Good points about specialty insurers, though I've found them to be pricier sometimes. Do you think the extra cost with Hagerty or Grundy is justified for someone who only drives their classic occasionally and keeps it mostly garaged? Curious if others have compared actual quotes lately...
I've actually been through this exact dilemma recently. I had my '68 Mustang insured with State Farm for years, mostly because it was convenient and bundled with my daily driver. But after chatting with a few friends at a local car meet, I decided to get quotes from Hagerty and Grundy just to see what the fuss was about.
Surprisingly, Hagerty wasn't as expensive as I'd expected—only about $80 more per year than State Farm. Grundy was slightly cheaper than Hagerty, but still pricier than my original policy. What convinced me to switch was the agreed-value coverage and the specialized roadside assistance tailored specifically for classics. I figured that extra peace of mind was worth the small premium, especially since I only drive the Mustang occasionally and keep it garaged most of the time.
Of course, everyone's situation is different, and if your current insurer offers solid coverage at a good price, it might not be worth switching. But personally, knowing my classic is fully covered at its true value made the extra cost feel justified.
"What convinced me to switch was the agreed-value coverage and the specialized roadside assistance tailored specifically for classics."
That's exactly what made me reconsider my own insurance choice last year. I've been a long-time Farm Bureau customer, mainly because they've always treated me well with my daily driver and home insurance bundled together. But when I picked up my '72 Corvette Stingray, I started second-guessing if regular auto insurance was enough.
I had a similar experience comparing quotes—Hagerty was slightly more expensive, and Grundy was competitive too. I ended up giving Farm Bureau a call, just to see if they could match some of the specialized benefits. To their credit, they did offer agreed-value coverage, but their classic car roadside assistance wasn't quite as comprehensive as Hagerty's seemed to be.
The deciding factor for me wasn't just price alone—it was about how comfortable I felt knowing my car would be handled by people who really understand classics. I take my Corvette on longer weekend trips occasionally (nothing beats a scenic drive through the mountains!), so having specialized roadside assistance and towing options was important. I ultimately switched to Hagerty, even though it cost a bit more. Honestly, the peace of mind was worth the extra dollars, especially when you're miles away from home and something unexpected happens.
That said, I've had friends who've stayed with State Farm or Farm Bureau simply because they've built strong relationships with their agents over years. If you're mostly local driving or your current insurer has always been reliable when you've needed them, it might make sense to stick around. But if you ever plan on taking your classic out for a longer road trip, it's worth at least getting a quote from one of the specialty insurers... just in case.
You're spot-on about the peace of mind factor. I've seen plenty of folks underestimate how important specialized roadside assistance can be until they're stuck somewhere remote with a classic car. Regular insurers do fine for daily drivers, but classics are a different animal altogether. Good call on checking with Farm Bureau first though—always worth seeing if your current insurer can step up their game before switching.
Good points all around, but here's a quick breakdown from my own experience:
- Farm Bureau usually has great customer service and better local agent relationships, which is nice when you actually need help.
- State Farm's roadside assistance is decent enough for everyday family cars, but yeah, classics might need specialized attention.
- I once got stranded on a road trip with the kids—nothing fancy, just the family SUV—and State Farm handled it fine. But if I had something vintage or rare? I'd probably lean towards someone who specializes.
Maybe stick with Farm Bureau if they can match coverage and price...simpler than switching.
