The following is a guest post from Bethany Collins
Recent statistics show that more than half of classic car owners have taken out standard insurance policies on their cars. Why is this so impractical? Because standard car policies might leave you high and dry when you really want your insurance to work for you! It’s easy to find an auto insurance company that provides classic car insurance, but what should you be looking for? This article will give you some tips to keep in mind before insuring your classic car.
What is a ‘classic’ car?
Any car between 10 to 20 years old can be considered a “classic” car. However, different car insurance companies may have different classification standards. Some might classify cars older than 15 years as classic cars. Basically, there are three segregations – standard, classic, and antique. Antique cars or vintage cars are those that are more than 25 years old, mainly cars that have been around since the 1920’s. As the term ‘classic’ can be defined differently by each insurance company, it is important to understand each company’s definition of a “classic” car.
Why do you need Classic Car Insurance?
- Your classic car requires a lot of investment in terms of time, energy and money for the car’s restoration, modification and maintenance. These cars also carry higher sentimental value. Hence, it is important to insure such a valuable asset.
- This may not be a car you drive all the time. You may only use this car occasionally for a classic car rally or an antique show and thus the value of this car should actually appreciate with time instead of depreciating.
- Hence standard insurance does not cover your classic car the way you need whereas an insurer who designs policies specifically for classic cars might give you the classic car insurance rates.
Types of Coverage
You might be offered three types of insurance policies for your classic car. However, only two of these are suitable for your car
- Agreed Value (AV): In this scheme you and your insurance company agree upon a value for your classic car which is above the cars depreciated value and your coverage is 100% without any deductibles! Here’s how you should go about getting the best out of the agreed value scheme. Before you go to the insurance company, meet a professional appraiser who will assess the condition of your car and quote its market value. This would ensure that you and the insurance company easily agree on a fair AV for your car. Also, getting a professional assessment will help you make the right claim later on.
There are several reputed auto insurance companies that offer classic car insurance quotes online. Compare quotes for the best deals.
- Stated Value (SV): This scheme lets you state a value for your car, which can be more than the actual depreciated value. However, the disadvantage of this scheme is that while an insurance company may pay up to the value stated, they don’t guarantee that you will actually get the full stated value. You may also be charged deductibles of up to $1,000 with a stated value policy.
- Actual Cash Value (ACV): This plan is for standard insurance, and not recommended for classic or collectors cars. Under this scheme, your car is insured for its depreciated book value and not for its real value which might be up to 20 times more! The maximum you could get out of this policy would be replacement cost less depreciation. So even if you have a trusted auto insurance company, it’s not in your best interest to accept an ACV.
Other tips
Because classic car prices keep going up, it’s important to review your policy periodically to make sure you’re fully covered. If you’ve recently restored your car keep all the receipts, labor expenses, and other documents that prove how much you’ve spent to get your car to a classic mint condition. Talk to insurance agents about the appropriate insurance policy and raise the coverage each time you upgrade the restoration.
How do you go about getting classic car insurance? Your conventional insurance company will either refuge coverage or charge you an exorbitant premium for a replacement value that depreciates in time. With classic auto insurance you’ll get the full market value of your car and the advantage is a savings of up to 50 percent! You’ll find free classic car insurance quotes online. Just make sure you deal with a reputable insurance company whom you can trust when you want your insurance to really work for you.
About the Author:
Bethany Collins is a Work at Home Mother (WAHM) who lives with her husband and two kids. She loves to read and surf the internet looking for new money saving tips, recipes, etc. In her spare time she writes on personal finance [home, life and classic car insurance quotes, budgeting, car insurance companies and other investment options] and grows organic vegetables in her small vegetable garden.
