"Curious if anyone's had direct experience with either company handling classic or collector car claims...do they push aftermarket parts, or are they flexible about OEM and specialty items?"
Had a buddy who went through Allstate for his '69 Mustang, and let's just say he wasn't exactly thrilled. They kept nudging him toward aftermarket stuff, and he had to really push back to get OEM parts approved. Not saying State Farm would be perfect, but from what I've heard, they're a bit more flexible. Might depend on your agent though...insurance roulette, anyone?
"Might depend on your agent though...insurance roulette, anyone?"
Yeah, that's the tricky part—seems like experiences vary a ton depending on who you're dealing with. I've heard similar stories about Allstate nudging toward aftermarket, but then again, some folks swear by them. Haven't personally dealt with State Farm, but it sounds promising if they're more open to OEM parts. Good luck either way, classic cars deserve the extra care.
I've been with State Farm for a while now, and honestly, it really does seem to come down to the agent. Had one who was super chill about OEM parts after a fender bender, but my buddy across town got stuck with aftermarket stuff. Like you said,
Hang in there, hope you land a good one."insurance roulette, anyone?"
Yeah, seems like it's always a toss-up with insurance companies. I've been with Allstate for about three years now—mostly because they gave me a decent rate at the time—but honestly, haven't had to test them out with an actual claim yet (knock on wood...). My brother-in-law had State Farm and swore by his agent, but when he moved towns, the new one was a total stickler about everything. Definitely feels like luck of the draw.
Out of curiosity, has anyone noticed if either company tends to hike rates more frequently after minor claims or tickets? I'm trying to keep costs down since my commute's pretty long and gas ain't getting any cheaper. Would hate to save a few bucks upfront only to get slammed later on.
I've heard similar stories about State Farm being hit-or-miss depending on the agent, but honestly, I think that's true for most insurers. One thing I'd caution against is assuming minor claims won't affect your rates much—my cousin had a small fender-bender (barely any damage) and saw a noticeable jump with Allstate. Might be worth checking out some smaller regional companies too; sometimes they offer better stability after minor incidents. Just my two cents...
