I had a similar dilemma last year when insuring my old Camaro. Initially leaned toward State Farm because of their reputation, but after chatting with a local Farm Bureau agent, I was surprised by how knowledgeable he was about classic cars. He even mentioned specific restoration shops nearby. Makes me wonder if it's less about the company itself and more about finding the right agent or adjuster who genuinely understands classics... Have you talked directly with agents from both yet?
Had a similar experience myself a couple years back—was insuring an old Mustang and figured I'd just go with the big-name insurer I'd always used. Then I randomly got chatting with a smaller local agent at a car meetup, and he knew way more about classics than my usual rep ever did. Ended up switching and saved a decent chunk of change too... Honestly, sounds like you've already found someone who genuinely gets your car, which is half the battle. Good luck deciding!
Had a similar thing happen when I was insuring my old Jeep Cherokee. Always stuck with the big guys because it felt safer, but then a buddy mentioned Farm Bureau and how they actually took the time to understand his off-roading mods. Got me thinking—do you guys think smaller insurers generally offer better deals for specialized vehicles, or was that just luck on his part? Curious if anyone else has noticed a pattern there...
I've noticed smaller insurers often do have an edge when it comes to specialized vehicles. Here's why: bigger companies typically rely on standardized underwriting processes, meaning they don't always account for unique mods or niche uses. Smaller insurers, though, can be more flexible, taking the time to understand your specific setup—especially if you get someone knowledgeable on the phone. That said, it's not universal...you still gotta shop around and ask detailed questions about your mods and coverage limits before deciding.
I've actually had decent luck with State Farm on my lightly modded Civic, but I get what you're saying about smaller insurers. When I called Farm Bureau, the rep actually knew what coilovers were—shocking, right? 😂 But yeah, definitely depends who you talk to. I'd say call both and see who seems more comfortable with your setup...coverage details matter more than brand names anyway.
