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Sat Mar 08, 2025 9:35 am

I have a 1956 Bug that I restored in High School in 1986 and finally got it out after 35 years! Rebuilt original engine going in now. Might repaint. Interior nice. Does anyone have thoughts on classic car insurance companies? I could go with State Farm but looking for ideas. Someone suggested Condon Skelly for full coverage as they insure their 1966 Mustang for a couple hundred bucks a year. Any help/insight appreciated. Glad to get back in the game. Thanks! Ann

Sat Mar 08, 2025 7:07 pm

I have used Hagerty Classic Car Insurance for years on my vintage machines. Maybe I should say I have sent them premiums for years but haven't filed a claim, so I cant comment on how they are to work with when needed. I have used their road side service a couple of times which was easy but very slow response (surprising here in SoCal).

With Hagerty policy pricing is generally attractive and agreed values of vintage cars have been easy for me to set up.

Unfortunately Hagerty declined coverage for my 55 Type 1 because it is stored in a car port. So that one is covered by State Farm with a historic vehicle stated value policy. The State Farm coverage is slightly higher than Hagerty but it does count towards a multi car discount so it could be a wash at the end of the day. For reference I'm paying about $30 a month with a $30k stated value on the Beetle.

It's very important to get a policy with a stated value otherwise you could be short changed on a claim. You mentioned a possible repaint, remember to have the value of your policy increased to reflect that when the time comes.

Generally Hagerty does not ask for photos or documentation. State Farm has always wanted photos.

Sat Mar 08, 2025 7:53 pm

I've been using Hagerty for years. When I started they wanted photos of the car in the locked building (my barn). The policy covers spare parts, so included in the photos were extra parts (beetle fenders, deck lid, bus tin, heads, etc.
The bus has camper interior, and Hagerty says no camping, as the intention is you only drive to shows, events, and pleasure driving.
I've since added another car, non VW, and they simply added it to the policy.
I've never made a claim.

Sun Mar 09, 2025 7:35 am

I have done repair work on a car that was covered by Hagerty. It was my first time having anything paid for by an insurance company and they were very easy to deal with, and did not question the scope of work or repairs. I currently have 5 cars insured with them, all for stated value. I typically have 2 as drivers and the other 3 as non operational, and the cost is very reasonable..

Sun Mar 09, 2025 8:11 am

Thankfully, I had Hagerty insurance on my 1969 Beetle, that burned in a wildfire last summer. I had stated value on the vehicle, and the claim was settled within 3 months.

Sat Mar 15, 2025 10:24 am

FYI, I have six older VWs insured with agreed value coverage with Grundy Worldwide Collectors insurance. All are stored inside a seven car garage under our home. I figure out the current value to be covered for on each vehicle and I generally increase it a few precent or more each year, and their underwriters have never quibbled with my valuations for the agreed value coverage I need. They don't allow vehicles they insure to be used as a daily driver (you must have a more modern car for that, but they allow travel to car gatherings, shows, club meetings, recreational cruises, test drives after mechanical work or trips to mechanics, and trips to get an ice cream or frozen yogurt, you get the idea! They don't seem to have any issues about my Bus fleet or my '67 and '87 Westfalia Campers. I don't believe that they restrict yearly mileage, as some hot rod and other automotive folks ocassoinally like to drive half way across the country to attend big meets and need coverage. Yearly rates seem quite reasonable (I have all six cars covered to my satisfaction for just a hair over $2,000 a year) and luckily I have had no need to file a claim, and I've never heard any bad feedback about their services. I've been insured with Grundy Worldwide since the Spring of 1999.

Bill

Sun Mar 16, 2025 11:26 am

I had Hagerty for about 12 years, and I let the insurance lapse in 2023, mostly inattentiveness/oversight related to career change. When I called Hagerty to reinstate, I feel like they were playing games to try to increase the premium, like questioning me about recent "accident claims". I told them I didn't have any and the rep acted like I was lying. Then she asked me if I'd had any windshield replacements (I had one on my Tundra and my wife in her Tahoe, both were Country claims). She said they would have to review those before offering me insurance. It felt slimy, so I told her I was no longer interested. I now have Grundy, and I have only heard good things about them. Getting started with them is easy, and the policy language provides for more flexibility driving the car than I felt like I had with Hagerty.

Hagerty does have a regular e-news letter, and they promote some unique participation events that are fun for enthusiasts. It was all fine, but I can live without.

Sun Mar 23, 2025 8:30 am

As I mentioned above, I'm with Grundy and recently just out of curiousity I inquired with Haggerty about a quote using the exact data of my six old VWs and my desired "agreed valueations", and they were almost exactly the same in premium cost and I'm still with Grundy. The one nice benefit of my inquiry about a quote with Haggerty is that I now get the weekly digital newsletter from Haggerty with enjoyable aritcles.

Bill