1959 Ford Fairlane 500 - Good Antique Car Insurance?

I currently drive a 1959 Ford Fairlane 500, it's under an Antique License Plate in Texas and I often drive it to the local parades and shows, and sometimes to the high school during major events. She runs and drives beautifully, I've put money into it to make sure that it's daily-driver-quality.

I bought it pretty recently, though most local insurance companies can't cover it as they have no way to place a value on the vehicle due to its age. What's a good company for insuring antique cars?

I don't need full coverage, just liability.

Have you asked USAA? They've recently expanded their marketing to include people outside the military.

GEICO.

If you only want liability, insurance should not be difficult to get. Some companies may want to look at the car first but any company should be willing to insure the car. It would be more difficult if you wanted collision and/or comprehensive coverage on the '59

Buying liability should be no problem with (any) insurance company, since they (won't) be paying for any damages to the 1959, but only if the 1959 hits another vehicle or property. Nor, do you need to know the value of it, since once again, they DON'T pay for the damages to your car.

But it looks like you would qualify for antigue or specialty car insurance, since you don't drive it regularly, but to shows/parades etc and will have it parked. Then they can determine the value of the 1959 and quote you a price, since if in an accident, vandalism or gets stolen, then they pay you the (true) value of this classic.

Specified value insurance- available from about 1/2 insurance companies that write general insurance as well as automotive. Give a value for vehicle- $10,000.00 perhaps or what you may have paid for it- and be prepared to pay reasonable to redicoulous premium. Some specialized antique and collectors insurance companies exist- one in Illinois had a insured vehicle damaged- other cars insurance company said was worth double scrap and paid that. Speciality company paid up difference to declared value, then had other driver arrested for not having insurance under financial responsibility laws, had drivers license revoked, demand in court for cash bond to full value as interested civil party-- then went to civil court with subrogation of claim and states insurance commissioner to revoke other insurance company license and collect from state required bond. That insurance company insured some custom motorcycle, classic cars and hot rods-- cost a bit.

Way back I know American family insurance did. But on a separate policy. For value of vehicle. Or item. Your liability would be the same insurance. You would need get the item or vehicle appraised. Insure for value. Also loyds of London. Will insure it. For value. Or 80% of value. Often is as high as they will go at a reasonable rate.

Nope, it's not the value / age thing that insurance companies have a problem with. It's the usage.

The value is the easiest thing in the world for any insurance company: Get a professional appraisal done, and there's your value. That's how all the collector cars are insured to value, with all the insurance companies. And on the collector policies (antique, vintage, etc.), getting 'full' coverage usually costs about $20 per year more than just liability. If you can find an appraiser in your area, you can have a solid value that same day.

Your problem isn't the vehicle, it's the usage. Insurance companies will only offer collectors' packages (a few hundred a year for full coverage) for vehicles that fit a list of qualifications, and they're very strict with the list. It can't be your only vehicle, it has to be in storage around 99% of the time, updated appraisals have to be done every few years, and (most importantly) there can't be any drivers under the age of 25 in the house. There's more to the list, but those are the big items.

If your vehicle doesn't qualify for the entire list, it's not a collector's vehicle. It's just old.