Tag Archives: car

9 steps to winterizing your collector vehicle

In most of the country, cold weather is here to stay, so it’s likely time to prepare your ride for hibernation. And because collector cars don’t live the same life as a vehicle that’s driven every day, it’s important to follow a winterization process thoroughly, to ensure your car survives the cold months.

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We’ll help pay to get your boat, yacht, or car out of harm’s way

When someone yells, “Get out of the way!” you should. In fact, we’ll pay you for getting out of the way.  One of the benefits of your Boat or Yacht policy, or Collector Vehicle policy, is that we’ll cover part of the cost to move your vessel or vehicle to safety when it’s threatened by a named storm, wildfire, or other pending disaster such as a flood.

A little advance planning is needed. For smaller watercraft you should contract with hauling company to get it to on-land storage when threatened (of course you will need to make that kind of arrangement well in advance). For larger watercraft, it’s much easier just to navigate out of harm’s way in advance. Either way, we’ll reimburse you up to $500 for the cost and a higher reimbursement limit is available as an optional endorsement.

For a collector car, just drive or tow it away from the impending disaster. We’ll reimburse you up to $200 for that cost.

Your agent may provide you with a short form that lets us know where you are normally moored or garaged, and where you expect to be during an emergency. Otherwise, it’s just a matter of acting quickly and then showing us your expense receipts later.

You may never need it, but this policy perk will save you both money and a headache if you don’t get out of the way when you can.

For information only. Not applicable to all situations.
Coverage is subject to policy terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, underwriting review, and approval, and may not be available for all risks or in all states. Rates and discounts vary, are determined by many factors and are subject to change. Policies are written by one of the licensed insurers of American Modern Insurance Group, Inc., including American Modern Home Insurance Company d/b/a in CA American Modern Insurance Company (Lic. No 2222-8).

Our top 5 tips for collector car maintenance

Seasonal tips for taking care of your collector car aren’t hard to find. There are plenty of get-ready-for-spring or prep-for-storage articles out there. But what about those blissful months in between, full of joyrides and evening drives? What about the all-the-time preventive care that can keep your baby on the road and out of the shop?

Whether you’re taking it for a spin or taking it to a show, protect your collector vehicle every day with these essential maintenance tips.

  1. Keep it clean: Classic cars need to be kept clean at all times. The entire car should be washed often—this means the exterior, undercarriage and even the seating area. Grab a bucket and a rag and get to work!
  2. Maintain fluid levels: Keeping fluids in your car is possibly the most important thing you can do. Check and maintain oil, brake fluid, windshield wiper fluid and radiator coolant to prevent overheating and keep your car running smoothly.
  3. Inspect hoses: When temperatures rise, hoses can get brittle and break. The hose itself is typically not an expensive part—but a busted one can be expensive or dangerous. (For example, if a leak shoots fuel onto the distributor, you could have a fire on your hands.) Keep up with the maintenance schedule and replace hoses when needed.
  4. Check wires: Your wiring should be tucked away all nice and neat. Be sure it’s not resting on the exhaust manifold or the header.
  5. Store it right: Proper storage will protect your car from the elements and slow down the aging process. Your car needs a dry environment with a stable temperature so it doesn’t degrade.

These preventive maintenance tips can help keep your collector car running smoothly so you can preserve it for generations to come. Enjoy the drive!

For informational purposes only and may not be applicable to all situations.