Collector and Antique Car Insurance in Massachusetts

By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO

Massachusetts collectors have a lot to work with: back roads through the Merrimack Valley, club meets on the North Shore, fall tours through MetroWest towns, and plenty of old carriage houses and barns that make good garages. Massachusetts also has some of the stricter antique plate rules in New England, and its compulsory insurance law applies to collector cars too. This page covers what is specific to insuring a collector car in Massachusetts. For how collector car insurance works in general, start with our classic and collector car insurance guide.

Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance writes collector cars in Massachusetts. We’re a family-owned independent agency founded in 2005, just over the border in Portsmouth, NH, with access to 40+ carriers. We’ll confirm eligibility for your vehicle before you rely on a policy.

Massachusetts antique plates: the use rules

Massachusetts defines an antique motor car as a motor vehicle over 25 years old maintained solely for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest. That includes test drives to prepare for those events and trips to and from repair facilities. An antique-plated car can’t be used primarily to carry passengers or goods.

That’s a tighter rule than Connecticut’s, where state law doesn’t limit how a classic-plated car is driven. It lines up closely with how collector insurance policies already work: hobby use, not everyday driving. If you’re comparing state rules, see antique vs. classic car insurance and collector car insurance in Connecticut.

Year of Manufacture plates

Massachusetts lets owners of antique motor cars apply to display an original Massachusetts plate issued in the car’s model year, in place of the Antique plate. The plate must be in original condition and approved by the RMV, and Year of Manufacture plates are limited to cars from model year 1978 or earlier. Your insurance doesn’t change based on which plate you display, but tell us how the car is registered.

Massachusetts compulsory insurance and collector cars

Massachusetts requires auto insurance on registered vehicles, and antique-plated cars are no exception. A collector policy can provide the coverage Massachusetts requires, insure the car itself at an agreed value, and carry liability limits that line up with your daily cars. We make sure the policy meets Massachusetts requirements before it’s bound.

Because registration and insurance are tied together in Massachusetts, don’t drop coverage on a registered collector car for the winter. Comprehensive coverage is what protects the car from fire, theft and storage damage while it sits. Our guide to collector car winter storage covers the rest.

Carriage houses, barns and storage

Many Massachusetts collectors live in older homes with carriage houses, barns or detached garages, from Concord and Weston to Newburyport. Collector policies usually require the car to be in a locked, fully enclosed building when it isn’t in use. Before you buy, make sure:

• The building has walls, a roof and doors that lock
• You’ve told us about any second location, such as a storage facility for the winter
• Your home policy covers the building, and your collector policy covers the car inside it
• On the coast, you have a plan to move the car before a forecast storm surge

The building that stores the car is insured on your home policy. See Massachusetts homeowners insurance and, for larger coastal properties, coastal Massachusetts high-value home insurance.

Driving season in Massachusetts

Collector policies are written for hobby use: shows, club events, parades, tours and occasional pleasure drives. A Sunday cruise along the North Shore, a club meet in the Merrimack Valley or a fall tour west of Boston usually fits. If you trailer your car to shows or hire a transporter, see car shows and trailering.

Putting it together with your home, daily cars and umbrella

Collectors often have collector cars, daily drivers, a home with a carriage house and sometimes a boat. We look at the whole picture: auto insurance for daily drivers, home coverage for the buildings, a collector policy for the cars and an umbrella over everything. For a larger collection or several properties, see high net worth insurance.

• We don’t charge any fees.
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• We serve Massachusetts clients from our Portsmouth, NH office, including towns such as Ipswich, Amesbury and Andover.

Frequently asked questions

Do you write collector car insurance in Massachusetts?

Yes. We write collector cars in Massachusetts, and we work with collectors from the North Shore to MetroWest and beyond. Tell us about your car, how you use it and where you keep it, and we’ll confirm eligibility for your vehicle.

What can I do with a car that has Massachusetts antique plates?

Massachusetts antique plates are for motor vehicles over 25 years old maintained solely for exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest. That includes test drives to prepare for those events and trips to and from repair shops, but the car can’t be used primarily to carry passengers or goods.

Does a car with antique plates still need insurance in Massachusetts?

Yes. Massachusetts requires auto insurance on registered vehicles, including antique-plated cars. A collector policy can provide the coverage Massachusetts requires and insure the car itself at an agreed value.

Can I display a plate from my car’s model year?

Massachusetts offers Year of Manufacture plates for antique motor cars: an original Massachusetts plate issued in the car’s model year, approved by the RMV. They’re limited to cars from model year 1978 or earlier. Your insurance doesn’t change based on which plate you display.

Can I drop my collector car insurance over the winter?

Not on a registered car. Massachusetts ties registration to insurance, so dropping coverage on a registered vehicle can put the registration at risk. Comprehensive coverage also protects the car from fire, theft and storage damage while it sits. Talk to us before changing anything.

Do I need antique plates to get collector insurance in Massachusetts?

No. Plates and insurance are separate decisions. A collector policy looks at the car’s condition and value, how you use it, where you store it and who drives it. Both antique plates and collector policies limit everyday use, so expect similar rules from each.

What our clients say

From our client surveys. Comments are lightly edited for typos only.

“

Jon is super helpful and amazingly communicative. He responds fast with well thought out answers making the process of getting insurance for my home and car super simple.

“

Very informative, responsive, and helpful with answering any questions we had. Helped us get the best deal and coverage, explained the differences between coverage options, and let us choose what worked best for us. Highly recommend!

“

Excellent guidance on insurance options and fantastic quoting and onboarding experience. We trust their recommendations and feel that we have best coverage for peace of mind at best possible cost.

Read more client testimonials

Sources

• Massachusetts RMV, Application for an Antique Motor Vehicle Plate or Year of Manufacture Plate
• Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 90, Sec. 6A, Number plates for antique motor cars
• Insurance Information Institute: Insuring your classic car