Last Updated on October 28, 2025 by admin
The first time I saw a client’s heartbreak over a classic car claim was back in 2017, right here in Overland Park. A gentleman from the Deer Creek neighborhood had his pristine ’67 Mustang parked under his carport when one of those sudden, violent Kansas hailstorms rolled through. You know the kind—the sky turns that weird greenishgray, and the air just smells like wet concrete and ozone. The damage was thousands of dollars, and his standard auto policy treated it like any other used car. That’s when it really clicked for me, sitting across from him at my desk, why this specific coverage isn’t just a line item; it’s a safeguard for a piece of someone’s history.
What Classic Car Insurance Actually Is (And What It Isn’t)
Look, a lot of folks in Overland Park think they can just roll their vintage TBird or Corvette onto their standard Geico or State Farm policy and call it a day. I get it. It seems easier. But that’s a quick way to get yourself seriously underinsured when something goes wrong. Standard insurance is built for depreciation—your car loses value every year. A classic car, if it’s properly maintained and restored, can appreciate. Classic car insurance, or agreedvalue coverage, is fundamentally different. You and the insurance company agree on the car’s value upfront, and that’s exactly what you’re paid if it’s totaled. No haggling. No arguing over whether a scratch devalues it. You know what you’ve got.
Honestly, the biggest misconception I have to clear up is the “garagequeen” stereotype. You know what’s funny? Not every classic car in Overland Park is a trailer queen that only sees daylight for the Overland Park Sonic Cruise Night. Many of my clients drive their cars on weekends, to get ice cream down on 135th, or to show their grandkids what a real V8 sounds like. A good policy understands and accommodates that limited, pleasureuse driving.
The Overland Park Nuances for Your Vintage Vehicle
We’ve got a unique set of challenges here. It’s not just the hail, though that’s a big one. Our seasons are a mixed bag. The humid summers can be brutal on old rubber seals and hoses, and the winter road salt they use on Metcalf or 69 Highway is the absolute enemy of a pristine undercarriage. I always tell my clients, if you’re driving your classic in January, you’d better be ready for a very thorough underside cleaning afterward. It’s a pain, I know.
And storage matters. A lot of homes in older, beautiful neighborhoods like Corinth or Tomahawk Hills have spacious garages, but they’re often packed with… life. Bikes, lawnmowers, holiday decorations. You need a dedicated, secure space for your classic. I’ve seen claims where a kid’s bike fell against a fender and caused a nasty dent. It stings. So that’s a nonnegotiable for most carriers—secure, private garage storage. They’ll often ask for photos.
The Local Regulatory Quirk You Should Know
Here’s an insider tip that’s pure Overland Park. The city is pretty strict about inoperable vehicles, even in your own driveway. If you’re in the middle of a longterm restoration project and that ’55 Chevy is on blocks in your driveway for a few months, you could get a notice from Code Compliance. A proper classic car policy can sometimes be contingent on the vehicle being in a roadworthy, or nearly roadworthy, state. It’s one of those things you don’t think about until you get the letter. Just something to keep in mind if you’re planning a frameoff restoration in your garage.
Putting Together the Right Policy for You
So, what does a solid classic car policy in Overland Park look like? Let me break it down, not in insurancespeak, but in plain English.
- Agreed Value: This is the cornerstone. We sit down, look at receipts, photos, maybe even recent auction results for a comparable model, and we land on a number. That’s your payout. Simple.
- Usage Limitations: Most policies will specify that the car isn’t for daily commuting. We’re talking about pleasure use, club activities, parades, and shows. That keeps the risk (and your premium) low.
- Driver Eligibility: Typically, all drivers in the household need a clean record and be over a certain age (often 25). This isn’t the car your 16yearold learns to drive a manual transmission in.
- Deductible Options: You’ll often have choices, and because you’re driving the car less and storing it securely, deductibles can be lower than on a standard policy.
I had a client from downtown Overland Park, a retired fellow with a beautiful MGB. He was worried about the cost. When we crunched the numbers, his premium for a fullcoverage, agreedvalue policy was less than half of what he was paying to add it to his standard policy. He was shocked. I wasn’t. The risk profile is just completely different.
What This All Costs in Our Corner of Kansas
Pricing is always the big question. For a wellkept, garagestored classic car in the Overland Park area with an agreed value of around $30,000, you might be looking at an annual premium in the ballpark of $300 to $600. Wait — actually, let me rephrase that more clearly. That’s for a full year of coverage, which is often significantly cheaper than six months on a standard policy.
It varies, of course. A numbersmatching, sixfigure ‘Vette will cost more than a nicely restored VW Bug. But to give you a realworld snippet, most of the classic car owners I work with here are spending between $400 and $800 a year for peace of mind. And compared to national averages, we sit right in the middle—not the cheapest, not the most expensive. Our Midwest location generally keeps things reasonable.
Some Local Options to Get You Started
Based on actual local presence, here are some established providers in Overland Park:
Hagerty — Serves the entire Overland Park area and is a giant in the classic car world.
Grundy Worldwide — Another wellknown specialist that serves our region.
Heacock Classic — A strong option for collectors and enthusiasts in the Kansas City metro.
State Farm — Local agents in Overland Park can sometimes write classic car policies alongside your other insurance.
Anyway, my point is you have choices. It pays to get a couple of quotes. Each company has its own little quirks on what they like to insure and what their storage requirements are.
Dotting the I’s and Crossing the T’s
Always verify that any agent you work with is properly licensed. You can check the status of an insurance agent or company through the Kansas Insurance Department. It’s a quick search that can save you a world of hassle. It’s what I’d do.
And for general city codes that might affect where and how you store your vehicle, the City of Overland Park official website has all the municipal code information you could ever need. Boring reading, but important.
Answers to Common Questions from Overland Park Folks
What qualifies as a “classic car”?
It’s broader than you think. Generally, it’s any vehicle that’s 2025 years old or older, though some insurers make exceptions for newer “special interest” or collector cars. I’ve insured everything from 90s Japanese imports to American muscle from the 60s.
Can I drive my classic car to work sometimes?
Most policies say no to regular daily commuting. But an occasional trip to the office for showandtell? Usually that’s fine, as long as it’s not your primary mode of transportation. You have to be honest about the usage.
Does my car need to be perfectly restored to get coverage?
Not at all! “Driverquality” restorations are very common. The car just needs to be in good, safe, roadworthy condition. We insure projects, too, but the coverage is different until they’re running and driving.
What happens if I find an original part at a swap meet?
That’s the best. Most good policies have flexibility for improvements. You just need to report significant value increases (like a new engine or a full repaint) so we can adjust the agreed value accordingly.
A Final Word From a Local
Look, after all these years in Overland Park, I’ve learned that insuring a classic car isn’t really about the paperwork or the premium. It’s about protecting a story. That story might be about your dad’s first car, the one you finally restored, or the dream car you worked your whole life to own. It’s a tangible piece of joy. And my job, honestly, is to make sure that if life happens—a hailstorm, a fenderbender on 119th Street, a leak in the garage—that story doesn’t have to end.
If you’re in Overland Park and you’ve got a classic in the garage, start by just having a conversation with a specialist. Get a quote. You might be surprised at how affordable it is to sleep easy.