I’ve had classic car insurance for years, and honestly, I’ve never been asked for odometer readings at renewal either—just the standard forms. The only time mileage came up was after a claim when my car got rear-ended at a stoplight. They wanted photos of the dash and a bunch of details. I get the sense they’re not combing through your mileage unless there’s a reason. Still, I try to stay under the cap just in case, but I doubt they’re watching every mile unless something goes sideways.
Classic Car Insurance and the Annual Mileage Cap—Worth It?
That lines up with my experience too. I’ve never had an insurer ask for my odometer at renewal—just the usual paperwork, proof of storage, and a couple photos if they’re feeling picky. The only time mileage ever became a thing was when I had to file a claim after a fender bender at a car show. Suddenly, they wanted every detail, including the dash shot and even a map of where I’d driven that month. Felt like overkill, but I get it—they’re looking for reasons to deny claims if you break the rules.
Here’s how I handle it, step by step:
1. I keep a rough log of my drives, but I’m not obsessive. If I’m planning a longer trip, I check my annual cap and do some quick math. If I’m close, I’ll take the daily driver instead.
2. I always read the fine print on the policy. Some companies are stricter than others about what counts as “pleasure use” or “parades.” A few even let you buy extra miles if you need them, but you have to ask.
3. If you do go over the cap, don’t try to hide it. If you ever have a claim, they’ll find out. I’ve heard stories of people getting claims denied because they fudged the numbers.
4. I snap a photo of my odometer at the start and end of the season, just in case. Not required, but it’s saved me some headaches when I had to prove I wasn’t joyriding cross-country.
Honestly, I think the mileage cap is worth it for the savings, as long as you’re not using your classic as a daily. If you’re the type who wants to take it on a cross-country road trip every summer, you’re probably better off with a standard policy. But for weekend cruises and the occasional show, the restrictions are pretty easy to live with.
One thing I’ll mildly disagree on: I do think some insurers are starting to pay more attention to mileage, especially with all the telematics and tracking tech out there. I haven’t seen it firsthand, but a buddy of mine got asked for a mid-year odometer reading after he posted a bunch of road trip pics online. Maybe just a coincidence, but it made me a little more cautious about what I share.
Bottom line, as long as you’re honest and keep your miles in check, you’ll probably never hear a peep from your insurer. Just don’t give them a reason to dig deeper.
Couldn’t agree more about the savings—those classic policies are a no-brainer if you’re not racking up miles. I’ve found the annual cap pretty manageable, but I do get a little paranoid about going over, especially when there’s a big event or two in the same season. One thing I’d add: some insurers will actually let you “roll over” unused miles to the next year, but you have to ask and get it in writing. Not all of them advertise that. And yeah, with social media, I’m careful about posting trip details... never know who’s watching.
Yeah, the mileage cap is always in the back of my mind too, especially when car show season hits. One thing I’ve done is keep a little logbook in the glovebox—just jot down the odometer before and after any trip. It’s not high-tech, but it helps me avoid surprises at renewal time. I’ve heard about the rollover thing, but like you said, it’s not standard. Some companies are more flexible if you’ve got a good history with them, but you really do have to push for it. And totally agree on the social media front... I never tag locations until I’m back home.
Mileage cap is actually the main thing holding me back from pulling the trigger on classic insurance. I just bought my first “fun” car, and I’m super cautious about not overdoing it on the road, but it’s tough to gauge how much I’ll actually drive—especially if I get invited to more meets or last-minute drives. That logbook idea makes sense, though. I’ve just been taking phone pics of my odometer, but I guess that could get messy if I forget or lose track.
I asked my agent about rollover miles and got a pretty vague answer. Maybe it’s just not a thing with some companies? Feels risky to bank on that. Haven’t even thought about the social media angle… never realized insurers might check that stuff. Makes me want to double-check everything before signing up. Just seems like there’s always a catch somewhere, you know?
