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A classic car requires specialty insurance to ensure you’re protected in the event of a collision, but which classic car insurance company is the best?
In this review, we’ll discuss the five best classic car insurance companies currently available, considering each insurer’s industry standing, coverage options and more. We’ll also look at classic car coverage requirements and available coverage options.
Our review team thoroughly researched the best car insurance providers on the market, and we used this research to inform our choices for classic car coverage. Many of our top-recommended insurers also offer classic car insurance. Use the tool below to receive free, no-obligation car insurance quotes from leading providers.
In this article:
- What is classic car insurance?
- Top 5 classic car insurance companies
- What qualifies as a classic car?
- Coverage options available for classic cars
- How to find the best classic car insurance
- Our methodology
What is classic car insurance?
Classic auto insurance differs from a standard auto policy in a few ways. There are not only certain eligibility requirements for classic cars (which we’ll discuss below), but there are also key differences in how an insurance company pays out claims for these vehicles.
Unlike regular-use vehicles, classic cars appreciate in value over time rather than depreciate. To account for this, classic car insurance providers will often reimburse drivers with an agreed value in the event of an auto collision.
Usually, an agreed value takes into account the car’s value over time as well as interest and a professional appraisal of the vehicle. With regular car insurance, companies will only reimburse the vehicle’s replacement cost and deduct any depreciation.
Classic car insurance also has annual mileage restrictions. Since these specialty vehicles are only intended for occasional pleasure driving or auto shows, car insurers cap how many miles the vehicle can be driven per year. This also means that classic car owners are expected to have a separate vehicle for daily driving.
Top 5 classic car insurance companies
While a classic car insurance policy is often cheaper than standard auto insurance, choosing the right insurer is still an important decision. Whether you own a vintage Porsche 911, a hot rod or a muscle car, it’s a good idea to consider multiple insurance companies for your classic auto insurance coverage.
Below, we’ve outlined our top five picks for classic car insurance and collector car insurance. Most of these companies cover collector vehicles, antique cars and exotic cars as well.
Classic Car Insurance Company | Annual Mileage Limit | Customer Experience Rating |
1. Grundy Insurance | Unlimited | 8.5 |
2. Hagerty Insurance (Progressive) | Unlimited | 8.5 |
3. American Collectors Insurance (USAA) | 7,500 | 9.0 |
4. American Modern Insurance (GEICO) | Unlimited | 7.0 |
5. Heacock Classic Insurance | 6,000 | 9.0 |
1. Grundy Insurance
Availability: 50 states
Year Established: 1947
Headquarters: Horsham, Pa.
Grundy Insurance is an excellent choice for classic cars with rapidly increasing appreciation. The car insurance provider guarantees 100% of the vehicle’s value in a covered total loss scenario and allows policyholders to reevaluate their car’s agreed value as needed.
Grundy boasts an accredited A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), indicating the company’s dedication to resolving customer complaints and issues. The insurer offers the standard types of car insurance coverage — bodily injury liability, property damage liability, collision, comprehensive, personal injury protection, medical payments and uninsured/underinsured motorist.
The classic car insurer also offers spare parts coverage up to $500, trip interruption coverage up to $600, and towing and labor coverage up to $250.
2. Hagerty Insurance
Availability: Some coverage options may not be available in every state
Year Established: 1984
Headquarters: Traverse City, Mich.
Hagerty Insurance offers more than just a classic car insurance policy. The insurer also provides vehicle specialists to help you during any repair or replacement process and a top-notch community for car enthusiasts. Hagerty insures classic vehicles from 1979 and older.
Alongside the standard types of car insurance, Hagerty provides coverage for spare parts, trip interruptions, tools and roadside assistance. Drivers can opt into the Hagerty Drivers ClubⓇ, a membership service that offers several auto discounts, roadside assistance, auto-enthusiast events and more.
Hagerty has an A+ rating from the BBB, though it’s unaccredited. However, the insurer is backed by Progressive. Rather than sell its own classic car insurance, Progressive offers policies through Hagerty. This can provide peace of mind to drivers looking for a company with additional financial stability, and it can also be beneficial for drivers who want to bundle their classic car insurance with coverage for other vehicles through Progressive.
3. American Collectors Insurance
Availability: 50 states
Year Established: 1976
Headquarters: Cherry Hill, N.J.
American Collectors Insurance is sold through USAA, one of the most reputable car insurance companies in the nation, and underwritten by American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida, American Reliable Insurance Company and American Security Insurance Company. Each of these insurers has an ‘A’ rating from AM Best, meaning they have a strong ability to meet customer claim obligations.
For classic cars, American Collectors Insurance offers agreed value coverage, vehicles in restoration coverage, spare parts coverage and automatic coverage for newly acquired vehicles.
The auto insurer also has a unique protection program called Towing & Labor for Collectors (TLC). This multi-tier plan provides roadside assistance, car show expense reimbursement, theft reward, cosmetic damage reimbursement and more, depending on the level of coverage purchased.
American Collectors Insurance holds an unaccredited A- rating from the BBB, as well as a notably high 4.9-star customer satisfaction rating on Trustpilot.
4. American Modern Insurance
Availability: 50 states
Year Established: 1965
Headquarters: Cincinnati
Like American Collectors, American Modern Insurance is sold through a larger auto insurer — in this case, GEICO. GEICO is respected in the industry with an A++ (Superior) rating from AM Best.
American Modern offers several included protections alongside the six standard insurance coverages, such as:
- Agreed value loss settlement: Pays out the agreed amount for a classic vehicle in the event of a total loss
- Spare parts: Covers lost or stolen spare parts up to $2,000
- Towing: Pays up to $75 per occurrence
- Trip interruption: Covers up to $150 for lodging and other expenses if more than 50 miles from home
- Pet: Covers up to $750 in pet medical bills if a pet is injured in a collision
- New purchase: Covers any new classic vehicle (valued up to $50,000) for 30 days before a new policy kicks in
The insurer’s add-on coverages include roadside assistance, glass protection and foreign transport when overseas. American Modern does not have any BBB or Trustpilot ratings, but based on other review sites, its customer experience ratings are mixed. While the company may be a specialty insurer, it may not be the best option for customers looking for exceptional customer service.
5. Heacock Classic Insurance
Availability: 48 states (not available in Alaska or Hawaii)
Year Established: 1989
Headquarters: Lakeland, Fla.
Heacock Classic Insurance is a great option for drivers looking for a five-star customer experience. Though the company is unrated on the BBB, it holds a 4.9 out of 5.0 rating on Trustpilot with about 750 reviews. Customers frequently praise the classic car insurer’s agents and their personalized service.
Heacock is underwritten by American Modern Insurance. Regarding its coverage options, Heacock offers all standard types of auto insurance and includes roadside assistance at no extra cost with any auto policy. Spare parts coverage (up to $2,000) and agreed value coverage are also included.
The insurer does not require any professional appraisals before offering coverage. A vehicle’s agreed value is decided between Heacock and the car owner.
What qualifies as a classic car?
Classic car qualifications vary from company to company, making it hard to give an exact definition. Most auto insurers define a classic car as between 10 and 20 years old, and antique or vintage cars to be older. However, some organizations consider vehicles 25 years or older to be classics as well. Other companies may give a date range for their vehicle coverage. For example, Hagerty covers vehicles model year 1979 and older.
Make sure to double-check what your insurance provider considers “classic” to ensure your vehicle’s eligibility.
Classic car coverage eligibility
Vehicle age is one part of the puzzle when it comes to classic car insurance. There are a few other factors an insurer considers when offering coverage. Below, we’ve listed commonly reported requirements for classic car insurance coverage:
- An alternative daily driver: Most auto insurers require drivers to own a commuter car for daily use to ensure a classic car is driven sparingly.
- Some form of protection: Be expected to keep your classic car covered under a structure or in a garage.
- No racing allowed: Like standard auto insurance providers, classic car insurance companies want your vehicle to be as low of a risk as possible, so that means no racing.
- Driving experience: Companies like Hagerty ask that drivers have a minimum of 10 years of driving experience to purchase insurance coverage.
- Professional appraisals: Many auto insurers will ask to have a classic car appraised to set an agreed value.
Coverage options available for classic cars
Classic car insurance usually comes in a few standard coverage options, including:
- Bodily injury liability: Covers other drivers and their passengers if you are at fault for an accident
- Property damage liability: Covers other vehicles’ repairs if you are at fault for an accident
- Collision: Covers your classic car regardless of fault
- Comprehensive: Protects your car in the event of environmental damage, theft or vandalism
- Personal injury protection (PIP): Covers medical bills, lost wages and death benefits for you and your passengers, regardless of fault
- Medical payments (MedPay): Covers medical expenses for you and your passengers
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist: Protects you if you’re in a collision with a driver with too little coverage or no coverage at all
Many classic car insurance providers offer additional coverage options like spare parts coverage, trip reimbursement coverage and coverage during restoration.
Agreed value coverage is also available. This protection ensures that you receive the agreed-upon value of your classic car regardless of the vehicle’s current market value. Some insurers may provide auto show coverage as well, which covers you if a collision occurs while driving to an event.
How to find the best classic car insurance
Any of the five classic car insurance providers listed above are excellent options for coverage. However, based on your needs and vehicle, it’s always a good idea to shop around for an auto insurance policy. Getting multiple quotes ensures that you purchase an affordable insurance premium with the coverage you need.
Since classic car insurers also have different requirements, you may be eligible for one insurer’s coverage but not another. Make sure you’re well aware of classic car requirements when you request a quote for your collectible.
To see how much classic car insurance may cost from providers in your area, enter your ZIP code into the free tool below.
Our methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
In this article, we selected companies with high overall ratings and customer experience ratings. The customer experience ratings were informed by volume of complaints reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.