Why having continuous coverage helps keep you out of high-risk insurance companies

Longevity and continuous coverage count with car insurance.

Having continuous coverage on your car insurance is very important. A 35-year-old driver could have a problem when getting insurance again if he lets his policy lapse.

He may have a spotless driving record, but if he hasn’t driven for a couple years the insurance company will view him with suspicion when he gets a new policy – almost like a first-time driver.

So what’s the problem?

The Importance of Continuous Coverage

Continuous coverage is one of the most important things insurance companies look at when considering a new policyholder. Regardless of past history, if you’re unable to document at least six months of past insurance coverage it’s enough to disqualify you from a standard auto insurance company. In such cases a high-risk company is often the only alternative.

(Exceptions can be made for spouses and children of existing policyholders.)

That’s why keeping continuous coverage makes sense so that you avoid the ‘first-time car insurance pitfall’. This can be accomplished even when one doesn’t own a car through a non-owned auto insurance policy. This type of auto insurance policy insures the driver rather than a vehicle. Since there’s no car involved, non-owned policies are liability-only.

Continuous Coverage or High-Risk Insurance

But what if you don’t keep continuous coverage and you can’t get standard auto insurance. A high-risk company is probably your next step. A high-risk insurance company specializes in drivers who have a spotty driving history or who can’t document previous coverage. As a result premiums with these companies are higher than comparable policies with standard companies.

The good news is first-time car insurance policyholders with good driving records only stay with the high-risk company for a short time. Most standard companies will take new drivers after they spend six months in a high-risk company without incident. Unless there’s a ticket, accident or claim during that period, it’s rarely necessary for a new driver to stay in a high-risk company longer than that.

Non-owned policies are often available in high-risk companies. If you don’t have a car, but plan to get one soon, getting a non-owned policy can be a cost-effective way to establish that all-important insurance history sooner rather than later.

Moving from High-Risk to Standard Coverage

Most property and casualty insurance carriers have a high-risk subsidiary. When a driver becomes eligible to move over to the standard company it’s usually a seamless process.  The company simply transfers the driver’s information. Proof of prior insurance is already there.

If a driver wants to change companies, they must provide proof of coverage to the new company. An insurance liability card or policy declaration page documenting six months of continuous coverage will do the trick.

Even so, it’s the driver’s responsibility to initiate the process. Otherwise he or she may simply be renewed in the high-risk company, paying more than necessary.

Bottom line, keep continuous coverage on your car insurance whenever possible. If you’re not going to be driving for awhile, get a non-owned policy to maintain coverage and avoid high-risk insurance.

Why insuring a classic automobile is different from insuring a normal car

Why you may need to get a special policy for your classic car.

Classic car insurance is not the same as run-of-the-mill insurance for older cars. Just like a 1966 Ford Mustang isn’t the same as a 1995 Ford Festiva, classic auto insurance is different.

With older cars auto insurance is usually liability-only. The car is often paid for and there’s no need to satisfy a bank or lien holder with full coverage. Repairing an old beater is usually more trouble than it’s worth.

But classic car insurance is quite the opposite. A classic car is generally not a means of day-to-day transportation. Like temporary car insurance, classic car insurance is unique. For instance, it’s a collectable item with significant intrinsic value. In other words, when insuring a classic car you’re more interested in protecting against material damage than against a liability claim.

When was the last time you saw a Model T in a fender bender, anyway?

Why Classic Car Insurance is Different

Classic car insurance is more interested in material damage than liability. It’s possible to get classic car insurance with no liability coverage at all. Of course, no liability coverage usually means it’s not street legal. But if all you’re going to do is store a collectable car in a garage and unveil it at car shows, it’s not a bad option.

Also unlike most standard auto insurance policies, classic cars are routinely insured for a stated value. That means you’re not referencing blue book values. Owner and insurance company simply agree to an amount to insure the vehicle when the policy is written. As with any valuable item remember: if it’s worth insuring, it’s worth appraising first.

Because of these differences, it’s often not sufficient to insure a classic car with standard auto insurance, even with a generous full coverage policy. Liability is rarely a concern here. Material damage claims on a standard auto insurance policy would be based on blue book or similar values. In the case of a classic car this may be significantly different from the vehicle’s stated or appraised value, and never a difference to the owner’s advantage.

Getting Classic Car Insurance

To qualify for classic car insurance, in most cases the vehicle must be at least 20 to 25 years old and be considered collectable. Some classic car insurers won’t consider certain makes and models even if they meet age criteria. That’s because many vehicles built in the 1970s and 1980s weren’t as well-built as models that preceded them.

Other factors to consider include condition, rarity, historical significance, body style (two-door sports cars are usually considered more collectable than four-door sedans from the same era), and country of origin. One shouldn’t have any problem getting a classic car insurance policy for a 1981 DeLorean, but a 1974 Mercury Comet – even in good condition – may prove to be a challenge.

Classic car insurance can be obtained in one of two ways. First off, you can get it through an endorsement on your existing automobile policy through a standard property and casualty company.

Secondly, you could get it separately through a company that specializes in classic car insurance. Many agents will recommend the latter since classic car endorsements on standard policies tends to be expensive and may leave gaps in coverage. Several companies specialize in classic car insurance. Hagerty is the dominant player in the field.