Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello. Can any one advise me on a V5/insurance problem please? I am purchasing a Morris minor next week. Year 1959. It has a 1098 engine which was put in about 10 years ago. However, the V5 was never amended and details the cylinder capacity as 998cc. When I tried to obtain a insurance quote from Adrian Flux they were only able to quote on a modified vehicle with a premium in excess of £300 and told me I had to get in touch with DVLA to enquire whether this vehicle was modified. I have to get this vehicle insured for next week and imagine sorting this problem out with the DVLA will be time consuming. Can anyone please advise on how I can obtain insurance for next week with this discrepancy and also what is involved with obtaining a V5 with the correct engine size? There must be LOTS of minors out there with new larger engines. Does this make these vehicles modified and consequently push the insurance up? Thanks

Odd that the V5 says 998, as that was never a standard engine size for the Minor. I wonder if it has been changed but somebody got the new capacity wrong. I would suggest going to your local DVLA office in person and explaining the situation over the counter. Try shopping around some of the other classic insurers - AF may not be the cheapest. Joining the club can get you a significant discount too.

Mines insured through HIC, I use them for everything. No-one else can touch them. They don't care about mods or about what the V5 says.
Just tell them its a 1959 Minor with a 1098 engine and they'll insure you.

When I went from my standard 1098 to 1275 they simply charged me an extra £10 a year for the upgrade. Couldn't care less who fitted it or how it was done.

HIC: 08451 290290

Also, in my experience don't bother with 'classic' insurers - a lot are actually more expensive as they're exploiting the 'snobby MG owner' market who like anything with the word 'classic' in the title.
(no offence meant to non-snobby MG owners)

Hi Martina

As Alex says there never was a 998 engine for the Morris Minor. The figure of 998 must be a mistake for either 948 or 1098. Try AON, the MMOC-associated insurers, they may be able to be a bit more realistic about your insurance! There are loads of insurance companies out there who will take your business.

dunketh thanks for your recommendation What does HIC stand for? and do they have a website? and what are they like at handling claims?

Best of luck Martina - and don't worry, it will be okay!

wibble xx

Join the club - then use your membership number & get a preferential rate from AON, (saves more than the membership costs) - plain sailing to insure with them oh and CHEAP !!!
Mines insured 2 drivers fully comp, agreed value for less than a third of what you've been quoted, its well worth doing.

Join the club - then use your membership number & get a preferential rate from AON

I have to agree with Wibble and Orkney, as a member of the MMOC I have my insurance through them. (I also saved loads on my other car's insurance, as you get a discount with the RAC..)
A friend of mine was recently in a similar situation, and he got AON to quote him what the cost was if he joined the MMOC. When he got the quote they gave him 2 weeks to join and away he went.

Or try RH Insurance - no worries about engine size - just tell them it's 1098cc standard engine - and should be ~ £80 for the year with FREE breakdown and recovery and unlimited mileage (for Minors). Send off the V5C to DVLA with any changes to engine capacity/engine number/colour/ address etc. Doesn't cost anything.

I have a 1960 car with a changed engine. No problems on insurance and not classified as modified.

A VERY big thank you to everyone who has given me their advice. It is very much appreciated. I shall phone the companies recommended and will let you know how I get on.

HIC = Herts Insurance Consultants.

They're a broker but they deal with companies that won't deal with the public so are a necesary evil.
As for 'cutting out the middleman' thats all guff - companies like Hastings and Direct Line have always given me terrible quotes.

No idea what they're like for claims. They're very big in the modified world though and as such I've always used them. They can provide limited track cover too.
They were the only company that would entertain insuring my numerous modified XR2s back when I had more money than sense.

Hello Dunketh,

"'snobby MG owner'", so it's not just me that thinks that. I virtually never get a wave\headlight flash from drivers of MGs, whether I'm in our Morris or Triumph. I get waves etc from all sorts of other classic car drivers and some in moderns occasionally.

Any MG owners like to comment?

Alec

I contacted all insurance brokers/companies quoted and in the end went with HIC - Herts Insurance Brokers. They offered me a policy with a company called Chauser. My mileage is limited to 7500 and I am not covered to drive any other car, however the policy only cost me £108. RH Insurance quoted me £157.50 and AON over £200 though this did include RAC cover worth £27.95. The V5 problem is pending and I will advise the outcome later. I collected my minor this week and am thrilled with her. Thank you once again to all those who took their time to reply to me.

Alec - Long standing MG V Triumph battle!! They must have nearly died when a few TR 7s were made up with MGD badging to test the market! Don't believe any made it out the factory.

Take the inner tents out and reverse her in and voila - portable spray booth!

Hello BMCE,

"a few TR 7s were made up with MGD "

I hadn't heard of that, yes that would be a real upset

Incidentally, I don't know if you are interested but there is a new book coming out shortly about the history of Ecurie Ecosse.

Alec

dunketh wrote:
Take the inner tents out and reverse her in and voila - portable spray booth!

Thanks Dunketh. My wife's been angling for a large tent she can stand up in rather than my trusty 30 year 2 man old A frame. I'd always been against the idea of a big tent that's difficult to carry but suddenly I can see she was right all along

Martina, if you can get the engine number off the engine I'm sure someone will tell you the correct capacity. Might as well get it right with the DVLA with one letter. Incidentally DVLA will just accept whatever size you tell them.

dp wrote:

dunketh wrote:
Take the inner tents out and reverse her in and voila - portable spray booth!

Thanks Dunketh. My wife's been angling for a large tent she can stand up in rather than my trusty 30 year 2 man old A frame. I'd always been against the idea of a big tent that's difficult to carry but suddenly I can see she was right all along

Martina, if you can get the engine number off the engine I'm sure someone will tell you the correct capacity. Might as well get it right with the DVLA with one letter. Incidentally DVLA will just accept whatever size you tell them.

Thanks for that advice about the DVLA. I will have a look for the engine number. Where do you suggest I try to find the appropriate engine size please?