Davemg wrote:Firstly, my apologies for having a rant but this has seriously "got my goat".
Despite a lot of effort, I have failed to insure my son on my Quantum Xtreme. The only cover available is Third Party Fire & Theft, which then applies to both of us; and at £260, a fairly hefty premium compared with £130 for me alone fully-comp, and a risk for a car worth about £9k.
The universal response is "ah, he's under 25".... presumably that means the underwriters feel he will be a boy racer. This is the "boy" who is a Manager in a business, drives a 245 bhp 3.0 V6 Diesel Jaguar XF and gets 55mpg+ (!), has a clean licence (not even a parking ticket since 17), passed his test in 6 weeks (and Pass Plus), has had a BMW Mini John Cooper Works, etc. He's even a member of our local Speedwatch volunteer speed trap initiative with Essex Police. 2gether tried very hard, but failed to convince the underwriters. No comprehensive cover, at any cost - not even a daft quote!
Yet - he can easily get insured - for £1000 - fully comprehensive on a Jag XFR 5.0 V8, and a BMW M5, a BMW M3, and Aston DB9, an Audi S8, and an Ariel Atom (which is, of course, not a kit car). However, a kit car with an engine out of an old Sierra (Pinto) worth a fraction of the amount, no deal.
Absolutely, head smackingly, mad. I would really love someone from the Insurance industry to explain why the under 25's are banned from Kit Cars and Classic Car Insurance. This is as ridiculous as the loaded premiums for young drivers, many of whom drive far better than much older drivers.
Insurance Underwriters - let's hear your response to this one if you are brave enough.
Sad that this is the sate of affairs now.
I had two kit's insured in my name by the age of 18, both with Footman James incidentally.
Was expensive by comparison to over 25 kit insurance (2-3 times premium ish) but cheaper by miles than any tin top, even the smallest weedyist car. £400-600 mark rings a bell.
That would have been about 12 13 years ago roughly.