"AAA definitely seems out of their depth there, but do specialty insurers always justify the extra cost?"
Honestly, AAA was fine for my daily drivers, but when I got my hands on a limited-run Porsche with some custom work done, they were totally clueless. I tried explaining the mods and rarity, but it felt like talking to a brick wall. Ended up switching to a specialty insurer (Hagerty, in my case), and yeah, the premium was higher, but when I had a minor claim—someone backed into my rear quarter panel—they actually understood what they were looking at. No hassle about sourcing OEM parts or finding a shop that knew what they were doing.
I get being skeptical about agreed-value policies, but from my experience, mainstream insurers just don't have the expertise or patience for anything beyond standard cars. If you've got something special or heavily customized, biting the bullet on specialty coverage might save you headaches down the road...
I totally get what you're saying about AAA. They're great if you're just rocking a Corolla or something (like me, lol), but my dad had a similar issue when he tried insuring his restored '68 Mustang with them. He spent like half an hour on the phone trying to explain why original Shelby parts mattered, and the rep was just like, "Sir, it's just a car." I thought Dad was gonna pop a gasket right there.
He eventually switched to Grundy, another specialty insurer kinda like Hagerty. Yeah, it's pricier, but when he had a minor fender bender at a local car meet (someone backed their lifted truck into his front bumper), Grundy didn't even blink. They knew exactly what parts he needed and even recommended a local shop that specialized in classic muscle cars. Dad was thrilled—well, as thrilled as you can be after someone crunches your pride and joy.
But yeah, AAA isn't bad by any means...just not really geared towards enthusiasts or rare/custom rides. They're more about convenience and affordability for everyday drivers. And honestly, that's fair enough. If I ever graduate from student driver status and get myself something cool (fingers crossed), I'll probably bite the bullet and go specialty too. Until then, AAA's fine for my boring commute-mobile.
Good points about AAA vs. specialty insurers. I've had a similar experience:
- AAA is solid for daily drivers and basic coverage. They're affordable and easy to deal with for routine stuff.
- But when I got my '70 Chevelle, I switched to Hagerty. AAA just didn't get the whole "original parts" thing, and I wasn't comfortable risking coverage gaps.
- Specialty insurers know exactly what your classic is worth, and they won't nickel-and-dime you on repairs.
It's pricier, yeah, but peace of mind is worth it when you're insuring something irreplaceable.
Interesting to hear your experience with AAA and Hagerty. I'm actually shopping around for my first insurance policy right now, and AAA was initially at the top of my list because of their prices. But after reading this thread, I'm starting to reconsider...
"AAA just didn't get the whole 'original parts' thing, and I wasn't comfortable risking coverage gaps."
I don't have a classic car or anything special—just a basic daily driver—but I do care about getting decent coverage without hidden surprises. AAA seems great for affordability, but if they're not as thorough as they used to be, maybe it's worth looking into some alternatives before committing. Hagerty sounds good for classics, but probably overkill for me. Anyone have suggestions for something in between?
I totally get where you're coming from—AAA used to be my go-to as well, but lately I've noticed they're not quite as sharp on the details as before. Had a minor fender-bender last year, and let's just say the replacement parts weren't exactly OEM quality... Hagerty's definitely overkill for us daily commuters, but maybe check out some mid-tier companies like Amica or Erie? They've been pretty solid for me without breaking the bank.
