Defender 90 Insurance - Recommendations?

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simondance

simondance

Active Member
Posts
72
Location
Sussex
I've recently purchased my first defender, and looking to organise insurance.
I've read a few LZ posted, including the recommendations for 'agreed value' insurance from the likes of Adrian Flux.

But do any members have any warnings/pitfalls to ensure I have the appropriate level of cover?

I have a standard (classic) TD5, with no mods except a manual immobiliser. I may add new wheels (but I'll notify the insurance company).

Keen to ensure I have an insurance company that knows about defenders.

Thanks for your time.


UPDATE: I went with Adrian Flux. Standard security (so far), policy at £404, with 5k miles per year. Thanks everyone for your recommendations. Next job, security!
 
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Agreed value is a figure that you and the insurance company agree that you will be paid in the event of a total write off (or it's stolen - more on that later).
It's difficult to totally write off a Defender, it's not a small bump. it's a major bang-crash-wallop. Unless you have HD roll cages and special seatbelt mounts and seats then you will probably be written off too.
Drive carefully, Defenders are not race cars ....

The higher you value your car the more you will pay.
My 1994 300tdi has a book value of around £15K - I told my insurance company £7K
I have a £200 vountary excess.
I drive less than £10K miles a year.
My insurance is less than £100 a year (fully comp).

Defenders are desirable and relatively easy to steal.
Get a thatcham approved immobiliser fitted, spend between £200 and £400
Fit a hidden kill switch
Always park the car with the wheels on full lock.
Always remove the keys and lock the doors unless you are in the car.

Don't tell your insurance company that you have fitted anything (other than the immobiliser).
Q: "Is the vehicle standard ?" A: = "Yes"
Q: "Any modifications ?" A: = "No"

Don't 'claim' on your insurance.
Above all - drive carefully, be aware of other traffic/road users and don't forget it's not a hatchback/race/rally car.
 
miktdish said:
Agreed value is a figure that you and the insurance company agree…..
Click to expand...

Really appreciate your detailed response here. Lots of valuable recommendations that I will take forward. I’m having a manual immobiliser switch fitted, alongside a pedal box and steering wheel lock. I’ll take your advice about leaving it in gear on full lock also.

Next job is getting a Cat 1/2 immobiliser.

Continue to read on this forum about Adrian flux. So will call them a call this week.
 
I'm with Ad Flux.

The problem with pedal boxes and steering wheel locks is they are a faff to take on/off and where do you put them ?
Steering wheel locks are easier i'll admit, they fit behind the passenger seat or behind the cubby box but what do you do with the pedal box.

You must live in a pretty bad area to need all this additional security ....

Heres a few more ... the doors are really easy to get off, just undo the screws on the hinges - unless you fit security hinges.
Same with the bonnet, security hinges and a plate in front of the slam panel so the tea-leaf cant use a screwdriver to open the bonnet.
The rear quarter lights are easy too, just bash them in the lower coner and they pop in.
 
Thanks for your message.

In truth, I am just incredibly paranoid. The TD5 is my dream car, and I’ve finally been able to buy one (so I want to hold onto it).

Completely take your point on where to store (but I’ll find a place).

I read about the door hinges (and the Hinge Guards), so will look into that as well.

As for the ‘Metal plate under the grill on the bonnet’ and the ‘bonnet release cable guard’ - all of this is on the ‘to do’ list.

Regarding the rear quarter lights, I did see the rear quarter window mesh guards - so I might up the investment into those also.
 
I fully agree that agreed value is critical for any classic LR… we’re both with A-plan… on agreed value… flux seem to get mixed reviews IME, but who really knows until they make a claim…:rolleyes:

I’d also advise that a tracker is a fine addition to your security arsenal - and there is an excellent thread on here about how to do it for very little money :)
 
simondance said:
I've recently purchased my first defender, and looking to organise insurance.
I've read a few LZ posted, including the recommendations for 'agreed value' insurance from the likes of Adrian Flux.

But do any members have any warnings/pitfalls to ensure I have the appropriate level of cover?

I have a standard (classic) TD5, with no mods except a manual immobiliser. I may add new wheels (but I'll notify the insurance company).

Keen to ensure I have an insurance company that knows about defenders.

Thanks for your time.
Click to expand...

I use the NFU. They know defenders do an agreed value and there are excellent to deal with. Always declare all modifications.
 
simondance said:
Keen to ensure I have an insurance company that knows about defenders.
Click to expand...

Even if you have an insurance company that "understand" defenders a lot of the work is then contracted out. I am with flux (still am) for all my vehicles but when the 110 had a "small" engine fire (thread link) the assessor flux sent out was just a third party company who basically treated it as a tick box exercise, its had a fire, it is not salvageable, it must be destroyed, no you cannot keep it, no you cannot break it for parts. I needed an independent land rover specialist to come and assess it and submit a written summary of the damage (no structural damage) to get the write of class changes so I could keep and rebuild. The contractor who came to assess it was certainly not familiar with land rovers and the conversations I had with him during his assessment proved that, to him it was no deferent than a modern monocoque euro box hatchback. Once I submitted the land rover specialist assessment flux were then very helpful in changing the write of class and paying out damages, it was just the initial assessor who did not work for them who was terrible..
 
dag019 said:
Even if you have an insurance company that "understand" defenders a lot of the work is then contracted out. I am with flux (still am) for all my vehicles but when the 110 had a "small" engine fire (thread link) the assessor flux sent out was just a third party company who basically treated it as a tick box exercise, its had a fire, it is not salvageable, it must be destroyed, no you cannot keep it, no you cannot break it for parts. I needed an independent land rover specialist to come and assess it and submit a written summary of the damage (no structural damage) to get the write of class changes so I could keep and rebuild. The contractor who came to assess it was certainly not familiar with land rovers and the conversations I had with him during his assessment proved that, to him it was no deferent than a modern monocoque euro box hatchback. Once I submitted the land rover specialist assessment flux were then very helpful in changing the write of class and paying out damages, it was just the initial assessor who did not work for them who was terrible..
Click to expand...
Don't be too hard on the insurance assessor. l never looked at your photos at the time, but having looked now your Land Rover was quite badly damaged by the fire.
l know about Defenders but looking at that, l might have also considered it beyond economic repair. Don't forget the insurance company are generally only going to fit new parts and the interior is completely trashed.

l guess it depends on the overall value of the Defender before the fire, but the engine bay is burnt out as well and they will have quoted for a complete wiring harness and probably an engine. They can't use second hand parts.
 

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lightning said:
Don't be too hard on the insurance assessor. l never looked at your photos at the time, but having looked now your Land Rover was quite badly damaged by the fire.
l know about Defenders but looking at that, l might have also considered it beyond economic repair. Don't forget the insurance company are generally only going to fit new parts and the interior is completely trashed.

l guess it depends on the overall value of the Defender before the fire, but the engine bay is burnt out as well and they will have quoted for a complete wiring harness and probably an engine. They can't use second hand parts.
Click to expand...
I agree there was no way it was economical for the insurance company to repair and was always going to be written off. My issue was the category of write off. The decision to write it off or repair is what you are referring to which is about the cost of repairs using new and authorise parts. The write off category is determined by the extent of the damage to the vehicle structure. There was a lot of "superficial" damage, engine, interior, wiring, etc. but these play no part in the structure of the vehicle. Basically the question is is there damage to the vehicle structure and can it safely be repaired. The structure on a defender is the chassis and only the chassis, on a modern car it is the monocoque shell. Therefore on a modern car a fire like that has a good chance of damaging the a/b/c pillar (door pillars) which does form part of the vehicle structure and it makes sense to have a blanket fire means no safe repair to put back on the road. With a ladder chassis vehicle it is different as none of the body is part of the vehicle structure.
 
Yes you don't want it classed as a write off. Glad you managed to get them to change their viewpoint.

I think a lot of "Classic" car policies offer the option to "buy the salvage" and also the fact that it may be necessary to fit alternative or used parts.

l once went to see a nice TD5 90 XS Defender that had been written off for minor damage because the insurance company couldn't get a genuine front wing and front panel from Land Rover.
 
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