Classic car insurance requirements include owning a vehicle that is more than 10 to 15 years old or a car that has some sort of historical or collectible value. Classic car insurance companies often require the vehicle to be stored in a secure facility, and the owner needs a separately insured vehicle for daily driving. Each classic car insurance company has their own specifications for what qualifies as a classic car and who is eligible for classic car insurance.
Classic Car Insurance Requirements by Company
The Hagerty Group
The Hagerty Group
Accepted vehicle types:
- Collector cars from 1979 and older
- Collector trucks from 1996 or older
- Limited editions, exotics, and super cars (1980 or newer)
- Hot rods, replica cars, and kit cars
- Track cars
- Military vehicles (20 years or older)
- Retired commercial-use vehicles (25 years or older)
- Classic and antique tractors (25 years and older)
- Collector or race-use motorcycles
Vehicle age requirements:
Hagerty will consider any vehicle that has some sort of collector, antique, or classic value and is cared for and driven in the spirit of collector cars. While most classics and antiques are defined as vehicles that are at least 25 years old, vehicles 24 years old and newer can be eligible if they have collector value.
Storage requirements:
The insured vehicle must be stored in an enclosed garage or storage unit, though cars stored in carports, driveways, parking garages, or car trailers may be accepted.
Mileage and usage limits:
Hagerty has no strict mileage limits, but vehicles must only be used for club functions, exhibits, meets, tours, and occasional pleasure driving.
Driver eligibility:
The main driver must not have had any serious driving infractions in the past three years, such as DUIs, reckless driving charges, or excessive speeding tickets. Additionally, all drivers in the household must have a non-classic vehicle for daily use and must maintain insurance on the regular-use vehicle.
Exclusions:
Off-road vehicles, recreational vehicles, daily-use cars, commercial-use vehicles, and motorcycles with performance modifications are ineligible for classic car insurance from Hagerty.
American Modern Insurance Group
American Modern Insurance Group
Accepted vehicle types:
- Classics
- Antiques
- Muscle cars
- Street rods
- Modified vehicles
- Replicas
- Kit cars
- Exotics
- Race cars
- Retired military vehicles
- Retired tractors
- Retired fire engines
- Classics and antiques in the process of restoration
Vehicle age requirements:
There are no defined age requirements, but the vehicle must have some sort of collector, antique, or classic value and be cared for and driven in the spirit of collector cars.
Storage requirements:
The insured vehicle must be stored in a secured facility that is locked and fully enclosed, though carports may be allowed.
Mileage and usage limits:
American Modern requires that insured vehicles have limited usage, though there are unlimited-mileage policies available. For those who drive their vehicle less often, there are specific mileage policies available for 6,000, 3,000, or 1,000 miles per year.
Regardless of which mileage limit your policy has, the insured vehicle must only be used for club functions, exhibits, meets, tours, and occasional pleasure driving.
Driver eligibility:
The insured driver must have a separately insured vehicle for daily driving, and the vehicle title must be held by an individual, trust, LLC, or corporation.
J.C. Taylor Insurance
J.C. Taylor Insurance
Accepted vehicle types:
Classic or antique-aged vehicles that are restored or in good original condition without rust, damage, dents, poor paint, or heavy wear, including:
- Stock antiques
- Street rods
- Vintage motorcycles
- Replicas
- Antique farm tractors
- Military vehicles
- Exotics
- Kit cars
Vehicle age requirements:
Vehicles 19 to 24 years old are considered classics, while any vehicle 25 years old or more is an antique. To qualify for J C Taylor car insurance in most states, the vehicle must be at least 19 years old.
In Texas, vehicles need to be at least 15 years old to qualify for J C Taylor insurance. In Massachusetts, vehicles must be at least 25 years old to qualify.
Storage requirements:
All vehicles must be stored in a fully enclosed, locked structure such as a garage to be eligible for coverage.
Mileage and usage limits:
There is no set mileage limit, but the vehicle must be primarily used for hobby purposes, like club activities, parades, meets, and occasional pleasure driving.
Driver eligibility:
The vehicle owner must be at least 25 years old, and everyone in the household must have a good driving record with no more than one moving violation and one at-fault accident in the past 3 years. Additionally, each licensed household member must have a regular-use vehicle for daily driving.
Exclusions:
Vehicles that have accessories such as tow balls, bed caps, bed racks, winches, plows, and toolboxes are typically not allowed. Roll cages, nitrous oxide, or high suspension lifts are also typically not allowed on insured vehicles. Insured vehicles are not allowed to be used for racing activities, either.
Heacock Classic Insurance
Heacock Classic Insurance
Accepted vehicle types:
- Antiques
- Classics
- Modern collector cars
- Muscle cars
- Hot rods
- Exotics
- Sports cars
- Tribute and replica cars (subject to approval)
- Race cars (subject to approval)
Any vehicle covered by the collector policy must be well maintained.
Vehicle age requirements:
There are no defined age requirements, but the vehicle must have some sort of collector, antique, or classic value.
Storage requirements:
Vehicles must be kept in a fully enclosed, locked, and private garage to be eligible for coverage.
Mileage and usage limits:
Covered vehicles may only be driven a limited number of miles per year and can only be used for things like shows, hobby activities, or occasional pleasure drives. Additionally, the vehicle should never be used as a backup for a daily-use car or for commuting or errands, and it may only be driven by experienced drivers.
Driver eligibility:
All drivers on the policy must be at least 25 years old, and anyone in the household who is under 25 will be explicitly excluded from coverage. Additionally, all drivers must have a daily use vehicle and be the named insured on a regular auto insurance policy in the same state as the collector vehicle. All drivers on the policy must also have a good driving history.
American Collectors Insurance
American Collectors Insurance
Accepted vehicle types:
All vehicles must be restored or in a good original condition (without rust, dents, damage, poor paint or heavy wear) to be eligible. A vehicle undergoing restoration that’s expected to be completed within a year may also be eligible for coverage, and any modifications to an insured vehicle must be fully disclosed.
Eligible vehicles include:
- Sports cars of any age
- Muscle cars
- Street rods
- Hot rods
- Rat rods
- Resto-mods
- Antiques
- Vintage cars
- Modern classics
- Collector trucks and SUVs
- Antique tractors and farm vehicles
- Antique fire trucks
- Military vehicles
- Classic and antique motorcycles
- Limited edition and collector vehicles
- Exotic and special interest cars
- Vintage race cars
- Kit cars
- Replicas
- Pro-street vehicles
Vehicle age requirements:
American Collectors does not have a specific vehicle age requirement, and they may consider any vehicle that has collector merit and is appreciating in value.
Storage requirements:
All insured vehicles must be stored in a secure, fully enclosed, locked structure, such as private barns, car condos, storage units, carports, car hauling trailers, and some limited access parking garages that have 24-hour security (like video surveillance, alarm system, or on-site security guards).
Cars cannot be stored on the street or in a parking lot, public parking garage, or temporary storage like canvas or plastic tents.
Mileage and usage limits:
Insured vehicles are allowed to be used for hobby purposes such as car shows, club activities, exhibits, parades, or tours. Additionally, vehicles may be taken on occasional pleasure drives, and can be used infrequently for any other type of general usage.
Driver eligibility:
Drivers cannot have had a serious infraction in the past three years. Ineligible infractions include DUIs, reckless driving charges, and excessive speeding. However, drivers can have had one minor accident or moving violation in the past 3 years, and the entire household can have a maximum of 2 accidents or moving violations in the past 3 years in total. All members of the household of driving age must have a valid driver’s license with at least 5 years of licensed driving experience and a good driving history.
Those applying for coverage from American Collectors must have a personal auto insurance policy in the same state as the collector vehicle that lists them as the named insured. Additionally, all drivers in the household must be reported to American Collectors and be either explicitly listed on or excluded from the policy. All drivers in the house must have a regular-use vehicle for daily use, as well.
Exclusions:
The insured vehicle cannot be used for regular commuting, as a back-up vehicle, for business or commercial purposes, for off-road activities, or for racing.
Grundy Insurance
Grundy Insurance
Accepted vehicle types:
- Modern classics
- Muscle cars
- Exotics of any age
- Vehicles with upgraded high-performance engines, suspensions, and body modifications may be eligible.
Vehicle age requirements:
Most types of vehicles over 25 years old may be eligible for coverage.
Storage requirements:
All vehicles must be kept in an enclosed, secure garage when not in use.
Mileage and usage limits:
There is no mileage limit, but insured vehicles cannot be used for daily driving and commuting.
Driver eligibility:
All drivers on the policy must be at least 25 years old with a clean driving record that has no DUIs and no more than two moving violations in the past 5 years. Additionally, all drivers in the household must have a modern car for everyday use.
Condon Skelly
Condon Skelly
Accepted vehicle types:
- Classic or antique cars
- Classic or antique trucks
- Classic or antique motorcycles
- New exotics
- Modified street rods
- Muscle cars
- Vintage fire trucks
- Classic or antique tractors
- Military vehicles
- Classics or antiques in the process of restoration
Vehicle age requirements:
Condon Skelly insures classic vehicles that are between 15 and 20 years old, as well as completely original antiques that are at least 25 years old.
Storage requirements:
Insured vehicles must be stored in a secure, locked garage when not in use.
Mileage and usage limits:
There is no set mileage limit, but any insured vehicle should be used exclusively for hobby activities like club events, car shows and occasional pleasure cruises. Additionally, the insured vehicle cannot be used for daily commutes or as a back-up vehicle.
Driver eligibility:
The primary driver on the policy must have at least 5 clean years of driving history without any serious violations, such as DUIs or reckless driving charges. Additionally, each driver in the household must have a modern daily driving car to use for regular uses like commuting.
Tips for Handling Classic Car Insurance Requirements
1. Always be honest with your insurer. Most classic car insurance companies will want to know if there are any modifications or upgrades to the car, and neglecting to disclose those could cause your policy to be cancelled.
2. Do your research to make applying for classic car insurance easier. Especially if you have a “modern classic,” or newer model vehicle that you believe has collector value, having readily available backed-up reasoning for why your car should be eligible, such as proof of it being a special edition or a historical basis for the car to increase in value, will make the process easier.
3. Keep your receipts. Having receipts for the work done to your car, including upgrades, restorations, and OEM part replacements, can make determining the value of your classic a lot easier. For example, if you have the receipt for when the vehicle was originally purchased and can trace a long and interesting history for the car, that can help you make a case for how much you think the agreed value should be.
4. Always shop around. Comparing quotes from several different insurance companies can help you save a lot of money each year.
5. Get the best coverage for your classic. Not every classic is the same. For example, a hot-rod only used for a handful of shows per year will need different coverage than an original antique that’s used for Sunday drives once a month. Talking with your insurer can help you find the right policy for your needs.
