Classic Car Insurance: Are You Paying Too Much to Insure Your Classic Car?

Anyone who owns a vintage vehicle or a collection of enduringly stylish classic cars knows that the standard car insurance policy will not adequately cover the specific needs of someone who drives a classic car.

A classic car owner, for example, is much more likely than a standard driver to make a claim for repainting after a tiny scratch; whereas a typical driver is at a greater risk of being involved in a highway pile-up than a classic car owner.

The habits and requirements of the drivers who spends time behind the wheel of a classic 1950s Ford are obviously quite different from those of a driver who gets around in a used 2005 Ford Mondeo; so it does makes plenty of sense that insurance companies would create policies specifically for drivers who own vintage cars.

One of the most useful facets of many classic car insurance policies has to do with the idea of flexible usage. This unique idea allows drivers to attain full coverage at a variable rate depending on how often they drive their car and in what situations.

Most drivers with antique vehicles drive their cars over a distance of less than one thousand miles each year, but then there are some collectors who drive up to five thousand miles each year in their prized cars. Some drivers are extremely careful about distance because of the potential wear and tear on the vehicle, but there are just as many classic car enthusiasts who are more concerned of the environment or situation they are driving in than how far they are driving.

Many vintage car owners only take their vehicles out for special events such as auto shows or parades and classic car shows, but there are some drivers who enjoy taking the occasional Sunday afternoon drive out on a country road. With an insurance policy that supports flexible usage, a driver can pay only for the insurance coverage that he/she needs to cover his/her classic car driving habits.

This means that a driver who enjoys a leisurely weekend afternoon of driving through town will be able to do so without risking the investment that the car represents, but also that a driver who only starts the engine during a special event will not have to pay extra for open road privileges that he/she won’t use.

In addition to what is and is not covered, there are many conveniences that a classic car owner can enjoy by having classic car insurance instead of a standard car insurance policy. For one thing, the agent responsible for the insurance policy will be knowledgeable about classic cars and sensitive to the needs of classic car owners, this can save any unnecessary hassle and phone time.

Vintage car collectors are understandably very selective about where they get their cars repaired, and often will be unwilling to let anyone but their personally trusted mechanic look at their car. The reasons for this fact will be obvious to an agent who understands the needs and desires of people who own classic cars, but for an agent who is not experienced with these kinds of customers it can be a difficult fact to swallow.