Yeah, I've noticed the same thing. Military insurers are great for standard cars—solid service, good rates—but they definitely seem lost when you start talking classics or customs. I remember trying to insure an old VW Beetle that I'd restored. Not even super valuable, just sentimental and a bit quirky... but the silence on the other end of the phone made me think I'd accidentally asked about insuring an alien spacecraft.
Ended up going with a specialist insurer myself, and honestly, it was night and day. They knew exactly what I was talking about, asked all the right questions, and didn't act like I was speaking another language when I mentioned modifications or restoration work.
But you're right, things do change. It's worth checking back every now and then. A buddy of mine recently said his military insurer started offering agreed-value coverage on his classic Corvette after years of saying no way. Maybe they're finally realizing classic car folks aren't going anywhere?
One thing to keep in mind though—always double-check how they're determining that "agreed value." Some companies claim they'll do agreed-value policies but then still lean heavily on market averages rather than your actual restoration invoices or appraisal reports. I've heard some real horror stories from folks who thought they'd get full value after an accident only to find out their insurer had a totally different number in mind.
Speaking of which, have you ever had to actually file a claim on a classic? Curious how smoothly (or not...) that went compared to regular insurance.
Just went through this myself as a first-timer. Military insurer was great for my daily driver, but when I mentioned my dad's old Mustang (nothing fancy, just sentimental), they got super quiet. Ended up going specialist too—way easier conversation, no awkward pauses... Glad I'm not alone!
Had a similar experience myself. Military insurers do seem pretty solid for standard vehicles, but throw in anything slightly out of the ordinary—like your Mustang—and they hesitate noticeably. I initially thought specialist insurers were just marketing hype, but when I switched for my weekend classic, the difference was night and day. Easier process, clearer terms... Guess sometimes specialists really do have their place.
"Military insurers do seem pretty solid for standard vehicles, but throw in anything slightly out of the ordinary—like your Mustang—and they hesitate noticeably."
Interesting you mention that... I ran into something similar when I got my Audi RS7. Military insurers were great with my previous sedan, but once I upgraded to something a bit more high-end, it felt like they weren't quite sure how to handle it. Ended up going with a specialist insurer too—made me wonder if military insurers just aren't set up for luxury or performance cars? Curious if others have noticed this trend.
I've noticed something similar myself. Military insurers seem to have their sweet spot with everyday vehicles—your Camrys, Accords, F-150s, and the like. But once you step into the realm of performance or luxury cars, things get a bit tricky. I had a classic Corvette a few years back, and while military insurers were quick to offer coverage, the quotes were surprisingly steep and the coverage options felt limited. Ended up going with a specialized classic car insurer who understood the nuances of collector vehicles better.
My guess is that military-focused insurers probably base their rates and policies on typical driver profiles and standard vehicle types common among service members. Performance cars, classics, or luxury models might just fall outside their comfort zone, making them cautious or less competitive. It's not that they're incapable, just maybe not geared toward niche markets.
Still, they're usually hard to beat for your daily driver or family SUV. Just gotta shop around a bit more if your tastes lean toward something with a bit more horsepower or rarity...
