Grundy Insurance - Want a Good Laugh?

[RoadiJeff]

Okay, so I've been hearing about how good Grundy is on the VCA and how reasonable their prices are. Since my car insurance company keeps bumping up the rates on my Viper every year I decided to check them out.

I received their application via email last week. One of the provisions is that the vehicle will not be used to drive to school or work. I'm okay with that. On the application I had to list any "regular transportation vehicles for each driver." As many of you know I ride a bicycle. A lot. Back and forth to work. 55 miles round trip. I enjoy the heck out of it. I listed my 2007 Chrysler Sebring and my Trek as my daily transportation vehicles.

Today, I received a rejection letter from Grundy. Apparently, my list of daily transportation vehicles was inadequate. Huh?

I'm finished with Grundy. It was only a savings of $75/yr anyway. I don't want any futher frustration if this is what I can expect from them in the future.

Here's their rejection letter and my reply I just finished writing.

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October 24, 2009​

Grundy Worldwide
400 Horsham Rd.
P.O. Box 1957
Horsham, PA 19044

Re: Application for Collector Vehicle Insurance

Dear Grundy,

I am writing in response to my 1999 Dodge Viper RT/10 insurance application being declined because of inadequate daily transportation. Just what type of vehicle is considered adequate anyway?

On my application in the List regular transportation vehicles for each driver section I listed the two vehicles that I take back and forth to work: a 2007 Chrysler Sebring and a 2002 Trek bicycle. Please explain why the Sebring isn’t good enough for Grundy to be considered a daily driver. I only included the bicycle because I ride it 55 miles round trip to work as much or more often than I drive the Sebring. A bicycle is defined as being a vehicle, according to the Department of Transportation. I was only being honest by including it in the list.

I’m sorry if the mindset of Grundy is that all Americans are lazy and that bicycles cannot be considered to be a legitimate form of transportation but you need to expand your narrow-minded thinking if that’s the case. At any rate I did list the Sebring, which is certainly adequate daily transportation, even for lazy people.

You have lost a potential customer in your oversight. If your application review personnel missed reading the Sebring and somehow just saw the Trek bicycle listed I can only wonder what kind of oversight they would make if I ever had to file a claim.

Sincerely,​

 

[Chrissss]

Sounds like they didn't believe you. I'm not sure I would have mentioned a bicycle as daily transportation. You may want to try Erie Insurance. That's who I am with and they give me a great rate on all my cars. I have been with them a while so that may have a lot to do with it but I think it may be worth a call at least.

 

[RoadiJeff]

Sounds like they didn't believe you. I'm not sure I would have mentioned a bicycle as daily transportation. You may want to try Erie Insurance. That's who I am with and they give me a great rate on all my cars. I have been with them a while so that may have a lot to do with it but I think it may be worth a call at least.

Thanks for the tip. I just tried their instant quote utility and it says I'm outside of their coverage area.

My old insurance company Fidelity National wasn't all that bad at $600/yr. I was just trying to save a few dollars with Grundy and I'd heard good things about them from other VCA members. I frequently shop around and compare rates when my renewal notice arrives in the mail, whether it's homeowner's or car.

Maybe I'll include a pic of all my vehicles when I mail my letter to Grundy Monday.

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[V10SpeedLuvr]

Did you try to list anyone else as a driver on the Viper (wife, kid, etc)? I've read policies like this require adequate DD for each person listed on the collector car (ie Viper). In the fine print, they probably define "adequate" as motorized only. Just a guess/idea.

 

[GTS1997]

While we are on the subject of Grundy insurance(Not to hijack this thread), I'm curious if Grundy has ever paid out a previously agreed upon amount (higher than blue book value) for a "totaled" or stolen Viper? Has anyone had experience in this?

The reason I ask is becuase I am thinking about using them, but if they give this much trouble to their potential customers, the original poster, I would think they would be more likely to give "reasons" why they could only pay out blue book value.

I am debating wether to switch to them, but with all the problems they seem to give their potential customers, I could much more easily stick with my own insurance company for the same problems.

 

[GTSPOWERED]

I have Grundy insurance and this year some one slamed my door and chiped it make this story short the insurance agent was degrading to me and I had to be unpleasent to get the repairs done. When my insurance runs out I do not think I will relist with them again.

I am now searching around for a better company.

 

[GTS1997]

Hmmmm, I think it would be a good idea for Grundy to get letters from several of us on here. If they get several letters from customers, that explain why they are switching companies, and from potential customers, who explain why we refuse to use them, ............... maybe then they would see that there are consequences for the way they have treated the VCA Viper owners.

Just a suggestion.

 

[RoadiJeff]

Did you try to list anyone else as a driver on the Viper (wife, kid, etc)? I've read policies like this require adequate DD for each person listed on the collector car (ie Viper). In the fine print, they probably define "adequate" as motorized only. Just a guess/idea.

Well, now there's something I hadn't considered. My wife and myself are the only two licensed drivers living at our house. I just listed me as the insured driver, since my wife says she does not want to risk a divorce if she were to drive the Viper and wreck it. She doesn't mind being a passenger.

She has her own DD car but I didn't list it because I don't drive it and I figured it would be irrelevant to the person who is the sole driver of the Viper.

I felt a little uneasy anyway due to the waiver I had to sign about not driving the Viper to work or school. If I ever would drive it to work and had an accident Grundy would not pay for any damages.

Anyway, it looks like I'm not the only disgruntled current or potential Grundy insurance customer, from reading some of the replies.

 

[tmish]

I had Grundy quote once during a visit to Spring or Fall Carlisle. The quote was ridiculous. I've had American Collectors Insurance for my other collector cars for years, no problems, but honestly no claims either. For my 69 Vette (sold when I acquired the Viper) and my 64 Fury the cost was cheap but for the Viper it isn't cheap, I think around $900/year but I cancel the collision when in storage here in PA and it saves me close to $200 so when all said and done I'd suggest anyone give them a try for a quote.

 

[AZTVR]

I'm finished with Grundy. It was only a savings of $75/yr anyway. I don't want any futher frustration if this is what I can expect from them in the future.

Here's their rejection letter and my reply I just finished writing.

Maybe it would be more productive to just call them up and talk to a real person and ask if there was a misunderstanding.

It is so easy to read so much into a simple letter. What I have found out is that when you actually talk to a person, sometimes you get a better exchange of information than you get through a few written words.

 

[Wedge500]

I also tried the Grundy route to save money on my classic cars(Cuda and Coronet) and they also denied me for no real reason. I think I mentioned that I would occasionally drive them to work.

I have since gone with Hagerty and highly recommend them. They are very nice to deal with over the phone and the pricing was very reasonable.

 

[AZTVR]

I also tried the Grundy route to save money on my classic cars(Cuda and Coronet) and they also denied me for no real reason. I think I mentioned that I would occasionally drive them to work.

I have since gone with Hagerty and highly recommend them. They are very nice to deal with over the phone and the pricing was very reasonable.

I thought that Haggerty did not allow the insured car to be driven to work, either.

 

[Wedge500]

The only provision that I was told by Hagerty is that this car can not be your primary vehicle. They also ask that I limit the miles driven to 3500-4000 miles per year but they do not record the miles off the odometer, so good luck on tracking actual miles driven.

Another reason I like Hagerty is they allowed me to add my 1990 5.0 Stang with them. Normally they do not allow for this new "non exotic" of a car but they did for me and it saved me a ton from Allstate, who I carry for everything else. Plus now that car is covered for an agreed value, not some book value.

 

[Ricketts]

I talked to Hagerty and they told me in NC my car wasn't old enough.

 

[Wedge500]

I talked to Hagerty and they told me in NC my car wasn't old enough.

I wonder if coverage is different state to state?

I checked their website out of curiosity and all of our Vipers should be covered under their "Exotic and Special Interest Category". In fact, they even state the Viper in their description of this category.

 

[white out]

I'm surprised that the Sebring isn't enough.

Nick

 

[lh4x4]

They require a DD for each driver in the household. The best way to establish that is not just saying you have such and such. The best method is to provide a copy of your DD's insurance policy.

I have three Corvettes and the Viper on collector car insurance which has the agreed value clause, one liability fee for 100/300K, zero deductibile on comp/collision. The total yearly fee is less than what Allstate, State Farm, Country companies and Farm Bureau wanted for just one Vette with $1k deductable and the car depreciates each year.

They want a photografic record of the vehicle, info and pictures of where the car is parked and a signed agreement on limiting the use to only pleasure driving. Grundy unlike others in the collector insurance market does not limit mileage which makes it easier to take long vactions with the car. That is why I didn't go with Haggerty and the fact that they turned up their nose at my wanting to add a MX-5. They like secure locations, fire suppression and locked facilities.

My yearly fee is just under $1,800 with the Viper being the highest at $525. The fee is based on so much per $1K of agreed value so there is no difference in any type collector car only the agreed on value that it is insured for.

Farm Bureau wanted $500/6mos for min. liab. only on one Vette!
In this area FB is a little lower than the other major companies that I listed. I check coverage at renewal time each year and inspite of the TV adds like Progresse, Geico and Alstate have claiming many hundreds of dollars saving, none have beat FB for price on my DD's.

None have beat the collector car price on Grundy's insurance either.

I have fifty collector bicycles in the garage and three motorcycles along with the cars. So maybe they were sure that I had alternative rides.

 

[VenomSteve]

I had Grundy quote once during a visit to Spring or Fall Carlisle. The quote was ridiculous. I've had American Collectors Insurance for my other collector cars for years, no problems, but honestly no claims either. For my 69 Vette (sold when I acquired the Viper) and my 64 Fury the cost was cheap but for the Viper it isn't cheap, I think around $900/year but I cancel the collision when in storage here in PA and it saves me close to $200 so when all said and done I'd suggest anyone give them a try for a quote.

I got the opposite treatment, after a claim (totaled), American Collectors was not interested on quoting the Viper and also was not interested on my old classic truck (because a truck must be for work ). Anyhow, Got Grundy now with no problem and cheaper. And no, none are daily driver, if that makes a difference.

 

[PDCjonny]

I have both my Vipers insured with Grundy and have for several years. They required pictures and proof of daily driver but had no problem getting agreed value on them. I have 60K agreed on my Blue/White and 50k on my red Viper. I pay about $750.00 per year each. Less than half what Geico wanted with no agreed value, Geico didn't offer it. No way am I going to haggle about the value of my car with some insurance adjuster if it gets wrecked, just send me a check.

I used them once to replace the windshield in my '98, no small change at over $800.00. No problem.

No other insurance company was comparable with those agreed value figures.

 

[RoadiJeff]

I'm finished with Grundy. It was only a savings of $75/yr anyway.

Here's an update to all of this. I've never heard back from Grundy after I sent them my reply letter about being turned down.

However, I contacted my old insurance agent and told him I wanted to renew the Viper. When I received my bill the other day I noticed that they had lowered the rate by $158/yr. I'm now paying $440/yr with a $500 ded. and no mileage restrictions or drive to work waiver, unlike what Grundy wanted. I'll take it.

 

[Venomiss]

Here's an update to all of this. I've never heard back from Grundy after I sent them my reply letter about being turned down.

However, I contacted my old insurance agent and told him I wanted to renew the Viper. When I received my bill the other day I noticed that they had lowered the rate by $158/yr. I'm now paying $440/yr with a $500 ded. and no mileage restrictions or drive to work waiver, unlike what Grundy wanted. I'll take it.

How long have you been with Fidelity?

 

[past ohio]

Try LeLand West in California.....800-237-4722

 

[VIPER GTSR 91]

Grundy is a scam. They would not insure my old Viper when I told them it would strictly be used for car shows?? Glad you got your check back.

 

[PDCjonny]

Grundy is a scam. They would not insure my old Viper when I told them it would strictly be used for car shows?? Glad you got your check back.

There's more to that story, or they would insure it.
Doubt they are in business to decline reasonable applications.

 

[AZTVR]

Grundy is a scam. They would not insure my old Viper when I told them it would strictly be used for car shows?? Glad you got your check back.

Did they take your money, refuse to ensure your car and then not give the money back ? I haven't heard about any scams like that attributed to them before.

 

[lh4x4]

You must not have provided a copy of insurance on your DD. They don't do anything on the phone but to get your address and send an application. If you do not submit a complete application, then you are out of the picture.

As I posted, I have had them for four years and am very pleased with them. I check all of the other insurance options each year before renewal time and can find no one that will even come close on my four sports cars. Remember the savings add up on over one car as you only pay the liability once. The liability on 4 is the same as on one. That's big dollars. Also no deductible on comp and collision.

I do have one grip. They only offer 100/300 liability limits. That was okay until this year when my Umbrella policy for 1 mil was ended unless I would have 300/500 on all the cars.

 

[RoadiJeff]

How long have you been with Fidelity?

I think it's been about 5 years. I also have my homeowner's insurance with them so I get a slight multiple policy discount.

I just got back from vacation and found another renewal notice for the Viper. They've lowered the rate to $210 every 6 months. Maybe I should threaten to change insurance companies more often.