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insurance

Now the seven is ready for the road, I'd better insure it,

last time I insured it (3 years ago) I was under 25 and it was difficult te get at a half decent price.

Any recommendations?

Re: insurance

I use the Association scheme through Richardson Hoskin or whatever they are called. Just renewed for the Box and the Cabbie, 90 quid or thereabouts for the pair. As an aside, I also use them to insure my 'modern' at an extraordinarily attractive price (mainly cos breakdown was included which previously I paid extra for)

Hugh

Re: insurance

Try,
RH Specialist Car Division,
Freepost, Library House,
New Road,
Brentwood,
Essex,
CM 14 4ZP
Tel: 01277 206911

They have a special deal for A7 club members. My last quote was £47.50 for a 1928 Chummy fully comp with a get you home service that includes Europe. Excellent

Re: insurance

Hedd,

I reccomend RH also but be aware that you MUST be a member of a member club of the A7CA to take up on this scheme.

If not you may well find that your insurance is invalid in the case of a claim.

Cheers

Ruairidh

Re: Re: insurance

Interesting ref being a member of A7CA member club.

When I 1st insured the Colander with RH I seem to remember something about this?
I have just (yesterday) renewed my insurance with RH for £49.30 p.a.
There is no mention in the documentation about being a member of a club?
The only point is....

"We have based our recomendation on the information you have previously provided"

Does this "catch all" statement cover the fact you need to be a member of a member club when you take out the policy ?
Although most people are members, it would be easy to overlook this if you did not renew your club membership for whatever reason and then nothing was mentioned on your insurance renewal form?

Steve

Re: insurance

The insurance scheme is, I quote, "The Austin Seven Clubs' Association Official Insurance Scheme". You must be a member of a member club to receive it's benefits.

One or two of the clubs have recently made a point of repaeting this to members in their newsletters. Spread the word please...

Cheers

Ruairidh

Re: Re: insurance

With regards to haveing to be a member of a Austin Seven Club I have spoken to R H on this subject the reply that I had was they ask you on your first time if you are a member of a club and there fore take it as read for the next renewal it would be impossible for them to conntact each club to confurm that each person is a member we do get a good deal with R H on insurance so please let your club secrtaries know if you know of any one that is not a member of a club and still useing R H to insure there car we do not want to loose a good insurance

Re: Re: insurance

Hi Ruaridh

I quite agree that it is the "official scheme" or words to that effect. I also agree that we should make sure people are aware of the requirement to be a member of a A7CA club to use it. It is a very useful benefit to club members and an incentive for newcomers to the scene.
BUT my issue is that on my renewal paperwork from RH which consists of several pages of A4 there is no mention of the A7CA or any requirement to be a member? There are numerous legal statements that mean nothing to my humble brain, but I cannot locate anything to require membership?
When I first took out the insurance I remember needing to be a member of a club and I think I may have quoted a membership number or something?
But it seems once you are in the loop there are no checks made? As you say if you "havn't declared" a change in circumstances then your insurance may be invalid .
Forum members are probably members of clubs anyway so the real issue maybe the more elusive members who may have moved house/area and left a club or not renewed a club membership but still insure and use their car?

As you said

Spread the Word

Steve

Re: Re: Re: insurance

Hi all
I have just insured with RH for the first time and was asked if I was a club member. I confirmed I was; to which the secretary replied. ''Good, you qualify for a DISCOUNT then.''
Regards
Peter

Re: Re: Re: Re: insurance

They ‘do’ ask for a membership number when you first take out the policy, if you subsequently leave the club it is up to you to inform them of any changes. All policy renewals I have had, remind you to tell them of any changes that might affect the insurance renewal. So it is up to you, the rub might come if you have a major high value claim like running into a bus queue of people when your steering arm cracks off. That’s when the ‘t’s need to be crossed along with the dots on all the ‘i’s. The insurance is there for ‘your’ protection so be sure to comply with all of the small print.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: insurance

Many thanks for the kind replies, however when I was 24 and a Bristol Austin 7 club member the swines would not insure me as I was 'under 25'. Out of spite they will not get any of my buisiness iresspective of cost.

Does anybody recommend an alternative?

Re: insurance

Hedd, things have moved on with RH for youthfull drivers, again due to the Assoc. and Ruairdh's representations. So in answer to your question, No I cannot reccomend another insurance Company.

I have seen A7's break down in France and the owners have had excellent recovery back to base in the UK, all for £49 per annum.

I tried to get temporary cover for one of our moderns to go to france last year, minimum quote I had was £75, that's on top of the ordinary fully Comp insurance we pay.

I actually pay £81.50 for two A7's a year, no one else can get near that in quotes, even with just UK cover.

Sandy

Re: Re: insurance

Thought I'd add that the breakdown service is excellent! I used it last year and it was 1st class .
All for £49 per year!
I pay approx 5 times this for the modern plus about £30 for a breakdown scheme as extra.
Might be worth biting the bullet and using them Hedd?

Steve.

Re: insurance

Come on Hedd, don't be too hasty ! There are many companies that I would not want to do business with ( Like BT for example ) but in the end don't let your heart rule your head. I understood that RH had agreed a couple of years ago to insure under 25's ( with conditions ) Does anyone have experience of this? If it doesn't work then you should talk to the Association and get them to re-negotiate the scheme as we need to encourage the younger element.

Re: Re: insurance

I have now got any person over the age of 18 to be able to insure Austin Sevens with R H for a very good price I think it is double the over 25 price if anyone is haveing trouble in geting R H to insure them please let me know so that I can sort it out for you

Re: insurance

Great news Hayden!

Cheers

Ruairidh

Re: insurance

I can only add to what everyone else has said about RH. They're excellent on prices and service. You won't beat them. I remember being asked 11 years ago when I first insured with them for my RP saloon, if I was a member of an Austin club, but never since, at any renewal has it been mentioned. There is one other point no-one else has mentioned though. They also asked about my modern, everyday car. I had to satisfy them that I had an everyday car, and give them my insurance details for verification. They are quite specific that the Austin cannot be used for travelling to or from a place of work or education. That's one of the few drawbacks and would rule them out for anyone contemplating using the Austin as their everyday car.
I was paying about £47 eleven years ago, and its hardly gone up at all over the years. I eventually added a 10/4 and a Heavy 12 to the policy for no more than £150 for the three. More recently, I've had the policy changed to any driver instead of self and spouse, for no extra, followed by blanket wedding car hire on all three cars for about £100 more.
I can also vouch for the breakdown service, which was added for free about eight years ago. I had to be rescued and transported home on New Years Day with clutch trouble in the 12. They reached me in just 30 minutes, and I was told it would have cost me about £400 that day without a breakdown service.
Swallow your pride Hedd, you won't regret it.

Re: Re: insurance

When I had three Sevens, they were insured through RH and the service was excellent. I use Peter S Taylor now for my remaining Seven and the LeaF because I wanted the specific type of competition cover that they offer but I would have no hesitation in going back to RH if that was not the case. Under £100 for three cars can't be bad particularly given the level of cover.

The breakdown service works as well. I have a friend who they rescued from France some years ago and I used it once to get me home from the Ferry after a clutch failure in Holland. They were more than happy to rescue me from Holland but our Dutch A7 friends got the car, and us, onto the boat as only they can!!

STEVE

Re: Re: Re: insurance

RH certainly provide 'club members' with an excellent service, but it might be helpful if the situation with 'lapsed' members still taking advantage of the scheme is clarified. Are they covered? Yes or No. If not there could be many people using their cars uninsured.

Re: Re: Re: Re: insurance

I will contact R H on Monday and speake to Steven Hisket who is my contact there for the Association

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: insurance

Thanks Hayden

Re: insurance

As the person responsible for the Austin Seven Insurance scheme I thought I would respond to some of the comments that have been made.
To take advantage of the special rates and terms that have been negotiated on behalf of the A7club you do have to be a current member of the club.
Non members do not enjoy the same premium advantages and could be paying up to double that of club members.
We can only rely on and assume the information that we are given is honest and correct.
Failure to renew your membership would not invalidate the insurance although you would be asked to pay the addition premium backdated to the time you were a member, or the amount could be deducted from any claims settlement in the event of a loss.
Whilst I have this opportunity, I must thank all concerned for your praise of the scheme which has been running sucessfuly for 30 years. This of course is due to your excellent support which we hope will continue.

Re: insurance

Many thanks for the clarification on this subject, very much appreciated.

Cheers

Ruairidh Dunford
Chairman
ScA7C

Re: Re: insurance

My thanks also added. I think this should be made clear to members via our respective magazines, who may be a bit slow in renewing memberships, that they are risking financial penalties in the event of a claim.
That should shake up the moths in their wallets.

Re: Re: Re: insurance

Allan

Thank you for taking the trouble to clarify that for us.
Long may the scheme continue!

Thanks

Steve

Re: insurance

Well it seems that the only criticism to be levelled is that someone asked why this requirement was not obvious on his renewal notice.

It would be interesting to hear if this is taken on board and rectified. As mentioned, it would focus more members to be prompt on subscription renewals.

Other than that, well done all, good thread.

Re: Re: insurance

With my conntact with the R H people a point that was said so many phone in to renew their insurance no paper would go back to R H so how would they be able to follow up the membership problem as I have pointed out before it is up to the induvidual to let them know the truth they do ask you when you phone if there is any change to let them know

Re: Re: Re: insurance

Fair comment Hayden, but perhaps RH should add a note on their renewal form clearly pointing out what non-membership of their (RH) recognised clubs will mean. That way there can be no excuse for owners not to be aware of their insured status prior to renewing.

Re: Re: Re: Re: insurance

Will contact R H but I know now that they do look at this site and they may pick up on your point

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: insurance

Thanks Hayden. I will be bringing this to the attention of members in the next A7OC Magazine. Sadly lapsed members won't see it but it will be a good reminder to current members to keep up subscriptions.
Hopefully other Club magazine editors will take this up as well.