I used to think insurance would just take my word for it too, but after a fender bender last year, I realized how picky they can get. They wanted every detail, down to the last scratch. Do you guys keep receipts for mods too, or is it mostly about the photos? I’m always wondering if I’m going overboard or not doing enough...
Do you guys keep receipts for mods too, or is it mostly about the photos? I’m always wondering if I’m going overboard or not doing enough...
Honestly, I’d say both receipts and photos are key, but if I had to pick, receipts are king when it comes to insurance claims. Photos help prove the mods were actually on the car, but receipts back up the value—especially for rare or pricey parts. I keep a folder (digital and paper) with all my receipts, even for smaller stuff. It can seem like overkill, but the one time you need it, you’ll be glad you did.
Have you ever tried getting coverage for a mod without a receipt? Curious if anyone’s had luck with just photo evidence.
Photos help prove the mods were actually on the car, but receipts back up the value—especially for rare or pricey parts.
This hits home for me. A few years back, I had a client with a ‘68 Camaro who’d done a ton of custom work—some of it was one-off fabrication, and he only had photos. When his garage got broken into, the insurance company gave him a really hard time about the value of those mods. The photos showed the parts were there, sure, but without receipts or at least some kind of documentation on cost, they lowballed him big time. It was a mess.
I get that keeping every little slip of paper seems obsessive (I’ve seen glove boxes stuffed to bursting), but when you’re talking about vintage rides and rare mods, it’s just not worth risking it. Even handwritten receipts from small shops or eBay printouts help. Photos are great for showing what’s on the car, but when it comes to proving value, insurance folks are sticklers for paperwork. Learned that lesson the hard way more than once...
Man, I totally get the urge to toss receipts—my glove box is basically a time capsule of oil change stickers and fast food napkins. But yeah, insurance companies are relentless about “proof.” I started snapping pics of receipts with my phone and dumping them in a folder. Not perfect, but at least if the paper ones vanish (or get coffee spilled on them... again), I’ve got something to show. It’s a pain, but way less painful than arguing with adjusters for weeks.
Honestly, I’ve seen people get burned by missing receipts more times than I can count, so your photo method’s actually pretty smart. But I gotta ask—do you keep track of what each receipt is for, or just toss all the pics in one folder? Sometimes folks show up with a pile of tire rotation and air freshener receipts, and it gets messy fast. Ever tried using an app to organize them, or is that just overkill for a vintage ride?
