Had a similar situation last summer—inspector flagged a client's garage because the vintage Corvette was "visible through the window." Like, isn't that what windows are for? Makes you wonder if they're just winging it sometimes...
- Hadn't heard about the window thing before, that's honestly kinda wild...
- Just got my first policy and already skeptical about these rules—seems like they're making it up as they go.
- Wonder if there's an actual checklist or they're just eyeballing it?
Yeah, the window thing caught me off guard too... I remember when I first got my classic Mustang insured, the inspector mentioned something about window visibility and I thought he was joking. Turns out, nope—it's a legit thing. Honestly though, after seeing some sketchy storage setups around town, I kinda get why they're tightening up. A buddy of mine had his vintage Camaro stored in a place with terrible ventilation, and after one winter, mold had completely ruined the interior. It was heartbreaking.
I agree some rules seem arbitrary, but from what I've seen, most inspectors do follow a checklist—at least loosely. Still, wouldn't hurt if the city made their criteria clearer upfront. It'd save everyone a lot of guesswork and frustration.
Totally agree with you on clearer guidelines from the city. The window visibility thing surprised me too, but when you think about it, moisture damage is no joke. I had an old VW Beetle a few years back that I stored in a friend's garage—thought it'd be fine since it was indoors, right? Wrong. Turns out the place was damp and poorly ventilated; by spring, the upholstery had this gross musty smell that took forever (and a decent chunk of cash) to sort out.
So while some of these rules seem over-the-top at first glance, they're probably there because someone's already learned the hard way. Still, I wish they'd just spell out the exact requirements clearly from the start. It'd save us budget-minded folks from unexpected expenses down the line...
"Turns out the place was damp and poorly ventilated; by spring, the upholstery had this gross musty smell that took forever (and a decent chunk of cash) to sort out."
Been there, done that—had a similar issue with my old Mustang. Thought I was being smart by using a tarp inside the garage, but it trapped moisture underneath and caused rust spots. Lesson learned: breathable covers only. Agree clearer guidelines would help, but honestly, even with rules spelled out, I'd still double-check ventilation and humidity myself... better safe than sorry.
