You make some good points, but I'd say it's not always so clear-cut. I've handled claims for years, and honestly, I've seen both sides of the coin. Smaller insurers can definitely surprise you sometimes—like you said:
"the smaller companies often give you better bang for your buck because they actually care about keeping you around."
But I've also seen cases where smaller companies struggle to source OEM parts quickly because they don't have the same leverage or established vendor relationships that bigger insurers do. Had one customer last year who waited weeks for an OEM bumper because his small insurer simply couldn't get priority from the supplier. On the flip side, I've seen bigger insurers step up and approve quality parts without hassle—especially if you've been with them a long time or have multiple policies bundled together.
I think it really boils down to individual experiences and even regional differences. It's great your smaller insurer came through for you, but I'd caution folks not to write off bigger insurers entirely based on a bad experience or two...sometimes they can surprise you as well.
Good points all around. I've had mixed luck myself—my smaller insurer was great about approving repairs quickly, but sourcing original trim pieces for my '68 Mustang took forever. Ended up hunting down parts myself on eBay just to speed things along. Makes me wonder, do classic car owners generally find better luck with specialty insurers, or is it still hit-or-miss depending on the region and car model?
Yeah, sourcing original parts can be such a headache, especially with older models. I've heard specialty insurers can be helpful since they usually understand the whole classic car scene better, but honestly, I think it still depends a lot on your specific car and area. Good on you for tracking down the parts yourself though—probably saved some cash too. Sometimes DIY just ends up being faster and cheaper in the long run...
Totally get what you're saying about DIY being cheaper sometimes, but honestly, it can be a mixed bag. Last year I had to replace a cracked headlight assembly on my old Civic (not exactly classic, but old enough that parts weren't everywhere). Thought I'd save some cash by sourcing the part myself online—spent hours comparing prices, checking seller ratings, and finally ordered one that seemed legit. When it arrived, it looked good at first glance, but once I started installing it, nothing lined up quite right. Ended up having to modify brackets and wiring just to make it fit properly. Sure, I saved some money upfront, but factoring in the extra tools I bought and the entire weekend I lost figuring it out... probably would've been easier just to bite the bullet and let a shop handle it.
I guess my point is, DIY can definitely pay off, but it's important to know your limits and factor in the hidden costs. Glad you found an insurer that gets your situation though—having someone who understands older cars really helps reduce stress when things inevitably go sideways.
Been there myself with the DIY headaches. Tried replacing a side mirror once—thought it'd be simple enough, right? Ended up cracking the replacement glass trying to force it into place. After buying another one and losing half my Saturday, I realized sometimes it's worth paying a bit extra for sanity's sake. Glad your insurance is working out though...having someone who actually gets older cars is a lifesaver.
