Daily driver Cobra Insurance

[sssnake427]

I would love to drive my Cobra everyday but I am not finding any standard collector/replica car insurance outfit willing to do that. They all require the Cobra be striclty for shows or pleasure. Is there anyone out there who can give me some insite on how to obtain insurance for a daily driver Cobra.

Thanks...

[Unique 289_FIA]

Good luck. I struggled to find an insurance company period that would write a policy in La. I settled with American Collectors. Plenty of restrictions on driving, though. It actually reads on the application: "Pleasure drives do not include trips to the mall, golf course, work, .... "

Eh. What can you do? At least it's cheap.


Keep us informed if you find anything.

R.

[sssnake427]

My research is showing me that there are no Specialty/Collector Insurance car companies who are going to insure a daily driver, unlimited mileage. Some don't even cover Cobras period.

It looks as though I am going to have to only have PIP and Uninsured to get on the road, and risk any damage or theft of the car on my own. Willing to take that risk though to drive it everyday!

My Dad owns his own independent Insurance company, he's going to come up with a list of options from the regular companies he sells for.

I'll post any positive results if and when they come.

[G.R.]

Good luck-
Unless you can afford to self insure I don't think you will have any luck finding a carrier to insure as a daily driver... I know a few guys do ie: Hal Copple for one, but I believe they have had coverage with the same companies they insure with for several years and are "grandfathered " in to current policy with their companies .

[Hal Copple]

my insurance company, withwhom i had been insured since the early '60's, would not insure "a kit or componant car" for other than liability. But eventually, i was able to get them to do it because my SPF was a factory built, all new car. With a clean record, fortunately. I challanged them, with lots of paperwork, adds, etc, that if they would ensure a vastly more complicated car like a Corvette, that they should insure me in my SPF like my other cars with them. So the senior underwrite approved my car, no restrictions, no surcharges, on my standard auto policy. It just lists "Ford Cobra" on my papers. I put a lot of effort into assembling a packet of information about my SPF and the went to work on it.

When i need a replacement windshield, they gave it to their glass replacment company, who simply could not understand why a Ford Cobra (Mustang), had a rather costly relacement. It took a lot of phone calls to the glass insurance company to finally get thru to someone who knew about Replicas.

I know of some others who have tried to insure Replicas other than SPF's unsuccessfully with my company, and also know that my company has insured since some SPF's and has turned down some SPF's.

I do know that a lot of SPF drivers have been able to get standard insurance with their companies, because perhaps they had long standing relationships with them. When i was first turned down, i found another national company who would insure it routenely for me (this was four years ago) but fortunately, i was able to stay with my many year company.

I can understand why an insurance company would be reluctant to insure what are often home built cars. Esp powerful ones like ours.

I do not know if they would do it again for me now.

I regret to say that the underwriter told me not to be telling others about their decision to insure me, so i cannot tell you who i am insured with.

Trying being methodical, very well prepared, and work with someone who knows you. I don't think this is something you do very well over the phone. Good luck,

[klayfish]

You will not find a classic/collectors insurance policy to insure any car as a daily driver. The whole purpose of those insurance companies is to insure a "weekend" toy. So you will have to go with a standard auto type policy, such as State Farm, Nationwide, etc...

You should check Florida law, but I don't think you'd be allowed to drive with just PIP and UM coverage. I believe you must have liability insurance. Besides, what will you do if you cause a wreck and nearly kill someone?

Steve

[sssnake427]

I didn't mean to leave any required insurance necessary to protect myself, passengers or other drivers out of the list. The picking of words out of a conversation reminds me of talking with my teenagers.
In the context of the entire discussion above I would think you could tell I'm trying to get complete coverage and having to list in detail the types and levels of coverage isn't relevant to the discussion.
But thanks for the critique…

[A Cobra guy]

I simply sat down and worked it out with my local State Farm rep.
I have been with him for over 25 years.
We agreeed on an "Insured Value" and set a very high deductable. (3 or 4 grand, I forget at the moment.) Otherwise coverage is just like my minivan.
I think the insured value and high deductable showed that I was willing to share the risk and that may have helped.
They have been renewing me for 6 years now with no problem.

I don't know if it maters but New Hampshire is NOT a no-fault state.

[klayfish]

Hey sssnake, let's settle down and not get so uptight. In the "context" of what you said, no it was not clear to me what you meant. You'd be surprised how many people talk about just driving the Cobra without any kind of liability insurance.

You asked questions and I thought I'd try to help by answering them. I work for an auto insurance company, which does specialty insurance, so I thought I could help. My response was based on what you wrote, nothing more, nothing less.

If this is how you respond to people who try to help, whether they misunderstood you or not, you're going to have a tough time hanging around here. Lighten up.

Steve

[Fitz]

Aren't we all driving to car shows, events, club events, cobra get togethers though the local clubs. That is the reason for setting up car clubs so we can drive with 1 or 15 cars. I have restrictions on my policy "conden skelly" via Met Life, but nothing about driving to the store, work etc in their language. You can not use your car regularly and frequently for commercial purposes. It is hard getting up to their 7500 yearly mileage. I have seen several hot rod cars at shows that have them also. Better to be safe and protected then foolish and costly.

[bmalone]

Progressive will insure your Cobra like a daily-driver. It was just an add-on in my case (other cars with them). It is not a great policy because it is declared value as opposed to agreed value--so you will have to determine whether it makes sense for you.

Unlimited mileage.

[flipper35]

Until I moved to CA, American Family insured it as the second car on my policy. Here in CA (AF doesn't insure in CA) I use Wawenesa, again as another car on the policy. No restrictions, but it is more like a negotiated agreed upon value.

There are still companies that will do Cobras as if they are a regular manufactured vehicle.

[uncltodd]

Info from OK-

Since BDR #139 is MINE, I decided to check with my insurance agent before the fact.

Her computer battled it out with Farmers Insurance computer.

Keep in mind that I currently have three vehicles fully covered with $2,500 deductible.

The most expensive is College Girl's '02 Mustang, $1,400 per year.

The BDR Cobra...

Jeez.

It is a "sports car," it is "high performance" (duh) it is pleasure use only.

Try $1,600 every six months.

Bite me.

I promised my agent a ride in #139, she is scrambling to find me coverage.

Insurance on my new Baby is a ferret crawling up my pants leg right now, anything I come up with I will post.

UT

[sssnake427]

Hey Guys,
Thanks for all your input. It's certainly most encouraging. I guess I will begin my quest and negotiations with the regular insurance companies. A high deductable and full coverage is better than no comp & coll. at all.

Klayfish - I was having a bad day and lashed out. I apologise...