Stag - insurance cover for theft if soft top not raised

[Peter707R]

Hi all,

Am I alone in believing that we still had theft cover for taking "reasonable precautions" when leaving our cars parked with the soft-top down? Just had my Richardson Hoskins renewal details through and spotted that at some point in the last few years they have changed the "rules" such that they exclude cover if the car is left unattended with the soft-top down.

I have been used to leaving the car with the roof down, locked and anti-theft device attached to gear-lever/handbrake during the summer months if rain is not forecast, it now seems that if my car is stolen I have no cover.

Are there any other companies which still offer cover for "topless" motoring?

[Motorsport Micky]

I'm with Peter James insurance and had a similar discussion with them along the lines of their "catch all" phrasing similar to the words you use above and explained that if I'm out using the Stag with the top down and I call into a shop or other similar establishment they can forget me having to put up my top...because I won't !
There was a lot of humming and haaing and they then accepted that was an unreasonable expectation but it's very much based upon each case and they wouldn't be likely to be picking up a bill if I left my car outside my house overnight, even on the drive, with the top down. They say the risk increase substantially if a ner do well has more time allowed them to examine and categorise their own chance of being nicked when stealing a car. So unless anybody knows different I think most insurance will read it the same way...of course you could declare to them that your car isn't fitted with a hood (it's under the tonneau what do they know) or hardtop and then let them give you an insurance price accordingly...it may not vary.

Micky

[marshman]

Just checked several of my policies:

Peter James - Stag - as Micky said -weasel words about locked and secured

Lancaster Specialist (Classic) - Land Rover 110 - Loss or damage not covered if car left unlocked or keys in it

Saga - wife's MX5 (Soft Top) - Not covered if car not FULLY locked and secured

Gave up at this point!


I think you will have to get some quotes then ask the question like Micky did. Trouble is I don't think you will like the answers. Probably best sticking to the specialist brokers.

Hopefully someone on here will be along to tell us of someone that does cover the car left with the softtop left down.

Roger

[mike@thenook]

I’ll have to take a closer look at mine as being with the RH club scheme I’d be most upset if I have no theft cover (for the car itself) if it’s left with the roof down while immobilised and a steering lock fitted.
This is something that will need to be addressed as a soft top, particularly on a Stag, is not going to put off a determined thief!

[Motorsport Micky]

"This is something that will need to be addressed as a soft top, particularly on a Stag, is not going to put off a determined thief!"

Lets be honest, the Stag door locks are 1970s standard which means one key cut will open at least 7 other variations, and that's before they become worn when they most resemble a skeleton key and can manage even more, even if the steering lock is more resilient. A soft top with a 1 metre slit in it will be the result of having secure door locks, mohair or double duck is not blade proof which swells the insurance claim cost even more. But insurance thinking is developed and linked to psychometric practices based upon the old adage of a building with a broken window not promptly repaired attracts vandals and further breakages and burglary crimes.

Micky

[richardthestag]

When I lived in Epsom I never locked my Stag, pretty much haven't since - method in my madness?

A mate had his Spitfire hood slashed so they could get the door open and then find it immobilised and give up.

I leave nothing inside the car that could get stolen and would rather not have to replace my mohair hood each time some skanky twat decided to check inside my car if anything were worth liberating to fuel his drug habit. *

My car has an immobiliser and tracker fitted.

I reckon a wet lolly stick will open the car door and if someone is determined then the car will go

This trend for insurers is indeed worrying, I guess it gives them options for wriggling out of claims "you didnt click the volcano protection check box?"

[milothedog]

Many years ago a nieghbour had the hood on his MX5 cut open, all for a hand full of change in the car

[Peter707R]

The roof is the draw with such cars - mine was parked with roof up and some kindly sole decided the easiest way into the car was to slash the roof and enter through the hole. They stole a number of items - a trip computer (yes I found one to fit the Stag and it would do MPG although I suspect was faulty as it rarely showed anything above 20MPG!), a graphic equaliser (fitted to the radio) , taken by cutting any wires and ripping out (so no use anymore), a packet of photo's of my house being built and a bag of sweets. So with the roof up as a deterrent the insurance company ended up paying for a new roof (£400) which could have been avoided.

Interestingly the lorries which park up around Ashford often have their rear doors left open overnight to show there is nothing worth stealing - I see this as the situation when the roof is down i.e. they can see nothing in the car so move onto the next one with items inside a locked hard-top and enter using a rock/brick through the window.

I've raised this with the Club insurance officer - maybe common sense could prevail here and we go back to how the policy used to be. Fingers crossed.

[milothedog]

The roof is the draw with such cars - mine was parked with roof up and some kindly sole decided the easiest way into the car was to slash the roof and enter through the hole. They stole a number of items - a trip computer (yes I found one to fit the Stag and it would do MPG although I suspect was faulty as it rarely showed anything above 20MPG!), a graphic equaliser (fitted to the radio) , taken by cutting any wires and ripping out (so no use anymore), a packet of photo's of my house being built and a bag of sweets. So with the roof up as a deterrent the insurance company ended up paying for a new roof (£400) which could have been avoided.

Interestingly the lorries which park up around Ashford often have their rear doors left open overnight to show there is nothing worth stealing - I see this as the situation when the roof is down i.e. they can see nothing in the car so move onto the next one with items inside a locked hard-top and enter using a rock/brick through the window.

I've raised this with the Club insurance officer - maybe common sense could prevail here and we go back to how the policy used to be. Fingers crossed.

It was the case with the club insurance that they wouldn't insure any car that wasn't garaged or on a private drive. I spoke at length about this with them at the NEC one year but they just weren't interested. Even when I explained that not everybody has a garage / private parking and surely the whole point of a club scheme was to benefit its members by making extra provision form them not normally afforded to Joe public.. Incidentally Lancaster who I have been with for nine years are happy for it to be left in the street overnight (£10 extra on the premium) And a lot cheaper than the club scheme.

[Motorsport Micky]

Indecently, ...(Huh ?)

Lancaster who I have been with for nine years are happy for it to be left in the street overnight (£10 extra on the premium) And a lot cheaper than the club scheme.

Thanks for the tip, I'll try them later in the year.

Micky

[milothedog]

Indecently, ...(Huh ?)

Lancaster who I have been with for nine years are happy for it to be left in the street overnight (£10 extra on the premium) And a lot cheaper than the club scheme.

Thanks for the tip, I'll try them later in the year.

Micky

Productive spolling

[Peter707R]

Update following the approach of the Club Insurance officers to RH/ERS - surprising relaxed response to the wording of the policy not being something they might chose to rely upon- copied below. Looks like we're back to where we used to be with "reasonable precautions" - of course this may be open to debate. Hopefully they'll progress the reprint to remove this anomaly.

From: Ray, Joanne [mailto:Joanne.Ray@ers.com]
Sent: 09 March 2018 11:49
To: Airey Emma
Cc: Garrett, Mark; Stoneley, Jason
Subject: RE: [EXT] FW: (EXT) FW: Classic Direct - Renewal Invitation - Peter F Webb - 2418732

Hi Emma

There was a core wording change in 2012 which mentioned the soft tops. We have always taken a sensible approach to any claims, as long as the client has been taking reasonable precautions to protect their property then claims have been met.

We have recently reviewed this when looking over the policy wording and it will be changed back to the original wording (this should be shortly as GDPR forcing a policy book refresh) to stop any concerns clients have.

Any phone calls that we have taken from clients we have reassured them that cover is in force if the soft top is down and reasonable precautions have been taken to protect their property.

In the back of my mind, I think Steve Keifer raised this and we addressed it with him then (this was a number of years ago)

Hope this clarifies, if you need anything else from us, then let us know

Thanks
Jo

Joanne Ray Senior Underwriter Bespoke Motor ERS

[ReddiStag]

That email from ERS is reassuring as I had noticed the wording when I took out their insurance last November, though I might email them myself later in the summer (post-GDPR) for personal confirmation if they don't circulate customers anyway. I agree that a hood up won't really prevent 'theft of' - alarm, immobiliser, tracker etc would be the factors there - whereas an empty interior and hood down would prevent most 'theft from'.

[thebadleys]

When I had both a MGB roadster and the Stag I stored the B at a friends fully alarmed and securely locked business unit, normally staffed 5 1/2 day a week 12 hours a day, his property insurance were notified and provided the fuel tank was not above 1/4 and the battery disconnected it would not affect his insurance.

However Carol Nash, who I was with at the time, were not and would not cover it whilst stored there, but if it was outside on my drive or on the road outside my house it would be covered !! No amount of discussion would persuade them other wise.

Nigel

[KOY 23]

The roof is the draw with such cars - mine was parked with roof up and some kindly sole decided the easiest way into the car was to slash the roof and enter through the hole. They stole a number of items - a trip computer (yes I found one to fit the Stag and it would do MPG although I suspect was faulty as it rarely showed anything above 20MPG!), a graphic equaliser (fitted to the radio) , taken by cutting any wires and ripping outH (so no use anymore), a packet of photo's of my house being built and a bag of sweets. So with the roof up as a deterrent the insurance company ended up paying for a new roof (£400) which could have been avoided

I've raised this with the Club insurance officer - maybe common sense could prevail here and we go back to how the policy used to be. Fingers crossed.

There’s a clue here

Thank you for clarifying hood situation, I have found RH very realistic regarding modifications.