somehow and in the documents I sign, there's a specific line that states that "no performance enhancing parts are placed on the vehicle." This causes me to lose sleep sometimes, because I'm not sure the implications if I actually submit a claim. So I'm looking for a company thaht will cover me, even though I have some mods. Love to hear any of you that were still covered if you have experience wrecking a modded vehicle. Thanks

Josh

The limits you mention are liability and have nothing to do with fixing your car if you are in an accident. They cover you for the bodily injury or property damage you do to others. And those are VERY low limits. I recommend you visit an independent agent (not one who is tied to only one company like Nationwide or State Farm) and fully explain your needs. An IA will have access to multiple companies and is better able to find one who can accommodate you. Don't hide anything from them or your claim will be denied.

[Zarilia]

My Progressive agent bumped me to 100k/300k when I got the M3. Plus the $5,000 in aftermarket mod coverage.. With my $250 deductible and the 4runner also fully covered I pay $1850 for the year.. But that includes the homeowner discount.. And being an over 40 woman helps lol
Our rates here in Nevada are about the same as the San Francisco Bay area..

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by smilesperhour

Currently pay about $67/month with Shelter Insurance for 25/50k full coverage.

I work in the industry.

"Full coverage" is a misnomer. There is no such thing as "Full coverage". There are coverages for different losses, and different amounts of coverage for each loss. People think they have "full coverage" and that ANYTHING can happen and you'll be protected no matter what. This is simply not true.

Your policy will have limits for each covered peril; if you have a loss that exceeds your policy limit, you're on your own- this includes any kind of liability coverage (i.e. if you have $10K property damage liability and rear-end a Civic your probably OK, do it to a '96 McLaren F1 and you're screwed.)

I can't speak to your collision or comprehensive coverage and any language regarding modifications, but typically an insurer won't cover those things if they are damaged in a loss unless you are paying extra premium for them, i.e. you need to declare them to your insurer. My guess is that is what your insurer is referring to.

If your bodily injury coverages are only 25/50 those are waaaaaay too low. The bare minimum I would tell anyone to carry is 100/300. If you have any substantive assets and nail someone from behind with 25/50, you will be losing some of your stuff.

If your car is heavily modified, you can either a) find a specialty insurer that will cover that stuff, b) see if your current insurer will cover it and expect an increase in premium, or c) roll the dice and bite the bullet if you bin the car and that stuff gets damaged.

I would recommend you sit down with an agent and get as much coverage for as much as you can reasonably afford and fully understand what your policy covers. In this day and age, there is no such thing as too much insurance.

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by smilesperhour

Currently pay about $67/month with Shelter Insurance for 25/50k full coverage. I dont mind the premiums at all, the problem is my car keeps getting modified more and more somehow and in the documents I sign, there's a specific line that states that "no performance enhancing parts are placed on the vehicle." This causes me to lose sleep sometimes, because I'm not sure the implications if I actually submit a claim. So I'm looking for a company thaht will cover me, even though I have some mods. Love to hear any of you that were still covered if you have experience wrecking a modded vehicle. Thanks

Josh

Check out Erie, I've had them for 10y. Also, consider getting an umbrella policy.

[MalibuBimmer]

On the subject of insurance, Liberty Mutual has a tie in with BMW and offers discounts for BMW owners. I had Liberty Mutual insurance for several years following the purchase of my 2006 650i. My insurance rates were very low. (Something like $2000 a year for 3-4 cars with top limits across the board.)

And then, suddenly, they jumped up in 2010, right after I got rid of my M6. I went with Mercury after that. Having my daughter turn 16 and become a full time driver of the X1 didn't help the rates much in 2013. Liberty Mutual had become obscenely expensive ($10,000 a year), but I found a company that "only" charged me $7800 for 4 cars. (USAA, a company with excellent ratings and customer service, was also very high. I had been with USAA during my bachelor years.)

I'm down to 3 cars now, my daughter is off to school on the East Coast, and my rates have settled down to about $6700. I called Liberty Mutual to see what they could do and even without my daughter as a full time driver they were still over $8000. So, shopping around is important.

One more thing. In California it's best to buy auto insurance from an admitted carrier. "Admitted" carriers all contribute to a state fund to insure against insurance company bankruptcies. Out of state carriers who are not admitted do not contribute to the fund and if one of them goes belly up the policy holder is SOL.

[David70]

Ouch, $6700 a year on 3 cars and a deal because the daughter moved out of the house?

[smilesperhour]

Originally Posted by Kyle B

I work in the industry.

"Full coverage" is a misnomer. There is no such thing as "Full coverage". There are coverages for different losses, and different amounts of coverage for each loss. People think they have "full coverage" and that ANYTHING can happen and you'll be protected no matter what. This is simply not true.

Your policy will have limits for each covered peril; if you have a loss that exceeds your policy limit, you're on your own- this includes any kind of liability coverage (i.e. if you have $10K property damage liability and rear-end a Civic your probably OK, do it to a '96 McLaren F1 and you're screwed.)

I can't speak to your collision or comprehensive coverage and any language regarding modifications, but typically an insurer won't cover those things if they are damaged in a loss unless you are paying extra premium for them, i.e. you need to declare them to your insurer. My guess is that is what your insurer is referring to.

If your bodily injury coverages are only 25/50 those are waaaaaay too low. The bare minimum I would tell anyone to carry is 100/300. If you have any substantive assets and nail someone from behind with 25/50, you will be losing some of your stuff.

If your car is heavily modified, you can either a) find a specialty insurer that will cover that stuff, b) see if your current insurer will cover it and expect an increase in premium, or c) roll the dice and bite the bullet if you bin the car and that stuff gets damaged.

I would recommend you sit down with an agent and get as much coverage for as much as you can reasonably afford and fully understand what your policy covers. In this day and age, there is no such thing as too much insurance.

thanks for the good explanation. I'll definitely be looking to upgrade now. Can you tell me a little more about umbrella policies, and about how much they may run?

[David70]

Originally Posted by smilesperhour

thanks for the good explanation. I'll definitely be looking to upgrade now. Can you tell me a little more about umbrella policies, and about how much they may run?

I am currently buying an umbrella policy and it isn't that expensive but part of the reason is you first have to have get the car insurance up to the level they require (otherwise you would just stay at the 25k/50k and get an umbrella), then there are too many variable for us to tell you what it costs. Live in an apartment or buying house, how many cars, number of family members, where you live, etc.

Same reason the person above is paying $6700 a year for 3 cars and wife and I have 3 cars and pay around $1400 a year (cheaper cars, different location, etc).

[MKSixer]

I'm in Louisiana with 5 cars and I get hosed. Fully 1/3rd of the drivers here are uninsured. I pay over $13k per year with a 17 y/o daughter.
Liberty Mutual

[mike the snake]

94 Ford Ranger truck (liability only 100-300) and Pantera full coverage for 60K costs me $100 a month for both cars from State Farm. I'm 48 with 2 at fault accidents.

P-car falls under a special low mileage/classic car policy so costs are very low.

State Farm has done me right. Haggerty wouldn't cover me with 2 at-faults, but my State Farm guy hooked me up and I pay 1/4 of what Haggerty quoted.

[Nitrousbird]

State Farm is great with claims. We have 4 vehicles and 2 houses with them. Only thing not insured with them is our boat...3x the cost of our current provider with less coverage.