Was wondering what Shelby owners who drive their cars in 100-mile radius or more from their homes do about towing insurance.
Have been intending to post this experience so other could avoid what I went through, although this might be on the extreme side.
My '68 Shelby is covered by one of the major classic car insurance companies but due to my lack of reading the details of the towing portion was put in a bad situation. Car has had a recent rotisserie restoration and should have been more diligent about understanding the coverage. Is only once at most a year that I will take it out 100 miles from home so was in a way gambling.
Coming back from a car show in SF Bay area (90 miles away) and car takes a crap and barely get off freeway in time to break down in the parking lot of a furniture store. Can't troubleshoot problem although many come by to offer help but to no avail. Call insurance company who tells me they cover a 5-mile radius for towing and that only option is a Pep Boys who can take a look at the car in 4 days. That information leads me to pursue girlfriend's AAA coverage.
AAA tells me it will be a couple of hours before they can make it and will be $1100 towing charge 90 miles to home (obviously didn't have the premium coverage). In the meantime, a car pulls up next to mine (they have dozens of other parking options and have to park next to me) and as I'm watching, the rear passenger door is wildly kicked open by an elderly woman and hear the impact 20 yards away. Was elderly parents and their adult kids. To my amazement there was no apparent damage as by luck their car door hit my passenger door handle and did not touch the paint. Was assuming there would be at least $10k in damage. I won't go into details about what happened next, but their stance was that it was an old beater and why was I so upset? This unfortunately is the world we live in. Yes, CA is a "special" case.
5 hours goes by and no tow truck. Sun is going down, low riders (they seemed okay and had no problems) have their floor jacks out and are working on their cars at the service station 100 feet away in preparation for Saturday night cruise. Homeless people are coming out of the bushes with shopping carts. An old homeless guy comes by in a wheelchair and feel so bad for him that we push him over to the convenience store to buy him his favorite 6-pack of beer.
Concern for overall safety was increasing and decided to call a local towing service. They were there in 15 minutes, pretty much so dark by this time, was $300 cheaper than AAA. Kicking myself for not calling them at the beginning thus avoiding being strung along by AAA.
Broke down at 3PM and finally arrived home at 11:30PM.
Do classic car insurance companies offer extended towing and if so, which ones are the most reasonable and quickest to respond? Or do you just go into it knowing that you will absorb the towing expense of $1k+ out of pocket if something bad happens and will be at the mercy of when they decide to show up? Am assuming most are not comfortable with having their cars towed to nearest auto repair place.
Have been intending to post this experience so other could avoid what I went through, although this might be on the extreme side.
My '68 Shelby is covered by one of the major classic car insurance companies but due to my lack of reading the details of the towing portion was put in a bad situation. Car has had a recent rotisserie restoration and should have been more diligent about understanding the coverage. Is only once at most a year that I will take it out 100 miles from home so was in a way gambling.
Coming back from a car show in SF Bay area (90 miles away) and car takes a crap and barely get off freeway in time to break down in the parking lot of a furniture store. Can't troubleshoot problem although many come by to offer help but to no avail. Call insurance company who tells me they cover a 5-mile radius for towing and that only option is a Pep Boys who can take a look at the car in 4 days. That information leads me to pursue girlfriend's AAA coverage.
AAA tells me it will be a couple of hours before they can make it and will be $1100 towing charge 90 miles to home (obviously didn't have the premium coverage). In the meantime, a car pulls up next to mine (they have dozens of other parking options and have to park next to me) and as I'm watching, the rear passenger door is wildly kicked open by an elderly woman and hear the impact 20 yards away. Was elderly parents and their adult kids. To my amazement there was no apparent damage as by luck their car door hit my passenger door handle and did not touch the paint. Was assuming there would be at least $10k in damage. I won't go into details about what happened next, but their stance was that it was an old beater and why was I so upset? This unfortunately is the world we live in. Yes, CA is a "special" case.
5 hours goes by and no tow truck. Sun is going down, low riders (they seemed okay and had no problems) have their floor jacks out and are working on their cars at the service station 100 feet away in preparation for Saturday night cruise. Homeless people are coming out of the bushes with shopping carts. An old homeless guy comes by in a wheelchair and feel so bad for him that we push him over to the convenience store to buy him his favorite 6-pack of beer.
Concern for overall safety was increasing and decided to call a local towing service. They were there in 15 minutes, pretty much so dark by this time, was $300 cheaper than AAA. Kicking myself for not calling them at the beginning thus avoiding being strung along by AAA.
Broke down at 3PM and finally arrived home at 11:30PM.
Do classic car insurance companies offer extended towing and if so, which ones are the most reasonable and quickest to respond? Or do you just go into it knowing that you will absorb the towing expense of $1k+ out of pocket if something bad happens and will be at the mercy of when they decide to show up? Am assuming most are not comfortable with having their cars towed to nearest auto repair place.