How can I find auto insurance for a vintage or custom car?

If you have a treasured vintage car or are learning how to restore a classic car and want to ensure it’s protected, you need vintage car insurance.

This type of insurance adds special coverage options for vintage cars or cars that have been modified in certain ways. It’s an important way to protect your investment while making repairs easier.

How to Find Auto Insurance for a Vintage or Custom Car if You’re Not Sure Your Car Qualifies

What makes a car vintage or classic? Definitions vary, but most insurance counts a car as vintage if it’s at least 10 years old and has some kind of historical value or widely agreed value in car collector communities. Policies are widely available from many providers including Progressive and Geico, but each may have rules about what qualifies.

Custom and modified vehicles work a little differently. This category includes classic cars that have been upgraded with modern additions to make them safer, faster, or more stylish – as well as modern cars modified with expensive parts for racing or other purposes.

Read more: Restoration 101: How to Restore a Classic Car

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What makes finding auto insurance for a vintage or custom car different?

Classic, vintage cars kept in good condition differ from other vehicles in a very important way: They tend to appreciate over time, while other cars lose value over time.

That’s why insurers often limit the car’s total value when offering insurance. Policyholders should look for insurance amounts that match the car’s worth in the coming years.

However, modified or custom cars include their own considerations. Here, policies focus on more custom parts and equipment coverage to help replace very specific parts of a vehicle that have been modified. In addition, this kind of modification insurance may be bundled with vintage car insurance where appropriate.

In either case, these types of auto insurance coverage can include important additions that offer lots of value to collectors, hobbyists, and others.

These extras offer coverage for things like automobilia (expensive collections related to cars, like vintage posters or license plates) and coverage for high-quality personal tools people may use to work on custom cars.

How to Find Auto Insurance for a Vintage or Custom Car at Affordable Fates

The advantage of specialized auto insurance like this is that you can get broader coverage for higher amounts, which helps cover the cost of hard-to-find, original parts that may be damaged and similar situations.

However, this extra coverage typically increases the cost of the insurance policy, so owners will need to pay more for additional protection.

You can save on auto insurance premiums for your classic car by proving that you keep it safely stored when not in use, and showing that you only use the vehicle for special occasions, not everyday driving. Additions like anti-theft devices can also help to lower costs.

Final Thoughts on Finding Auto Insurance for a Vintage or Custom Car

Other factors that affect classic and modified car insurance include:

• The age of the vehicle and the particular model, which can greatly affect market prices
• Locks and security systems for your garage or storage unit
• Whether a car is used for racing or not
• Your age
• Whether you have recent auto-related legal issues like DUIs

Many insurance companies offer these specialized policies for your beloved rides. If you already have an auto policy, you may be able to stick with the same company and get the extras that come with classic car coverage.

Exploring other companies may help you find savings, too. If you want to learn more, seek out auto insurance discounts for affordable coverage and consider upgrades like better security.