The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Need advice on insurance companies.

I sold my late model('87) truck earlier this year, and plan on getting an old truck(nothing newer than 1959). Don't know exactly what I'll end up getting(it all comes down to the price), so it could be anything from a 1/2-ton to a COE.

What I would like to know is what insurance companies do you guys use? Regular insurance companies want a small fortune to insure older vehicles(if they will even cover them at all), and the collector car companies that I have found require that you have a late model driver with regular insurance or they won't cover you.

Does anyone know of a company that will insure an older vehicle(pre-1960) without requiring you to have a late model with regular insurance?

Getting an old truck is going be quite a stretch for me due to the ever-rising prices(and lack of availability in my area), and it will be my sole vehicle because there is no way(short of robbing a bank)that I could afford to buy/insure two vehicles.

Progressive will insure classic cars under their subsidiary, American Modern. Just renewed mine today - $172 year, no mileage limit, agreed value of $20,000.

And if you're going to rob a bank, may I suggest getting a panel truck - it will haul more cash without all the bills blowing out of a pickup bed.

Geico does mine as part of my regular policy. No upcharge in premiums for the old girl. I do not have comprehensive coverage only Liability.

I have my ‘50 Chevy truck insured through State Farm in order to get a discount on my homeowners policy. Seems to me when I was shopping for insurance that JC Taylor would ensure your vehicle without having to have insurance on your primary vehicle. They had a booth set up at the Pate Swap meet and I talked with their salesman. They had some really cheap rates, so you might want to check them out.

I have had JC Taylor for many years. They do have restrictions however, 2500 annual miles, non daily driver, must be garaged, stock
" non modified" vehicles.
Fred

I have JC Taylor, but I don't have mileage restrictions...maybe because it's a very old policy (1975) AND they have my modified '56 3100 as well.

You might give then a call to see if their plan works for you.

Mike B

I have full coverage Hagerty on both of my 49 trucks. They set the value via their blue book and the info and pics provided them. They have to be garage kept and secured. The coverage isn't limited to just parades and shows and follows state laws on how antique tagged vehicles can be operated (weekend use, parades and shows, repair and test drives during the week).
Cost is $125 per year for both.

Volfandt, does Hagerty require you to have an existing policy on another personal, primary vehicle? That was part of Taskforce5559’s original question.

I have been very pleased with Grundy.....but everyone's will depend on their individual circumstances....was with State Farm, agreed value, full coverage, and saved a bundle with Grundy. After 40 plus years I am finally beating State Farm on all fronts and apples to apples with coverage. I use to sing their praise but not anymore. The word from here is to be sure to shop around. No one policy is good for everyone!

Hello, Alvin,

Is Grundy insuring your truck as your primary/only vehicle?

If not, will Grundy provide insurance on an owner's only-vehicle antique truck?

"Does anyone know of a company that will insure an older vehicle(pre-1960) without requiring you to have a late model with regular insurance?"

If I remember correctly Grundy has a "New" product that insures daily drivers.

Everyone has homeowners insurance, whether your house is paid for or you’ve still got a mortgage. After I bought my truck I started shopping around for antique auto insurance. I had heard how inexpensive it could be. Yes, the quotes were always very, very reasonable, but they came with restrictions. That’s when I went to my State Farm agent to ask for help. He told me I could receive a significant discount on my homeowners policy if I insured my truck with them. Yes, the Truck policy on its own is more expensive than the JC Taylor quote, but the discount was large enough to more than make up the difference. Bottom line ...... It’s less expensive for me to ensure my truck as a daily driver through State Farm than it is to buy a separate policy from an antique insurance company. Like Alvin said, everyone’s situation will be different, but at least investigate insuring your truck through whoever you have your homeowners policy with. You might save money and have no driving restrictions.

Spotbiltxo is spot on -- make sure you understand the coverages you have, need and can combine (i.e., with the homeowners, if you have separate policies) and start shopping around. The more you know about the insurance process and what's actually required (as well as a realistic understanding of your own driving record), you can be better at comparing. Not everyone gets a better deal by combining. I couldn't, and I only discovered that by knowing what I was shopping for and doing level comparisons. My local State Farm agent (who I have one policy with) even reviewed my whole portfolio and said he couldn't do better than what I had with separate policies -- so again, the best advice is what's been stated above -- You *have* to shop around and do your own comparisons.

The insurance companies don't provide the same information in the same way on their quotes -- by design! They don't want you to compare/shop around. But if you understand the process, you can do your own translation and actually do a level comparison for yourself (as I, Alvin, Tiny and any numbers of others here have done, and will do again). But you have to do your homework first.

And anyone who still believes that Loyalty means *anything* to an insurance company is woefully naive.

A lot of good advice, and personal experiences have been posted above.

But those wandering replies, still have us wondering (regarding the first post):

"Does anyone know of a company that will insure an older vehicle (pre-1960) without requiring you to have a late model with regular insurance?"

Hagerty insurance doesn't require linkage to any other coverage. I have my '53 Bel Air registered in TX as an antique, so the registration limits usage a bit, but Hagerty doesn't. I had a claim last year that ended up covering a complete refinish (hail damage), less a few things that I added. Hagerty recommended shops include higher end restoration specialists... They covered about $15k for the refinish (to factory paint code correct colors), using their pre-negotiated rates with the Hagerty-endorsed shop I chose, no questions asked. This car is a driver, not a show car. Couldn't be happier.

I read Hagerty's policy a little differently (I have three antique vehicles covered by them):
https://www.hagerty.com/insurance/classic-car-insurance/does-my-vehicle-qualify

There is no direct linkage to another policy, you just have to another regular-use vehicle that has insurance.

"Regular-Use Vehicles
All household members with a valid driver’s license must have a regular-use vehicle for daily driving.
(Motorcycles and public transportation are not considered viable regular-use vehicles by our program in most cases. Contact us for details).
Applicants must also maintain regular-use insurance in their own names."

Original question/post:
"Does anyone know of a company that will insure an older vehicle(pre-1960) without requiring you to have a late model with regular insurance?"

You do not need a "late model", but you need another daily driver vehicle with regular insurance.

Tim, I need to recheck my policy but I do not remember anything about having another car. I'm good to drive it anytime but not as "my daily driver" or I guess you could say to work and back!

I think our experiences will ALL be a little different. State Farm, some time ago, required me to get an appraisal which I got from a local shop they approved to do it. I also have a non cancelable policy with SF AND they CLAIM I am getting a 15% discount because I have been with them for so long....over 40 years. I've kept them honest for years but am now finding each year that I can do just as good elsewhere. I check them each year!
In the end I had 4 vehicles my house and shop all with SF. Still to high. (Maybe its my ZIPCODE, ya'll do know about, OR my credit score. Neither of which they readily own up to. (My nephew worked for them for many years)

One, maybe J.C. Taylor would NOT insure my 37 because it was "modified" with a V8 but that was a couple years ago. In the end, what I was paying for my 37 with SF I insured BOTH my panel and 37 for less than the 37 alone..... and same coverages. Apples to Apples. Well, I think Grundy had a little something more than SF.

When shopping for insurance NEVER let them know who you are with at the beginning, and have numbers for what you are currently covered for written down and ask for the SAME coverage. Most insurance companies do a great shell game.

....and as so often is recommended, pick up the phone or drop by in person.

I purchased the Hagerty insurance from my agent that carries all my home and auto insurance policies and it never came up that I had to have a daily driver covered under my name. Course he was well aware that I met that requirement as we've got 2 daily drivers covered.
So sorry, until I read the copy and paste in this thread and then checked my paperwork I wasn't aware or more likely didn't recall I had to have a daily driver covered.

Good luck in the quest.
Dave

Hagerty all the way. They have my Model A and Vette, Trucks aren't road worthy yet. Thankfully no claims yet. Like the free towing if something big breaks and need a flatbed within 50 miles from the casa.