How to insure a Ford Model A - Do you need classic car insurance? 

Paul, Not looking for you to make any videos clarifying things but I just wanted to share with you what I know from being a licensed auto damage appraiser in Massachusetts. Which in this state, an appraiser is not to be confused with an Adjuster of any sort as an appraiser requires you take a class, pass a test, apprentice, then pass 2 more tests one multiple choice and one appraising an actual damaged vehicle which is then graded by a state certified board. -- Anyways, I can’t stress enough your comments about things being different state by state. That is very important and very specific for anyone insuring any car especially a classic. However, although Agreed Value is pretty self explanatory, Stated value and actual cash value tend to be very vague to the consumer. I specialized in these areas for a few years working for a major insurance company and I don’t want to say it’s a gimmick but many consumers are mislead to think that stated value is basically agreed value when in reality it’s more like ACV. The consumer “States” that they want their xyz vehicle insured for $20000 and is charged $xxx a month for it and when something catastrophic happens to the vehicle they expect $20,000 compensation period end of story from the consumer perspective. But here’s the tricky part and by tricky I mean this varies by what the state laws dictate as well as the insurance company and who in the company the company assigns to handle the settlement. And to complicate matters more, most state regulations default to the regulations that govern ACV determination even if it’s a stated value policy. - That being said I settled thousands of ACV daily driver policies and at least a couple hundred collector/exotic car stated value policies. The company I worked for filtered ACV to a team dedicated to those, and stated value policies to a small group of appraisers which then passed them to me because nobody else wanted to deal with them. I had to both approve requests for stated value policies as well as determine fair settlement on stated value total losses. Here is how it should be done…..but it’s not always done this way because you have the human factor of someone handling the case that may not be passionate about their job or may be so overloaded with work that they rush things or may be having a bad day. This is also what makes stated value and ACV more risky. But, back to how it SHOULD be done…… First, look at all the info we had on the car prior to the loss and if it wasn’t comprehensive enough, call the owner for more info. I would always usually call right away just so I could get a feel for the owner him/herself on a neutral ground where I was just gathering info and not questioning what they felt the car was worth. Second, pull a book value on the car from at least 2 If not 3 well established sources, graded based on the vehicles pre-loss condition, and average them. Third, search high and low for comparable vehicles (year make model condition) as close as one can possibly find to the subject vehicle and as close to the geographic location of the subject vehicle. (A rust free 1929 model A is going to sell for way more in Massachusetts than it will in Texas). If nothing close in geography can be found then one should analyze the price difference and make an honest adjustment up or down to the price of the comparable vehicles found. Fourth, take an average of the comparable vehicle values, taking into consideration any differences between those and the subject vehicle and throwing out the outliers. By outliers I mean those that are significantly under or overvalued for one reason or another such as when 2 super rich people get into a bidding war on Barrett Jackson and a $20,000 car sells for $100,000. Fifth. average the mean book value with the mean comparable vehicle value. Sixth, adjust that tabulated value based on a comprehensive perspective of what the subject vehicle is and what the book values and comparable vehicle values represent and come up with a fair settlement offer So, for Stated value that’s how it should be done. But it’s a very cumbersome process that takes time and knowledge and some passion for the job to do it right. I can come up with an acceptable settlement for a totaled 2018 Rav 4 in approx 30-45 mins but it would take me one or 2 business days to do the same for one of your model As even if it was just a rolling frame or chassis. And therein lies risk of having a stated value or ACV policy. As a consumer you are gambling on the fact that someone at some company is going to do exactly what I outlined and in the real world that rarely happens. Many states do not require as strict of a process as Mass does to get an appraiser license. In many states you take a short one or 2 day class and you get a certificate to be an adjuster and the state laws deem that sufficient to settle a collector vehicle total loss. So in summary, many of us average income folk base our decisions on financial cost. Your video on the insurance was really unique and informative to your audience because you never see anyone addressing that topic yet it’s something that many collector car owners are either naive about or struggle with when it comes to making a decision. It’s not easy and the insurance companies don’t make it any easier. I really appreciated the video and I just wanted to add some clarity as to how the gears turn on the insurance company side because I’ve been on both sides myself and Im an avid antique/collector car, budget oriented, specifically Ford, enthusiast. I really like what you do on your channel and hope you keep on keeping on with it. If you have any questions or want any clarification on anything I said please feel free to email me back or if not then just toss the info into your knowledge bank and move on. Thank you again, Sincerely, Chad Zagrocki.

I'm surprised that there hasn't been an insurance company that covers a daily driver for old & antique cars & trucks. There needs to be one or two companies that do this. Besides winter months, that car behind you is drivable everyday and should be to keep all in good working order. I'd love to have & drive one if things were set up to do so. Not only Model As but all of them. I also believe that car makers should service & keep on hand parts for all they've made since the founding of that company. That's a win for everybody. Granted, stock Model As aren't for the super slabs but can do 2 lanes all the time efficiently as you know. Great informative video & hope that the insurance biz will step up and too, the auto industry in keeping these & others alive & well.

When I lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin I drove a 1959 Austin Healey 100-6 and a 1959 Austin Mini. Both Wisconsin titles ONLY said 1959 Healey. So I purchased an insurance policy for a 1959 Healey. ... When buying plates in Wisconsin you get two plates. So I put one plate on the back of each car with both cars covered with one policy with State Farm. Stupid I know but I figured this met the letter of the law. And if I wrecked either car, I could walk away from either car and if necessary sell it for scrap or parts. No big deal. This evolved into our shop, Fourintune Garages Incorporated, Cedarburg, Wisconsin.

I detest insurance; it is a necessary evil in my opinion. I drive like I have no insurance, and insure like the other guy has none. Tis better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it! 'Nuff said. Good info Paul. As a side note folks, insurance policies are a legal issue and you don't want to run a foul of the laws in your state.

I can’t remember the same of the insurer, but my wife and I had a policy on our 1930 Tudor for about 10 years when it was our only car and daily driver in the 1990s. The policy allowed any use and cost less than $100/year.

Thanks Paul....Always fun and use full information. As an odd side note regarding insurance...a guy I know had a 1968 {?}Ford Shelby Mustang...and his insurance said, "When the car is being driven it can NOT be parked or even shut-off". Yip, odd...

I just changed my insurance and went with Hagerty. A very important thing to remember is that many companies do not insure your 'restoration in process' cars. We have many cars, some are restored, a few are in process, but nevertheless are still rare and valuable. I don't many that could afford a devastating loss by theft, fire or natural disaster, I certainly could not. Look at your investment in parts, project cars and you may discover as I did that I was grossly under insured. There is coverage available for this, so long as everything is in the proper storage.

Thank you so much for this video. I have a 1936 model 68 four-door touring sedan that is all original and in nearly mint condition. It has been garaged all of its life. It was my grandpa’s car that I inherited a couple years ago. I wish RU-vid would allow pictures in the comments so I can send you one. This video gave me a lot more insight about insurance for my car. I love the model a and hope someday to have one also.

Used to be able to pick up a classic country station out of Calgary, AB at night. It was 1060 on the AM dial.

We here in Ontario Canada have similar insurance by various company’s and the part that wizzes me off is the age limit. Trying to get younger people, Pre 25, interested in the hobby is hard if they cannot get insurance. Don’t tell anybody 😊, but my granddaughter could drive my Model T when she was 14 but was uninsurable until the age of 25. Went with another company now she can drive my car as long as she has a licensed driver. P.S. She is 22 now. Sorry if I am venting.

Thanks for the video, Paul. We have a vintage restored airstream... 1964 Globetrotter... and after watching your video we contacted Hagerty to properly insure it. Great experience and now we have peace of mind that we're properly covered. Thanks, Paul!

Great video Paul! Answered all my questions about getting my 31 Fordor insured before making the calls. Thx!

Thanks for the videos! As a non owner of a Model A, but love them, starting to truly enjoy your videos. Enjoy the information and (sometimes) humor. Keep up the great work.

I'm glad you went through the condition portion of the antique policy. Most people just see the declaration page with the values and charges. The condition section is important and is different on antique insurers and each state. You video was very informative.

The timeliness of this video is amazing. I'll be putting a 1941 Ford pickup on the road at some point this year (hopefully), and the house commander and I were just talking about this issue.

This is very good information Paul. I couldn't tell you how many people don't properly insure their collector vehicles to ultimately get burned by a bad policy.

This is a good informative video about classic car insurance for those classic cars that are used only once and while for special occasions and pleasure driving. It sure helps reduce the cost of insurance for a classic car. This video also shows that when a classic car is used as a daily driver the daily driver insurance policy will cost a lot more money.

This was a timely video for me. I just adopted my first Model A and got it insured today, so I knew all the questions to ask. Thanks again for another great informative video. Cheers!

Spiffy just to note when I bought the A I inquired with at the time my insurance company what it would cost to insure it (Model A Ford coupe) the price was more than $120 a month 😥 so looked at Hegarty, a much better deal knowing the classic car owners and the use of the car. As far as oldies stations the rock n roll I grew up with are oldies now, remember when Peter Frampton had hair and the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show 😮. Waylon Jennings was clean cut too. Thanks for the video friends, stay dry. There seems to be a little sadness after viewing your videos knowing it will be another week before you shine on the iPad again 😢. Have a good week.

Thanks for that great explanation! I have often wondered how that works.

Great information, Paul. You answered a few questions and gave me some ideas of questions to ask for when I eventually go to register and insure my Dad’s International pickup in the spring.

Classic car insurance in the US sounds a lot stricter than here in the UK. We have two basic types of cover here, 'TPF&T' (Third Party, Fire and Theft) which pays for the other persons car or property and if it gets on fire or stolen. And best is 'Fully Comprehensive' which covers your car and what you collided with and the passengers. My 31 Model A Fordor is 'Fully Comp' insurance, limited to 1,000 annual miles, which cost me for the year £128 British Pounds, which is about $142.00. They accept my own valuation, and I can choose the annual mileage. The lower the mileage the less you pay. You also get a discount for paying an excess, and having it garaged. Only restriction is no competion use, but no restrictions on how or where you drive it.

Hey Paul, Here's an oldies station I listened to for years when I lived in that broadcast area: WRBK 90.3 fm in Richburg, SC. Now online. It's very much small-town radio with funeral home sponsored obits at noon and local Friday night HS football

Very good information. I have my Model T insured through AAA collector policy. Pleasure use only (car shows, parades, club meetups, cars and coffee, etc.) and there is an annual limit on the number of miles driven.

Simply put. Traffic Exposure, Storage Factors, Appraised / Agreed Value, Third Party Liability, Mechanical Fitness.

Hey I'm watching you on Road Worthy Rescue! You are the Model A Guy!!..Good to see You! ☮️🙏

Well done and really informative. I'm amazed how many people don't know about classic car insurance!

As someone who has been in a serious accident(NOT my fault), having good uninsured/underinsured coverage is a must! Luckily, I was driving a company owned vehicle. It took 3 years to settle and involved FIVE attorneys before it was over...

I don't really need vintage car insurance, but I was saving this video for when I needed to work on some projects, your videos always help me fight procrastination for some reason. I'm halfway done installing some lights on the she shed, I'm watching the Chevrolet video next in hopes of finishing this project 😂

Thank you for the information. I have Haggerty & plan on investigating what all my coverage's are now.

Interesting video since I am a bit curious about how insurance works in other countries. For me, insuring my 1958 Volvo as a daily driver was very easy. Full coverage insurance (which usually is only recommended on brand new vehicles) cost me about $200 a year. That is including road tax. Had some minor issues like the VIN is very different (and shorter) than modern ones. I had to wait a day for the company to figure out how to fill in the information into their system. Other people with classic car policies scoff at me, telling me they only pay about $50 a year for the same. However, the big difference is that it can't be used as a daily driver. I can live with the amount I pay, as it is still considerably cheaper than what a modern car would cost to insure.

Geez, and I thought our insurances were harsh. That being said - since I am under 25, I found only one insurance company that was willing to insure my Model A. I'm limited to 6000km per year (that being said, they don't know the odometer reads in miles) and I had to insure another car as daily driver, but funnily enough, that car doesn't even have to be registered or anything. So, while my Model A officially isn't a daily driver, the insurance company is completely fine with me driving it to work every day. That being said, the car herself deciced she didn't want to be a daily driver and ate the engine up, but that's a different story ;P

I plan on driving mine as much as possible. What insurance company will cover that? I have Hagerty on my 57 Chevy and 60 Pontiac, but they rarely get driven.

Yep, especially on such vintage vehicles, work with your agent to build a policy that fits what you do. For my 31, it is insured through Hagerty as weekender use. Since I drive truck for a living and am gone all the time, I'm only able to take it out on weekends, so my policy is set that I'm free to use it for not just light pleasure, but even road trips, travel or whatever else, as long as it is limited to essentially weekend use. So for me, going to go visit family a state away, no problem for me. But going for a long distance drive down to Florida or something greater, that's something else entirely and required approval ahead of time, heh Again though, this is how I was able to set my policy based upon my lifestyle, everyone is different so sue diligence.

Wow, that is some really important information you gave us here Paul. Thanks for sharing, someday, hopefully, I could use this, in the future. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

I think over the years things have improved with antique car insurance. At one time they were very restrictive as to what you could do. I forget who it was but there was only a single company writing policies then. Obviously you can’t use an antique as a substitute for regular transport but I think now they are more forgiving. That said you don’t know how good it is until you have a claim. Thankfully I haven’t, knock on wood.

Paul&Tina. I have a simple solution. My wife doesn’t agree. But here goes. I currently have 1 Model A. But I told her let’s buy another one for backup! Lol. Guess if she reads this I might be asking how comfortable is a coupe for sleeping video.

if you would like period music in your Model A, try streaming Radio Dismuke. It's mostly dance band music from the mid-to-late 1920s in the early 1930s.

Paul I like the radio station, my first car was a Ford Falcon , the radio in it had Vacuum tubes in it, i miss the warm fuzzy sound Of vacuum tubes, that was in 1984

Very usefull.always wondered how that was done

I had mine through State Farm for an agreed value. Somehow, sometime they changed it and I didn't know it until I called and asked a question on my other car. They told me they didn't have agreed value anymore. Switched to Hagarty. Hopefully I will never find out how good they are.

This was very interesting, something most of us don't even think about when looking to get an antique like this. I was hoping you were going to go into the comprehensive part of insurance as well, which is most times separate add on for even full coverage. I have an antique motorcycle, but I only keep liability on it.

I think Hagerty has a daily driver insurance policy for a classic and price isn't to bad. Could be wrong though

I have a 1934 frazer/nash with Haggerty in Ontario Canada. As you say not a daily driver use. I also had a 28 Tudor with them . They do not count my harley has a daily driver.

$40.000.00 probably would not cover the cost of a restoration of that level. Costs continue to rise all the time making that increasingly a better bargain. Been burnt before on spray can restos, everything needs to be redone, but congratulations on a well restored tudor.

Great information Paul! This will be very helpful when I get my restoration done!

I have Hagerty in the UK. I have a 1937 Plymouth. I am limited to 1000 miles per year

Thanks that was very useful currently with Foremost with more restrictions than

Great information Paul. Looks like I got it right. (Purely by accident) I did learn a few key points that may help in the future. Thank you

WOW Thanks for this info. I need to check with my insurance co and make sure they understand my 71 truck Is my daily driver.

As I was watching your video something struck me. I have classic car insurance on my restored 1960 Chevy Apache pickup through State Farm. It covers up to $8,000 replacement cost, but that policy has been in place for 23 years now when classic pickups were not worth as much. It's worth WAY more now. I need to call my insurance agent!!

Thanks for the timely information Paul, I can’t imagine what Jay Leno pays for coverage of his mammoth collection.

For added context, when Hagerty went public in 2021 there was some worry expressed that service would go downhill. I don't think I've seen any sign of that, and moreover, the original shareholders still have majority control.

Paul this is by far one of the most interesting videos you have made. Great information. We use Hagerty insurance for our antique and classics. On another note you mentioned an oldies radio station. Could you tell me the name again? Keep up the great work.

Well Paul great video, very informative! But three daily drivers and six collector cars?!?! You do have too many cars! Although if I was going to have too many , I would be glad they’re all Model A’s!!

Thanks Paul for video. One thing Haggerty has also cherished value. You can add to your policy. check it out. Steve

Thanks for the radio station info!

Good video on insurance for any antique car. We have Hagerty insurance for our two 1931 model A's. Not show car's but daily drivers. How did you get a $40,000 agreed value for a 1931 Tudor? I have yet to see a Ford Model A Tudor exceed the value of a 400A or other rare Model A in any classified ad..

Thanks Paul for the Link, the tap "Radio Player Test" reminds me of WLS AM Chicago when I was growing up. P.S. I was hoping to find a guy named Paul spinning records

Hi Paul, good content about insurance, btw 5001 Rocks !

I had my insurance man offer classic car insurance for my old baja bug...great price .then came back and said they kicked it back because it wasn't garaged. The same insurance man insures everything I own...he knew I didn't have a garage to begin with.

Great information and thanks for the tip on my kind of music.

It’s always for fun when you drive a Model A

Thanks!

180000audio files! That’s my kind of music. thanks for sharing Is that your voice?

Sage advice...!

Paul try list to WREN internet radio and on phone there music is 50s 60s and up to 1974

Insurance companies want your money every month but wait for the day when you have to file a claim!

I don't understand, why near the beginning of the video you say you have to pay over $300/month for your daily driver... I doubt it's due to a bad traffic record. I daily drive one of two Model A's, one is fully covered for 'agreed' value of $12,000... 'low milage' meaning under 5,000 miles/year ~ that adds about about $60/month to my policy, and the other is just liability which adds about $20/month to my policy. This is through a reputable company. How do you possibly pay $300/month? Perhaps it's location.

Thanks for another video with great info about Model As. Have a question about the Tudor sedan in the video. What is the color of the wheels? The wheels on my new-to-me Fordor look about the same and I’d like to freshen them up.

I don't think most people understand all of this, in my military vehicle collector club some of the members drive there vehicles more then they should

Ohh and it's free. They ask you to pay but tap the x on the upper right

Good info

Cheers & God bless.

You gotta find radio stations that broadcast from college campuses & that are listener supported. They can play whatever they want. They don't have commercial money telling them what to play & they don't have commericals.

Off current topic, but after a day or so from a past video, I had been thinking about one of your comments... you had mentioned that after a car is restored, it is not as Tight as when it was originally built. & that got me thinking... I was in manufacturing for 30 years, & thinking about car build, there is a process. If that process is changed, the outcome could be altered. When a car starts down the line, it is hardly a car, but through the line, it becomes one. When fixing something, that line process is changed, & I was thinking, could that change how the overall car feels in the end? What if, a car was restored in the same order that it was originally build... could it, would it be as tight as it was when originally made? What do you think?

Growing up, I remember insurance being a dirty word. It was cursed. When it was time to pay insurance, we wouldn't do anything but the minimum. We'd mention something and be told we couldn't due to having to pay insurance. Then lightening hit the house and caused like $15k in damage. I learned it is miserable to deal with until you need it. That said, I have to pay my insurance today.

Great information. Thanks for posting.

Yeah,and I read that car insurance is going up again over eight percent this year. Insurance companies and lawyers are just as bad as the government. Those three alone will put you in the poor house.

An off topic question from the video, the amber lenses in the taillights are they turn signal also

Helpful. Thanks. For music of the Model A Era, search for Radio Dismuke. I listen to it in my shop. Free online.

Cool video!

Smarty phone or computer machine." -P. Shinn 2023

Is that a insurance is it expensive monthly

What is considered a Classic?

In 1934 rord did not make a model A do your home work

You can get unrestricted comprehensive/liability for cars that aren't represented by Kelly blue book values for much less than $300/month. Of course the devil is in the details. Different values = different cost. The 4dr 230ci 64 Biscayne I've driven since 1970 is still in excellent condition with freeway readability via Clifford intake/headers, front disks, and it's R10 overdrive. There was no point insuring it with a company that only pays value by Kelly Blue book but I didn't equip and maintain this car for 53 years to drive in parades now. It's always been a daily driver/backup car since 1980. Safeco wrote a policy with agreed value, not conventional ACV in NM. Higher values would have required an appraisal but weren't needed for this car. I don't work for or represent them and they aren't the only company that will do that. Just saying, there's more options than lying about your drive after a wreck with "Classic Insurance", basic liability coverage or not getting any real utility from your old car. Do some research and see what you find.

All antique policy insurance companies are great. Until you have a loss.

350 a month extra wow

Its says that smrn5001 is offline

Smrn5001 WHOA Site is blocked by Apple due to a Trojan infection. iPad with latest updates locked and would not allow connection. Paul, I suspect that you are paying a steep penalty due to your residency - California. I’ll post later giving details of my Maryland coverage. I hope that folks are not swayed from the A due to what may appear an insurance quagmire full of technicalities and “got ya” catches in the coverage.