Classic Car insurance

JP

Well, here's a question:



What should someone do to insure a classic Hudson--if they live in an area where there is little or no active club (nearby), and would like to drive their car on a limited basis (c. 2500 miles a year or less), but can't be restricted to club events and shows?



Really running to the store on a nice day would be a possibility, but not to work/ etc.



Without that freedom to use the car relatively freely, when I want to, but with modest annual mileage usage, there would be little sense to have a classic car, at least here where I live. I'm not interested in limiting my use to backing it out of the garage on occasion.



What do you folks recommend??



Has anyone tried this company?? (and had some experience with it?)---



Classic Automobile Insurance Agency: http://www.classicins.com/



I want to be honest in my potential usage, and I also want to make sure thatI will be covered if I need it--particularly liability, but also collison/ comprehensive etc.





Thanks in advance for your sage input.



JP

hornet53

Try "GRUNDY'S". I think that's the name. They claim you can drive it as much as you want, but must have a daily driver. Liability and an agreed value. sounds pretty good to me.

SamJ

I've used J. C. Taylor (ads everywhere) for 30 years. Premium for my '40 is $71 per year. They don't ask you to report your mileage at renewal, and I believe they will pay off whatever happens as long as your use is occasional. If you drive your car to work every day, total on the way to work, and they can prove you used it this way, they might not pay off. Otherwise... Other companies like Heacock, AAA if available are good, too. Whatever the restrictions say, what they are really looking for is occasional use, not used as a daily driver. I helps if you have at least one daily driver for every licenced driver in your household + your collector cars. Since you can't drive 2 cars at once, it supports your claim that you are not using your collector car in this way. Good Luck! :cool:

J Spencer

SamJ wrote: »

I've used J. C. Taylor (ads everywhere) for 30 years. Premium for my '40 is $71 per year. They don't ask you to report your mileage at renewal, and I believe they will pay off whatever happens as long as your use is occasional. If you drive your car to work every day, total on the way to work, and they can prove you used it this way, they might not pay off. Otherwise... Other companies like Heacock, AAA if available are good, too. Whatever the restrictions say, what they are really looking for is occasional use, not used as a daily driver. I helps if you have at least one daily driver for every licenced driver in your household + your collector cars. Since you can't drive 2 cars at once, it supports your claim that you are not using your collector car in this way. Good Luck! :cool:[/QUOTE



Ihave used JC Taylor for close to twenty years also $75.00 a year for my 51 Pacemaker. Just got my renewal and they raised a whole five bucks..



I drive mine 1000 to 1500 miles a year. I drive mine to work ocasionally and I believe that is within the parameters of ocasional pleasure drive. ( it gives me pleasure when customers come in to the parts store where I work at and inquire about it.)



J.C. Taylor

320 South 69th St.

Upper Darby, Pa, 19082

1 800 345 8290

www.jctaylor.com



Jim

Unknown

I've used JC Taylor for over 20 years. No claims, no problem and reasonable rates.

Nevada Hudson

Check what their maximum MED-PAY is in your State. In Nevada, JC Taylor's Med Pay is $1,000 MAX! Will not cover any of your injuries above a hangnail if the other party refuses to pay. I know from personal experience in my daily driver ( 2003 Explorer) with Allstate! I Quickly raised it to $25,000, but that's after the fact.

Unknown

If you have antique plates on the car, most states regulate how, when and where you can "Legally" operate the vehicle. With that being said, what an insurance company allows is moot. Especially if you suffer a loss (and it is known that your state antique licensing laws do not allow trips to the store or joy rides), the insurance company has a way out of paying a claim. Why, because you were not operating the vehicle in a manner consistent with licensing laws.

Unknown

i was just talking to the tag office here in my state(kansas) and they told me there is no restrictions on antique tags here , only restrictions is with the insurance one uses

mike

Park_W

I've used J.C. Taylor for years. They don't insist on a maximum mileage; the main thing is that you not use the car on a regular basis (e.g., daily driver). When I had a significant claim about five years ago I was very pleased with the way they handled it. SC has a 2500 mile max for an antique-registered car, so I just have a regular plate on mine.

SamJ

Call me crazy, but I don't understand why anybody would obsess over collector car insurance. I want replacement value insurance for my old car, the state requires that I have insurance; pick a company, pay the (low) premium, enjoy your car. The low premiums are based on risk assessment...insurance companies have almost no claims on this type of policy. You have to assess your own risk...if you are really risk-adverse, I guess you will have to pay for full daily driver coverage. :cool:

Unknown

unique1963 wrote:

i was just talking to the tag office here in my state(kansas) and they told me there is no restrictions on antique tags here , only restrictions is with the insurance one uses

mike

If that truely is the case, and if antique plates are cheaper than those for modern vehicles where you live, anyone with a junk vehicle old enough to qualify for antique plates can save a pile of money on them and insurance, all while spewing hydrocarbons like crazy. That's why most states with logical politicians have said, "We'll give you a deal on antique vehicle plates providing you don't drive anywhere but to shows and the mechanics." Why do that? If forces people to have another daily driver (usually one which is modern, equipped with latest safety equipment and polutes less) on which they pay full price for plates. Oh, and don't forget the interests of the insurance company lobbiests.

[Deleted User]

Up here Antique plates are for very casual driving of your classic to shows and in parades. Not for daily driving. They will fine you if you are found to be using these plates for daily driver. This I do not fear cos' I have a half a tank of gas and a lead foot and no copper is pulling me and my Hornet over and taking me alive.....just not how I roll........:D

[Deleted User]

I have Haggerty, It is agreed value, have the car appraised then send appraisal and photos to the company. No Milage limit but car is to be used for Leisure purposes not for daily driving, and you MUST have another car for daily use. I use mine for club functions, parades, shows, cruise night or just for a drive in the mountains.
Our Antique plates are permanent plates, No need to buy new plates every year.
Bob

Jon B

I'll put in another vote for J.C. Taylor (not to say that the others aren't as good, though). I've been with them for at least 25 years, and they've never even asked me for a photo of the car. In the one case where my Terraplane was involved in an accident (sadly, fatal), an appraiser was sent to my home, and a check covering the entire amount of the damage was issued without any questions.

Unknown

I'll put in another vote for Hagerty. See Rick's post for the details. While they do restrict the driving to that of "leisure" purposes, their definition of "leisure" is pretty lenient and they do not have a mileage limit. Also, I believe their ad in Hemming's says that you pay one price whether you have 1, 2, 20 or 200 cars--they figure you can only drive one at a time, anyway. And you can also insure your classic motorcycle or boat with them, too.

As far as plates go, some states, such as Wisconsin, have several different plates for the car hobby. Using Wisconsin's example, blue "Collector" plates with red lettering are for all stock cars, vans and trucks (up to 2 ton cap.) 20 years old and over. You pay a one-time fee, and you must have at least one other regularly licensed car and you cannot drive it in January (unless you pay extra for a temporary use plate). Other than that, the Wis. "Collector" plate has no use or mileage restrictions, except that trucks can't carry more than 500 pounds (the logic is that they allow for camping/recreational equipment). Also there does not seem to be a towing restriction; I pull my classic 1950 Feather Craft boat with our '54 Kaiser and have never been stopped.

In addition, we have the tan "Antique" plate with green lettering, again with a one-time fee. This is only for all motor vehicles of 1945 or earlier manufacture. This plate is limited to car shows and parades, so if you want unlimited driving, use the Collector plate. Also, a genuine set of Wisconsin YOM plates in good condition for your pre-war car can be registered as Antique plates and are subject to the same restrictions.

For modified, custom or street-legal homebuilt cars, Wisconsin has a dark-green "Hobbyist" plate with yellow letters. I do not know the fee(s) or restrictions for this plate, but it must be somewhat stricter than the Collector plate since I see plenty of street rods with Collector plates on them instead of the Hobbyist plates which they probably should have. This requirement evidently isn't policed very well. It may be that Hobbyist-registered cars have to meet MODERN safety and lighting requirements (seat belts, side marker lights, etc.) which many mods may not pass.