Supra Used Car Parts

Archive for the 'Ownership Tips' Category

Keeping Car Insurance Premiums Down for a Sports Car

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Buying car insurance for your sports car can be very expensive—if you can find a company that will insure your sports car in the first place. Sports cars have a high likelihood of being stolen, and replacement parts in cases of accidents or theft can be hard to find and are costly. Because of that, even if you have the money to buy a sports car and pay for coverage, many insurance companies may not agree to cover your high-end sports car at all. There are things, however, which you can do so that your premium would not cost a fortune if you do find a company to insure your sports car.

When you find car insurance online is a very good start since you have myriad choices and you can easily get information about each company and what their quotes are. Some companies even offer a lower sports car insurance premium just because you went the online route of purchasing coverage. If you can combine your home insurance with your car insurance it may also help in even lowering your premium.

If you have an impressive driving record, with no speeding tickets or any road accidents you’ve gotten into while driving, you’ll have a higher chance of getting a low premium. Maintain that driving record, however, even as you drive your sports car. Park it in the most secure of locations and ensure it has all safety and security features it can be equipped with, starting with a very annoying car alarm and steering wheel lock—all precautionary measures for when anyone gets spoken to by the devil to steal your car where you left it. Make your insurance company aware of these precautions you’ve made as a lot of insurers grant discounts to safety-conscious car owners.

Apart from maintaining a good driving record, you must also have proof that you can deliver on your payments to your insurer—because just owning a rare and expensive sports car does not automatically reflect financial responsibility. You can convince your insurer to cover your sports car if you have a good credit history, and they may even give you a discount for it.

Finally, being realistic, you may not really find an insurance company that will insure your sports car especially if it’s exotic and rare. If that’s the case, it would be best to buy a car that is lower-risk so you can have it insured and less of a burden will be on your mind when you drive.

Insuring a Toyota Supra as a Collector Car

Friday, April 10th, 2009

With Supras growing in desirability for collectors, more owners find themselves searching for car insurance company reviews to get collector’s policies for these beautiful performance sports cars. There are numerous advantages to these policies including:

  • Specialized roadside assistance programs.
  • Agreed value coverage.
  • Flexible coverage for both show activity and leisure driving.
  • Lower deductibles.
  • Recognition of value appreciation.
  • Greater understanding of modifications.

Supra owners would be best served by consulting one of the three top classic insurance brokers:

  • Hagerty Insurance Agency - Hagerty has been insuring classics since 1991 and has a reputation for low premiums and flexible usage. They insure a wide range of vehicles and offer agreed value coverage with allowances for leisure driving.
  • Grundy Worldwide Insurance Agency - With more than 60 years in the business, Grundy also offers agreed value coverage, unlimited hobby use, spare parts and trip interruption coverage, and 30 day coverage on new collector acquisitions.
  • American Collectors Insurance - American has been in the business for 30 years and will write policies on cars as new as 1992. They include a quarterly 2% increase for value appreciation up to 8% total with no added cost. Original vehicles have a zero deductible with 5,000 pleasure miles included.

Working with a company that specializes in collectible and classic insurance will help the Supra owner avoid some of the preconceptions they may encounter from other companies, especially if their Supra has been modified in any way. Regardless of the company, however, remember the things insurance companies like:

  • Security devices. Every insurance agent will react well to a car that is securely stored and outfitted with technology to track and locate the vehicle in the event of a theft.
  • Limited driving. Even with flexible usage allowances, cars that are driven in a limited manner under verifiable conditions carry the perception of lower risk.
  • Club or group membership. Drivers who illustrate their love of and respect for their cars by membership in a driver’s club or organization convey the sense that their car will be loving maintained and protected.

Essentially there are two genres of insurance coverage the Supra owner is apt to encounter:

  • “agreed value” or “like for like” - This coverage takes into account the replacement value of the car in the event of a total loss.
  • “modifications not covered” - This one is clear. If the Supra has been heavily modified, the coverage will not extend to those modifications.

Of course, the optimal coverage is the agreed value. For drivers of modified Supras, your best bet is to be totally forthcoming about all modifications and to supply extensive documentation to make your case for insurance coverage. Thankfully, however, specialty insurance firms like Hagerty, Grundy, and American will understand what you’re driving and will make sure you have coverage that is both affordable and comprehensive.