Owning a vintage car is a great source of pride and a way to distinct
oneself from the ordinary car owners by having a vehicle that is part
of the automobile history. The number of vintage car enthusiasts is
growing all over the world, but it seems that the USA is one of the main
centers of this fascination. Old cars are being dug out of garages and
scrapyards, invested huge amounts of money in and taken back on the road
regardless the cost. And while their owners are definitely happy at
first, the question of insurance becomes rather apparent very soon,
casting a sobering shadow over the prospect of owning a vintage car. So
what are the usual car insurance quotes for vintage vehicles?
The cost of insurance
Before you start comparing car insurance quotes and getting surprised
with the enormous prices for vintage vehicles, you have to understand
the pricing mechanisms involved. A huge part of the costs the insurance
companies deal with is made up of repair costs resulting from various
accidents. And it's obvious that the average car insurance quotes for a
particular car model will depend on its average repair costs. Modern
mass-produced cars have very different repair costs on their own, but
they don't stand a chance when you compare them to a car that was last
produced several decades ago with a scarcity of car parts verging on
collecting. Imagine the costs implied with repairing such a car - the
insurer will have to literally search for the repair part among car
enthusiasts and also find a mechanic who will be able to make the fix.
Now you can probably see why vintage cars are so expensive to insure.
Available options
There are two main options for vintage car owners
to think about when it comes to insuring their beloved vehicle. Both
options have their advantages and disadvantages to consider. But one
thing you have to bear in mind is that either way you won't be able to
get low car insurance quotes, not with a vintage or a classic vehicle.
So if that's your primary goal - just find a modern car model that is
cheap to insure right from the start. If not, here are your options:
Traditional providers: ordinary car insurance companies that provide
car insurance quotes for modern-day cars will usually offer coverage for
vintage cars as well, although some may refuse right away. If they do
provide you with coverage it will usually be offered through a
specialized policy that will have many restrictions and special
provisions. Besides, the car is likely to go through an appraisal to
determine its actual collectible value and respective amount of
coverage. But in many cases traditional companies may simply lack
contacts with specialized car mechanics that are qualified in repairing
vintage cars, leaving the repairs to ordinary shops and mechanics.
Needless to say, the quality of repairs in such case is usually
inferior.
Specialized providers: some vintage car enthusiast clubs in different
parts of the country have partially grown into specialized insurance
companies aimed exactly at vintage car owners. Being comprised by
enthusiasts themselves the level of customer support is obviously very
high as you will be able to communicate with people who share the same
needs. And it will always be easier to find the missing part or a good
mechanic to make the authentic fix. However, this sense of community
usually comes at a higher price since the market of vintage vehicles is
much smaller than of ordinary cars and respectively there are fewer
people to distribute the costs among.
Choosing the lesser evil
Now, choosing between the two options is definitely a question of
personal preference and needs. If you need just a formal policy to keep
the car insured and don't want to deal with very expensive car insurance quotes
then a traditional insurance provider will surely meet your needs. But
if you want the best thing your money can buy and value quality over
price then it's better to go with a specialized insurance company. Yet
again, it also depends on the availability of these options in your
particular area.
