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Classic car insurance protects your vintage vehicle at a value you and your insurer agree upon.
The right policy can cover your classic car against theft, vandalism, and common Tennessee weather risks, such as tornadoes, wildfires, and flooding.
A classic car insurance policy typically limits your vehicle usage and requires you to store your car securely to keep it safe.
If you have a classic car, standard insurance likely won’t provide the specialized coverage you need. Tennessee classic car insurance covers physical damage to your vehicle based on a value you and your insurer agree upon.
Tennessee is home to more than 50 classic and collector car clubs. Popular shows include the Pigeon Forge Rod Run and the Triple Crown of Rodding at the Nashville Superspeedway.
Your policy may limit your usage and specify storage requirements to keep your car in pristine condition. That’s especially important in Tennessee, where extreme weather like tornadoes and wildfires could damage an improperly stored classic car.[1]
Classic car insurers often have strict qualification requirements. These are among the most common in Tennessee.
Insurers generally consider a car a classic if it’s at least 20 years old and an antique if it’s 45 years or older. Some classic car insurers also offer coverage for muscle cars, luxury vehicles, and classic trucks.
You’ll typically need a standard car insurance policy if your older vehicle doesn’t fit into any of these categories.
Classic car insurance companies may set limits on how many miles you can drive your car each year. Most offer coverage for when you travel to and from car shows or club meet-ups.
If you want to take your car out for a drive on one of Tennessee’s National Scenic Byways, like the Cherohala Skyway or the Cumberland Historic Byway, make sure your policy doesn’t include mileage restrictions.
To qualify for classic car insurance, you’ll generally need to keep your vehicle in a private, secure garage. Even if you find an insurer without this requirement, it’s still wise to store your classic car properly.
Garaging your car helps protect it against vandalism, theft, and weather damage. This can be especially important if you live in a Tennessee area with a higher car theft rate, such as Memphis or Nashville.
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Classic car insurance in Tennessee costs an average of $77 per month, according to Insurify data. That’s slightly less than the cost of a standard car insurance policy in Tennessee, at $96 per month.
Classic car insurance is generally cheaper than standard car insurance because these policies typically restrict mileage and usage.
Tennessee’s humid subtropical climate can accelerate rust on classic cars under restoration, so insurers may require climate-controlled storage.
If you live in a larger city, such as Nashville or Memphis, you may pay more for coverage due to the higher risk of vehicle theft in these areas. Classic car insurers often require owners to have access to a secure, enclosed garage, regardless of theft risk.
Coverage Type | Average Monthly Cost in TN |
|---|---|
| Classic car insurance | $77 |
| Standard car insurance | $96 |
Finding the right insurance for your classic car in Tennessee means comparing quotes and coverage from several companies. Check out the following three companies, which are among the best insurance companies for antique cars in Tennessee.
Hagerty specializes in insurance for classic and collectible vehicles. You can get coverage for classic cars, antique tractors, and even vintage camper trailers. Hagerty’s Guaranteed Value coverage uses specialized tools to calculate your classic car’s value. Your policy guarantees a specific payout amount if a covered event totals your car.
Finally, you’ll get up to $750 of comprehensive coverage to help protect your car’s spare parts.
Specializes in classic and collectible vehicles
Guaranteed Value coverage
High Trustpilot rating
Driver eligibility requirements apply
Few available discounts
Must have a separate daily driver
American Collectors Insurance has an almost perfect score on Trustpilot, which speaks to its commitment to customer satisfaction. The insurer also offers flexible mileage plans, allowing you to tailor your policy based on how many miles you drive your classic car. In addition to spare parts coverage, American Collectors offers safety discounts and agreed-value coverage.
High Trustpilot rating
Flexible mileage plans
Available towing and transportation coverage
Driver eligibility restrictions apply
Must have a separate daily driver
Strict storage requirements
Unlike other classic car insurance companies, Grundy doesn’t have mileage limitations. But if you want to register your classic car as an antique motor vehicle in Tennessee, you must certify that you won’t use it for “general transportation,” according to the Tennessee Department of Revenue.[2]
Grundy provides trip interruption coverage to help pay for food, lodging, and alternate transportation if your car breaks down. And if you need to make a claim, Grundy’s specialists will answer your call no matter the day or time.
No mileage limit
Up to $600 in trip interruption coverage
24/7 claims service
Lower Trustpilot rating than competitors
Strict storage requirements
Available only for vehicles 25 years or older
Our editorial team analyzed regional and national auto insurance companies that sell policies in Tennessee 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 is a specialized policy for drivers who own vintage or collectible vehicles. In Tennessee, drivers can register their car as an antique motor vehicle if it’s older than 25 years and has no engine or body modifications.
A classic car insurance policy often comes with stricter requirements than a standard one. For example, it may impose usage restrictions or garaging requirements.
But this type of policy provides unique coverage that a standard policy can’t.
While standard car insurance typically pays out your car’s actual cash value (ACV) after a claim, a classic car policy covers your vehicle at an agreed value.
For example, a 1967 Corvette Sting Ray, which retailed for less than $4,500 when it first came out, is now worth about $83,000 if it’s in good condition, according to J.D. Power.
Your insurer will review appraisals, photos, and documentation to determine your classic car’s value. You must both agree upon the value before you buy the policy.
Keep in mind that a well-maintained classic car may gain value over time. At policy renewal time, make sure your coverage reflects your classic car’s current estimated value.
Classic car insurance coverage differs from standard car insurance coverage. Here’s what your policy may cover:
Agreed-value coverage: If an accident totals your classic car, your insurer pays the agreed value listed in your policy documents, not the car’s ACV.
Specialized repair: Regular auto repair shops typically don’t work on classic cars. While specialized shops charge more for repairs, they have the expertise needed to work on classic and antique vehicles. Plus, your policy typically covers specialized repairs after a covered loss.
Special towing: If your classic car breaks down or needs to be towed to the shop for repairs, your insurance policy may cover specialized towing. This may include using a flatbed with soft straps.
Spare parts: Classic car insurance policies may cover your car’s spare parts and tools. This coverage typically applies if someone steals them or if a tornado, flood, or wildfire damages them.
Tennessee requires all drivers to carry liability insurance, regardless of whether they own a regular car or a classic car. These are the minimum liability insurance requirements in Tennessee:[3]
$25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person
$50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident
$25,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident
If the state can’t verify your coverage, it’ll give you 30 days to provide proof of insurance. If you don’t respond, you’ll receive a $25 fine.
You’ll receive a final notice, and you’ll have 30 days to respond before the state suspends your registration and charges you an additional $100 fine.[4]
Save on a classic car insurance policy
In Tennessee, various risks can damage your classic car. These are some of the most common:
High humidity: Tennessee’s humid subtropical climate can wreak havoc on vintage cars. Proper storage protects your car from rust, condensation, and mold.
Extreme weather: The Volunteer State sees tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and even earthquakes. Even a properly stored classic car can sustain damage due to floodwater, flying debris, or smoke and ash.
Uninsured motorists: Tennessee has the nation’s fourth-highest percentage of uninsured drivers, at approximately 21%, according to the Insurance Research Council. A classic car insurance policy may cover an accident with an uninsured driver.
The answers to the following frequently asked questions can help you find the best classic car insurance in Tennessee for your needs and budget.
Tennessee considers a car an antique if it’s 25 years or older, not used for daily transportation, and not modified in any way. Drivers with cars that fit these criteria can request an antique motor vehicle plate.
Classic car insurers generally don’t allow you to use your car as an everyday driver. Your insurer may impose annual mileage restrictions or permit you to drive your car only to shows or meetings.
Some standard auto insurers, such as State Farm and Liberty Mutual, insure classic cars. You can also buy a policy from specialized insurers, such as Hagerty, American Collectors Insurance, and Grundy.
Yes. Most collector car insurance companies in Tennessee require you to store your vehicle in a secure, private garage.
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 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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16+ years in personal finance and insurance writing
Certified Financial Education Instructor
5+ years of editing experience
4+ years of experience in print and digital media
NPN: 22341021
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
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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