For those who drive them: Insurance

[MGB-FV8]

If our cars were to be put under a magnifying glass just like the state of Virginia have started to do with muscle cars and modifications, then a claim could be denied. For example, my front end says "FOR RACING ONLY" and all my four wheels have disc brakes that says "NOT DOT APPROVED"; in the event of an accident that lets say I would have caused and the liability cost ran seriously high to the insurance. Of course, I would also have convinced the insurance to cover my MG for $25,000.00 and demanded to be compensated for my total lost at the same time.  I believe that I may be in for a serious fight with the insurance company.

The adjuster shows up and notices the above mentioned "disclaimer markings" on the modified parts and about a week later, I get a letter in the mail stating that all claims are being denied. I take the insurance company to court but the judge rules that the insurance company gave me coverage in good faith by assumption that the car met all of the Virginia DOT laws. Therefore he renders a judgment against me in lieu of a deceiving and dishonest contract in my part.

This is a two fold issue, "liability" and "comprehensive" coverage.  I could live with the total lost of my ride but liability suit may ruin my life.

Call me paranoid but, I have played these scenarios in my head many times over and I came to these conclusions; keep the coverage simple, such as in the NADA collector car book value; second, avoid as much as possible "NON DOT" approved parts (I have too many of those) or marked "FOR RACING ONLY" (I also have one of those), try in using the old school hot-rodding approach by adapting other car(s) DOT approved parts. And last, hope for the best that these parts mentioned above is not noticed by the insurance adjuster.

I'm not an expert in the ramification of automobile modification, but, I know that most of us walk a fine line; the truth is that insurance company by nature will go to great extreme to deny any claim in the first place, we've all gone through some agitating business; they don't play fair and hire better lawyers.

I've read most of your postings and I must say that it revived some of my concerns; maybe, someone will come up with some applicable wisdom and guide line for all of us to follow.  Other than that, Dan got it right by saying "take your chances"

My two cents!