Hagerty Auto Insurance: Specialty Car Insurance (2024)

Written by:

Dash Lewis, Senior Writer

Written by: Dash Lewis Content Writer

06/09/2024 04:05 PM

Key Points:

• Hagerty offers specialized auto coverage for classic, collector, and exotic vehicles.
• The provider holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
• Hagerty features a printed price guide and online tool to help you gauge the value of your classic car.

Classic vehicles have different needs when it comes to auto insurance, so the same car insurance policy that covers your daily driver won’t cut it for your classic auto. Hagerty auto insurance is a specialty classic car insurer that covers vintage and collector vehicles. While most cars depreciate as they age, classic cars do the opposite, increasing in value over time. To properly protect your car’s value, it’s important to have a specialty policy designed just for collector vehicles.

We wanted to see how Hagerty measured up to its competitors, so our experts took a deep dive into the company’s cost, policies, and reviews. You can use this information to help you make an informed decision about the best insurance provider for your classic car.

Hagerty Auto Insurance Overview

Hagerty was founded in 1984 when Frank and Louise Hagerty discovered a need for specialty vehicle insurance. The company didn’t start with auto insurance, however. Frank and Louise were boat enthusiasts who had trouble trying to insure their boats. In 1991, Hagerty expanded its specialty coverage to include classic cars.

According to Hagerty.com, the company is now run by Frank and Louise’s son, McKeel Hagerty, and is the leading insurance company for classic and historic vehicles. Hagerty is headquartered in Traverse City, Michigan, and it has locations in the United States and around the world in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Classic auto insurance policies can be a tad complicated if you are new to historic vehicles. However, Hagerty’s local customer service agents have a decent reputation for answering questions and assisting the insured.

Hagerty Auto Insurance Coverage

It’s always important to explore your options for the type of car insurance you need. However, Hagerty auto insurance is not your typical coverage. Hagerty is known for its classic car insurance, providing protection for antique and classic cars, classic trucks, utility vehicles, and modified vehicles manufactured in 1980 or later.

Because customers do not typically use classic vehicles for daily activities like commuting to work and school, the coverage they need will be different than basic car insurance. Another important distinction is that classic cars appreciate in value over time, meaning insured limits also need to increase over time. Here are some options for Hagerty auto insurance:

• Guaranteed Value® Coverage: If your vehicle experiences a covered total loss, you will be awarded your car’s agreed-upon insured value in full. Because there is no depreciation, this is a great coverage option.
• Spare Parts Coverage: This plan contributes $750 to protect the valuable tools and spare parts you may have in order to keep your vehicle running efficiently. You also have access to original replacement parts when your vehicle needs repairs.
• Hagerty Drivers Club®: This membership includes 24/7 roadside assistance should you need a tow or a tire change while on the road, a subscription to Hagerty’s magazine, and additional discounts.
• Auto Show Medical Reimbursem*nt: This option covers you or your family up to $10,000 if someone becomes injured during an auto show or related event.

Hagerty is one of the top auto insurance carriers for classic and historic vehicles, so it places strict limitations on how coverage can be used. Insured classic cars cannot be used for daily driving. However, Hagerty auto insurance places no mileage limitations on occasional pleasure driving. This includes trips to club functions, exhibitions, tours, and organized meetings.

Hagerty auto insurance policies require that you store your classic car in a secure, enclosed structure like a garage or residential storage unit. All members of your household with a valid driver’s license must have a vehicle meant for daily use and maintain regular car insurance for each of those vehicles.

You will not be eligible for Hagerty auto insurance if you have a poor driving record, with violations for alcohol-related offenses, excessive speeding, or reckless driving.

Drivers with an unsafe driving history become a liability to insure, so Hagerty restricts them from starting a policy.

If you need roadside assistance, Hagerty works to dispatch help within 60 minutes of your call. Actual response time will depend on the weather, traffic, and current demand.

Hagerty Auto Insurance Cost And Discounts

Like many providers, the cost of a Hagerty auto insurance policy will depend on your age, the type of vehicle you want to insure, your location, and the type of coverage you select. Fortunately, Hagerty promises rates that are on average 39 percent less than the amount a daily driver would pay for regular insurance.

The company’s minimum monthly premium starts at $100, but it varies by state. Hagerty offers zero deductibles for many vehicles, but other options vary by state and the type of vehicle you’re insuring. You can view your deductible options when you get an online quote.

It is important to note that auto insurance rates with Hagerty will often increase after you file a claim.

Hagerty Drivers Club

Hagerty does not have a lot of discounts, but those who sign up for the Hagerty Drivers Club are eligible for certain discounts on Hagerty auto insurance. The club is a community for car enthusiasts where members can enjoy special events and roadside assistance designed specifically for collector cars. You also get a subscription to Hagerty’s magazine.

Hagerty Insurance Reviews

Hagerty auto insurance has a range of mixed customer reviews online, which depend on the service location. And although the provider is not accredited with the BBB, it earned an A+ rating on the site.

On Trustpilot, Hagerty has a 4.1-star average rating from almost 4,000 reviews. Most customers compliment Hagerty’s customer service, while complaints include issues with communication during the claims process.

Positive Hagerty Insurance Reviews

“The one and only claim I ever made was shortly after I switched my insurance to Hagerty. There was no hassle/problems in getting my car repaired. The couple of times I needed a tow truck, my call was immediately handled.”

– James via Trustpilot

“Following the Nashville tornado I had to make a claim, and their adjuster was out in just a few days, cutting a check shortly afterwards. When the guy from the body shop [noticed] some extra damage, [Hagerty] immediately sent the second check.”

– Alan R. via Trustpilot

Negative Hagerty Insurance Reviews

Some Hagerty customers have complained about claims denials. On the BBB webpage, there are very few such complaints and Hagerty has a track record of addressing each one.

“Terrible communication skills and lack of urgency; my client’s vehicle has been in the shop for over two months and we cannot get our assigned claims representative or their manager on the phone nor a response to our emails.”

– Sara via Trustpilot

“I have had multiple classic cars insured by Hagerty. Everything has been amazing until recently they needed to pay out a claim and things changed very quickly.”

– Corey T. via BBB

Given the relatively low volume of such complaints against Hagerty, negative experiences with the insurer seem to be the exception rather than the rule.

Hagerty Technology And Mobile Apps

Hagerty has a secure portal on its website where customers can log in and view details about their account, pay bills, and manage their policy.

Hagerty also offers Hagerty Valuation Tools to help you determine the value of your classic car. You can view information about current values, similar vehicles that are currently on sale on eBay, model history information, and market trends. You can also subscribe to the printed Hagerty Price Guide, where each issue includes up-to-date prices for collector cars.

Lastly, the Hagerty app can help you track auction results and see classic cars for sale. The app has a 4.9 out of 5.0 rating on both the App Store and Google Play.

Hagerty Auto Insurance: Our Take

We rate Hagerty auto insurance 3.8 out of 5.0 stars. Haggerty offers affordable coverage options for collectors cars. In addition, as a specialty insurance agency, Hagerty has strict requirements regarding how you can use its car insurance policies.

The company is known for representatives’ knowledge of vintage cars and makes it a goal to provide lots of resources and helpful articles to guide you through owning, maintaining, and insuring a classic vehicle. Hagerty is also dedicated to giving back to the community in the form of educational programs for youth and classic car enthusiasts.

If you’re looking for a plan with more flexible usage options, you’ll find better options elsewhere. Similarly, drivers with a poor driving record or who do not need to insure specialty vehicles may want to look into other providers.

Because Hagerty is partnered with local agents around the country, the level of customer service you experience may vary.

Overall, we think Hagerty auto insurance is an excellent choice for those with classic cars. That being said, we always recommend getting multiple car insurance quotes to compare coverage and rates.

Recommended Providers

Shopping for car insurance does not have to be complicated or difficult. To ease your process, we researched the best car insurance companies around the nation. We checked things like customer service, coverage options, cost, availability, and more.

While you’re researching Hagerty auto insurance, check out two of our top providers, Geico and USAA to see if either is a good fit for your needs.

Geico: 4.5 Stars

Geico car insurance has been serving customers since 1936 and is a great option for students and the military. It has affordable options for traditional car insurance coverage and great customer service. For classic car insurance, Geico is partnered with American Modern Insurance Group and Assurant to provide coverage for classic vehicles. Overall, we gave Geico a 4.5-star rating.

For more information, read our Geico auto insurance review.

USAA: 4.5 Stars

USAA car insurance was built for military members and their families. The company offers similar standard coverages as Geico, with the additional options for accident forgiveness and total loss coverage. In terms of classic cars, you can get agreed-value coverage, flexible mileage plans, and automatic coverage for new vehicles in your collection through USAA partners.

For more information, read our USAA auto insurance review.

Get A Quote

Whenever you shop for car insurance, we recommend getting quotes from multiple providers so you can compare coverage and rates. In addition to the insurance company you choose, factors such as your age, vehicle make and model, and driving history can affect your premium, so what’s best for your neighbor might not be best for you.

Use our tool below to start comparing personalized car insurance quotes:

Hagerty Auto Insurance: FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about Hagerty auto insurance:

How We Rate Hagerty

Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

• Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
• Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
• Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
• Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
• Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
• Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.