Safety first

Don’t be the guy who goes in head first- make sure you take all the right precautions before attempting to repair your car! At the very least, make sure to check that the engine has cooled down enough for you to touch. Make sure there isn’t any leakage of battery fluid or hot oil. Set up your car in a safe environment- working under the bonnet on the streets can be a dangerous move. Double check everything so that you can be sure that you have taking all the necessary care to avoid any accidents or injuries occurring!

Consult the computer

The internet can be a wonderful thing, and contains a whole breadth of knowledge that may be unknown to you. Use the internet to diagnose the issue with your car and to find out whether the repair work needed is safe to do yourself- or if you’re better off taking it to the garage. There will be many tips and tricks available to you if you search the correct things, and there are people on the internet who are experts in this area of work; browsing the net is always worth a shot.

Shopping for parts

Sometimes, the repair work necessary is in need of some vital parts for your car in order to be completed. Shopping for parts can be stressful for anyone, but if you know what you’re doing it’s a breeze! When shopping online, ensure that you have the make of your car, the year it was made and it’s model handy, as you will need to enter these into forms to search for the parts you need. If you’re replacing a part, you can find the number of it on the piece already in your car, and so the process of finding another is fairly straightforward!

Regular maintenance

You shouldn’t wait for your car to break down before deciding to repair it. If you keep up the maintenance of your vehicle consistently, then there will likely be fewer issues for you to deal with in the future. The maintenance of your car can include replacing the fuel filter, checking spark plugs, and changing the oil; all procedures that can be done pretty quickly and efficiently. Don’t forget to use the internet if you’re in need of extra help!

What constitutes a collectible?

Purists will only swear by antique and classic cars from at least half a century ago, but the truth is the car collectors’ scope of interest has grown vastly, as evident in this list by Popular Mechanics. Niches form quickly and special interest in particular brands, models, or even isolated features (e.g. interior, hubcaps, hotrod engines, etc.) crop up regularly. This is also the reason insurance companies have moved away from the “minimum 25 years of age” rule and determine a vehicle’s collectible status on an individual basis instead.

What kind of insurance do I need?

While “Actual Cash Value” insurance is the norm for regular cars, look for Agreed Value insurance for your classic vehicle. This means you state your car’s value and the insurance company accepts that number, along with the responsibility to pay out the appropriate sum should a claim arise. The Agreed Value also does not appreciate over time, unlike all other types of insurance. This guarantees you a full payout in case your vehicle is totalled – but hopefully it never comes to that!

What restrictions are there on classic insurance policies?

Since collectible cars are rare and treasured, most insurance companies expect you cherish them and keep day to day use to an absolute minimum. Restrictions on annual mileage (usually around 2,500 mi) and even on the nature of your trips are common. Some companies will only allow you to take your classic vehicle on the road to display it in a show or a parade. If you would like to enjoy your collectible, however, a growing number of insurers will offer you flexibility on the rules for its recreational usage, as long as you do not take it shopping or do the school car pool with it.

How to choose the right insurance?

We already outlined some of the important criteria which make classic car insurance special. The broad spectrum of auto-collectibles makes each case more or less unique, so make sure to shop around before you settle on a particular offer. Look for a good AV quote from a company which is flexible enough to accommodate your preferred vehicle usage frequency. Last but not least, remember you are buying a service, so research each company’s payout policies, handling of claims, and rates. Gain customer service experiences and test how knowledgeable the staff is about classic cars. After all, this is what should make both sides tick.

Take Advantage of Free Help

As the owner of a desirable collection of cars, you will find that many people will be more than willing to offer you some free help with their maintenance. Most car enthusiasts simply love spending time around different models and makes of cars and will be only too eager to lend a hand with cleaning, checking and other unavoidable tasks. A good way of getting this type of help is to go to put up an advert in your local newspaper or simply mention to your friends that you’re looking for help to help with managing your car collection. You will find that young car enthusiasts tend to be your best helpers as they have a lot of energy for car management and maintenance tasks. Just make sure that everyone involved knows what they’re doing with the vehicles to ensure no unnecessary and unintended car damage occurs.

Use A Good Car Moving Service

Managing a car collection will require you to have your cars moved to different locations for a variety of reasons, including repair work and attending car meets, etc. Regardless of how enjoyable you find driving each and every car within your cherished collection, you will find there are times when it is not possible or practical for you to drive each vehicle to the location it needs to get to. This is when an excellent car mover service can prove to be invaluable. Fast, reliable and safe car moving at a good value price makes the overall task of car collection management easier.

Don’t Invest In More Cars Than You Can Handle!

If you have sufficient financial resources, it can be highly tempting to add to your car collection as and when you see a car that you like; however, you must keep in mind the time and effort involved in maintaining a large car collection. Therefore, it may be best for you to maintain a smaller collection of cars that contains only the most luxurious makes and models.

Third party

Third party car insurance coverage is the minimum level of coverage required by law, but it only provides you with basic cover. The insurer will simply agree to pay for any damage caused to someone else’s property, or provide compensation for any physical and/or psychological injuries sustained, in an accident judged to be your fault. However, the insurer will not pay for the cost of repairs to your own vehicle.

Third party fire and theft

Third party fire and theft insurance coverage offers a greater level of protection than that provided by third party only coverage. The insurer will offer you the same level of coverage as that of a third party only policy, but will also protect you against the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle in the event that it is damaged or stolen.

Fully comprehensive

Fully comprehensive insurance coverage provides you with the greatest level of protection. The insurer will cover you for damage to your own vehicle and any damage suffered by others from a variety of causes, including accidents, fires and thefts.If you are looking to purchase an insurance policy, do not assume that all policies are the same. Take the time to read through the terms and conditions to ensure your chosen cover is appropriate. Some policies offer additional features, such as legal expenses cover, as add-ons, so you will need to determine whether you need these before you part with your cash.