In a Nutshell
A classic car requires specialized insurance coverage. Our picks for the best classic car insurance companies include insurers with different coverage options tailor-made for your cherished ride.If you want to protect your investment in your classic car, a specific type of insurance fits the bill. It’s classic car insurance, and it offers specialized coverage for your vintage ride. Here are our picks for the best classic car insurance companies.
- Best overall: American Collectors
- Best for classic car collections: Grundy
- Best for drivers who use classic cars for everyday driving: Safeco
- Best for drivers who may need help finding replacement parts: Hagerty
- Best for race cars: Heacock Classic
- FAQs about classic car insurance
- How we picked these insurers
Best overall: American Collectors
Why American Collectors stands out above the rest: American Collectors offers discounts and access to specialists in collector insurance. This insurer also has products for several types of classic vehicles, with add-ons to customize your policy. American Collectors provides the “agreed-value” coverage that’s standard from classic car insurers — that means if your insured vehicle is a total loss, you’ll get the full agreed value of the vehicle with no deductions for depreciation.
Car insurance discounts from American Collectors include those for vehicles with safety features like anti-lock brakes and anti-theft equipment. High-value discounts automatically kick in for cars valued at more than $150,000. You can also get a discounted rate for completing an accident prevention course or being a car club member.
This insurer offers coverage for many types of classic vehicles:
- Collector cars
- Trucks and SUVs
- Custom cars and hot rods
- Exotic and collector imports
- Classic motorcycles
You can select from various policy benefits to customize your coverage. Safety glass coverage, travel loss coverage, personal effects coverage, automotive tools and spare parts coverage and pet coverage are some of the options.
Read our full review of American Collectors auto insurance.
Best for classic car collections: Grundy
Why Grundy could be a good choice for classic car collections: Grundy provides coverage specifically designed to protect car collections. According to ARTnews, Grundy insures the majority of the top 200 private automobile collections in the United States.
Grundy’s Special Collections department protects larger car collections valued at $500,000 to over $5,000,000. Grundy uses the same approach to insure car collections and individual collector cars: It covers them at their agreed value. Using photos you send, the company’s experts work with you to arrive at a mutually agreed-upon value of your vehicle. Once a value is set, Grundy will never reduce it unless you choose to do so.
This provider protects each car in a collection under a 150% coverage cushion. That means if there’s a total loss and the vehicle’s insured value is less than its market value, Grundy will pay up to 150% of the agreed value to offset the loss.
Best for drivers who use classic cars for everyday driving: Safeco
Why Safeco could be a good choice for drivers who use classic cars for everyday driving: Classic car insurance typically has very low mileage limits, offering protection for the limited miles you drive taking your vintage ride to car shows and auto club meet-ups. But Safeco offers regular-use coverage with higher mileage limits, so it’s a good choice if you want to use your classic car for everyday driving.
The company’s regular use policy allows you to drive your classic car for up to 10,000 miles per year. Safeco also offers coverage for a diverse range of classic cars. The list includes modified collector cars, restorations, replicas, antique autos and modern classic cars.
Safeco offers discounts that can help you save money on your coverage. For example, Safeco offers a discount for drivers who have completed an accident prevention course. Safeco also offers multi-car insurance and multi-policy discounts for adding motorcycle, boat, RV or home insurance to your classic car coverage.
Read our full review of Safeco auto insurance.
Best for drivers who may need help finding replacement parts: Hagerty
Why Hagerty could be a good choice for drivers needing help finding replacement parts: Some parts for your classic car may be hard to find. Hagerty provides access to automotive experts who can help you track down the parts you need through its Carcierge Help Desk. This service puts you in contact with car experts who can help you locate hard-to-find parts for your classic ride. These associates also have the expertise to answer questions about your car’s value or help you find a specialty shop.
This company provides agreed-value coverage for many different types of classic cars. The list includes collector cars, trucks and SUVs, 1980 and newer collector vehicles, modified cars, classic cars used for motorsports, classic military vehicles, classic and antique tractors and collector motorcycles and scooters.
Additionally, Hagerty offers roadside protection that includes unlimited emergency usage. The company’s towing includes guaranteed flatbed transportation with soft straps to protect your vintage ride.
Best for classic race cars: Heacock Classic
Why Heacock Classic could be a good choice for classic race cars: Heacock Classic offers coverage specifically designed to protect vintage race cars. The company’s agents are enthusiasts who attend racing events and live the lifestyle, so they have the expertise to provide the insightful care you need.
Like other companies on this list, Heacock offers a fair agreed-upon value for your vehicle. Arriving at this number can be tricky with race cars, but Heacock Classic has agents and underwriters who know enough about market trends to give you a smart and fair valuation.
Heacock Classic offers comprehensive insurance against physical damage from the time your car leaves the garage to when it arrives at the race track. The company protects against fires, theft, transport damage, and trailer accidents. This company provides additional programs that protect race trailers and spare parts.
FAQs about classic car insurance
The definition of a classic car varies but may include antique cars that are at least 25 to 30 years old, hotrods and modified cars, exotic and luxury cars, muscle cars, and classic trucks. Vehicles that fall within this bucket might need classic car insurance.
A car’s age isn’t enough to make it eligible for classic car coverage. Many insurers set usage limits that prevent you from utilizing your vehicle for commuting and errands or require you to store it in a locked, private structure when it’s not in use. Finally, some insurers will disqualify you from coverage if you have serious offenses on your driving record.
Restoring and repairing a classic car may cost twice as much as a typical car repair. Classic car insurance is available that covers the higher costs of repairing and restoring a vintage car.
How we picked these insurers
We looked at insurers offering coverage for classic cars to pick our candidates. We considered the breadth of vehicle coverage offered, the selection of each company’s insurance products, and specific offerings for five different categories. We also factored in customer service benefits and discounts.