Classic car insurance, also known as collector car insurance, is insurance for vehicles that turn heads on the road and shine at car shows and parades.

Whether you cruise in a cherry 1950s Cadillac convertible or tinker with a WWII Army Jeep, classic car insurance is what you’ll need to protect your unique set of wheels.

Learn more: How does car insurance work? The basics explained.

Classic car insurance is a specialized type of auto insurance policy that recognizes the intangibles that make older or collector vehicles valuable — typically far more valuable than the day they rolled off the showroom floor.

For the insurance to remain affordable, however, classic car insurance policies typically limit driving, require secure storage, and restrict coverage to experienced drivers with clean records. For example, it won’t cover the car if you use it for commuting to work or keep it parked on the street.

According to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), there is no uniform definition of a classic, collectible, or antique car. “If a car’s value exceeds its original selling price, then it might be considered collectible and a candidate for specialized classic car insurance,” said the Triple-I. This could include:

• Antique vehicles and vintage cars that are more than 25 years old

• Hot rods, muscle cars, and modified vehicles

• Exotic and luxury cars

• Vintage military vehicles, antique tractors, and classic trucks

• Classic motorcycles

• Some classic car replicas

Classic car insurance is similar to regular auto insurance in that it offers:

• Property damage and bodily injury liability insurance to cover damage and injuries you cause others in an accident

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) insurance to cover your injuries if a driver without any or enough insurance causes an accident. In some cases, UM insurance can also cover your vehicle damage from an uninsured driver.

• Personal injury protection, or PIP, and medical payments coverage for your injuries, regardless of who was at fault.

• Collision insurance and comprehensive insurance with specified deductibles to cover your vehicle. (No-deductible policies are available from some insurers.) Collision insurance pays out if the vehicle is damaged in a collision with another vehicle or object. Comprehensive insurance covers theft and damage from natural disasters, collisions with animals, vandalism, and other incidents.

Unlike a standard auto insurance policy, where collision and comprehensive insurance typically cover a car’s depreciated value, classic car insurance covers the vehicle’s full value. If the car is damaged in an accident or other problem covered by the policy, the insurance pays for specialized repairs and restoration using original parts, rather than cheaper aftermarket parts.

Other classic car insurance features vary by insurer but can include coverage for:

• Towing and roadside assistance for breakdowns

• Trip interruption to cover the cost of a hotel in the event of a breakdown

• Spare parts and automotive tools

• Collectible items on the vehicle

• Vehicles under construction

Classic car insurance includes unique features, restrictions, and requirements that standard auto policies don’t have.

While regular car insurance covers a car’s “actual cash value,” which factors in the depreciation of that make, model, and year, classic car insurance policies use an “agreed value,” which considers the appreciated price that your specific car would fetch at a collector’s auction. It’s called an “agreed value” because you and the insurer agree on the amount when you buy a policy. As your vehicle’s value increases, you can contact the insurer to adjust the coverage amount.

Some insurers set annual mileage caps, and almost all limit usage to enthusiast gatherings and exhibits, tours, and occasional pleasure driving.

Insurers typically sell collector car policies only to experienced drivers with good driving records. This further reduces the risk of an accident and a costly claim. It is common that the named insured driver must be at least age 25 with no moving violations within the last three or five years. Policies also typically require that the owner, as well as all licensed drivers in the household, have a separate vehicle for regular use with standard auto insurance.

Classic car insurance policies require proper secure storage for the vehicle. Although a locked garage or storage unit is preferred, a driveway or carport may suffice with some insurance companies in some areas.

Classic car insurance vs. standard auto insurance

Here are the top ways that classic car insurance is distinguished from standard auto insurance.

Classic car insurance is typically less expensive than standard car insurance. For example:

• Hagerty said its classic car premiums average 27% lower than rates for daily drivers with regular cars.

• American Collectors Insurance advertises its classic car policies as up to 40% less than standard policies.

• Bailey Insurance said its collector car policies typically run between $200 and $600 per year unless the car has a very high value, compared with more than $1,000 annually for standard car insurance.

By limiting who can drive the car and how much, insurers are able to dramatically reduce the risk of an accident.

Learn more: Car insurance rates are climbing. Here are 4 reasons why and 11 ways to save.

Here are some tips on how to save on classic car insurance.

• Compare quotes for the same coverage from multiple classic car insurance companies to find the lowest rates.

• If you have more than one vintage car, you can get cheaper classic car insurance by purchasing coverage for all of them from a single insurance company.

• Take advantage of car insurance discounts. For example, there may be discounts for membership in a car club, buying more than one type of insurance policy from the company, bundling home and auto, and more.

Learn more: 6 steps to find cheap car insurance in 2025

Follow these steps to get the best classic car insurance:

• Keep it classic. Make sure that your vehicle fits the requirements for classic car insurance. For example, insurers will typically require that the vehicle maintains at least a certain value, is in good condition, is used only for pleasure driving, and is stored securely.

• Comparison shop. Compare policy features and restrictions among classic car insurance companies, such as mileage limits and coverage for vehicles undergoing restoration, hauling trailers, and roadside assistance.

• Consider customer service. Talk to other classic car owners about their experiences with insurers. Which companies are easiest to work with, especially when making a claim?

• Get the agreed value you need. Narrow the companies to those that offer the coverage and service you want, and get quotes. Consult with the insurers to determine an agreed value.

• Choose the best for you. From the finalists, choose the company that offers the best price and service.

Some major insurance companies, such as American Family, Chubb, and Safeco, offer their own classic car insurance policies, while others have teamed up with specialists. Allstate, Progressive, and State Farm, for instance, partner with Hagerty. Companies that specialize in classic car insurance provide coverage for a wide range of vehicles and offer a broad assortment of options.

• A variety of annual mileage limits are available

• Offers discounts for mature drivers, garage security, vehicles worth more than $250,000, and more

• Inflation protection automatically adjusts the agreed value limit in the event of a total loss

• Covers vehicles undergoing restoration

• Usually requires a locked garage for storage, but may allow other options

• Vehicle must be at least 20 years old

• Covers unlimited mileage but can’t be used for daily driving

• Excludes kit cars and modified vehicles

• Offers discounts for insuring multiple vehicles and buying other types of insurance, such as homeowners insurance, from the company

Learn more: How an auto and renters insurance bundle can save you big

• Requires a locked garage or building for storage

• Includes coverage for disaster relocation costs, full safety glass, personal effects, and pet protection

• Offers optional coverage for automobilia, trailers, and more

• Automatically covers a car added to your collection for up to $50,000 for 30 days

• Eligible vehicles are typically at least 30 years old, part of a larger collection, or limited production models

• Multiple policies can be combined into a single bill

• Automatically covers any newly purchased classic vehicle for the first 90 days

• Offers an option to keep the damaged vehicle and parts after a total loss and receive reimbursement for the agreed value minus the salvage value

• Covers unlimited mileage for hobby-related driving, such as classic car rallies

• Cars must be 25 years or older

• Covers unlimited miles for collector car-oriented activities and pleasure driving

• Requires an enclosed garage when the vehicle is stored at home

• Offers a no-deductible option in most states

• One payment covers all your classic cars for liability

• Covers repairs you do yourself or at a shop of your choice

• Spare parts coverage includes even those parts not intended for the vehicle on the policy

• Optional salvage coverage lets you keep a salvaged vehicle after it’s totaled and you’ve been reimbursed for the value minus any deductible

• Other options include coverage for evacuation expenses, travel, hauling trailers, and vehicles undergoing restoration

• One payment for liability insurance covers multiple cars (except car owners in California who have more than 15 cars)

• Annual mileage limited to 6,000 miles

• Offers coverage with zero deductibles on most policies

• Provides up to $50,000 coverage for 30 days for newly acquired classic cars

• Requires an enclosed, locked, and private garage for storage

• Vehicle must be at least 19 years old (in most states) and stored in a locked garage

• Household driving records can have no more than one moving violation and one at-fault accident in the past three years

• Automatically covers newly acquired vehicles for the purchase price in the first 30 days

• Offers a no-deductible option in most states for covered repairs

• Offers discounts for driving less than 5,000 miles a year, taking an accident prevention course, and buying more than one type of policy, such as classic car and standard auto insurance, auto and homeowners insurance, or other combinations of policies

• Optional coverage for a deductible that is reduced at each policy renewal if you make no claims

• Limits annual mileage to 5,000 miles (regular use) or 10,000 miles (restricted use)

• Offers optional coverage for roadside assistance, emergency assistance, and personal property

No. Any car used for regular errands and commutes requires a standard auto insurance policy. Classic auto insurance excludes daily driving and typically limits how much you can drive the car. Some insurers even require proof that you own another car for daily use.

Classic car insurance lets you choose the repair shop or may let you do the repairs yourself if your car is damaged in a covered event.

Yes, some classic car insurance companies offer coverage for vehicles that are under construction.

Classic car insurance is typically less expensive than standard auto insurance because the policies cover only pleasure driving, require that vehicles are securely stored, and limit coverage to adults with clean driving records.

Amy Danise and Tim Manni edited this article.