Auto Insurance Tips

Get Ready to Cruise
We love classic cars as much as you do. If the love of your life is a 1957 Bel Air or a 1966 Pontiac GTO, we know your vintage beauty deserves special treatment. You’ve taken care of your car well. We will too. We specialize in covering antique and classic cars, modified collector cars, reproductions, replicas, restorations and modern classic cars. Have peace of mind knowing your classic is well protected and that you’re prepared for the unexpected with Safeco classic car insurance.

Classic Car Insurance Coverage Options
Custom build a classic car insurance policy by choosing coverage options that are right for you and your vintage beauty.

Learn more about insurance for classic car coverage.

Classic Car Claims
Take your classic car out for a drive knowing you’re well protected. We’ll be there if you need us with 24/7 claims service.

Learn how to file an auto claim.

Classic Car Discounts
It costs less than you may think to insure your classic car. At less than a dollar a day, classic car insurance is surprisingly affordable. Discounts are also available if you have an anti-theft device or when you successfully complete an accident prevention course.

Learn how to save with classic car discounts.

Do More.®
Bring your collectible to a classic car show and stroll around to admire other vintage models. Enjoy the ride while Safeco worries about the unexpected.

Find out more.

Classic Car Insurance FAQ
Find answers to frequently asked questions about Safeco classic car insurance.

Read frequently asked questions about insurance for antique and classic cars.

Why Choose Safeco Classic Car Insurance
Discover all the reasons why Safeco Insurance is the right choice for you and your classic car. We make classic car insurance easy so you can enjoy the ride.

Learn why you should choose Safeco classic car insurance.

Why is today the best time ever to shop your insurance? The traditonal ways that insurnace companies used to rate your insurance has always been age\accidents\violations, etc.. The new factor that has been inserted into these rates is credit. Insurance companies found a strong correlation between good bill payers and good drivers. Therefore, rewarding these good bill payers with much better rates and penalizing the drivers that are not good bill payers. Some companies like Progressive Insurance really buy into this correlation and rates for the good bill payers can be much lower than the reast of the insurance industry. Some companies like Erie Insurance buy into this new rating system but not quite as much as the other companies. Erie has traditionally had one of the lowest rates from any company in PA. If you have average credit or not so hot credit companies like Erie would be a good bet for the lowest price.

Now is the best time ever to shop your insurance. Fill out a quote request form and let us find out which company is going to look at your credit in the way that provides you with the lowest rates. It will only take you a few minutes to fill out the form and we promise you that you will either save big bucks or you get the peace of mind knowing that you are with the right company and you are not being over charged.

Most teaching falls upon parental shoulders, whether it applies to general knowledge, life skills, or important privileges in life such as driving. There are at least 5 important things every parent should teach their teen drivers about auto insurance and their responsibilities as a driver.

Some are practical tips, others are knowledge the parents gained in their own school of hard knocks. All are a good starting point for any discussion parents must have when their teenager first begins asking about taking driver’s education classes to obtain an early driver’s license.

Here are 5 of the top things parents need to communicate to their teenage driver before they get out on the road with others:

1. Accidents and tickets will cost them more than the immediate expense; there are long term effects that linger after any accident or injury they cause. If they are involved in any type of accident, no matter how minor, or if they incur points on their driving record from tickets, it will cost them for many years in higher rates for insurance. If they cause property damage, they are responsible for working hard to make restitution for those damages. If they cause injury or death to another, even in a true accident rather than from negligence or stupidity, there will be long lasting mental effects. They need to understand that a vehicle can become a lethal weapon in a fraction of a second, and if they harm others while driving, they will never forget it. They must understand their very serious responsibility to drive with care and not harm others.
2. 3 out of 4 vehicle deaths are due to lack of use of seatbelts and drinking. Teenage drivers, with their lack of driving experience and life experience, are prone to have accidents; this is why they automatically have higher insurance costs from day one. Seatbelts should always be worn by all occupants in a vehicle, latched prior to starting the car engine. Drinking and driving should never be mixed; teen drivers are underage for drinking in most states.
3. They are responsible for their driving expenses, including insurance and any deductibles, whether on your policy or theirs. Get a low deductible they can afford.
4. Good grades keep premiums down and so do safe driving classes or driver’s education training. Teens must spend more time studying and less time driving around if they want to keep grades up and premiums down.
5. Low rates are more important than the ride; car types affect insurance rates. Discuss the benefits of driving a “beginner’s” car rather than a sporty model with regard to insurance rates and driving habits. There is a learning period for driving; teen drivers would do well to get a reliable older car and learn to drive responsibly first.

The price you pay for your auto insurance can vary by hundreds of dollars, depending what type of car you have and the insurance company you buy your policy from. Here are some handy tips to help you spend less money and still get the coverage you need.

Shop around
Prices vary from company to company, so it pays to shop around. Get at least three price quotes. You can call companies directly or access information on the Internet. Your state insurance department may also provide comparisons of prices charged by major insurers.

Get quotes from different types of insurance companies. Some sell through their own agents. These agencies have the same name as the insurance company. Some sell through independent agents who offer policies from several insurance companies. Other companies sell directly to consumers over the phone or via the Internet.

But don’t shop by price alone. You want a company that answers your questions and handles claims fairly and efficiently. Ask friends and relatives for their recommendations. Contact your state insurance department to find out whether they make available consumer complaint ratios by company.

You can also check the financial health of insurance companies through independent rating companies and by consulting consumer magazines.

Select an agent or company representative who takes the time to answer your questions. Remember, you’ll be dealing with this company if you have an accident or other emergency.

Before you buy a car, compare insurance costs
Before you buy a new or used car, check into insurance costs. Your premium is based in part on the car’s sticker price, the cost to repair it, its overall safety record, and the likelihood of theft. Many insurers offer discounts for features that reduce the risk of injuries or theft. These include air bags, anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights and anti-theft devices. Some states require insurers to give discounts for cars equipped with air bags or anti-lock brakes.

Cars that are favorite targets for thieves cost more to insure. Information that can help you decide what car to buy is available from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Ask for higher deductibles
Deductibles represent the amount of money you pay before your insurance policy kicks in. By requesting higher deductibles, you can lower your costs substantially. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive coverage cost by 15 percent to 30 percent. Going to a $1,000 deductible can save you 40 percent or more.

Reduce coverage on older cars
Consider dropping collision and/or comprehensive coverages on older cars. It may not be cost-effective to continue insuring cars worth less than 10 times the amount you would pay for coverage. Any claim payment you receive would not substantially exceed your premiums minus the deductible. Claims occur on average only once every 11 or 12 years. Auto dealers and banks can tell you the worth of a car, or you can look it up online at Kelley Blue Book. Review your coverage at renewal time to make sure your insurance needs haven’t changed.

Buy your homeowners and auto coverage from the same insurer
Many insurers will give you a discount if you buy two or more types of insurance from them. Also you may get a reduction if you have more than one vehicle insured with the same company. Some insurers reduce premiums for long-time customers. But shop around; you may save money buying from different insurance companies despite the multi-policy discount.

Take advantage of low-mileage discounts
Some companies offer discounts to motorists who drive a lower than average number of miles per year. Low mileage discounts can also apply to drivers who carpool to work.

Ask about group insurance
Some companies offer reductions to drivers who get insurance through a group plan from their employers, or through professional, business and alumni groups and other associations. Ask your employer or any groups or clubs to which you belong.

Maintain good credit
Your credit rating may affect what you pay for insurance, so keep a close eye on it. Credit makes insurance rates more accurate, fair and objective. While the use of insurance scoring varies from state to state and company to company, it is a fact that drivers with long, stable credit records have fewer accidents than drivers who don’t. There are various Internet services that allow you to check your credit rating and provide tips on how to improve your score.

Seek out safe driver discounts
Companies offer discounts to policyholders who have not had any accidents or moving violations for a number of years. You may also qualify for a cut if you have recently taken a defensive driving course.

Inquire about other discounts
You may get a break on your insurance if you are over 50 or in some cases 55 and retired or if there is a young driver on the policy who is a good student, has taken a drivers education course or is at a college, generally at least 100 miles away.

When you comparison shop, inquire about discounts* for:

• $500 deductible
• $1,000 deductible
• More than 1 car
• No accidents in 3 years
• No moving violations in 3 years
• Drivers over 50-55 years of age
• Driver training course
• Defensive driving course
• Anti-theft device
• Low annual mileage
• Air bag
• Anti-lock brakes
• Daytime running lights
• Student drivers with good grades
• Auto and homeowners coverage with the same company
• College students away from home
• Long-time customer
• Other discounts