Owning a classic car is a source of pride for its owner. It is a lot of fun to show off one's car to friends and strangers alike. Whether your classic or collector's car spends most of its time on the road, on display, or under cover in the garage, just knowing that it is nearby can be a great source of comfort.
Unless you are mega-rich, your classic car is probably one of your top prized possessions in terms of market value. You have no doubt spent considerable amounts of time and money researching the right car to buy and then, once you bought it, taking the utmost care of it.
There is no doubt that insuring your classic car is the smartest way to protect your investment. It is important to know how to evaluate the various insurance companies out there so that you can choose one that offers the best policy for your needs. Not only should the policy you choose be just right for your coverage needs, but the insurer you go with should offer a top-notch customer service and claims department as well.
Buying car insurance for your classic automobile is not the same as buying for other types of cars. Here are 5 tips by our experts at Leland West Insurance for evaluating class car insurance companies:
1) Find a company that specializes in insuring collector cars and classic cars:
While it is not absolutely necessary that you find an insurance company that solely deals in insuring classic and collector automobiles, it will definitely help if you can find one that at least has a specialty department in this area. They will know which questions to ask you so that they can connect you with just the right policy.
2) Make sure the company adequately values your car:
If you decide to apply for a policy with a given insurer, be sure to get a guarantee from them up front that they will cover your car for its full value in the event of a total loss. There is nothing like trying to file a claim on a total loss, only to find out that the company has undervalued your classic car and therefore not willing to pay you what it is worth.
3) Find out whether they have a dedicated parts specialist:
Some classic car insurance companies actually have on-site parts specialists who will help you track down rare and hard-to-find parts for your classic car. Why not insure with a company that offers such a useful service? Ask whether each company you are evaluating offers this type of service.
4) Decide what level of deductible you are comfortable with:
Before comparing quotes from different companies, be sure you are getting apples-to-apples car insurance quotes. To do this, decide what level of insurance deductible you would be comfortable with and go with that for each company you talk to.
5) Compare quotes from multiple companies:
Be sure to create a list of at least 3-5 classic car insurance companies before applying. Then, go out and apply to each and every one of them. Spending the extra hour or so to call or contact online multiple companies will help you land the very-best rate on your new policy.
Take these 5 tips by our experts at Leland West Insurance to heart as you set about evaluating classic car insurance companies.
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