Honestly, mileage caps are one of those things people stress over more than they need to. Most companies don’t do random checks mid-policy—usually only at renewal or if there’s a claim, like you said. But I’ve seen cases where someone blew past the cap by thousands of miles and it got messy, especially if there was a big claim involved. If you’re just a little over, I wouldn’t lose sleep, but if you know you’re gonna drive a lot more, it’s probably not worth the risk. Sometimes the peace of mind is worth paying a bit extra for flexibility.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve always been a bit paranoid about this stuff. A few years back, I had a friend with a vintage Jag who went over his cap by about 1,500 miles—nothing crazy, but when he had a minor fender bender, the insurer really dug into his mileage logs. They ended up denying part of his claim. Ever since, I just pay for the higher cap. Is it overkill? Maybe, but I’d rather not gamble with a car that’s tough (and expensive) to fix. Anyone else ever had an insurer actually check odometer readings at renewal?
Title: Classic car insurance and the annual mileage cap—worth it?
I get being cautious, especially with something like a vintage Jag—those repairs aren’t exactly pocket change. But I’ve got to admit, I’m not sure if I’d shell out for the higher cap unless I was really planning to drive the wheels off my classic. Maybe I’m just cheap, but in my experience, insurers have never actually checked my odometer at renewal. I mean, my old Volvo’s odometer barely works half the time anyway (don’t tell my insurer that).
That said, your friend’s story is kind of wild. I always figured they only cared if you were way over, not just a little bit. Makes me wonder if some companies are stricter than others, or if it depends on the adjuster you get. I’ve heard of folks being asked for a photo of their odometer after a claim, but never for just renewing. Maybe it’s different for higher-value cars? Or maybe I’ve just been lucky.
Honestly, I treat the mileage cap like the “serving size” on a bag of chips—more of a suggestion than a rule. But now you’ve got me second-guessing that approach… Still, paying extra every year just in case feels like buying an umbrella because it might rain next month. Maybe I’d feel differently if I had something as rare as a Jag instead of my “classic” (read: old and slightly rusty) daily driver.
Has anyone ever had their insurer actually ask for proof at renewal? Or is this one of those urban legends that only happens to a friend-of-a-friend?
