Arizona is the home for classic cars, with the nice dry weather and many retirees living in the state. Many classic car and muscle car owners are older men, the baby boomers that fueled the muscle car craze in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. They want their old cars that they once drove (and raced), now that they are retired and can maybe spend the extra money and time they need for them. Finding the right auto insurance for your classic car in AZ should not be difficult, as long as you know a few basics of the law and standards in classic car insurance.
A few requirements will be needed to be qualified for classic car insurance in Arizona. First off, a garage will be required for your classic car. I’m sure this won’t be a problem for most, since that blistering summer sun can do some damage to any paint job if left out long enough. If your car is being restored or not in great condition from the start, you may be able to get away with having a canopy or other type of shelter. Make sure you explain to the insuring company the exceptions, and they may be able to work with you. As I will show later, contacting a specialty collector car insurance company may give you more relaxed policies depending on your specific needs. Typical auto insurance companies used for daily driving vehicles may not work with your exceptions as well as specialty car insurers.
The next requirement is having a driver’s license for at least 10 years, and it must be a fairly clean driving record. The decision about the driving record will be made by the individual insurance company, so you may need to shop around if your record is not that great. Furthermore, you will need a daily driving vehicle. NO insurance company will insure your classic car if you do not have another vehicle to use for your daily commuting. The daily driving vehicle does not have to be insured by the same company, but having the car is a requirement. Nearly all insurance companies put a mileage restriction per year on miles driven on the classic car, usually 2,500 to 5,000 miles. The more miles allowed, the higher the premium.
Most car insurers will classify the term “classic car” to mean anything older than 15 years, and sometimes 20 depending on the insurance company standards, so keep that in consideration when shopping around. For most situations, you should choose the ‘Agreed “Value” policy. You and the insurance company will determine a full replacement amount on the vehicle, and you will be covered to that amount always. The other policy sometimes offered is the “stated Value”. You do not want this one, since the depreciation value will be taken off the value of the vehicle.
The biggest tip that can be offered is to compare specialty collector car insurance providers. You could end up finding cheaper rates, better coverage, and the process could be a lot simpler than going through a typical auto insurance company. Specialty car insurance companies only deal with specialty and classic cars, so they know how to properly value a car, and can guide you through the process easily. Not only will you have less headaches, but you will be able to properly value your car.
