Insuring your VW. 

Being an insurance broker and a VW enthusiast for the past 20 yrs has been a great combination for me as I have been able to help many to properly insure their investments.  That’s right, an investment.  Most of us don’t actually know how much we have invested in our cars (probably too scared to know) and when a claim happens we scramble to get receipts and photos to try to provide a value for the loss.  This in my opinion is why people have negative feelings towards the insurance industry.  They are not properly prepared.   

If you know up front what kind of insurance you are buying, what is covered and what isn’t, and you have an certified appraised value, then presenting a claim will be easy.  In speaking with many claims adjusters over the years, they tell me that the best claims they have ever had to take care of were those in which the client had everything ready.  Then it simply becomes an exercise and the settlement is quick and painless.  Putting a claim into your insurance company should be a pleasant experience.   

If you have ever put in a fraudulent claim then you no longer have an opinion and should be ashamed of yourself.  I have had situations where clients have tried and succeeded in defrauding an insurance company.  These are people that actually think it’s ok to do this because insurance companies have millions and they won’t even notice.  Then they are the first to complain when the rates go up.  And we all know that the biggest reason for rate increases is fraud.  If everyone was honest our rates would be at least 25% lower. 

For those of you who have unfinished projects, expensive parts and race cars with no titles, there are options.  Most antique and classis car insurance companies offer coverage for vehicles and parts which are in the restoration stage.  The rate is usually lower as the risk of road cover isn’t there.  Race cars are different as most don’t have titles.  You must tag the vehicle with some sort of identification number and then have it appraised.  There are specialty insurance companies that offer coverage for race cars.  Most often the client will only buy fire & theft so they don’t have to worry about their huge investment getting swiped when they are not around.  You can also buy collision insurance in case of an accident on the track (expensive).  Then you have to think about liability coverage.  Imagine you are backing out of your pit spot and you hit someone.  There are injuries and they are suing.  You are driving a race car with no insurance.  You are now faced with the cost of defending yourself in court and then having to pay a claim out of your own pocket if they plaintiff is successful in winning the case.  This happens all too often at the track.         

Prepare yourself for the worst case scenario (theft, fire, accident, liability) and you will feel that you are ready for anything.  The insurance company will respect you and provide you with the service you deserve. 

Remember…. You get what you pay for.  Buy coverage from a respected insurance broker in your community.  Drive safe and enjoy your hobby. 

Best regards,
Terry Gaudet 

Volkswagen established 70 years ago

Revving up from the Beetle era to the Golf age

 Wolfsburg, 23 May 2007 - From very modest beginnings “Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH”, established in Berlin on May 28, 1937 with a share capital of 480,000 Reichsmark, has become one of the world’s largest automakers with headquarters in present-day Wolfsburg.

With the company founded by "Deutsche Arbeitsfront", the National Socialists instrumentalized the vision of a "Volkswagen" (people’s car) which had fascinated automobile engineers and the public since the turn of the century. Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned by the German automobile industry association to design such a car in 1934 and together with his team of Karl Rabe, Franz Xaver Reimspieß and Ferry Porsche developed a standard production vehicle in 1938 with an inimitable silhouette which was to write automobile history a million times over.

Ferdinand Porsche and Bodo Lafferentz, a representative of "Deutsche Arbeitsfront", belonged to the management of the company renamed Volkswagenwerk GmbH in 1938. The foundation stone for the factory in present-day Wolfsburg was laid on Ascension Day 1938. However, the car christened "Kraft durch Freude-Wagen" remained