You can register it as an antique in most states after 30 years. This will get you out of having to renew plates ever again. It will also allow you to get cheaper insurance thru a specialty insurer (Hagerty for example). You will be severly restricted on mileage and when you can drive the car, as well as storage requirements. Most specialty companies only allow for a couple thousand miles per year. They also require locked garage storage and no driving in adverse conditions. In some states when the vehicle is registered as an antique it is only allowed to go to and from shows on weekends and no night driving. These rules are rarely enforced, but are there. You should call your local DMV and ask about antique registration. ALso, google hot rod insurance to find the specialty companies.

 

I use http://www.hagerty.com/ collector car insurance for my 1971 240Z and I've been very happy with them. It's more for a garage queen than a driver. For less than $100/year, I get complete coverage.

 

I called "hagerty" and they said:

my daily driver is too old (1989)
My expected miles to drive per year were too high (5000)
And my set car value was too low ($3000)

And frankly the "guy" I talked to did not really seem interested in writing a policy. So my advice is get your numbers JUGGLED right before you call them.

I.E.
A NEW daily driver
Z Value minimum $3500
Miles expected less than 1000

And tell then you keep it in a garage, you only drive it to church on sunday, and you would never ever drive it in the rain. ;p

Any other companies that fellow Z drivers are using? I am searching as wee speak, and will post more info, if people are interested.

Thanks,

C

 

You have to be sure if you "JUGGLE" your numbers that you don't get caught doing what they say you can't. There was a member here who had some hail damage and the insurance co wouldn't cover it because it was supposed to be in a garage. I've also heard of them asking for pics of the odometer to verify mileage. Not to say there aren't ways around it, but it's your risk.

 

Be sure to lie on the insurance application

And you can expect the claims to be denied. There's nothing like paying premiums and thinking you have coverage then giving the carrier an obvious reason to rescind coverage. They'll only rescind if you have a claim. I'll you "Junkman's Insurance" for 1/2 of whatever quote you get...as long as I don't have to pay any claims. How about sending the 1st month's payment?

 

You are absolutely right

You are absolutely right, and I would never advocate anything like JUGGLING or anything like that...

What I was getting at is that they wanted ME to place a value on MY car... If I'd have said "priceless" or $100,000 they would have been more inclined to sign me up. Don't get me wrong, it has SUFFERED a ground up restoration so I AM UPSIDE DOWN IN IT.... BUT hey I love my Z

The other aspects are pretty self explanatory.

As for the "hail" incident, I'm asking, "do they not expect the car to get rained on, ever?" I mean yeah a garage is the place to keep the car, but what about a passing storm while your out tooling around town?

There seem to be a lot of dead links about "Hot Rod Insurance" so I'm still looking.

Thanks,

C

 

Yeah, StateFarm won't give me the antique/classic insurance. They say that it's reserved strictly for people who take the car to shows and parades. I'm not too keen on paying $200/six months for a car that I drive once a week or so. I think I might give hagerty a try, the website quoted me for $104/year. It's a '74 260z in NY.