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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
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Updated
Classic car insurance is specialized coverage with additional protections unique to vintage and high-value vehicles.
California has some of the biggest collector car events in the country, making insurance crucial in the Golden State.
Some insurers have stricter collector car storage requirements in California, especially in Los Angeles.
California is a great state for classic cars. SoCal gets year-round warm weather, the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is perfect for pleasure cruising, and California has more than 135 member clubs for collector vehicle hobbyists.
Given the inherent value of classic vehicles, you’ll likely want classic car insurance in California, which is specialized coverage for antique or high-value vehicles. This differs from standard auto insurance because classic cars are appreciating assets, unlike regular cars, which depreciate.
Because there’s no set value for classic cars, you’ll work with an insurer to determine the agreed value of your vehicle in the event of a total loss.
Most classic car insurance policies limit use of the car. For instance, the vehicle can’t be your daily driver, and you have strict mileage caps. Insurers also enforce storage requirements, such as a secured garage, when the vehicle isn’t in use.[1] This is especially important in northwestern California, where rain is more common.
Save up to $1,100† per year on coverage
Not every vehicle qualifies for classic car insurance in California. Here are some common eligibility requirements:
Generally, antique cars and trucks must be at least 25 to 30 years old before they’re considered classic. Some insurers offer coverage for modern automobiles if they’re exotic, modified, special editions, or muscle cars.
Classic car insurance typically has low annual mileage caps: often 1,000 to 5,000 but sometimes up to 7,500 miles.
Mileage restrictions can be challenging in the Golden State, given California’s massive size, its tempting Highway 1 road trips, and frequent car shows, including the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Grand Nationals Roadster Show.
Classic car insurance companies often dictate how to store your vehicle. If you live around the Sierra Nevada Mountains or in the San Francisco region, you’ll need proper storage to protect your vehicle from snow and rain. If you live near the California coast, you may be required to store your vehicle farther inland.
Hagerty, one of the most well-known classic car insurers, specifically excludes parking garages, carports, car-hauling trailers, and driveways as eligible storage for classic cars in California.
Classic car insurance in California costs $134 per month for full coverage, according to Insurify data, which is roughly 32% less than the cost of standard car insurance in California. Classic car insurance in California is generally cheaper than standard auto policies because of the mileage restrictions.
California classic car insurance costs are slightly higher than the U.S. average of $128 per month, driven by factors such as heavy traffic congestion in major California cities and the state’s high vehicle theft rate.
Coverage Type  | Average Monthly Cost in CA |
|---|---|
| Classic car insurance | $99 |
| Standard car insurance | $147 |
Check quotes from 120+ top insurance companies
Whether you’re going to car shows or cruising the PCH, making sure you have the best coverage for your classic car is important. Here are our top picks for the best classic car insurance in California.
Hagerty offers the best classic car insurance in California. The insurer owns several major car events, including the Motorlux in Monterey, CA, and the California Mile. You can easily customize your policy with Hagerty, including higher mileage limits and additional special coverages, such as Cherished Salvage, Evacuation Expense, and Vehicle Under Construction.
High mileage limits and flexible coverage options
High Trustpilot review score
Hosts CA-specific events for drivers
Stricter storage requirements in California (especially in LA)
Separate daily driver required
Low Better Business Bureau (BBB) customer rating
Grundy is the best classic car insurance company in California for unlimited miles. The insurer allows “unlimited miles for pleasure driving and in collector car-oriented activities,” which is especially important in the Golden State, given its beautiful coastal highway and large number of car clubs and events each year. But you must still have a separate daily driver.
Unlimited miles for pleasure driving and car cruises
No deductible for most policies
Up to $250 towing and labor charge reimbursement, plus hotel cost reimbursement
Separate daily driver required
Mixed customer reviews on Trustpilot
Limited customer service hours for claims
American Collectors Insurance offers top-rated classic car insurance in California. Currently, the insurer has a 4.9 rating on Trustpilot based on roughly 22,000 reviews. American Collectors lets you choose the care for your classic car, including your repair shop, towing company, and emergency roadside assistance, with vetted recommendations for service and restoration in California.
High Trustpilot review score
Flexible mileage plans (2,500, 5,000, or 7,500)
Zero-deductible option
Strict vehicle appearance requirements
Separate daily driver required
Must be stored in locked, fully enclosed structure
Our editorial team analyzed regional and national auto insurance companies that sell policies in California to assess which offer the best rates, coverage options, customer service, and savings to drivers. We prioritized competitive rates, 24/7 customer service, low-mileage discounts or programs, safe driving discounts, homeownership discounts or bundling options, and specialty or supplemental coverages.
Classic car insurance has stricter eligibility requirements than standard auto policies, but it also provides more specialized coverage for vintage vehicles. Mileage and storage restrictions for classic car insurance are important to note in California, as the state’s sheer size and weather risks, like wildfires and earthquakes, may affect how you use and store your classic car.
Classic car insurance coverage limits are often higher than coverage limits for standard auto insurance.
You and your insurer must agree on a value before buying a classic car insurance policy. This often includes an independent appraisal or specialized valuation tools, verified via photos and documentation. Antique automobiles often increase in value over time, rather than depreciate, so recalculate this value when your policy renews.
For instance, an independent appraiser may determine your antique car is worth $50,000. Your insurer would then agree to a $50,000 value, specified in your policy.
In comparison, standard auto policies typically pay out the actual cash value: the depreciated fair market value of your vehicle, or what you could’ve realistically sold it for before the accident. If you originally pay $25,000 for a vehicle but total it years later, you won’t receive $25,000. Instead, you’ll get the vehicle’s depreciated value.
In addition to traditional auto insurance coverages, collector car insurance may come with specialized coverages, including:
Salvage coverage: In the event of a total loss, you may be permitted to salvage your vehicle and still receive the full payout.
Specialized repairs and classic parts: Classic car insurance should cover the required specialized repairs using vintage parts that may be harder to source.
Emergency evacuation: If you need to move your vehicle in the event of a natural disaster, such as a California wildfire, you might get reimbursed for some of your expenses.
Towing reimbursement: Insurers often offer reimbursement for towing to a shop in the event of repairs.
Spare parts and tools: Some policies may cover spare parts or automotive tools stored in your garage.
All vehicles, including classic cars, must meet California’s minimum car insurance requirements. Driving without insurance in California could result in a driving privilege suspension for up to four years.[2]
In California, you need 30/60/15 liability coverage:[3]
Bodily injury liability coverage: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident
Property damage liability coverage: $15,000 per accident
Any auto insurance beyond that is optional, but given the high value of antique cars, you’ll likely want a specialized classic car insurance policy or additional coverage.
Protect your classic car for the right price
Classic cars face unique risks in California, including:
Earthquakes: California ranks second in the country for earthquake activity, according to the California Residential Mitigation Program. To protect your classic car in your garage, secure any loose equipment, like rakes, brooms, lawnmowers, and any items in storage. Keep tools in cabinets, protected with child-safety latches. Cover your vehicle when not in use.
Increased traffic: Los Angeles and San Francisco have the country’s first and third worst traffic congestion, respectively, according to the TomTom Traffic Index. This increases the risk of collisions when driving your classic car.
Theft: California has the second-highest vehicle theft rate in the nation, behind D.C. Secure storage for your classic car is crucial to protect it not just against the elements but against car thieves.
Find answers to your questions about classic car insurance in California.
Classic car insurance in California is $134 per month for full coverage and $64 per month for liability-only coverage, according to Insurify data.
Insurers generally consider cars to be classic when they’re at least 25 to 30 years old. But eligibility requirements vary by insurer, and newer cars may be eligible if they’re modified, muscle cars, or rare special-edition models.
In California, you must typically have a clean driving record to get classic car insurance and use another vehicle that serves as your daily driver. Cars must also meet insurers’ age, mileage, and storage requirements.
The agreed value of a classic car has a large influence on insurance costs. The higher the potential payout, the higher the premium. Insurers may also charge more based on where in the state you live, your policy’s annual mileage cap, your age, and your driving record.
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 190 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Featured in
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
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