Darts and Dartboards

One of the other passions I have outside of classic cars is a good game of darts. :) I'm currently working on a site that features darts, dartboards and other pub games. Checkout dartboard.org for more information!

200,000 Decode at Decode This!

Decode This!, the VIN number decoder site has posted that they've reached a milestone of over 200,000 VINs decoded! That's huge news seeing how it's one of the best VIN decoding sites on the web. Kudos to Decode This!

Banning Classic Cars? Um, no.

I just read over at classic car insurance tips how people are thinking about banning classic cars from our roads. While I can understand the fear that's driving people to think along these lines I also think it is a sign that we're delving into a level of paranoia that needs to be avoided. While our dependence on oil is undeniable I think there are many more important ways we can conserve rather than eliminating the minor threat that classic cars pose to the environment. What about taxing people who drive big SUVs?

America needs to wake up, but it also needs to focus on the priorities first.

Classic Car Insurance is Serious Business

Making a choice of a classic car insurance company for your antique car can be a hard thing to do. The car insurance world gives you conflicting information about policies and coverage. Classic insurance coverage can be had for a substantially lower rate over a traditional insurance policy, but you need to abide by its limitations. It pays to do your research to make sure you're getting the best value possible.

There are several critical points you need to consider before choosing an insurance company:

1. How many miles do I plan on driving each year?
2. What's my acceptable risk in the case of a claim?
3. Do I want to drive my classic car every day?
4. How difficult is it to find parts in the case of a repair?

Mileage is an critical factor for collector car insurance companies. They offer coverage for your classic car at a reduced rate because they require that your usage is limited. The average collector car insurance company allows for a cap of 2,500 miles per year driving for their insurance plans. The limited driving means a limited amount of exposure for the insurance company. Some companies, such as Sneed, offer unlimited driving privileges but impose other limitations, such as no driving to work or daily driving uses.

Antique Cars Are Risky To Cover

Standard car insurance coverage typically pays for repairs based on the industry standard prices established for your vehicle. This rate assumes the parts are readily available and can be purchased by standard processes. They are unable to guarantee that your 1968 Chevrolet Camaro will be repairable with orignal parts, as these are only available in limited quantities. To ensure your collector car is covered to the full extent of any damage is to purchase stated value insurance. Stated value insurance allows you to set a price to the value of your car, and in the case of a claim you can be sure that your vehicle is covered for damages up to that amount. This is ideal for rare vehicles or cars that are of special value.

The proper car insurance for your classic car is very important. Not only can you save money (up to 80% off a regular policy) but it will make sure your car maintains its value over the years.

Classic Car Horror Stories

Nothing is worse than a favorite car involved in a auto wreck. You first worry about your own safety, and that of anyone else involved in the accident. Next you become concerned about the damage done to your vehicle. Is it still drivable? How extensive is the damage? Finally you worry about your insurance: is it sufficient to get your car back on the road in pristine condition? For classic cars your coverage might not be sufficient.

Stated value insurance is the best way to make sure your coverage will protect you in an accident. This type of insurance allows you to state up front the value of your car and base your premium on this value instead of a value assigned by the insurance company. This allows cars with extensive restorations or high value to be covered accurately.

Visit Classic Car Insurance Reviews for more information.

The Importance of Antique Car Insurance

If you own a vintage car, you know you must have car insurance, but the insurance needs for your vintage car are not the same as for your every day car. For your vintage car, you will want specialty insurance. Just as your vintage car is different from your daily car, specialty car insurance differs from standard insurance in some critical ways.

Antique Car insurance is available for a wide variety of collectible cars, from antique autos to restored muscle cars to custom cars. While traditional insurance is required for every car on the road, custom cars aren't required to have to have classic car insurance, even though the car may not be fully covered under a standard policy.

Classic car insurance covers cars that may have gaps in regular car insurance, but not every car that is antique or modified will qualify for specialty insurance. Standard insurance is available for all cars, but cars must meet certain criteria to be covered by specialty insurance. Cars that are over 25 years old used to be considered antique, but that is not the case now. Just because your car is 30 years old doesn't mean that it will qualify for specialty insurance.

To qualify for classic car insurance a car must have certain notable characteristics. Some of the characteristics are unique body shapes, muscle cars, foreign sports cars, convertibles and big block V8 engines. To qualify as a “classic car” by law the vehicle must be at least 25 years old. Your local DMV can aid you determine your car’s eligibility.

Other vehicles that may qualify for classic car insurance coverage are older trucks, older fire trucks and other commercial vehicles and hot rod cars that have been fitted with hydraulic suspension systems. Collectible motorcycles like the Indian Chief and the older Harley Davidsons can also be insured with a specialty policy.

Once you have determined that your car qualifies for classic car insurance, there are some restrictions and differences from traditional insurance that you should know about. Traditional insurance is designed to protect cars that are daily drivers and are often put in situations where damage can occur. Classic car insurance often places restrictions on the use of the collectible cars like classic Corvettes to limit the chance that the car will be damaged.

Many classic car insurance policies prohibit daily use of the car. Antique car insurance policies also usually state that the cars must be garage kept at all times. These measures mitigate the risk that an expensive vintage car will be involved in an accident. These measures help keep premiums for specialty insurance 80% lower than typical insurance premiums.

Another change from traditional insurance and classic car insurance is the types of policies offered. In traditional insurance, vehicles that have been in an accident will either be repaired or will be deemed “totaled” and a check will be issued to the owner for the actual cash value. Antique car insurance policies can be purchased for “Agreed Value.” An agreed value policy ensures car owners that they will receive a prior agreed upon amount in the event of an accident. An agreed value policy does not depreciate a car's value in contrast to actual cash value policies and stated value policies.

WindowSticker.us offers dealers bulk discounts

If you create a lot of window stickers you may be interested in WindowSticker.us' Bulk Packages. They allow you to prepurchase 50 or 100 window stickers in advance at a substantial discount. Simply purchase a package and you'll have credits added to your account. Use those credits at any time to purchase window stickers through their unique designer system.

WindowSticker.us allows you to create a window sticker by entering in the VIN and some other basic information. Visit http://www.windowsticker.us/subscriptions.aspx for more information.

Camaro Information Site

A new site focusing on the Chevrolet Camaro has been launched: Camaro.info! It has articles and information on all generations of the Chevy Camaro with photos, classifieds, and more. Be sure to check out their Camaro classifieds section for the best leads on good used Camaros of all ages.

The Basics of Car and Motorcycle Insurance

Classic Car Insurance Reviews posted a neat article about the importance of car insurance. While it's very important for the average buyer it's doubly so for those with collector cars. Normal insurance typically doesn't cover the extensive repairs that may be needed for a classic Model-T for example in an accident. Specialty insurance companies such as Hagerty are specialists in this field.

Just as important as car insurance is adequate motorcycle insurance coverage for those about to enjoy the encroaching spring. Don't let a lapse in coverage ruin your summer!

Custom Window Stickers Sell Cars

Looking to sell your car? A custom window sticker can improve your odds of selling your car fast and for your asking price.

WindowSticker.us allows you to create a professional-looking window sticker for your car in minutes! Check out their site, you'll be glad you did!

Car Insurance Tips

Classic Car Insurance Reviews just posted a top ten list of shopping for car insurance. To me the process has always been fraught with stress and ignorance. These tips go a long way to help people understand the importance of preparation and research.

You can read an abbreviated version at the classic car insurance blog over at Bean Rocket.

Ford Thunderbird Site

I've long been a fan of the Ford Thunderbird, especially the first generation called the Classic Bird (1955 through 1957). To me the epitomize the concept of a luxury sports coupe. Recently I've felt the urge to launch a site that focuses on the iconic T-bird called Ford Thunderbirds (http://www.thunderbirds.biz).

I've written articles on every generation of the Thunderbird, from its earliest inception to the latest "Retro Bird" that ceased production in 2005. I've included the history of each model as well as classified ads to help the Thunderbird enthusiast find the car of their dreams. Stop by and take a look at what information is provided and feel free to submit your comments and questions. I see the site as a living thing, and I look forward to growing it in the community!

Welcome to Classic Car Review

Hi there, my name is Richard Brown and I'm a car nut. My biggest problem is that I can't turn a screwdriver without hurting myself, so I have to serve my automotive muse by developing and running web sites. I plan on using this site as a platform to announce the other sites in my motor empire.

I run several classic car related sites, such as my VIN decoding site that can decode most cars from 1960 through modern day. I also run a site on classic car insurance reviews that takes a look at the insurance companies that specialize on supporting the collector car market.

Watch here as I post the news on the classic car collector scene.