Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi,

Another rubbish newbie question. Sorry!

I've seen a Plus 2 that I'm interested in buying and need to suss out insurance. I expect to do less than 3,000 miles / year and would like to have the option to (i) go abroad and (ii) take the car on perhaps one or two trackdays per year. I used to have a heavily modified Elise and had a great deal through Competition Car Insurance that met all my requirements. They were great to deal with too. However, I'm less sure about who the good players are for classic Lotus insurance.

Please can you share your invaluable experience so that I can narrow my search and find a good insurer?

Many thanks,

Steve

Steve S2 wrote:Hi,

Another rubbish newbie question. Sorry!

I've seen a Plus 2 that I'm interested in buying and need to suss out insurance. I expect to do less than 3,000 miles / year and would like to have the option to (i) go abroad and (ii) take the car on perhaps one or two trackdays per year. I used to have a heavily modified Elise and had a great deal through Competition Car Insurance that met all my requirements. They were great to deal with too. However, I'm less sure about who the good players are for classic Lotus insurance.

Please can you share your invaluable experience so that I can narrow my search and find a good insurer?

Many thanks,

Steve

Hi Steve,

I use Footman James to insure my cars, with the one policy covering both of them; their cover is fully comprehensive and at a very good price. I don't do anything like track days, and I've never taken either car abroad, so I'm not sure about that side of things. But they specialise in classic/vintage cars, so they're a far better bet than the big companies.

Their website's here: http://www.footmanjames.co.uk - you can get a quick quote online.

Cheers,

Dave

Hi Steve

Have a look at the post below, there are lots of companies on it.

free-parking-f19/laid-insurance-etc-t22697.html?hilit=%20insurance

Jason

Try Hagerty, by far the cheapest for my +2, very good to deal with.

Both Footman James and Peter D James are the recommended Club Lotus Insurers. I found Peter James to be significantly cheaper than Footman James and they are a lot quicker at sorting out the documents and answering the phone!

Robbie

I'll second Peter James. My policy is unlimited mileage, with a dodgy postcode and includes breakdown, agreed valuation and legal stuff. All for a snip over three figures. They respond to emails and supply PDF docs very quickly. All of this equals me very happy.

Odd how different folk seem to have different experiences with insurers

I'm an old duffer with a clean licence in a safe post code area but I've never found FJ remotely competitive on my S4

Just started my second year with Heritage, they seem like a good company...

BUT As I always say; you only find out if an insurer is any good when you have to claim.

Since I've been back in the fold I've used Carole Nash on a recommendation from Matty - even though he denies all knowledge of it now. Price has remained good for the cover given and accepts all the modifications I've made.
I do the usual annual price comparison with about six of the usual suspects, and have found no reason to change.

I've just renewed my 73 +2s with Diamond classic, for 44 year old, 3000 miles, garaged and low risk area it was ?67 basic premium, with IPT, breakdown and legal protection it was just over ?110.

I'm not sure how they calculate it but this is exactly the same as my 61 Landrover!


Kevin

nebogipfel wrote:I'm an old duffer with a clean licence in a safe post code area but I've never found FJ remotely competitive on my S4

Just started my second year with Heritage, they seem like a good company...

BUT As I always say; you only find out if an insurer is any good when you have to claim.

I agree on all 3 points. (Not the old duffer bit ... )

I would also recommend talking to Kim on this forum before doing anything - my experience is that you will get good impartial advice. See here:

business-listings-f3/routen-chaplin-lotus-insurance-scheme-t22356.html

Paddy

PD James gets my vote ( & ? )

RichC wrote:PD James gets my vote ( & ? )

Yes, but some of her books can get a bit tedious in the middle section. Ruth Rendell is generally better.

Thanks all. Will do some comparisons next week

Just a quick note to say thanks all. Best quote was from Hagarty's: ?148 for 3,000 miles a year, agreed value, garaged for a 36y.o. Includes EU cover and full UK and EU breakdown.

This thread looks as if its reached it's natural conclusion but I will just add my two-penneth. Routen Chaplin were by far the best for me - good price and good service. I suppose like any insurance we'll only know how good if/when I have a claim!
Baggy