Vintage Car Insurance - Understanding the Process

By Andy Darwinson

If you have a vintage car then it probably cost you a lot of money. Most people who buy vintage or classic cars do so not only because they like them, but because they see the vehicle as an investment. Once you have spent thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of thousands of dollars on a vintage car, you need to be sure that you have the right kind of insurance policy.

When you are shopping for car insurance you'll find that the type of insurance you need will be different to that for ordinary cars. Once you start looking you should try and find an insurance company that specializes in insuring vintage cars. Vintage cars require specialist coverage. The type of coverage you will need will depend very much on how your car is used. You will need a different kind of premium if the car is only driven to specialist shows and exhibitions, than you would if you drove your vintage car like a regular vehicle.

If you take the time to find the right policy for your car, it's extremely possible to save money on auto insurance for your vintage car. Just remember you shouldn't insure your classic under a standard insurance policy. Plus, you don't want to be driving it around like an ordinary vehicle if you purchased it as an investment.

One thing to realize is there are specific guidelines that need to be adhered to when insuring a vintage car. When looking for auto insurance for vintage cars, you should have been driving for at least 5 years. This will give you a much better quote then if it's for a teenager. Also, if you're over the age of 25 that will help as well. In fact, it should be easy to find vintage car insurance, since you are considered to be less of a risk.

When you insure a car, insurers will want to assess both your security and your driving skills before they will allow you to take out a speciality premium. You should have a car that is old enough to be considered a vintage vehicle and this standard will depend on the company that you buy your insurance from.

Most of the insurers today believe that vintage means'70s or older. It's also important to understand that the overall premium cost will differ according to the age of your vintage car. You should also have regular insurance as well, because you will need it before they grant you vintage car insurance.

If you do tend to drive a vintage car on a daily basis then insurance companies may regard that car as too much of a risk, as the more a car is driven the sooner it is likely to deteriorate and decrease in value. Insurance companies offer special premiums based on the actual cash value (ACV) of your car, the stated value (SV) and the agreed value (AV) of the vehicle.

When it is time to give your insurance company a value for your car, they will pay it, but can't insure the stated value. The majority of vintage car owners get their insurance through an agreed value of the car. This means the insurers will agree on the value for your car, and take into consideration all the extras (investment, maintenance, etc.). Once this is complete they will give you a vintage car insurance policy for that value. - 29952

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here