You’re not alone in being wary of those instant quote apps. I’ve seen clients get lured in by lowball rates, only to find out the policy doesn’t even cover half of what they thought. I remember one guy with a restored ‘68 Mustang—he thought he got a steal online, but when he actually read through the exclusions, his “comprehensive” plan wouldn’t have covered a dime if the car was stolen from his garage. He ended up back at square one, frustrated and out a non-refundable deposit.
Delaware’s kind of a weird market, honestly. The big national carriers are everywhere, but the local or regional outfits sometimes fly under the radar and can be more flexible with agreed value or classic coverage. I’ve seen some success with smaller mutual companies—sometimes they’ll actually send someone out to look at the car and talk through what you want covered, which is a whole different experience than filling out a form online. The trade-off is, yeah, it takes a bit more time, but for anything collectible or modified, it’s usually worth it.
I do get the appeal of tech, though. There’s a handful of newer platforms (not the big-name ones) that are trying to bridge the gap—think more like digital brokers who’ll actually chat with you, not just spit out a number. It’s still early days, and I’d say they’re better for newer, more standard cars, but maybe I’m missing a hidden gem there.
Curious—what kind of car are you insuring? Sometimes the make or year can totally change which route makes sense. And have you ever tried those regional mutuals or do you stick to the big brands?
I’ve actually bounced between the big names and a couple of those smaller mutuals over the years—especially when I had my old ‘79 Bronco. Here’s what worked for me: first, I’d make a list of what I wanted covered (mods, agreed value, etc.), then call around to see who’d actually talk specifics. The mutuals took longer but were way more flexible, especially with older cars. The big brands were faster but pretty rigid. If you’re insuring anything unique or classic, I’d say it’s worth the hassle to go local, even if it means a few extra phone calls. Those instant quote apps never gave me the full picture, honestly.
Here’s what worked for me: first, I’d make a list of what I wanted covered (mods, agreed value, etc.), then call around to see who’d actually talk specifics. The mutuals took longer but were ...
I get where you’re coming from about the mutuals being more flexible, especially for classics. But honestly, I’ve seen some of the bigger companies step up lately with their “classic car” divisions—Hagerty’s not the only game in town anymore. Sometimes those instant quote apps are just a starting point, but if you call and ask for an underwriter who knows their stuff, you can get pretty creative coverage even with the big guys. Not saying it’s always perfect, but I wouldn’t write them off completely.
I’ve noticed that too—some of the big names are finally catching up with the niche stuff. I had a weird experience where State Farm actually beat out a specialty insurer on agreed value for my ‘92 Miata (not exactly Barrett-Jackson material, but still). The trick was finding an agent who didn’t just read off a script. Took a few calls, but worth it. Guess it really does pay to dig a little deeper, even if it feels like you’re speed-dating insurance reps...
Funny you mention the “speed-dating” thing—felt exactly the same way when I was shopping around last year. I actually ended up sticking with one of the bigger companies too, just because their claims process was so much smoother (learned that the hard way after a fender bender). I do get nervous about missing out on some hidden discount, but honestly, sometimes peace of mind is worth paying a tiny bit more. Just wish they’d make it less of a hassle to compare real quotes...
