Classic car owners are some of the best drivers around. Intimately familiar with the inner workings of their vehicles, these enthusiasts often spend hundreds of hours repairing and maintaining their classic cars. In turn, they take extra care on the road, eager to protect their investment.
In many cases, classic car owners opt to keep their vehicle in the garage instead of taking it out for a spin. Such valuable cars, after all, are rarely used to run errands or commute to work. Drivers may only rack up a few hundred miles a year on their classic cars. Because of this, auto insurance for antique vehicles is more affordable than you might expect.
When an accident is unavoidable, many classic car owners find themselves asking: Will my car accident settlement amount increase because my car is a classic?
Get The Right Insurance
The answer to this question depends largely on the kind of insurance coverage a driver has. Before the vehicle ever hits the road, owners should ensure their investment is protected. Because classic car valuation works differently from other kinds of vehicles, it’s a good idea to work with an insurance agent with experience working with antiques.
In most cases, a car may be worth many times its blue book value. In such cases, drivers and their insurance agents come to an agreed-upon valuation before a policy is issued. Fail to get the full value of your car covered in your vintage car insurance policy and you could be stuck footing the bill for expensive repairs.
Stay Level-Headed
If you’ve been involved in a wreck, it helps to stay calm. While it’s always difficult to see your beloved vehicle damaged, even the most expensive vintage car can be repaired. So long as you’ve been properly insured, you’ll be able to recoup the costs associated with repairs. Human lives, on the other hand, are far more fragile.
As with any car accident, the first thing to do is check to see if anyone involved in the wreck has been injured. While classic cars are nice to look at and work on, they often lack the safety features of more modern automobiles. As a result of this, car accident injuries can be more common with vintage cars, so make sure you and any passengers in your vehicle are ok. Move the vehicles out of the path of traffic and call the police to report the incident. Even the most minor of crashes are worthy of a police report. Forgo the report and you’ll fight an uphill battle getting the insurance company to cover damages.
While tempers often flare at the scene of a car accident, it’s important to be civil when exchanging contact and insurance information with the other driver. No matter who is at fault, it helps to keep a level head when interacting with the other people involved in the wreck.
Contact Your Insurance Company
As soon as you’ve ensured everyone’s safety and called the police, it’s time to phone your insurance company to file your car accident claim. So long as you have had conversations with your insurance agent about the valuation of the vehicle, you should have no problems getting it completely repaired. Even when the other driver was at fault, it’s worth a conversation with your insurance company to loop them in on the incident and get their insight as to what to expect next. Because insurance can be complicated, it’s best to cover all your bases.
Repair Your Car
Many vintage cars are simple machines. That’s part of the reason they’re so much fun for hobbyists to work on. Still, you shouldn’t let just anyone repair your car after a crash. Ask your insurance company suggestions on local shops that specialize in antique car repairs. It’s also worth talking to a local collectors club for recommendations. In some cases, you may need to ship your vehicle to guarantee you’re getting the very best repair work possible.
Paint on a classic car can complicate an already difficult repair job. If your car has its original single stage paint, it’s even more important to find a professional with vintage car experience. In some cases, these experts can salvage the original paint. In other situations, though, the vehicle may require a new paint job. A savvy body shop can repaint using the proper methods.
Document Your Experience
The key to getting the most money possible after your vintage car has been hit? Keep well-documented records of the accident, your conversations with the insurance company and your mechanic. It’s also helpful to have records of your car’s history, including details of any restoration work you’ve had done. This documentation is necessary for car accident claims, but can also help increase the value of your vehicle when it comes time to sell.
Photographs, shop receipts, and video can help prove that you had damage thoroughly and properly repaired. Even if you can’t pick out damage with the naked eye, car enthusiasts will look for hidden signs that the vehicle has been in a wreck. It’s worth having documents on hand proving you’ve handled damage in the most responsible manner possible.
Get Help from Lawsuit Info Center
Whether you drive an antique or a brand new car, we can help you recoup the costs of repairs after a crash. Start with our car accident settlement calculator for an idea of how much your insurance claim could be worth.
