My Car Insurance Life |

Derek Both asked:


The following article will give classic, vintage car buffs the low down on the actual differences that exist between classic car insurance and standard auto insurance. If you love and own classic cars and are busy looking for the best insurance deals available, this article not only gives you the right information you need, but also busts a few popular myths regarding classic car insurance as compared to standard auto insurance.

Many owners of vintage vehicles assume that the only way to insure their collector car is to put it into the family auto policy. That’s not true. The only policy that properly insures the investment car buffs have made on their prized classic car is the classic car insurance policy.

Classic car insurance is less expensive than standard auto insurance, but these companies require you to fulfil a few necessary criteria before you can qualify for their programs and get those great deals and low rates. Here are some of the primary restrictions vintage car owners have to face:

Before you get that good rate on your insurance coverage, the insurance companies will want to know the age of the driver (as many companies require you to meet a certain driver’s-age restrictions), the mileage of your car ( there may be mileage restrictions to meet also), vehicle age qualifications and housing and garage provisions.

In many cases, insurance policies for classic car insurance and those for standard auto insurance can differ a lot. Most standard auto insurance policies will insure the vehicle for its current price, subtracting depreciation. What this means is that, with an increase in the age and usage of the car, its value will decrease. But this is not the case with a vintage vehicle. For this, its value will increase over time provided the collector maintains his vehicle well. This is due to the fact that collectors truly treasure their precious collectible autos. They are not used for similar purposes as daily-use cars and are not driven very often.

To provide the necessary coverage in such a situation, classic car insurance providers usually offer an “Agreed Value Coverage”. This essentially means that you, the insured, and the classic car insurance agent, will agree upon the value of your vehicle up front. Such a vehicle valuation will give the full market value of the classic car as stated on the policy and factor in appreciation to the value in a time of loss.

There may also be some carriers that will offer low or no deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverage. Many times they will also provide coverage for spare parts or accessories that are not on or in your classic car. You won’t get that kind of coverage on your family auto policy.

As you see, getting a classic car insurance policy can be much more beneficial to your prized classic car than clubbing it under your general family auto policy. A vintage collectible needs to be treated specially; so why settle for the ordinary when it comes to choosing insurance?

Barb Dearing asked:


Are you ready to shop for classic car insurance? Maybe, maybe not. Before you pick up the phone, let’s take a minute to review the six questions you need to consider before you talk with an agent. Essentially, your agent is going to want to know how much the car is used and how you plan to maintain it. Knowing the answers to these questions will save you time on the phone — and put you in a much better position to negotiate the best insurance coverage for your classic honey.

1. Do you plan to insure the car for what you feel it’s really worth? Your agent will undoubtedly ask how much insurance coverage you are seeking — if your personal opinion of value is higher than the vehicle’s appraised value, you may want to consider a higher level of coverage.

2. Do you plan to participate in car club events? If so, you need to consider the amount of liability you can incur in such events. A classic car that is stored 365 days a year has much less potential for liability claims than a car that is driven regularly in parades and other event.

3. Are you planning an extended period of renovation for the car? If so, do you need to insure the car while it’s off the road?

4. Do you plan to ship the car any time soon? If so, additional coverage may be warranted since the car will be outside of your control.

5. How many miles a year do you expect to drive the car? If these miles are limited, you may be able to negotiate a lower premium. Be sure to ask about any maximum mileage limitations. An annual restriction of 2,500 miles may be imposed by your car insurance company.

6. Who will be repairing or maintaining the car? Again, if the car is outside of your control, you may want to consider higher theft and damage coverage. On the flip side, if you personally maintain the car within secure confines on your property, you may want to pay for minimal coverage.

The answers to all of these questions need to be considered before you decide how much coverage is warranted for your classic car. Also, car owners should be aware that some insurance companies specialize in classic car insurance. But as with any car insurance policy, it’s best to get quotes from several insurance providers before making a decision. Hopefully, by carefully considering the answers to the six questions we’ve discussed, you’ll be prepared to shop for the best coverage for your classic car.

Thinking of shopping online for multiple car insurance quotes? You may want to visit the website recommended below to get at least five quotes for your classic car insurance.

Ricky Lim asked:


That antique car you got in your garage for so many years needs to be insured, just like any other normal car would be. But, standard policies don’t normally apply to antique cars. They need something different. Most people think that it’s quite hard to get insurance for an antique car, but the truth is that there are a number of companies that offer this service now.

There are a lot of companies that carry options for antique cars, so it shouldn’t be a problem finding something that fits both your budget and your needs. Did you know that most car insurance companies offer classic cars policies now?

If you have a custom or antique car you can probably benefit from the collectors auto insurance plan. Ask a representative from an insurance company for more information and you’ll be able to take the best decision for your case.

You need to find the best balance between the coverage that you need and the price you can afford to pay. The agent will help you with all that. Compared to the past situation, the number of choices when it comes to antique classic car insurance is huge.

You might find higher rates when you look at big companies though, as they’re not specialized on them, but the extra cost is worth it in most cases, because of the extra stability and reputation of that company. There are also a number of companies that are independent and working with car collectors only, though that means that you will need a second company to insure your normal cars.

It might be harder to find insurance if the car is very rare, because the choice is a bit more limited. This is because rare cars are also very difficult to repair, so it’s not easy to estimate costs. It’s more popular every day to collect old cars, so more companies offer these insurances each day, and some of them are even specializing in them.

There are a lot of insurance providers out there, so make sure that you pick the right one for you.

Derek Both asked:


Need info on vintage car insurance for your prized possession on wheels? Then this article is just the thing for you.

According to general perception, vintage cars are seen as automobiles which are expensive and a symbol of high status. But contrary to popular belief, there are quite a number of old cars which are not glamorous or have a high cost of maintenance.

To the common car owner there is essentially little difference between a shiny Mark Jaguar and a proud Austin A40. But in reality, such automobiles, which have a high historical as well as exotic value, can technically be divided into three broad divisions. These are:-

- Veteran cars - These are those cars which came into production before the year 1903.

- Vintage cars - These are those cars which came into production between the years 1903 and 1933.

- Classic cars - Technically, classic cars are defined as those cars which came into production before the year 1973 or at least 15 years ago.

What is surprising, however, is the fact that most insurance companies do not offer any special kind of Vintage Car Insurance. Though the definition of classic cars can vary widely and there are also variations within different insurers, most major insurance companies will usually provide you with a normal, simple insurance - not any different from the insurance of a modern car. However, if you want to get your precious vintage or classic car insured, here are certain handy tips you could follow:-

- It is a general perception that Vintage car insurance or even insurances for classic cars are a lot easier on your pockets than the normal, modern-day car insurance. Even the recent press reports in the motoring circuits say so. But what is not so easily known is the fact that Vintage Car Insurance generally calculates limited mileage and also takes into account whether your vehicle has been garaged in less than perfect surroundings.

- The owner of a classic car generally has a fair idea of what his car is worth. You might not always agree with what your insurer claims to be the value of your car. But make sure that both of you agree on a certain price well in advance because you can’t change it after your claim.

- Getting in touch with a specialist insurer is also another great idea. If you want a good and competitive deal for your Vintage Car Insurance, then that might be your best chance. These specialist insurers tailor-make insurance schemes to suit your own benefit, and generally their rates are also higher than the normal market ones.

Agreed Evaluation - An agreed evaluation is that value which the insurer guarantees you if your car gets stolen or damaged beyond repair. If you want to get your Classic or Vintage car insured, be certain that you have the valuation which is guaranteed. This step is extremely important in your insurance procedure because there have been instances where insurers have refused to pay the entire sum even though the owner believes otherwise.

Thus to conclude, although vintage car insurance may cost you a pretty penny, for those who truly love and treasure their vintage beauties, it’ll definitely be worth the cost.