Title: Classic car insurance and the annual mileage cap—worth it?
I’ve actually had a close call with this. A few years back, I was with Hagerty and my ‘68 Mustang got rear-ended at a light. Nothing major, but enough to file a claim. The adjuster asked for my odometer reading and service records. I’d been careful to stay under the 3,000-mile cap, but I remember sweating bullets because I’d taken a couple of longer drives that year—nothing crazy, just some weekend trips. In the end, they didn’t dig too deep, but I got the sense that if I’d been way over, they would’ve had a problem with it.
I’ve heard stories from local club folks where claims got delayed because someone’s mileage didn’t add up, but outright denial? Haven’t seen it firsthand. Still, the threat doesn’t feel empty to me. These companies love their fine print. If you’re unlucky enough to get a stickler for an adjuster, I wouldn’t put it past them to use mileage as an excuse to wriggle out of paying.
Honestly, the cap is annoying, but I get why it’s there. They’re banking on us not driving these cars like daily beaters. But it does make me wonder if the savings are worth the stress. I guess if you’re meticulous about logging your miles and don’t mind sticking to short trips, it’s fine. Me? I’m always tempted to take the long way home, so it feels like a hassle.
Anyone else ever fudge their numbers on renewal forms? Not saying I have… but the temptation’s real when you just want to enjoy the car without worrying about every mile.
I totally get the stress around the mileage cap. I’ve got a newer S-Class that’s not a classic (yet), but I ran into something similar with a “limited use” policy. They wanted odometer pics every renewal, and it made me second-guess every spontaneous drive. I’m curious—has anyone tried negotiating a higher cap or a flexible policy? Or is it just a take-it-or-leave-it deal with these classic insurers? Seems like there should be some middle ground for folks who want to actually enjoy their cars.
I’ve actually tried to push for a higher mileage cap with Hagerty a few years back, but they were pretty rigid—said it would bump me into a totally different (and pricier) policy. I get why they do it, but it does feel restrictive. Has anyone found a company that’s more flexible if you’re willing to pay a bit extra? I wonder if it’s just a numbers game for them, or if there’s some leeway depending on the car’s age or usage.
Classic Car Insurance and the Annual Mileage Cap—Worth It?
I get why they do it, but it does feel restrictive.
Yeah, I’ve run into the same wall with Hagerty and a couple others. I tried to see if they’d budge on the mileage cap since my “classic” is more of a weekend family cruiser than a garage queen, but no dice unless I wanted to pay a lot more. I get that they’re trying to keep risk down, but it does seem a bit rigid—especially if you’re not driving it daily.
I did poke around with Grundy and American Collectors, but honestly, once you start asking for more miles, the price jumps up fast. At that point, it almost makes more sense to just insure it like a regular car, which kind of defeats the purpose of classic insurance in the first place. Maybe if you’ve got something super rare or valuable, it’s worth the hassle, but for my old wagon? Not so much.
It’s probably just the insurance math at work, but I wish there was a middle ground for those of us who actually want to drive our classics a bit more. Until then, I guess I’ll keep watching the odometer like a hawk...
It’s probably just the insurance math at work, but I wish there was a middle ground for those of us who actually want to drive our classics a bit more.
That’s the tricky part—most classic policies are built around the idea that you’re barely driving the car. Once you start asking for more miles, you’re right, the rates jump because you’re basically asking for regular-use coverage on a specialty policy. Some carriers might offer “flexible mileage” if you have a solid storage setup or multiple cars, but it’s rare. Honestly, unless your classic is super valuable or you’re really worried about agreed value, regular insurance with some tweaks might be less hassle. The system isn’t perfect, but it’s all about how much risk they think they’re taking on.
