Decode L78
 

I sold my 396 Chevelle today and picked up a L78 Nova. I called my insurance agent to change everything over. She told me it was a SS396 and then told me it was a L78. I knew all this but how did she know? I didn't think you could decode all that from the VIN#. The only thing that makes sense to me is this insurance company had insured this car before. The second surprise was when she told me the appraised value! Yikes!

Canadian paperwork?

Might have been insured before and it had already been proven or at least represented as an L78.

L78
 

Let's see and hear more about the Nova !

Insurance companies have access to the nice database.

R

My guess is prior insured car.

L78 Nova..
 

So...why don't you ask her how she knew??:smile:

Nova SS L78
 

All numbers matching,TH400,12 Bolt. Dead stock no headers with lots of wheel hop ran
13.10 at 110 MPH 60' 2.3 with street TAs. Nicest car I have owned in 30 years.Drives like new. GM Vintage report Protecto Plate.

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details...Activated=true

I was told by a Canadian that classic cars need to be appraised for insurance in Canada. There is no stated value like we have

I am with Hagerty.My agent asked me how much I wanted it appraised for.She told me book value was 93.5K and I said that will work.Then she told me to send some photos.That is it.

About 4 years ago the same company said they would need an appraisal for anything over 30K.

Ziggy, I'm about 1 hr west of you and been with Hagerty for my cars about 5 years now.
Few things for you to look/think about:

1. Make sure your policy has 19A rating for loss/replacement. It's the agreed value rider of the policy that even with or WITHOUT a recent appraisal you still have coverage to the agreed amount on the policy, which your paying premiums for anyway.

2. There are other companies with what I've seen with better coverage and less restriction then Hagerty. They are also about 1/2 the price of Hagerty's yearly premium. BUT the 2 I heard of require an appraisal, either every 3 or 5 years. So at about roughly $500.00 give or take, it might be wise to look into that. AND they don't have that extra $40.00/yr Hagerty "fee". Your car being "stock" and not modified would work elsewhere.

I didn't swap my insurance on my previous car as it wasn't worth it $$$ wise. It was 19A @ $27,000.00. So it was only $233./yr. So would have taken too much to get the $$$ back. My current car, 1967 Nova SS is class "modified" with all the stuff changed, like BB 427, Heidts front clip, mini-tubbed. BUt once I get my other 2 Nova's ready (1966 SS BIG BIG motor tubbed X-racecar and 1969 SS396 with ZL-1), I will get all 3 appraised and see who offers the best for my. Current 1967 with "modified" coverage is $600.00/yr roughly.

If you want for future info, I'm with Zehr (like the grocery store name) insurance brokers in New Hamburg Ontario. Out by Kitchener/London area. I have NEVER been to the office. Just phone and email conversations. I have moved ALL my insurances there in the last 4 years (house, car and motorcycle) as there coverage per dollar was alot better then Statefarm I was with for 33+ yrs. Can speak with Richard Zehr and let them know I sent you.

NOW lets see some Nova pictures PLEASE, John Clawsie

Yes. GM Vintage Report and Protecto-Plate.Build sh is probably still in the car.

Check with mk insurance here, not only are they a sponsor that helps keep the site going, but the one claim I had in the last 10 years was taken care of with no issues and the staff was very helpful (Jackie and Tammy) with the actual ins company.


https://www.yenko.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=107

Highly recommended.

Rich

x2

X3 for MK. Also, they give members here a discount.

Great info John. Thanks very much. I am fairly sure I have the 19A rating.Worth checking though. I have had 3 claims and no problems. I called them on the Nova and she said the book value was 93.5K and if anything happened they would pay me and also give me back the car at no charge.

Since all their policys come standard with Roadside Assistance I figured that was what the $40 fee was for. Everyone gets that. That's their minimum coverage. Their top Roadside Assistance is a good deal and makes CAA look like a joke.
Unlimited tows up to 250 KLMs. They will even pick up your car at your house and deliver it to a shop and then pick it up and bring it back to your house! Try that one with CAA.
They will tow any car that you or your family is driving at the time. Always a flatbed.
They have all the other services like battery and gas.

All pics are on the link in post #8.I can't load pics on this site so I used a link with Kijiji.

Thanks again.
Ken

I believe there one of the companies I tried but they CAN NOT insure us Canadians. But I could be wrong.

Umm I HAD Hagerty Plus when I had them insure my 1961. But I was told that benefit was ONLY for that particular car. So being I have a business and drive about 70,000kms/year, I went with CAA. Will have to compare/see and if this is the case, will drop CAA and go back with Harerty.

Thanks for the info Ken.

The only reason I brought up the 19A is it's bad enough IF something happens, but even worst that the implied coverage the agent said just isn't that. I went though this exact issue with our business benefits. We have a small kitchen cabinet company. My parents own it, so dad got a brain tumor back 2014/2015. So then he couldn't get out-of-country insurance to go to his house in Phoenix Arizona. His friend sold benefits and said IF he got the company benefits, he qualifies as they HAD to take all employee when the policy starts. So we did it, benefits for 5 employees and my 2 parents, they were mid 70's at the time. AND it was only $300.00 more for EVERYONE then dads last insurance cost. So he covers everyone's costs. Well dad past away in Arizona last January. He was supposed to have a "standard" life insurance policy of $50,000.00 that both him and my mom divided 50/50 between wife and myself when we first got the policy. Agent said wwe had it and even had them BOTH name beneficiaries. After dad passed we were going through our paperwork and said the company has a 50K policy, NOPE it automatically STOP and you get disqualified at 75 yrs old??? Dad was 78 when he passed so doubt he had insurance ever.

NICE car. T400 car too.

John

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details...dActivated=tru


PICS HERE.

Very nice Nova!!

and did you know Hagerty will pay for a new car cover up to $500 if yours is lost or stolen with no deductible.

Funny story...

I use Hagerty for all four of my classics and each one, I have agreed value insurance for about 50% of the car's true value. I do this because the cars rarely get driven, just trailered to one of two shows a year and maybe a neighborhood drive with the kids. Anyway, I hate paying insurance and by reducing the values, I keep the insurance costs with Hagerty down to a minimum and I accept the risk should something catastrophic happen.

Anyway, last time I added a car to my Hagerty policy a couple years ago, they asked how much I paid for it and whether it was 1,2,3 or 4 grade car based on their ranking/appraisal system from project car to trailer queen. I then told them I wanted it insured for a value that was roughly half of what I paid. They said they would be happy to cover it for the full amount I paid as the value was within their guidelines. I stated, "no, I'm self-insured for the rest". The guy on the phone responded: "Self-insured? Never heard of them."

Sure I have seen their advertising, it has a cute little talking bear dancing around picking the cash from your back pocket,,,,,,,,,,,,

WHY would you want to do this????

I see 4 cars in you sig. Lets say there all value at 80K each, but you only insure for 40K each. On non modified cars, there isn't that much difference really in coverage amounts. I myself couldn't sleep well knowing that if something happens it will cost you BIG time. Yes you might not take them out much, but there has been the case where people lose there whole collection to fire or storms? Then what, the couple grand you save a year is worth the 160K of cars you lost? Isn't that like buying a new Lamborghini and insuring it like a Nissan Ultima to keep the yr insurance costs down? But it's your call, not mine.

And what people don't think about is a claim is a claim, larger or small. Mine I keep FULL coverage for FULL value and lower the deducible as low as it can be. If it's something minor, like a couple or 3K I will cover it. But say a 10K claim, I know I'm covered and not out much $$$ just time and use.

It was that way for a while.If you wanted your car insured for more then $30K you would have to get an appraisel which cost $100 - $200.Hagerty now has this site were they/you can look up the value.You would think that Hagerty would keep these values low so they wouldn't have to pay out so much when a car was stolen or written off.Not so.The values are high.No idea why.Maybe they think they will have more customers if values are high.Also.I think the customers premiums will get higher now with the higher values.

https://www.hagerty.ca/valuationtools