When shopping for car insurance, insuring your classic car is going to be a different ball game than insuring your regular driving around car.  When you buy a classic car insurance policy, you are essentially purchasing protection for the value of the vehicle as a collectible.

The time you invest in choosing the right classic car insurance coverage is well worth the value and peace of mind that a quality collector's insurance policy delivers for owners of classic automobile.

To start, lets look at the stipulations or requirements normally encountered while shopping for collector car insurance or classic car insurance:

* A decent driving record.

* At least 10 years driving experience

* No teen drivers on the policy or drivers with poor driving records

* Secure and out of the weather garage

* Proof that you have another car for daily transportation

* Collector vehicle insurance is sometimes limited by the age of your car, and if your car is too young it may not qualify for a particular policy.

* Limited mileage. You probably don't want to drive your creampuff car all the time, and your insurance company doesn't want you to either. Mileage limits have increased recently, though, so if you can live with 250 miles a month you're probably okay.

Second, what is your policy worth? Here is how you look at insurance.

1) Actual cash value:

This is what you usually get with ordinary insurance, and is based on replacement cost minus depreciation.

2) Stated value:

The insurance company pays up to the stated value of the car, but may not guarantee the full stated value. And deductibles of up to $1,000 usually apply.

3) Agreed value:

In most jurisdictions, those who provide collector car insurance or classic car insurance are allowed to insure for a value that you and your insurer agree upon. And for most autos, there is no deductible. If your $100,000 vintage Rolls get trashed, you get a check for 100 grand, plain and simple – which is exactly why collectors use special classic car insurance coverage.

Last, after you have purchased your insurance, do a periodic review of your coverage limits, because classic car prices are rising. What you insured your cherry classic for ten years ago may be a fraction of what it's worth today. And if you are restoring a vehicle, ask your agent to give you appropriate insurance.

There is no need to pay extra based on mileage statistics, if your car is up on blocks with no engine inside it. And as the car's value increases thanks to your hard work of restoring it, you should raise the coverage to keep up with the added value of the restoration.

Keep all your receipts and paperwork – for everything from parts and labor to expenses incurred to take it to a classic car show – so that you can document the total investment your collector's car represents. And take photos and keep them updated, for the same reason.

Classic cars will always have a following but many standard insurance companies just do not understand the special requirements these vehicles have. That is why you need to make certain that the agency you choose specializes in the area of classic and vintage cars.

Vintage car insurance may as well be purchased from one of the independent insurance companies that specialize in insuring vintage and collector cars. Many of these companies will only insure particular types of cars, so if your car is a rare, hard to find model, you may have trouble finding someone to insure it. When researching these companies, be certain to ask about the experience and credentials of the company to be sure that the company that you are dealing with is a legitimate one. You do not fancy paying years of vintage car insurance premiums only to have the company disappear once you file a claim.

Many commercial car insurance companies are capable of also provide car insurance for an antique car. Also known as collector car insurance, these policies are tailored to the car you are attempting to insure. A representative will take all of your information and discuss different policy options with you to ensure that you are obtaining the coverage that you need. They will also help you to decide which types of coverage are within your target budget and which deductible and limit levels you will need.

Buying car insurance for an antique car through a commercial car insurance company will give the policy holder a peace of mind. The policy holder may as well have their everyday use cars insured with the same company. The protection of having an established company provide car insurance for an antique car is well worth the premium that they will charge you to provide insurance for your antique car.

When choosing an independent insurance company to provide car insurance for an antique car, be certain that the company is a reputable one. You do not want to discover that after months of paying the insurance premiums that the company will not or is not capable to pay your insurance claim.

Finding car insurance for an antique car although can be a lengthy and frustrating process, but the benefits of having insurance for the car far outweighs the initial hassle of finding the insurance. Many antique cars are worth many thousands of dollars and that is an immense loss if the car is ever stolen or totaled. Therefore having car insurance for an antique car may be the most valuable insurance that you ever purchase.