Short answer: No notable issues with claim. They were MORE than fair.
Long Answer: After 20+ years of using Hagerty to insure my 1965 Mustang Convertible, I finally had a claim. I was driving on a state highway one Sunday morning, last month, when a light mist started falling. As I approached a steep incline (going 45 in a 45), I gave it a bit of gas, my transmission downshifted and immediately the back end broke loose (347, 3.55's, Auburn posi, road is slick as snot...you get the picture), the rear swung left and headed me toward a guard rail, I corrected into the skid and the rear swung back to the right, passed me, and I continued to slide backwards, uphill, across 3 (THANK GOD) empty traffic lanes. The rear of the car mostly jumped a 4-foot road ditch and the car came to rest perfectly perpendicular to the highway with the front wheels still on the shoulder, the *** end buried into a grassy embankment, and me sitting about 4-feet above the bottom of the road ditch needing a tow.
There were 2 cops there (both off duty) within 2 minutes of the crash. An on duty officer arrived 3 minutes later and evaluated me and then kept me company (and kept traffic flowing) until the roll back got there. He winched the car straight across the ditch. It sort of skidded out on my subframe connectors until the back wheels got across the ditch and out of the air. The only damage underneath was a crushed oil pan.
Out back, the rear valence was crumpled like a beer can. The fuel tank had a dent in it (minor)...and not much else. Even the rear bumper was unscathed. BUT these mustangs are floppy as hell, especially convertibles, so it didn't take the blow without issues. The passenger quarter panel ended up with a dent in it where it flexed and didn't come back. The front of both quarter panels pushed forwards into the door jams hard enough to take paint off the quarters, the doors, and even a few flakes off the fenders at the door seam. I mean, basically the car needed a new rear valence and 10 square inches repainted. But that repaint included spots on both rear quarters, both doors and both fenders.
The rolllback dropped my car off at my house ($150), and I immediately called Hagerty. They made sure I was OK (only issue was a deep depression over tearing up my baby) and got some preliminary information to get the process started. On Monday they followed up to let me know when an independent estimator would be there to see my car. In the meantime, I took the old valence off and zip tied the license plate to the car to get it driveable (the oil pan crunch did not affect oil pressure) and drove the car to my body shop guy.
He looked at where the paint was jacked up and said, "I want paint the whole car". I was floored, but I learned a long time ago not to tell experts how to do their job when I have no idea how to paint a car. So....I asked how much? He gave me a ballpark (base coat/clear coat no color change), and I went home to wait on the appraiser.
The appraiser came and looked at the car. We ran it up on my lift so he could see the oil pan needed replaced. He also noted the gas tank would have to be replaced to make it right (I didn't end up doing that). The exhaust system under my 4R70W was banged up in spots...but I told him to ignore that. It's been like that for a while (car is low. stuff happens.) I told him my guy said it needed a full respray. The estimator was non-committal. He neither confirmed or denied, he just filled out the paperwork. He was very thorough though and professional.
Several more days passed and I finally got a call from Hagerty. They had reviewed the claim and indicated they would be cutting me a check for right at $2000 more than my guy ballparked me for the respray (keep in mind I also had an oil pan to fix and there was credit for replacing the gas tank, and a tow bill that was not in the body shop's number...which was only a ball park.) They further informed me that the claim could be adjusted if any hidden damage was found during repairs.
So, I called the body guy and he ordered the paint (materials were well over $1000 to paint the car). I got with NPD and ordered a repop GT valence, backup light assemblies, new rocker moldings, and one of the all metal hood scoops ('cause I've always wanted one....and seems like this is the only time to do it). The check came made out to me. I swapped out the oil pan with a scott drake 6 quart pan, fel pro 1 piece gasket AND an upgraded (+25%) oil pump while I had the pan off. Then I waited for my appointment and dropped it off at the body shop.
While I was waiting, I had the local glass guy come over an replace the windshield. The oem one (original) has been scratched badly from the time I bought the car in 1994. Figured I had a few extra benjamins here, so I might as well fix something that needed fixed.
The body shop kept the car 9 days. I picked it up yesterday. They did a great job. The scoop is going to take some getting use to I have to say, but that has nothing to do with the wreck or the claim. The actual price ended up being $500 LESS than the ballpark. (Remember up above when I called the guy MY bodyshop guy. That's why he is and will continue to be until he retires someday).
I haven't run the whole list yet, but at the end of all this I can say:
1. I messed up and wrecked my car.
2. My car now looks better than it has in at least 10 years (the old paint was about 15 years old).
3. I got a new windshield.
4. I got an upgraded oil pump and upgraded oil pan that doesn't leak and I now have 40 PSI of oil pressure at highway speeds...was more like 25 PSI) which I feel better about.
5. I got a scoop. Not sure I like it.
6. I've still got more than 2 grand left.
7. The whole process was slow...but it's not like there was ever a big rush to fix this car. I did miss one parade that I had promised I would haul the festival chairperson in...but she found a t-bird to ride in...so all remained Ford and all was good.
I have to say that went a lot better than I had any right to expect it would.
Phil
Long Answer: After 20+ years of using Hagerty to insure my 1965 Mustang Convertible, I finally had a claim. I was driving on a state highway one Sunday morning, last month, when a light mist started falling. As I approached a steep incline (going 45 in a 45), I gave it a bit of gas, my transmission downshifted and immediately the back end broke loose (347, 3.55's, Auburn posi, road is slick as snot...you get the picture), the rear swung left and headed me toward a guard rail, I corrected into the skid and the rear swung back to the right, passed me, and I continued to slide backwards, uphill, across 3 (THANK GOD) empty traffic lanes. The rear of the car mostly jumped a 4-foot road ditch and the car came to rest perfectly perpendicular to the highway with the front wheels still on the shoulder, the *** end buried into a grassy embankment, and me sitting about 4-feet above the bottom of the road ditch needing a tow.
There were 2 cops there (both off duty) within 2 minutes of the crash. An on duty officer arrived 3 minutes later and evaluated me and then kept me company (and kept traffic flowing) until the roll back got there. He winched the car straight across the ditch. It sort of skidded out on my subframe connectors until the back wheels got across the ditch and out of the air. The only damage underneath was a crushed oil pan.
Out back, the rear valence was crumpled like a beer can. The fuel tank had a dent in it (minor)...and not much else. Even the rear bumper was unscathed. BUT these mustangs are floppy as hell, especially convertibles, so it didn't take the blow without issues. The passenger quarter panel ended up with a dent in it where it flexed and didn't come back. The front of both quarter panels pushed forwards into the door jams hard enough to take paint off the quarters, the doors, and even a few flakes off the fenders at the door seam. I mean, basically the car needed a new rear valence and 10 square inches repainted. But that repaint included spots on both rear quarters, both doors and both fenders.
The rolllback dropped my car off at my house ($150), and I immediately called Hagerty. They made sure I was OK (only issue was a deep depression over tearing up my baby) and got some preliminary information to get the process started. On Monday they followed up to let me know when an independent estimator would be there to see my car. In the meantime, I took the old valence off and zip tied the license plate to the car to get it driveable (the oil pan crunch did not affect oil pressure) and drove the car to my body shop guy.
He looked at where the paint was jacked up and said, "I want paint the whole car". I was floored, but I learned a long time ago not to tell experts how to do their job when I have no idea how to paint a car. So....I asked how much? He gave me a ballpark (base coat/clear coat no color change), and I went home to wait on the appraiser.
The appraiser came and looked at the car. We ran it up on my lift so he could see the oil pan needed replaced. He also noted the gas tank would have to be replaced to make it right (I didn't end up doing that). The exhaust system under my 4R70W was banged up in spots...but I told him to ignore that. It's been like that for a while (car is low. stuff happens.) I told him my guy said it needed a full respray. The estimator was non-committal. He neither confirmed or denied, he just filled out the paperwork. He was very thorough though and professional.
Several more days passed and I finally got a call from Hagerty. They had reviewed the claim and indicated they would be cutting me a check for right at $2000 more than my guy ballparked me for the respray (keep in mind I also had an oil pan to fix and there was credit for replacing the gas tank, and a tow bill that was not in the body shop's number...which was only a ball park.) They further informed me that the claim could be adjusted if any hidden damage was found during repairs.
So, I called the body guy and he ordered the paint (materials were well over $1000 to paint the car). I got with NPD and ordered a repop GT valence, backup light assemblies, new rocker moldings, and one of the all metal hood scoops ('cause I've always wanted one....and seems like this is the only time to do it). The check came made out to me. I swapped out the oil pan with a scott drake 6 quart pan, fel pro 1 piece gasket AND an upgraded (+25%) oil pump while I had the pan off. Then I waited for my appointment and dropped it off at the body shop.
While I was waiting, I had the local glass guy come over an replace the windshield. The oem one (original) has been scratched badly from the time I bought the car in 1994. Figured I had a few extra benjamins here, so I might as well fix something that needed fixed.
The body shop kept the car 9 days. I picked it up yesterday. They did a great job. The scoop is going to take some getting use to I have to say, but that has nothing to do with the wreck or the claim. The actual price ended up being $500 LESS than the ballpark. (Remember up above when I called the guy MY bodyshop guy. That's why he is and will continue to be until he retires someday).
I haven't run the whole list yet, but at the end of all this I can say:
1. I messed up and wrecked my car.
2. My car now looks better than it has in at least 10 years (the old paint was about 15 years old).
3. I got a new windshield.
4. I got an upgraded oil pump and upgraded oil pan that doesn't leak and I now have 40 PSI of oil pressure at highway speeds...was more like 25 PSI) which I feel better about.
5. I got a scoop. Not sure I like it.
6. I've still got more than 2 grand left.
7. The whole process was slow...but it's not like there was ever a big rush to fix this car. I did miss one parade that I had promised I would haul the festival chairperson in...but she found a t-bird to ride in...so all remained Ford and all was good.
I have to say that went a lot better than I had any right to expect it would.
Phil