I hear you on the paperwork—my last claim with a national carrier was a nightmare, even though I’d documented every mod and upgrade on my S-Class. They still tried to nickel-and-dime me over an OEM wheel swap, which felt absurd. Honestly, I’ve had better luck with smaller agencies that actually know what a luxury car is worth and don’t freak out over tasteful mods. It’s a hassle either way, but I’d rather deal with someone local who’ll pick up the phone when things go sideways. Just wish there was less guesswork...
I'm with you on that—dealing with the big companies always feels like pulling teeth. I switched to a local agent in Lexington after a cross-country trip, and it's been way less stressful, especially when I had to file a claim for hail damage. They actually cared about my car, mods and all. Not perfect, but better than getting bounced around by a call center.
I get the appeal of local agents, but honestly, my experience was the opposite. The small office in my town acted like I was asking for a kidney when I wanted to update my policy. At least with the big guys, I can do everything online at 2am after remembering I forgot to pay... again. Guess it’s a trade-off—personal touch vs. convenience.
Had a similar run-in with a local agent once—felt like I was interrupting their lunch just to ask about classic car coverage. Ended up switching to a national company. Not as personal, but at least their online stuff actually works when I need it. Guess you gotta pick your poison.
I get where you’re coming from—there’s a tradeoff between that local touch and the efficiency of bigger companies. I’ve worked with both sides over the years, and honestly, it’s not always black and white. I remember a client who had a vintage Mustang; he wanted to talk through every detail of his policy, but the local office just didn’t have the bandwidth or maybe the expertise. He ended up frustrated, switched to a national provider, and got the digital tools he wanted... but then he missed having someone to call directly when he had a claim.
It’s tough because some local agents really do go above and beyond, but others seem stretched thin or just not that interested. On the flip side, national companies have the tech and resources, but sometimes you feel like just another number. I guess it comes down to what matters more—personal service or convenience. For classic cars especially, I’d say make sure whoever you pick actually understands those policies. Not everyone does, even if they say they do.
