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Hi, I'm a soon to be new speedster owner (pic attached) I won't be taking delivery for a while. I want to know if any other owners might be able to offer some insight. The car is currently registered in California where I live. Will there be any dmv issues when I title the car? I've read a few horror stories. I'm hoping since it is a California vehicle and its currently registered it will be a smooth transition. Also wonder about insurance I have my home and two vehicles with State farm, wondering if there are any other State Farm policy holders out there. Thanks in advance!

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Welcome to the Madness, (insert first name here, as I'm not going to call you WTF)! Tell us what you know about your car- who built it? how old is it? engine (the more details the better!)? trans? wheel width and tire size? discs or drums? anything else you can think of? It looks nice, but then I may be a wee bit biased; I think a Speedster is one of the most iconic (and beautiful) shapes in the automotive world...

 

I would think that since it already has a CA registration that transferring it to you shouldn't be difficult, but I'll let the California boys inform you on that. Same thing with insurance. And call me Al (come on; you know the tune.You should be thinking Paul Simon here...

I'm a Calif.  Speedster owner and if you currently possess a Cal registration for the car you should have no problem.  Is it reg'd as a VW based pan car (Vintage or JPS) or as an SB 100 custom construction?  Either way it should be smog exempt if model year is before 1976.  No inspection is needed, just pay the fees. 

 

Try Hagerty Insurance first.  I have full coverage for $25,000 agreed value for less than $300 year.  They even have a classification  for Speedster Replicas.

I vote for everyone updating their real name on their profile so we know who the hell we're addressing.  This thread really points that out.

 

You can tie it in with something cute if you want, like "Fredspeedsternut" so at least we know your name is Fred!  I don't get the desire of so many to be incognito on here.  

 

Maybe someone can explain using the wierd handles rather than your actual first name---then we'll get back to the regularly scheduled thread.  

 

End of rant.

 

 

Last edited by Jack Crosby
Sorry, most forums I'm on always seem to use usernames.. Force of habit.. My name is Greg the speedster is built by Vintage Speedsters, with a 1915cc engine, silver with dark red leather interior, a lot of upgrades and only has 500 miles since new.. Not sure of the actual year it was built, but it looks and smells brand new!!  I'll be happy to provide more details later as I find them out. : )

Thanks for the replies!
Originally Posted by Yrekadad:

I'm a Calif.  Speedster owner and if you currently possess a Cal registration for the car you should have no problem.  Is it reg'd as a VW based pan car (Vintage or JPS) or as an SB 100 custom construction?  Either way it should be smog exempt if model year is before 1976.  No inspection is needed, just pay the fees. 

 

Try Hagerty Insurance first.  I have full coverage for $25,000 agreed value for less than $300 year.  They even have a classification  for Speedster Replicas.

I have American Modern. http://www.amig.com/insurance/

 

Mine is an Agreed Value Policy for $30,000. Same coverage limits as my daily driver and it's about $300.00 per year also.

Hi Greg,

 

No matter which insurance company you choose, it's to your benefit to buy an "Agreed Value" policy, NOT a "Stated Value" policy, since stated value depreciates the value of the car in case of a total.  There are lots of threads on insurance: types, companies, coverage differences, etc.  You can use the Search button to get up to speed if you're not already.  Welcome!

Greg in all likelihood, being  a new VS, it's titled on the year of the VW chassis, that VS used. On top of the transmission tunnel, directly in front of the rear jump seat, there should be a carpet flap, that lifts to reveal the VIN/chassis number. That number is searchable at several sites online, sambavw, vw-resource.com

 

No worries all CA. DMV  cares about is collecting "their" money. Take proof of insurance, current reg., and title.  Oh and your checkbook. If you are a AAA member they will also do the registration in their field offices.  If you are buying from a CA dealer they are required to collect the sales tax. Otherwise, private sale, it will be collected at the DMV.

 

BTW, Hagerty requires a lockable garage no carports. They also will want several photo's of the car.  Front, back sides, engine compartment, interior. It can all be done online.

 

Oh and follow Jim's good advice on Agreed Value.

 

Welcome to the madness.

 

Art

Last edited by Art
Originally Posted by Jack Crosby, Hot Sp'gs,AR,VS RabyTypeIV:

I vote for everyone updating their real name on their profile so we know who the hell we're addressing.  This thread really points that out.

 

You can tie it in with something cute if you want, like "Fredspeedsternut" so at least we know your name is Fred!  I don't get the desire of so many to be incognito on here.  

 

Maybe someone can explain using the wierd handles rather than your actual first name---then we'll get back to the regularly scheduled thread.  

 

End of rant.

 

 

No rant at all, Jack. I've bemoaned the practice since I got here. ALB slapped me once gently and told me his name and we like each other. :-))

 

I think it would be more polite to enter a forum with some bit of an intro and then ask questions. Your attitude may improve your results. Just sayi'n....

Hey, David; how the heck are you! And Greg, it wasn't really a slap; more of a little tickle (a couple of the guys say he is kind of cute)...

 

In all seriousness (well, as serious as we get), most of us on here are a little more relaxed than on a lot of forums. A lot of guys have met at either the yearly east (Carlisle) and/or west coast (SLO) get togethers and are friends, so there's a different feel here. One of the biggest differences is we share information willingly, as everyone wants to see other peoples' cars run as well as they can.

 

I consider a lot of these guys good friends, and I've never actually met most of them. One of these years I'm going to make it to either Carlisle of SLO....

 

And Jack- When we know and use everyone's first names, you'll know my work is done...   Al out.

Its built on a 72 VW Chassis.. And since its already registered in California I'm hoping its an easy transaction. I do like the AAA option, that seems like the simplest way to  handle it. We are AAA members, do they handle the sales tax as well? 

 

I was sort of hoping State Farm would be an affordable option since we're already with them. What sort of issues have other owners had with them.  It won't be a daily driver for me. I actually only put approximately 3500 miles a year on my daily driver. What is the normal milage for a policy if there are restrictions? And it would be kept in a locked garage. 

 

Thanks again for the replies!

I've used them for 10 years, Greg. No issues of any kind. I tell them how many miles I'm going to drive it annually, and I've got no restrictions.

 

I'd really like to hear why Hoss was so happy to be rid of them. I've got everything personal with SF (house, three cars, umbrella, etc.). The business stuff is with Auto Owners (could not be happier with them, BTW), but I'm at SF specifically because they allow me to use my car like... well, a car (rather than a garage queen).

Greg

 

I purchased a Vintage Speedster in Washington State 2 years ago and brought it back to CA. The Washington title stated the car was a 'Kit' but also included the 1963 VW VIN. This caused the CA DMV some head scratching but in the end they registered the car as a 1963 'SPCN' which is not one of the options I was expecting! That said, if you have a VW pan and the car is already registered in CA, you should not have any problems.

 

I use State Farm for 2 cars and a motorcycle and I'm generally happy with the service I get. None of the specialists would touch me because I don't have a dedicated garage.

 

Good luck with the registration process.

Chris

Originally Posted by Stan Galat, '05 IM, 2276, Tremont, IL:

Hoss,

 

What was your beef with SF?

Stan, the rep I was dealing with told me that I could have a agreed value policy.  All I had to do was have the car appraised.  I had that done and brought my paperwork in to the office.  She called the underwriting department and was informed that they couldn't do it because the car was not 10 years old.  I stayed with them, foolishly, I think, and as I approached the 10 year mark I asked again about an agreed value policy.  I was told that the underwriting department was not going to do this.  Also, my paperwork for my renewal came to me with my car listed as a 2004 VW.  I called back and told them that it wasn't;  I had supplied them with a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin specifying what the car was and why had they arbitrarily changed the make? She told me it she was going to change it, but we would probably have to do this each renewal (???!!!).  I asked what the actual cash value would be for a 2004 VW if it was stolen or totaled and was told that this would be worked out at the time of the incident.  That's too late, right?  That was the final straw and I cancelled the coverage for the car and went with American Modern.  As a final gesture, SF changed my insurance class because I had a car covered by another carrier, resulting in the big increase in my umbrella. At this point, I went shopping, cancelled my remaining policies and went with another carrier.  'Nuf said, Stan?

Last edited by Hoss
Originally Posted by Hoss 2004 SAS 356A Cabriolet Loudon TN:
'Nuf said, Stan?

Wow. That'd be enough to send anybody into the arms of somebody else.

 

Perhaps it's a small-town thing, but I have had no problems whatsoever. My agent is a friend, my car is titled/registered as a 1958 Intermeccanica Replica (Illinois SEMA "custom car" title/reg), that's how my policy reads. My agreed value matches the appraisal (which I need to do again).

 

I've opined multiple times (too many, really) about the dangers of improperly registering and insuring these cars, so just suffice it to say that I have a lot of peace of mind (justified or not) insuring my car with a local agent in my corner.

 

Again, this in no way diminishes your experience- I'm really sorry it was so bad for you. If I'd have had it, I'd have switched too. But my experience couldn't have been better.


Greg, I live in California and have a Vintage Speedster.

 
I really wanted to insure this with our other cars - we're with AAA, and have our homeowner's with them too, We get a little break by keeping everything with them, but my main reasons were keeping things simple and going with a big company that we have some history with.
 
For me, the important thing about insurance isn't finding a great rate, but how you're treated if there's a claim - especially a major liability claim. The cost of a Speedster is virtually zip compared to a major injury lawsuit or worse. Should the worst happen, an 'agreed value' clause will be the last thing on my mind.
 
For me, the bottom line is that I could probably weather eating the whole cost of a Speedster if necessary, but I could be terminally screwed by a lawsuit that was mishandled. Are there any guarantees that AAA will do right by me in the worst case? No, but somehow I still feel better with the larger company that has treated us well in the past.
 
They don't do 'agreed value' policies. I explained what the car is and that it's registered as a '69 VW. They said it would be treated like any car in the event of a claim - compared to comparable cars for value. In this case, that means a 2013 Vintage Speedster, not a '69 VW. The policy lists the car as a 'kit car', not a VW.
 
In the end, a company is only as good as its people, no matter what the language in the policy says. But also, in the end, you pays your premium and you takes your chances.
 
 
Originally Posted by Stan Galat, '05 IM, 2276, Tremont, IL:
Originally Posted by Hoss 2004 SAS 356A Cabriolet Loudon TN:
'Nuf said, Stan?

Wow. That'd be enough to send anybody into the arms of somebody else.

 

Perhaps it's a small-town thing, but I have had no problems whatsoever. My agent is a friend, my car is titled/registered as a 1958 Intermeccanica Replica (Illinois SEMA "custom car" title/reg), that's how my policy reads. My agreed value matches the appraisal (which I need to do again).

 

 

Stan, Tennessee is a SEMA state too, but I can't take advantage of it for two reasons.  First, it only applies to the original title (I already have one) and second it does not apply to cars built by licensed manufacturers.  I've been tempted to try to bluff my way through, but I think that would be futile.  

 

Thanks, I really appreciate all the great information.. My experience with State Farm up to this point has been wonderful. I've had three claims during my 20 years with them, one was a stolen vehicle and I had a check in my hand within 7 days. I will give them a shot. 

 

I was wondering if any Vintage Speedsters owners might have a PDF version of the owners manual they could share. I haven't been able to find one on the world wide web.. 

 

Thanks again!

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