Corvette Forum Member’s Unexpected Insurance (Mis)Quote

One member’s experience with getting an insurance rejection resonated with many in our forum.

It is recommended that you shop for car insurance quotes every few years to make sure you’re getting the best rates. Despite the high-performance nature of the Corvettes we all enjoy, and contrary to the entertaining picture we led with (who doesn’t enjoy a burnout?), these cars are lovingly kept and driven responsibly…for the most part.

With that in mind, Corvette Forum member NavyBlue2 had a bit of a surprise when he was looking for quotes from companies outside of his current insurer, USAA. He got this response back from The Hartford, which he relayed to fellow forum members in this thread:

Thank you for taking the time to consider the AARP Auto Insurance Program from the The Hartford for your insurance needs.
For the Program to maintain competitive prices and to offer quality protection, we’ve established eligibility requirements.
Regretfully, we are unable to provide you with coverage at this time. We came to the decision because certain vehicles, like your 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT Z51, are either more susceptible to damage or are more expensive to repair than others.
It is important to us that you find the right coverage and rates. Please consider contacting another carrier for your insurance needs.
Sincerely,
Assistant Vice President
The Hartford
AARP Auto Insurance Program

Needless to say, he was shocked by the “Thanks, but no thanks, not for any price” response he got from The Hartford. Numerous members chimed in and laid the blame at the feet of the AARP connection. Others suggested the looking at the insurance offered through the National Corvette Museum‘s coverage as a great alternative.

The Museum’s insurance is underwritten by NCM Insurance, and is genuinely a great policy, though it has some notable restrictions on usage. Daily driven ‘Vettes may need to look elsewhere. Basic restrictions include the car must must be garage-kept (carport in some states), the car can’t be used for racing/autocross, and other vehicle restrictions for collector cars.

There was some skepticism that the OP was leaving some detail out (maybe a habit of getting caught driving fast?) but NavyBlue2 chimed in to clear things up, saying, “Sorry, that’s the whole story.” He noted that even an unreasonably high quote wouldn’t have been newsworthy, but the complete rejection because of the ‘Vette was worth telling people about.

Another user, Roadbike56 related a story about The Hartford, shifting the focus to the insurance company rather than the link to AARP as the reason for the refusal to write a policy including a Corvette. VistaVette, an insurance agent himself, adds to the conversation by explaining that The Hartford has been declining almost everyone lately in his region, and suggests that regional forces might be at play. He also added:

“They are a very, very conservative company. they tout the fact that they insured Abraham Lincoln. I’m pretty sure they’re still doing business the way they did when they insured Abraham Lincoln. They have to be one of the slowest companies I’ve ever dealt with.”

Has anyone else been turned down for their Corvette despite a squeaky-clean driving record? Let us know by joining the discussion in the forums.