Finally!  Finally, we know what the most anticipated Corvette Z06 will cost.  For months speculation has been all over the map regarding one of the most important aspects of the Z06, the price.  Chevrolet dropped the pricing to the world last week and the buzz has been nuts!

Since the price reveal, we are getting bombarded with quote requests, and we can finally share some solid information.  The pricing model will not be any different with the C8 Z06 vs the C7 Z06.  It will follow the same rating profile as the previous generations Z06 and ZR1.  What is different is the dollar amount.

We wanted to give you a glimpse to what C8 Z06 insurance premiums could look like.  Now, we are going off the premise that we are going to insure the following person: ME!

A 42-year-old male, registered in KY who is married, a member of the National Corvette Museum, driven 3,000 miles or less with liability limits of $250K/$500K and $100,000 in Property Damage. This quote includes $500 deductibles on Comp and Collision and yes, this does include Roadside Assistance and Full Safety Glass Coverage.

We will show you quotes from a base price of $106,395 – all the way up to the fully loaded, Z06, Carbon wheels, etc coming in at $158,730.

To insure a base Z06, (which is funny to say). The annual (12-month) premium would be $1,586.49.

To insure the fully spec’d Z06 with all the carbon goodies that 12-month, annual premium would be $2152.80.

Now, premiums do fluctuate from one state to another, and the premium above will most likely be different from one person to another.  If you want the 6,000-mile plan the premium will change.  If you have any infractions on your Motor Vehicle Report the premiums will change.

For those that do not know, on new purchases, we lock in the purchase price (minus tax, title, and license) for the first 6 months. The value never depreciates.  We write our policies on an Agreed Value which gives you the peace of mind that your value is locked in.

When you are a month away from taking delivery is when we recommend shopping for coverage.  Click the link below to compare or quote any collector vehicle you own!

https://www.ncminsurance.com/get-a-quote/

Paul has been a gear head most of his life.  He started out in the hobby early on by racing motorcycles in Oklahoma and Texas.  That segued into vehicles with four wheels soon after.   Paul says, “What really got me started collecting vehicles was when I first bought my 1970 Mustang GT350. I’ve owned that close to 35 years”. Being involved in numerous car clubs like Mustang Club of America, The National Corvette Museum and Team Shelby kept him active in the hobby as well. Throughout the years Paul had built up a great collection containing a 2014 Corvette, 1965 Grand Sport Replica Corvette, 1988 Corvette Challenge Car, 2008 Mustang GT500 and a 1970 Ford GT350. Paul says, “It’s always hard choosing your favorite car in the collection but mine had to be the 1963 Grand Sport Replica”. Paul’s wife even got into the hobby when she picked up the 2008 GT500 11 years ago. 

No one plans on having a total loss in insurance, much less 3 total losses but sadly Paul Read experienced that in just one day. On a frigid February morning in Texas, in a detached garage, home to several collector vehicles Paul found himself trying to save his prized possessions that had just gone up in flames.  

That February day was not just any other day but was special since it was Paul’s birthday. Paul recalled doing some work out in the garage, accompanied by a couple space heaters, that morning when he came inside to make a phone call. Him and his wife had planned on going to Sebring but had to call and cancel the reservation last minute. “when I walked in the house, I remember the power going off inside but didn’t think to much about it since rolling brown outs were common this time of year.” He then retreated to the garage to finish cleaning up when he noticed smoke starting to form around the door. “I immediately opened the door and black smoked came rolling out”. Read then proceeded to crawl under the smoke to try and open the garage door. “I was able to get the garage door open and tried to grab the keys to the cars but when I did, I could hear the C7 Corvette try and turn over and immediately took off running back. I tried calling the Fire Department, but the damage was already done, and the garage was in flames”.  

Paul reached out to us the very next day to start the claims process. “I was immediately assigned a claims adjuster who reached out to me to explain the process” he also says “within a few days an appraiser was sent out to access the damage, try to figure out what caused the fire and take pictures” “American Moderns claims team was great to deal with constant communication throughout the process and within 3 weeks I had a check in my hand and was able to go out and buy a C7 Z06 and 2018 GT350 to try and start the collection process again!” “when you start to shop insurance, you mainly focus on the cost of insurance and not the claims reputation. You never plan on having a claim just paying the insurance on time. This is a great example of why NCM Insurance has great rates but an even better claims team”

Have you ever driven 1900+ miles in a near 45+ year old vehicle in 2.5 days? If you have, you know that once you complete that drive without incident you are a legend…. Well, in your own mind.

That is exactly what Sam Milam, and I did. We drove my newly acquired 1972 Chevrolet Suburban, 3-door and ¾ ton, from Boise, ID to Bowling Green, KY this past April.

You know how sometimes deals just fall in your lap? Well, this was one of those deals. A longtime friend and customer Adam Pitale, founder of Adam’s Premium Car Care Products called me up to chat about cars, life, and family as friends do. I mentioned that my son, Owen (11), approached me about wanting to build an engine and as a father, that was music to my ears! I mentioned that we were building a 383ci engine and needed something to put it in. Adam, being the friend he is, quickly said “I have the perfect vehicle for that motor!”  Well…one thing led to another, and we struck a deal on this Ochre over White 3-Door Suburban.

Now, a Suburban was not even on my radar. I was thinking more like a Chevelle or Nova, but there was something special about this truck. It spoke to me…

To be honest, I was not ready to buy a vehicle. I made a couple of phone calls, put together a case for my wife and then committed to buying it. One of my negotiation tactics for my wife, Kelly, was that we own a 1969 Corvette, but nothing for us to enjoy as a family. No vehicle for us to share and enjoy the rolling hills of Kentucky in, together. This has plenty of room, so much so, that we all can take a row (3 rows) and just go for a drive.

Buying the vehicle from Adam was a dream and he was more than generous with making sure the truck was in great shape. I went back and forth on whether I was going to ship the vehicle back to Kentucky or drive it. After getting numerous quotes for transporting, I just could not justify the expense. It was clear that I was going to drive it back…. all nineteen hundred and thirty-four miles.

Sam and I were scheduled to be in Phoenix, AZ for an insurance industry conference. From there we would fly to Boise, ID to pick up the Suburban. The plan was coming together. We loaded up our camera equipment to vlog the journey and even ordered social media decals to see if anyone would see the truck and follow the journey.

We were well equipped in the event of a breakdown. I read every article I could find on what to bring on a cross-country trip in an old vehicle. I contacted friends and insureds along the route to see if they would be available in the event, we needed help.

My tool kit included:

• Sockets, vise-grips, wrenches, screw drivers, wire crimpers, pliers, electrical wire, crimp connectors, electrical tape, hand-held electronic test gauge, duct tape, zip ties, bailing wire, tire gauge, tire puncture kit, multi-tool, gloves and a first aid kit.

My spare parts kit included:

• Ignition coil, 2 fan belts, upper and lower radiator hoses, various size hose clamps, vacuum hoses, fuel pump, spare fuses and bulbs, jumper cables, jumper box to power our electronics, bearing grease, thermostat, spark plugs, and a few other miscellaneous items.

In the end, all of this was unnecessary, but my moto was to be prepared for the worse and hope for the best…. And the best won!

We left the desert heat of Phoenix at 7:00am that Sunday and flew to Boise.  When we arrived in Idaho it was snowing. Clearly, the ideal conditions for buying an old truck. Nevertheless, we hopped in the F-350 that Adam had left for us at the airport (in true Adam Pitale fashion) and b-lined for the auto-parts store.  We bought the essentials, antifreeze, oil, glass cleaner and a gas can.

I am sure Adam could sense my anticipation and excitement when we met his friends and family for lunch. I was obviously eager and excited; you all know the feeling I’m talking about. After lunch, we pulled up to his garage and when the door rose, I thought “man, this is better in person!” We went over the truck with Adam, and then began the 30-hour drive.

Day 1: Boise, ID – Evanston, WY.

With this being a “new to me” vehicle, we started our road trip with caution. This first leg was around 6.5 hours, our goal was getting into Wyoming on Day 1. Mission accomplished. The truck performed flawlessly!

Day 2: Evanston, WY – Nebraska City, NE

This was our longest leg, 12 hours and 845 miles. Sam and I were getting more comfortable with the truck with every mile. She purred from 6:15am – 12:00am. We only stopped for fuel, photo ops and food. I was amazed at how it hummed down the interstate. One small problem occurred with the speedometer cable, but we quickly disconnected it from the back of the gauge, and we were set.

Day 3: Nebraska City, NE – Bowling Green, KY

Our final day! We were ready to get home. This leg was 11 hours and 663 miles. As we got more comfortable, the truck started to remind us that she was no spring chicken! Sam was at the wheel and noticed that the oil pressure had dropped. Additionally, it started to develop a lifter tap. We quickly pulled off at the next exit and checked the oil. 1500 miles (about half the width of the United States) in an old vehicle will burn through oil! We topped it off, and she was back to that beautiful purr!

While we were getting fuel at our very last stop, I was too focused on getting a photo of our gas guzzler and the group of Tesla’s at the charging station, that I left the gas cap on the pump. 10 minutes later I smelt a strong gas odor, and I immediately knew what I did. We were close to an auto parts store; we swung in to see if they had one instead of going back. We stopped at two stores and spent a combined hour at both. We should have gone back for it…

Throughout the trip we met many people at gas stations who reminisced about when they had “one just like it” or just giving a thumbs up along the way. To me, that was a highlight I was not expecting. This was a bucket list item crossed off my list that I will soon not forget.  Before anyone asks, this is insured by NCM Insurance!

I’ve been with NCM Insurance about four years now. After reading about their rates, level of coverage and responsiveness in dealing with claims, I decided they were the best choice for insuring my classic cars.

I own an original 1961 270hp convertible and an original 1963 250hp coupe. The split window was awarded a high Regional NCRS Second Flight (a 93% score) in January of 2016. I wanted top notch coverage for such timeless pieces of automotive history while still having the latitude to drive and enjoy them. A policy with NCM Insurance seemed like the right decision.

You can hear about how good an insurance company is, but nothing compares to a personal experience in dealing with a claim, especially a large claim like what I had.

My wreck was not a fender bender. The front end of this all-original car was mangled as you can see in the picture below. After some reflection, there were only two local shops that I considered capable of doing the level of work that would meet my standards. Within 24 hours of the wreck, I called Adam Boca of NCM Insurance and the response was stellar. I felt there was a genuine concern that I was okay physically followed by reassurances that my car would be repaired meticulously. I was assigned an adjuster to the claim immediately who happened to be a split window owner himself!

The shop I chose was Burke’s Corvette in Maitland, Florida. I knew the owner, Tim Burke, from back when he had done some work on my 1961 Corvette. I was impressed by his attention to detail and work ethic, so I wanted him on the project.

After the car was towed to the shop, I went there to see Tim, and he told me that the NCM Insurance adjuster had called him before the car even arrived at the shop. Tim shared how the adjuster had made it clear that the car was to be done correctly and to my satisfaction. Tim got a chuckle out of that and said in his 45 years in the business, that had never happened before.

It took a couple of weeks for Tim to pull the repair estimate together. The adjuster took another day or two to review it and then issued me a check without hesitation. The estimate was based on procuring original parts (when available) or top quality reproduction pieces if necessary. On a 1963 Sting Ray, many parts are one year only, such as the headlight buckets and horns for example. Some parts, such as hoods are nearly VIN-specific.

Then, while the repair work was in progress, some additional wreck related issues were found. The original Muncie transmission was locked up and the timing gear cover was damaged, among other things. Again, Mr. Baker reviewed the claim and promptly issued a second check.

The repairs are in their final stages now. Throughout this ordeal, in the midst of what can only be described as a Corvette owner’s worst nightmare, I have to say that dealing with NCM Insurance has been the most worry-free part of it all.

As a side note, the driver of the car that hit me received a citation. It turned out that he didn’t have insurance and neither did the owners of the Escalade he was borrowing. While this could have been a problem with other insurance companies, who might have looked to cut corners on my repairs, this was a non-issue with NCM Insurance.

When I talk to other classic car owners about insurance companies, they always ask, “…yeah but do you know how they’ve handled any claims?”

I smile and say, “Let me tell you my story.”

We are excited to announce our Agency’s new Customer Service representative, Lorrie Carta!  Lorrie comes to us with over 25 years in the Customer Service Role and ready to help our customers with any questions they might have.

Lorrie moved here from upstate New York 5 years ago after having friends that lived here locally. After numerous visits, they loved the area so much they left New York and moved down south. She says “We just love the closeness of the people in Bowling Green. Everyone knows everyone and makes it feel like home”

She is also a gear head at heart.  Her and her husband Greg (known as Chip) own a 1967 Camaro RS.  “He drag races this in the NHRA circuit and Beech Bend has become our home track. This car once belonged to his dad who passed back in 1994.”

Her favorite part about the NCM is the environment. “How can you not be happy talking to people about cars and seeing photos of all these beautiful pieces of machinery daily. Hearing the horns beep from the corvettes being picked up and hearing the laughter and excitement out by the simulator – it is great. The staff here makes everyone feel like family”

Feel free to talk to Lorrie or any one of our agents when you call us at 877-678-7626 or visit us online at www.ncminsurance.com

Ever since the NCM Insurance agency was founded in 2009, it has focused mainly on one thing; providing collector car insurance for your beloved Corvette or any other collector car you may own. In eleven years as an agency – and with its offices located inside the National Corvette Museum – NCM Insurance has skyrocketed to new heights and become one of the premier collector car insurance groups because of the excellent customer service it provides to its clients.

Ronald and Vickie have now trusted the NCM Insurance agency for collector car insurance on their hot rods for over eight years. However, if it wasn’t for Ronald being approached by Adam Boca – the NCM Insurance Manager – and being provided with excellent customer service, Ron and Vickie wouldn’t be saving the amount of money they are today.

“While showing my 1962 Impala in the Class of ’62 display at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals in November 2012, Adam came up and introduced himself to me. He asked me who I had insurance with on my ’62 Impala,” Ronald said. “I told him, and he confidently said he could save me money by insuring with NCM Insurance.”

Not only is Mr. Hoeft the proud owner of his 1962 Impala, but also the original owner of his 1967 Impala, in which he bought when he was 19 years old right out of high school. On top of those two classic cars – and a 1967 Nova – Ronald had over a dozen vehicles in his collection when he first met Boca and later decided to insure those rides with NCM Insurance.

“I shared (with Adam) that my insurance situation was somewhat unusual since I had 15 cars in my collection,” said Ronald. “Adam looked at me straight in the eye and said without hesitation ‘Then I can save you a lot of money!’. I took his business card and told him when my current policy expired I would reach back out to him.

“That June I did … and he was right – NCM Insurance saved me a lot of money and with better coverage. I have been with them ever since.”

Ronald and Vickie’s collection is now up to 19 cars and trucks. Although Ronald says that he is not a big-time collector, he said that NCM Insurance “treats me like I’m Jay Leno!” Additionally, Ronald said that he and Vickie have full confidence that their most valued possessions are insured by a “company with a staff known for their honesty and integrity and who put a personal touch on their customer service.”

“I feel I have been blessed not only with my car hobby, but also in my personal life. I have met and made friends with so many great people through this hobby,” Ronald said. “NCM Insurance has allowed me to enjoy my passion with cars even more knowing I’m covered properly.

“I highly recommend from heart, anyone who reads this, give the NCM Insurance agency a chance and I’m pretty sure you will thank me.”