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Insurance for engine swaps?

ShadowsPapa

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Hagerty is great. I have them for several vehicles. However, they do not write for a daily driver and won't write for a modern car unless its pretty rare. They also have use and mileage limitations.
They are for classics, antiques and collectables.

Even my insurance won't cover my Javelin if I start using it as a grocery getter. On the way to an event, parade or whatever, yes. Limited number of miles per year - it's rather generous, but still......

For my Eagle - since I do drive it just for fun, and at times as a daily driver, I cover it for what I have in it. I could never in a million years do it again for that, or even AT ALL, but at least I won't lose if something happens while I'm taking it out for fun.
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I have an 83 CJ and a 98 TJ insured with Hagerty along with other vehicles, None are daily drivers,
 

hobbsserv

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I'm looking to do a 505 AMW swap on my jeep. I have state farm and they say they don't cover added items like engine swap. I have called numerous companies and the max i have seen was 25K towards aftermarket mods. progressive said they can insure a stated value, but there is an Asterix that says they will pay the lesser of actual cash value or stated value, so basically actual cash value.
I am with Progressive and I am paying for the value I asked for. I asked them to value the Jeep and upgrades at $100k and I am paying on that. I am here in Florida. I was previously with Auto Owners and they asked me to provide receipts and said they would cover parts not labor.
 

RudeJeepin

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They are for classics, antiques and collectables.

Even my insurance won't cover my Javelin if I start using it as a grocery getter. On the way to an event, parade or whatever, yes. Limited number of miles per year - it's rather generous, but still......

For my Eagle - since I do drive it just for fun, and at times as a daily driver, I cover it for what I have in it. I could never in a million years do it again for that, or even AT ALL, but at least I won't lose if something happens while I'm taking it out for fun.
Your supposed to tell the insurance you were driving it for the enjoyment of others. That and you were on your way to an impromptu classic cr meet up.
I learned that when looking into getting collector plates for my old CJ. I drove it too much, hunting and general exploring the Gifford, to actually fit into the show box that was the collector plate requirements.
 

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Mr Miami

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It varies by company, but you mentioned SF, which is who I've had for decades.

Unfortunately I'm a bit experienced in this, as I've had a number of vehicles totaled out. I've never been at fault but have had to go thru the process enough that I can nearly handle it on my own at this point.

SF values vehicles that are totaled based off fair market value. So if it was totaled and you were not at fault you'd expect to get what other JTs in the area are selling for with similar trim and mileage. Far less than your truck would be worth with a swap.

The added options can be considered, they were on my Tundra that had over 10k in mods. The issue is that usually gets into arbitration with the other drivers insurance and while SF will initially pay out what you and they agree upon, if the arbiter fails to get the other insurance to cover the full cost it can negatively effect your rates.

This isnt popular I know, but that additional cost if not covered is commonly settled thru lawyers. If its 10s of thousands of dollars, it would be worth the lawyers fees.

Basically even if you can get it written into your plan you still run a good chance of paying an extra premium that may ultimately not be covered, at least not truly covered. All you'd know is they'd tell you nothing, the truck would be paid out and it'd look like you're all good, yet your rates suddenly increase multiple times over the next few years.

Basically if you are ok with that and a small premium month to month that may or may not work out in your favor then that's probably the best you can hope for.

Realistically I'd drive it, keep receipts and if needed get a lawyer should the worst happen.

If of course you were at fault for the accident all of the above goes out the window and your own insurance would become your enemy lol. Basically if they don't just opt out by canceling rather than paying anything, they will likely cover way less than you want. I've seen both sides of State Farm, when they don't go to bat for you it can be very contentious.

I had police statements, video evidence and city CCD footage of a guy blowing a red light, on pain meds and totaling one of my cars.

SF ended up settling 50/50 because my mediator didn't really want to do the work. Dealing with them promptly turned to legal jargon and veiled threats from my own provider.

Remember they're in the business of making money.

GL
You are absolutely right about their business is to make money. I had several discussions about insuring my Jeeps back in the 80's with my ex sister-in-law who had some sort of mid-level managerial job for SF. I have always insured my vehicles with SF and one evening when she and her husband came over, I asked her about what if anything I needed to do with my policy since I had a '67 Jeepster (around 15 years old at the time) that I had invested a lot of money in, probably as much as I had paid for it (suspension, wheels, interior, etc.).

Basically she told me to just keep quiet and not say a word about modifications because that "could" mean that they drop the policy when it comes up for renewal. And if I was in an accident that in any way could be traced back to the modifications, even if it can be determined that it was only a small percentage of the cause, they could still refuse to pay the claim. Basically, she said if I wanted to really be insured, get it from a different company that may insure it. That was back in the '80's and policies change and aftermarket stuff is more common and accepted now, but it is still an issue.

From the standpoint of an insurance company, which I can understand, they probably have very little to gain with insuring something that most don't fully understand. They may not even know what they are insuring and who was installing it to what, if any standards. Remember, they need to consider worst case scenarios like some suspension or steering component breaking or not being properly installed, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and hit a school bus full of kids.

In many cases, I bet they are insuring it just to retain the customers they have instead of wanting to be in the aftermarket insurance business. I get it, but it still can be frustrating to customers.
 
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ltdodge

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I am with Progressive and I am paying for the value I asked for. I asked them to value the Jeep and upgrades at $100k and I am paying on that. I am here in Florida. I was previously with Auto Owners and they asked me to provide receipts and said they would cover parts not labor.
check your policy, they were going to insure the amount i said just like you. but if you look at the asterick in your policy, it states in the event of a total loss they will pay out the maximum of either the LESSER ACV or stated value amount. the ACV would be the going rate of the same jeep that you have. did is not your stated value. if your policy doesnt say this, who is your insurance agent, cause I'm in Florida as well.

Also, progressive said they cannot insure higher than 4.5" lift

Jeep Gladiator Insurance for engine swaps? insuranc
 

hobbsserv

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check your policy, they were going to insure the amount i said just like you. but if you look at the asterick in your policy, it states in the event of a total loss they will pay out the maximum of either the LESSER ACV or stated value amount. the ACV would be the going rate of the same jeep that you have. did is not your stated value. if your policy doesnt say this, who is your insurance agent, cause I'm in Florida as well.

Also, progressive said they cannot insure higher than 4.5" lift

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Yes, mine says the same. I think we will be hard pressed to find coverage for full replacement value. I accept I will not get out of it what I spent, certainly the risk I am willing to take for all the fun I have driving mine. I think I will justify it, if the total loss happens, by subtracting what they pay out from what a replacement cost will be and divide that by the miles I have driven and caulk it up to the entertainment cost per mile.
 

Wheelin98TJ

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check your policy, they were going to insure the amount i said just like you. but if you look at the asterick in your policy, it states in the event of a total loss they will pay out the maximum of either the LESSER ACV or stated value amount. the ACV would be the going rate of the same jeep that you have. did is not your stated value. if your policy doesnt say this, who is your insurance agent, cause I'm in Florida as well.

Also, progressive said they cannot insure higher than 4.5" lift

insurance.webp
Is it ACV for a Hemi swapped JT?
 

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ltdodge

ltdodge

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Yes, mine says the same. I think we will be hard pressed to find coverage for full replacement value. I accept I will not get out of it what I spent, certainly the risk I am willing to take for all the fun I have driving mine. I think I will justify it, if the total loss happens, by subtracting what they pay out from what a replacement cost will be and divide that by the miles I have driven and caulk it up to the entertainment cost per mile.
your basicallay throwing your money away with the 100k coverage. if you have a total loss, they will cover a 2020 rubicon with whatever miles you have not all your mods.
 

Wheelin98TJ

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your basicallay throwing your money away with the 100k coverage. if you have a total loss, they will cover a 2020 rubicon with whatever miles you have not all your mods.
I don't know about that.

I had Progressive when my TJ was totaled. I provided receipts for mods to get them to pay more.
 

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check your policy, they were going to insure the amount i said just like you. but if you look at the asterick in your policy, it states in the event of a total loss they will pay out the maximum of either the LESSER ACV or stated value amount. the ACV would be the going rate of the same jeep that you have. did is not your stated value. if your policy doesnt say this, who is your insurance agent, cause I'm in Florida as well.

Also, progressive said they cannot insure higher than 4.5" lift

insurance.webp
More than 4"-4.5" isn't even road legal in many states
 

Rcoe

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I have USAA and they have the option to insure for 20% over value if vehicle is totaled. I have this option on all my cars and it does work. Last year my wife totaled her Infiniti, we got the valuation and then they tacked on another 4k for this extra coverage. Worked great and was only like another $7-8 every month.

Now on my Gladiator 20% over might not be enough and I have plans to ad a rider for 20k on it before we leave for Winrock this fall.
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