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TR2/3/3A Insurance denied: TR3A not EPA legal in US...????

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Disconcerting IF it is "not EPA legal", since the EPA doesn't cover anything older than 1967 or so.
CARB a year or so earlier.
Now, if "change" dictates that we suddenly have to have EVERY existing motor vehicle meet EPA standards, well, the old car hobby just died.

I can't wait to hear this.
 
I, for one, would be interested in some sort of written documentation from Travelers as to why pretty much any 1959 car (be it Triumph or Ford or Skoda!) would not be legal in the US. As mentioned by others, it certainly has nothing to do with EPA standards, and it probably doesn't have anything to do with Federal safety standards, as I'm not sure there were many Federal standards in 1959. There were some standards (some of which might have followed Federal guidelines, but I think might have been applied more at the state level), such as laminated safety glass windshields and sealed beam headlamps, but not a whole lot else!
 
Perhaps the agent, being malinformed, was unable to find TR3 in the "books" and so came back with the "not EPA legal" line rather than admit they were lost.....?
 
Yeah, I have that with some of my cars and trucks.
Allstate could not find an F-1 Ford, so my 50 Pickup is listed as a "1950 E-100".
Go figure.

Chances are it's a trainee agent.
 
Of course it is a guess, but I think that Silverghost is probably on the right track, I would bet that the agent punched the car into the computer system (like our freinds at the chain store parts counters!)and the computer system either did not recognize it and they made up the EPA line, or the computer system actually defauilts to not USE/EPA legal when it can't find a car.

Or maybe it is the old universal vin code thing that they implemented in what was it 1980 or so? And cars prior don't play so well with databases like Carfax and such, so maybe if that VIN doesn't come up as a match it must be "non-us legal"

In any event I would talk to someone else about insuring the car, the office you talked to is either not interested or capable of figuring out how to do it.
 
TR6BILL said:
Call <span style="color: #009900"><span style="font-size: 14pt">AMERICAN COLLECTOR</span></span> in Cherry Hill, NJ. Good people with many plans for collector cars. An alternative to Hagerty.
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Howdy Folks,

Question; Is "American Collector" the same as "Condon & Skelly"? I had them for yrs & they came thru with flying colors when my TR4A got "T" boned in a USPS parking lot! They dropped me after settling the claim cause it was questionable whether I was on a "Pleasure Drive" or getting something from USPS?

I`m currently with "Grundy" (TR3 & TR4). All of the normal coverages. I needed to get the TR4 flatbedded after I purchased her but "Grundy" does`nt have "Towing" service in "SC"!! That was an un-pleasant surprise. I`m going to check out "Haggerty" to see if they do in SC?

Your "Travelers" agent does`nt know what He/She is talking about. It basically sounds like don`t have any info. in their computer on your TR3 (As most don`t) so; They simply don`t want to cover it. I`d tell them where to go!

Regards, Russ
 
(I still think it's funny. There are 26 replies already, even tho' we don't know the details of what he was told, we don't know what type of driving he plans, and we have only a vague reference to EPA.)

I bet Parker checked in to make his second post, then saw all the "buy this! do this!" comments, and ran screaming into the woods.

Tom
 
I use Hagerty, have used Taylor in the past. Both good company's to work with. Hagerty pretty much lets you set the cars value, then verifys it with photos you send them. Easy! But, I don't know how they feel about daily drivers. PJ
 
Sounds like the problem I had getting my 73 Spit insured. The agent couldn't get the computer to take the car info. We spent 45 minutes of so going though the books and finally found the correct car code. Once the correct code was put in there was no more issues.
 
NutmegCT said:
Just a thought ... maybe instead of everybody telling him what to do ... we could wait 'til he gives us more details on exactly what he was told?

Parker, welcome to BCF!

T.
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It will be nice if he offers additional information, but in the meantime, I think it's human nature for people to have a conversation (and in some cases welcome him to the forum). I don't necessarily disagree that more information would be helpful, but if we were to always shut down the conversation after one reply asking for more info, the forum would get pretty boring pretty fast. I'm just sayin'.
 
I just got the renewal for my car insurance in the mail today. All three cars are in mint condition - Honda Civic 1993, Buick LeSabre 1998 and my 1958 TR3A which in a 96 point car and is insured for an agreed $30,000. I drive them like any and all family cars with 103,000 miles on the TR in the past 20 years.

I never had a problem with insurance for the TR3A.

The total fee for all three cars for the next year is CDN $853 which today equals about US $835.00.
 

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I, too, have Traveler's for both my home and my (4) daily drivers. Shortly after acquiring my 1969 TR6, I contacted my agent regarding insuring the 6. She pretty much told me that Travelers didn't want anything to do with the car. It had nothing to do with any perceived emissions garbage -- seemed to be solely based on the car's age.
As an aside, our 1980 Vespa is insured with Progressive -- through my Travelers agent.
Bottom line, I think Travelers doesn't really have a mechanism in place for insuring older or classic cars like our Triumphs. If your agent represents several different companies, he or she can recommend the best option. Otherwise, it's up to you to shop around..
Steve
 
Sounds like an error by Travelers.

As Basil says, let's wait for clarification. But at the end of the day, Travelers is not legally complelled to insure your car, if they have a compelling reason not to.

You're probably about to learn about Travelers' "compelling reason". If so, let your fingers do the walking in your Yellow Pages (or internet). I'd practically guarantee you can find a lower premium with another, highly rated carrier. This may also give you the opportunity to combine all your coverage with one Agent/insurer, which may result in discounts, etc.

Silver lining . . . :yesnod:
 
Wow! 34 replies... No, I haven't run for the hills, just didn't expect anyone much to reply until the weekend. When I told my wife there were 34 replies she said: "Those guys are all obsessed with their cars, just like you!" I hope she's right! Thanks for all the "welcomes" and for all of the information. I've now learned more about the "Travelers Problem." My insurance agent had given them a VERY incorrect VIN number... but even with the corrected number, they won't insure it. They've stopped hiding behind the "EPA" excuse, and now my agent tells me they're just not interested in writing a policy for such an old car. So... she got me a policy with Progressive -- for less money. Problem solved!

Thanks again for all of your thoughts on this. Looks like I've joined an active and very well informed forum!

- Parker
LBC: 1959 TR3A, Under Restoration
Insured through: PROGRESSIVE!
 
Hey - welcome back!

Glad you got it all sorted out. By the way, you've got at least one Private Message waiting. While you're logged in, click the flashing "envelope" up at the top of the page, near "My Stuff".

"Obsessed with their cars", "active", "well informed" - yep, you could say that alright. Join the club!

Now ... sure would be nice to see some pictures of that TR3 of yours.

Good to have you with us.
Tom
 
Parker said:
Thanks again for all of your thoughts on this. Looks like I've joined an active and very well informed forum!
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You don't know th' HALF of it!!! This bunch are th' most pro-active English car bunch on th' 'net. Don't wait DAYS to check back! We've been known to even fix problems in "real time" or sometimes even before they're posted (!).... :smirk:

WELCOME to th' forum!
 
Parker said:
When I told my wife there were 34 replies she said: "Those guys are all obsessed with their cars, just like you!" I hope she's right!
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She's right, we are all sick. Welcome to the club!
 
Parker said:
So... she got me a policy with Progressive -- for less money.
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Just think how much they could save you on your other cars as well!

And BTW, welcome to the asylum !!
 
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