Hagerty, Chubb and PURE: How Collector and Private-Client Auto Policies Handle Repairs

A lot of our clients in Greenwich, Scarsdale and Manhattan don’t have a standard auto policy. Their daily cars are insured through a private-client carrier like Chubb, PURE or Berkley One, and their weekend or collector cars are often with Hagerty. These policies are built differently from mass-market auto insurance, and the differences show up most clearly when there’s a claim.

This article covers what each carrier publicly says about valuation, parts and choice of repair shop, with the source being the carrier’s own website. We left out anything we couldn’t confirm there. Policy terms vary by state, by product and by the policy actually issued to you, so check your own policy or ask your broker.

Why private-client and collector policies are different

Standard auto policies are designed around average cars. They usually pay actual cash value on a total loss (a market value figured after the accident) and limit repair costs to parts “of like kind and quality,” which can mean aftermarket or used parts.

High-value and collector policies tend to change three things:

• Valuation. Many let you agree on the car’s value up front instead of arguing about it after a loss.
• Parts. Several say they pay for original manufacturer (OEM) parts.
• Repair shop. Several say outright that the choice of shop is yours. In New York, that’s also the law under Insurance Law § 2610, regardless of carrier. More on that in our guide to choosing your own body shop in New York.

Hagerty: collector and enthusiast cars

Hagerty insures collector vehicles, including newer enthusiast cars, not cars used as daily transportation. On its page for 1980-and-newer collector vehicles, it says the car can’t be used as primary transportation or for regular commuting. That’s why it’s common to see Hagerty on a weekend 911 or a vintage car, with a separate policy on the everyday SUV.

Guaranteed Value

Hagerty’s main feature is Guaranteed Value. According to Hagerty, on a covered total loss you receive the car’s full insured value, the amount agreed on when the policy was written, not a figure worked out after the accident. Hagerty’s claims page also says taxes and fees are included unless state law prohibits it, and that you have the option to keep the car after a total loss, with salvage value and/or deductible subtracted.

Repairs

Hagerty states plainly that you choose the repair shop, and that you can do the repairs yourself. It also says its parts specialists help locate replacement parts, including OEM, used (LKQ) and new-old-stock parts, and that its adjusters have hands-on experience with collector car repair.

Keep the agreed value current. If the market for your car has moved since you wrote the policy, the Guaranteed Value only helps if it reflects what the car is worth today.

Chubb: Masterpiece auto

Chubb’s U.S. personal auto coverage, part of its Masterpiece program, is a common choice for high-value daily drivers.

Agreed value

Chubb describes an option where your car’s value is determined and guaranteed before a covered loss. If the car is totaled or stolen, Chubb says you receive the agreed amount regardless of the car’s age or mileage.

OEM parts

Chubb says it pays for OEM parts after a covered accident to return the car to its pre-claim condition.

Repair shop and rental

Chubb’s Masterpiece auto materials say Chubb won’t dictate which shop does the work. A Masterpiece brochure also describes a lifetime guarantee on repairs done at Chubb-certified shops; check your current policy for how that applies to you. Chubb’s current auto page also describes rental coverage with no per-day limit, up to $15,000 total, while your car is being repaired after a covered accident.

Chubb’s own materials note that products may not be available in every state and that coverage depends on the policy as issued.

PURE

PURE is a high-value insurer that covers homes, cars and other property. Here’s what it publishes about auto claims.

Total loss: agreed value or actual cash value

On its automobile coverage page, PURE says that on a total loss it pays the higher of the policy’s agreed value or the car’s actual cash value, with no deductible. PURE notes that coverage varies by state and vehicle type.

OEM parts and repair shop

PURE says repairs use OEM parts, with original-equipment-equivalent parts used for replacement glass. It also says that after a covered accident, the car goes to the repair shop of your choice.

Gap and rental

PURE lists gap coverage that helps pay the remaining loan or lease balance after a total loss payment, with some exclusions. It also says it can arrange a rental while your car is being repaired.

Berkley One

Berkley One is the private-client carrier we have the most direct relationship with. Enthusiast Auto Works is a preferred repair shop for Berkley One, which streamlines the whole process. We have a direct representative at Berkley One, which lets us start work on your car right away.

On its own site, Berkley One describes an agreed value option that locks in the car’s value for 12 months, OEM parts whenever possible, and new vehicle replacement for a car under 15,000 miles within 12 months of titling. Like the others, the details depend on your policy.

What we’ve seen in practice

Besides Berkley One, we work regularly with the claims teams at Chubb, PURE, AIG Private Client, Hagerty, Erie and Cincinnati Insurance. A few things are consistent across them:

• Documentation matters. Private-client adjusters want thorough photos, a detailed estimate and quick supplements when hidden damage turns up. We provide that from the start.
• We handle the calls. At drop-off you sign a direction of pay, an authorization to repair and a representation document, and we act as your claim concierge with the adjuster so you avoid the back-and-forth.
• OEM parts are rarely a fight. We use new OEM parts from the dealer on every repair, and we tell the insurer that up front. If a part is ever questioned, we work it out with the insurer first so there’s no cost to you. If we can’t, we call you and decide together. Our article on OEM vs. aftermarket parts in New York has more.
• ADAS calibration is done in-house. Cameras, radar and sensors are calibrated here as part of the collision repair.
• Paint protection film counts. If your car had PPF, the repaired panels need new film. We’re an XPEL certified installer and do that in-house after the collision work. See our XPEL PPF page.
• Certification is brand-specific. We’re collision-certified for Land Rover, Jaguar, Rivian, Genesis, Infiniti, Nissan, Kia and Stellantis brands. We repair Porsche, BMW, Mercedes and other makes regularly, but we don’t hold manufacturer certification for those, and we’ll say so.

For more on how we handle claims on these policies, see our page on collision repair for high-net-worth insurance policies.

Questions to ask your broker before you need them

• Is my car on agreed value or actual cash value? When was the agreed value last updated?
• Does my policy say OEM parts, or “like kind and quality”?
• Is there anything in the policy about which shop I use, or guarantees tied to certain shops?
• What’s my rental limit, per day and in total?
• If my car is leased, do I have gap coverage through the policy or the lease?
• For a collector car: what usage limits apply, and who is allowed to drive it?

Policy terms vary. Check your own policy.

Had an accident on a Chubb, PURE, Berkley One or Hagerty policy?

We pick up and deliver across Westchester, Manhattan, and Greenwich, Stamford and New Canaan, and we’ll coordinate with your carrier’s claims team from the first call. Reach us at 914-630-1668 or send photos with the estimate form below.

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