Classic and Collector Car Insurance in New England

By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO

A collector car is not just transportation. It might be a car you restored over three winters, a muscle car you bought back years after selling it, a pre-war sedan that leads a town parade, or a limited-production sports car with a few thousand miles on it. A standard auto policy is built for a car that commutes every day and loses value every year, so it often fits a collector car poorly. Collector car insurance is built for how hobby cars are actually owned, driven and stored.

We are Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance, a family-owned independent agency founded in 2005. Our 15 employees work from our Portsmouth, NH office and a Connecticut office, and we are licensed in 10 states. We shop collector car coverage with carriers including Hagerty, J.C. Taylor, Liberty Mutual, Cincinnati and American Modern, and we coordinate those policies with your daily-driver auto insurance, home insurance and umbrella policy.

What is collector car insurance?

Collector car insurance is auto insurance designed for vehicles kept as a hobby rather than for everyday driving. It includes the same basic parts as any auto policy, such as liability, collision and comprehensive (other-than-collision) coverage, but it changes three things that matter most to collectors:

• How the car is valued. Most collector policies use agreed value, so you know the total-loss amount before anything happens.
• How the car may be used. Policies are written around shows, club activities, parades and occasional pleasure driving, not commuting.
• How the car must be kept. Policies usually require secure, enclosed storage when the car isn’t in use.

Because collector cars are driven less and kept more carefully, a collector policy is often a better fit than adding the car to your regular auto policy. It is a separate contract with its own rules, so it pays to understand them before you buy.

What kinds of vehicles do collector policies insure?

Every insurer sets its own rules, but collector programs generally fall into a few groups.

Antique and classic cars

These are vehicles valued for their age, history and condition, kept original or restored to original. Think muscle cars, woodies, convertibles, vintage pickups and delivery trucks, Corvettes, sports cars, military vehicles, horseless carriages and even antique farm tractors. The words “antique” and “classic” mean different things to your state’s motor vehicle agency and to an insurer. Our guide to antique vs. classic car insurance explains the difference.

Modified cars, hot rods and kit cars

Hot rods, street rods, resto-mods, customs, replicas and kit cars are collectible because of the work done to them, not in spite of it. Insurers usually place them in a separate modified program with its own documentation needs. See insurance for modified cars, hot rods, street rods and kit cars.

Exotic and limited-production modern cars

Some insurers will write a modern exotic or limited-production car on a collector policy if it is used sparingly and stored securely. If the car is driven regularly, a high-value auto policy may be the better fit. See exotic and high-value collector car insurance.

Collector cars we see most in New England

Every collection is different, but a few makes and models come up again and again in our garages. Each has its own valuation drivers, common modifications and storage concerns, so we’ve written model-specific guides:

• Porsche insurance: 356s, air-cooled 911s, transaxle cars and GT models
• Corvette insurance: C1 through C8, judged cars, fiberglass repairs and restomods
• Classic Toyota Land Cruiser insurance: FJ40, FJ55, FJ60, 80 Series and imported 70 Series trucks
• Classic Mustang insurance: first-generation, Shelby, Boss, Fox body and tribute cars
• Ferrari insurance: vintage V12s, Dinos, 308s and modern limited-series cars
• Land Rover Defender insurance: Series trucks, NAS Defenders and 25-year imports
• Classic Ford Bronco insurance: early Broncos, full-size Broncos and restomods
• Classic Mercedes-Benz insurance: 300 SL, 190 SL, Pagoda and R107 SLs, W123s and 500Es
• Aston Martin insurance: David Brown DB cars, V8 Vantages, DB7s and modern Astons
• Lamborghini insurance: Miura, Countach, Diablo, Gallardo and modern Lamborghinis
• McLaren insurance: F1, P1, Senna, LT cars and modern McLarens
• Bentley insurance: vintage and Derby cars, Crewe classics, Turbo Rs and Continental GTs
• Classic Jaguar insurance: XK120 to XK150, E-Types, Mark 2s and XJ-Ss
• Rolls-Royce insurance: Silver Ghosts, Phantoms, Silver Clouds, Silver Shadows and modern Rolls-Royces
• Porsche 911 insurance: early and air-cooled 911s, GT and RS models, and restomods
• Mercedes-AMG and G-Class insurance: SLS, AMG GT, Black Series cars and G-Wagens
• Classic BMW insurance: 507, 2002 tii and turbo, M1, E30 M3 and Z8

Don’t see your car? We insure everything from pre-war sedans and woodies to vintage pickups, military vehicles, British roadsters and Japanese classics. Call us and tell us what’s in your garage.

How agreed value works

Agreed value is the heart of a collector policy. You and the insurer settle on what the car is worth when the policy is written. If the car is a covered total loss, the policy pays that agreed amount, less any deductible. Compare that with actual cash value, where the insurer decides what the car was worth after the loss, often using general market data that doesn’t reflect a well-kept collectible.

Document the value

• Clear, recent photos of the exterior, interior and engine bay
• Receipts for restoration work, parts and professional services
• A recent appraisal, especially for rare or highly original cars
• Recent auction results or club valuation data for similar cars

Keep the value current

Collector values move. Review the agreed value at every renewal and call us when you finish a restoration, add significant parts, or see the market for your model shift. An out-of-date value is one of the most common gaps we find when we review collector policies. Our agreed value car insurance guide goes deeper, and if your car is mid-project, see restoration and project car insurance.

How insurers decide whether a car qualifies

There isn’t one rule for which cars can go on a collector policy. Each insurer weighs a handful of factors, and the answer depends on the whole picture rather than any single one.

• The car itself. Its age, rarity, condition and whether it is likely to hold or gain value. A well-kept 30-year-old sports car and a tired 30-year-old sedan are not the same risk.
• How it is used. Hobby use, such as shows, club events and occasional pleasure drives, rather than commuting or errands.
• Where it is kept. A locked, fully enclosed garage or similar building.
• The other vehicles in your home. Insurers usually want each driver to have a regular car for everyday use.
• The drivers. Driving records and experience of everyone who will drive the collector car.
• Documentation. Photos, receipts and appraisals that support the value.

If your car doesn’t fit one insurer’s rules, it may fit another’s, which is one reason working with an independent agency helps. We’ll confirm eligibility for your vehicle before you rely on a policy.

Common collector policy conditions

The trade-off for agreed value and collector-friendly coverage is a set of conditions. The details vary by insurer and by state, but expect to see:

• Hobby or limited use. Shows, club events, parades, tours and occasional pleasure drives are typically allowed. Commuting, errands and business use typically are not.
• Locked, enclosed storage. A locked, fully enclosed garage or similar building when the car isn’t in use.
• A separate daily driver. Each listed driver usually needs another vehicle for everyday driving.
• Driver review. Insurers look at the driving records and experience of everyone who will drive the car.
• No racing. Track days, timed events and racing are commonly excluded unless specifically arranged.

If any of these don’t match how you use your car, tell us up front. It is much better to find the right policy than to learn about a condition after a claim.

Driving limits and mileage, explained

The use rules on a collector policy are where most misunderstandings happen. Insurers handle driving limits in a few different ways:

• Limited pleasure use. Many policies don’t set a fixed mileage cap, but they limit the purpose of each drive to hobby activities and occasional pleasure driving.
• Mileage plans. Some policies are written around an expected annual mileage, and you choose the plan that fits how much you drive.
• Event-based use. Driving to and from shows, club meetings, tours, parades and similar events is the core of collector use.

A few situations come up often and are worth asking about before they happen:

• Test drives after repairs. Driving to and from a mechanic or restorer, and short test drives, are usually part of normal collector use.
• A drive to dinner. An occasional pleasure drive is usually fine. A daily stop for coffee on the way to work usually isn’t.
• Letting someone else drive. Policies differ on who may drive. Tell us about anyone who will drive the car, including adult children.
• Long tours and road trips. A multi-day tour with a club is usually hobby use, but tell us about long trips or trips out of the country.
• Track days and timed events. Commonly excluded unless specifically arranged.

If you think you’ll drive more than a collector policy allows, say so up front. We can look for a more flexible collector policy, or put the car on a regular or high-value auto policy instead.

Collector policy vs. adding the car to your regular auto policy

Some owners simply add their classic to the same policy as their daily cars. That can work, but it usually leaves gaps. Here is how the two typically compare:

• Value at a total loss. A regular auto policy usually pays actual cash value, which may not reflect a collectible’s real market value. A collector policy usually pays the agreed value.
• Use. A regular policy has no hobby-use limits. A collector policy limits use in exchange for collector-friendly terms.
• Storage. A regular policy doesn’t care where the car sleeps. A collector policy usually requires a locked, enclosed building.
• Repairs and parts. Collector policies are more likely to address specialist repair shops, original parts and spare parts.
• Extras. Features like flatbed towing, show coverage and automobilia are more common on collector policies.

For most hobby cars, a collector policy is the better fit. For a newer luxury or performance car you drive often, a high-value auto policy may be.

Coverage features worth asking about

Not every policy includes every feature, and limits differ, so we compare them line by line. Common features include:

• Spare parts. Coverage for parts stored in your garage, which can be hard to replace.
• Car shows and trailering. Coverage while the car is being trailered, loaded, unloaded and displayed at an event, and in some cases help with show expenses if the car is disabled. See car shows and trailering.
• Towing and roadside help. Collector cars should travel on a flatbed, not on a hook.
• Newly acquired vehicles. A window of coverage for a car you just bought, as long as you add it within the policy’s deadline.
• Choice of repair shop. The ability to use a restorer or specialist you trust, with help locating parts.
• Automobilia. Some policies offer coverage for vehicle-related memorabilia, such as signs, pumps and vintage parts displays.

Insuring a multi-car collection

Once a collection grows past one or two cars, a few extra questions matter:

• One policy or several. Most collector insurers can list several cars on one policy, each with its own agreed value. Keeping the collection together simplifies renewals and keeps coverage consistent.
• Value for each car. Each car needs its own documented value. Review all of them at renewal, not just the newest one.
• New purchases. Collector policies often give a short window to add a newly acquired car. Know the deadline and call us the day you buy.
• Cars in more than one place. A car at a restorer, a car at a second home and a car in a storage building all need to be disclosed.
• Spare parts and automobilia. A big collection usually comes with a big parts stash and memorabilia. Ask how they are covered and document them.
• Liability and the umbrella. More cars mean more exposure. Make sure liability limits line up with your umbrella policy.

For larger collections, especially alongside several homes, see high net worth insurance. We coordinate collector, home and umbrella coverage so the pieces fit together. Our classic car collection insurance guide goes deeper on agreed values, storage in more than one building and adding cars.

What to do after a collector car accident or loss

A claim on a collector car is different from a claim on a daily driver, mainly because parts, repair skills and value are harder to replace. Here is how to handle one:

• Stay safe first. Move to safety, call the police if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked, and exchange information.
• Photograph everything. The car, the scene, the other vehicle, and any damage to original or rare parts.
• Use a flatbed. Don’t let a damaged collector car be towed on a hook or wheel lift.
• Call us. We report the claim with you and help keep it moving.
• Talk about the shop before repairs start. Ask about using a restorer or specialist you trust, and how parts sourcing works.
• Keep the original parts. Ask before anything is thrown away. Original parts may be repairable or valuable.
• For a total loss, a collector policy with agreed value pays the agreed amount, less any deductible. Ask whether you can keep the car and how that affects the settlement.

For theft, fire, flood or storage damage, the steps are similar: photograph the damage, protect the car from further harm and call us right away.

Collector car insurance by state

Collector programs, registration rules and coverage options vary by state. Here is how things differ across the four states where most of our collector clients live.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire defines an antique motor vehicle as one over 25 years old, kept for exhibitions, club activities and parades rather than daily use. Long winters mean most collector cars here spend months in storage, often in barns and detached garages that need to meet storage conditions. Read more about collector car insurance in New Hampshire.

Connecticut

Connecticut lets owners register a vehicle 20 years or older with Classic Vehicle plates, and qualifying antique, rare or special interest vehicles get a capped local property tax assessment. State law doesn’t limit how a classic-plated car is driven, but your collector policy still does. Read more about collector car insurance in Connecticut.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts antique plates are for vehicles over 25 years old kept solely for exhibitions, club activities, parades and similar events, and Massachusetts requires auto insurance on every registered vehicle. We write collector cars in Massachusetts. Read more about collector car insurance in Massachusetts.

Maine

Maine raised its antique auto threshold: for new antique registrations, a car generally must be more than 35 years old, kept in original or restored condition, and not used as the owner’s primary transportation. Maine also offers hobbyist plates for street rods and custom vehicles. We serve Maine collectors from our Portsmouth, NH office. Read more about collector car insurance in Maine.

Storing a collector car through a New England winter

From late fall to spring, salted roads keep most collector cars in the garage. Winter storage is not the time to drop coverage. Garage fires, theft, roof damage from heavy snow, burst pipes and rodents all happen while a car sits. Keep comprehensive coverage in place, follow your policy’s storage conditions, and tell us if the car spends the winter somewhere other than your home garage. Our guide to collector car storage and winter lay-up has a full checklist.

New England risks beyond winter

Salt gets the attention, but New England collectors face a few other risks worth planning for:

• Nor’easters and coastal flooding. Storm surge and heavy rain can flood a garage that has never flooded before. Comprehensive coverage usually handles flood damage to the car; home flood insurance generally doesn’t. See our nor’easter prep checklist.
• Heavy snow and old buildings. Wet snow can collapse the roof of an older barn or detached garage onto the cars inside.
• Deer and moose. Animal collisions are a real risk on rural roads in New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont, especially at dawn and dusk.
• Frost heaves and potholes. Spring roads are hard on suspensions and low cars.
• Humidity and condensation. Coastal air and unheated buildings promote rust and mildew during storage.
• Rodents. Mice and squirrels move into quiet garages and chew wiring, which is a fire risk.

When spring comes, our spring recommissioning guide walks through getting the car back on the road, and if you’re bringing home a long-neglected car, see our barn find guide.

Building a documentation file for your car

Documentation is what turns your sense of a car’s value into an agreed value an insurer will accept, and it makes any claim easier. Keep a file, and a digital copy stored away from the garage, with:

• Photos of the exterior, interior, engine bay, underside and VIN, updated every year or two
• Receipts for restoration work, parts and professional services
• Appraisals, judging sheets and certificates of authenticity
• Factory records, build sheets or production reports where they exist for your make
• Ownership history and anything that tells the car’s story
• A list of spare parts and automobilia, with photos

Send us updates when something changes. Our guide to agreed value car insurance explains how documentation supports the value.

Buying, selling or consigning a collector car

The moments when a car changes hands are when coverage gaps are most likely.

• Buying. Call us before you pay, especially if the car is coming from out of state or by transporter. Ask the seller or hauler who is responsible for the car until it arrives, and get the car on your policy from the day you own it.
• Buying at auction. Auction cars often need to be removed quickly. Have coverage and transport arranged before the hammer falls.
• Selling. Keep coverage in place until the car is gone and the title has changed hands. Be careful with test drives by strangers, and ask us how your policy treats them.
• Consigning. When a dealer or auction house holds your car for sale, ask what their coverage includes, and tell us where the car is and for how long.

Our collector car auction insurance guide covers bidding, transport and consignment in more detail.

Questions to ask before you choose a collector policy

• How is the value set, and how often can I update it?
• What counts as permitted use, and is there a mileage limit?
• What storage is required, and does it change in winter?
• Who may drive the car?
• Can I choose my repair shop, and how are parts handled?
• Are spare parts, shows, trailering and automobilia covered?
• How are newly acquired cars handled, and how long do I have to add one?
• Does the liability limit line up with my umbrella policy?

We walk through these questions with every collector we insure, and compare the answers across insurers before you choose.

Why work with an independent agency for collector car insurance

• We compare, you choose. As an independent agency with access to 40+ carriers, we aren’t tied to one company. For collector cars, we work with specialty collector-vehicle insurers.
• We look at the whole garage. Collector cars, daily drivers, the home where the cars are stored, and an umbrella over all of it. See high net worth insurance if you have a larger collection or several properties.
• We don’t charge any fees. Not for quotes, reviews or service.
• Clients rate us highly. We are New Hampshire’s highest-rated agency on Google, with 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between collector car insurance and regular car insurance?

A regular auto policy is built for a car you drive every day and usually settles a total loss at actual cash value, after depreciation. A collector car policy is built for a vehicle used as a hobby. It typically insures the car at an agreed value set when the policy starts, and in return it expects limited use, secure storage and a separate car for daily driving.

How is the value of my collector car decided?

You and the insurer agree on a value when the policy is written, supported by photos, receipts, appraisals or recent sales of similar cars. If the car is a covered total loss, the policy pays that agreed amount, minus any deductible. Review the value every year, and tell us about restoration work or market changes so the number stays current.

Can I drive my classic car whenever I want?

Collector policies are written for hobby use: car shows, club events, parades, tours and occasional pleasure drives. Commuting, errands and business use usually aren’t allowed. If you plan to drive the car more often, tell us up front so we can find a policy that fits how you actually use it.

Does my car have to be a certain age to qualify?

Not always. Insurers look at the car’s condition, collectibility, value, use and storage, not just its age. Some modern exotics and limited-production cars qualify, and some older cars used as daily drivers don’t. We’ll confirm eligibility for your vehicle before you rely on a policy.

Do I need a garage to insure a collector car?

In most cases, yes. Collector policies usually expect the car to be kept in a locked, fully enclosed garage or similar building when it isn’t being driven. A carport, driveway or open barn usually doesn’t qualify. If you store the car somewhere other than home, such as a storage unit for the winter, tell us where.

Is collector car insurance available in every state you serve?

Registration rules and policy options vary by state. We work with collectors in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine, and we’ll confirm what’s available for your car where you live.

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

• NH RSA 259:4, Antique motor vehicle definition
• Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 246 (Sec. 14-1, definitions)
• Connecticut General Statutes Sec. 12-71(b), antique vehicle assessment
• Massachusetts RMV, Antique Motor Vehicle Plate application
• Maine BMV, Register an antique auto or motorcycle
• Insurance Information Institute: Insuring your classic car