What is a Classic Car?
The definition of a classic car varies by state. The Classic Car Club of America claims only cars made between 1925 and 1948 qualify as a classic. It also must be in good running order and fully restored. The club also takes qualifying items, like power brakes, into consideration when determining if a car is considered a classic.
In terms of insurance, identifying a classic car becomes a little more difficult. Some insurers will consider a car over 10-years-old to be a classic, while others might deem cars made during the 1970s and 1980s not to be classics due to high production runs in those years.
Classic cars can (but not always) include modified collector cars, replicas, reproductions, restorations and modern classics. Your car will likely not be covered if it’s a restoration built to less than 50 percent original standards, a racing car, has a nitrous oxide or jet engine, or if it’s considered a kit car. Classic cars are common among American collectors, so it is important to have collector car insurance.
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What is an Antique Car?
Antique cars are generally over 25-years-old, completely restored to their original specifications and in full running order. Some states make exceptions for cars that are over 20-years-old. A car cannot have any modifications at all for it to be considered an antique.
If you’re unsure if your car qualifies as an antique or classic car, licensed agents can talk you through it and help you determine which insurance is better for your car.
How Does Classic Car Insurance Work?
Classic car insurance has limitations and restrictions that regular car insurance doesn’t. Your insurance provider will set a limit on the amount of miles you can drive the car each year. Limits generally don’t exceed 5,000 miles. They might also require you to keep your classic vehicle in a secure garage to help protect it from weather damage and theft.
Most insurance companies will also require you to own another car for daily use to prevent you from reaching your mileage limit on your classic. Some insurers refuse to offer insurance to owners of classic cars who are younger than 30-years-old.
In most instances, you can have a specialty insurance agent assess your car and determine an “agreed value” on your car, which is crucial for understanding agreed value insurance. This is different from the actual cash value (ACV) of a regular car. The agreed value of your car may be determined by either the auction prices of similar cars or the appraised market value of your car at the time of inspection.
Classic cars are valued at different rates than regular cars and often need a different type of insurance.
Read more:
- Best Classic Car Insurance Companies
- Classic Car Insurance
- Securing The Best Auto Insurance For Your Modified Vehicle
Why is Classic Car Insurance Necessary?
Many classic car owners put their cars under regular auto insurance policies believing that will be enough, but that’s not the case. Regular auto insurance policies consider the value of your car will depreciate over time, meaning they’ll pay out less money for accidents as the years go by. In most instances, classic cars gain value over the years. In the event of an accident in your classic car, having only plain car insurance will cause you to lose money.
Classic car insurance offers all the same coverage as regular car insurance, including liability, collision insurance, and comprehensive coverage. It is also important to look into additonal coverage, such as uninsured motorist coverage, and underinsued motorist coverage. In most cases, it comes at a lower cost, as your classic car won’t be on the road nearly as often as your daily use vehicle. This means, you can save between 20 and 40 percent on your classic car insurance.
Some insurance providers also offer specialty towing services for classic cars with soft straps and guaranteed flatbed towing. Some will also replace your damaged vehicle with original parts. Check to see if you would benefit from a policy like comprehensive coverage. Talk to a local insurance agent today to find the best classic car insurance companies in your area.
If you’re still unsure about whether or not you should purchase classic car insurance policy in addition to your regular auto policy, please contact and agent today who will be happy to discuss your needs.
Before making any final decisions on your insurance company, it is important to learn as much as you can about your local insurance providers, and the coverages they offer. Call your local insurance agent to clear up any questions that you might have. Questions to consider asking include, “What is the best coverage plan for me/my family/my situation?” “What are the minimum coverage requirements in my state and what form of coverage do you recommend?” “Do you guys offer any bundle discounts if I take out both my auto insurance and home insurance with you?” and “What is the average rate of insurance quotes you guys offer?
Before making any big insurance decisions, use our free tool to compare insurance quotes near you. It’s simple, just plug in your zip code and we’ll do the rest!