Had a similar experience a couple years back, except mine involved a possum rather than a raccoon. You wouldn't think something that small could crack a bumper and mess up the grille, but it sure did. Insurance was pretty straightforward about it, though I did notice a slight bump in premiums afterward—nothing drastic, thankfully.
As for classic cars, from what I've seen, insurers often treat them differently. A buddy of mine has an old Corvette, and when he had a minor fender-bender (totally his fault, by the way), his rates barely budged. Seems like classic car policies factor in limited mileage and careful driving habits more than regular policies do. Might be worth looking into specialized coverage if you've got something vintage or collectible.
Either way, glad your insurance was decent about it. Those little critters can really catch you off guard...
"Seems like classic car policies factor in limited mileage and careful driving habits more than regular policies do."
That's definitely been my experience too. A few years ago, I had an old Mustang I was slowly restoring—nothing fancy, just a weekend project on a tight budget. When someone backed into it in a parking lot, I dreaded the insurance hassle, but surprisingly, the specialized classic policy made things pretty painless. Premiums barely moved afterward. Regular policies, though... different story entirely. Guess insurers figure we're extra cautious with our classics.
Yeah, makes sense they'd cut you some slack on premiums if you're not driving it daily. I've never had a classic myself, but my brother-in-law has an old Camaro he's been babying for years. He swears by his classic policy—says it's way cheaper and easier to deal with than regular insurance. I guess insurers know you're probably not commuting in rush-hour traffic or parking it in sketchy areas overnight, so less risk overall.
Honestly, regular policies can be such a headache. Had a minor fender-bender last year with my daily driver, and even though it wasn't my fault, my rates still went up a bit. Pretty frustrating when you're already trying to keep costs down. Glad your Mustang situation worked out smoothly though... restoring a car sounds like enough stress without insurance drama on top of it.
"Honestly, regular policies can be such a headache. Had a minor fender-bender last year with my daily driver, and even though it wasn't my fault, my rates still went up a bit."
Yeah, that's pretty common unfortunately. Had a client last year who got rear-ended at a stoplight—clearly not his fault—but his rates still nudged upward. It's frustrating, but insurers often factor in overall risk profiles, even if you're not at fault. Classic car policies are usually smoother because insurers know you're treating the car like your baby... less mileage, safer storage, fewer claims overall.
Yeah, classic car policies do tend to be easier on the wallet, but it's not always a sure thing. I mean, have you checked how strict some insurers get about mileage limits? I've had folks get caught off guard by that. One client of mine took his '67 Mustang out for a couple of extra weekend cruises—nothing major, just a few hundred miles over the annual limit—and suddenly he got hit with extra fees. Not huge, but still annoying when you're trying to keep costs down.
With daily drivers though, it's definitely frustrating when your rates bump up after an accident that's clearly not your fault. But have you tried shopping around after something like that happens? Sometimes another insurer will see your situation differently and offer you better rates. I know it's a hassle to switch, but it can pay off if you're budget-conscious.
Also curious: did you report the accident directly to your insurer or did they find out through the other driver's claim? Sometimes how the info gets to them can affect how they perceive your risk. Sounds weird, but I've seen it happen more than once...
Insurance is one of those necessary evils—no one likes paying for it until something goes wrong. Then suddenly we're glad it's there, headaches and all.
