Buyer’s guide Of Vintage Cars to the dream destination!

 

Buying vintage cars is an exciting and enjoyable hobby, but also a challenging one if you are just embarking on your vintage-enthusiast journey and are not very familiar with the market. To help you make the buying procedure an ultimate success, we’ve compiled a detailed guide to help you navigate through the process. 

 

Vintage vs. Classic vs. Antique vs. Old Cars

 

Many buyers make the mistake and invest huge amounts of money in cars that are neither vintage, classic, nor antique; instead, they are just old, worn out and decaying cars. To help you never get confused with the terms again, here is a brief summary for each of the categories: classic cars have been manufactured in 1990 or earlier, antique cars are at least 45 years old (have been manufactured in 1975 or earlier), while for a car to be considered as vintage it has to be produced between 1919 and 1930. The price too is an important determinant of the car’s intrinsic value and desirability, as factors like make, condition, rarity, originality and mileage can significantly impact buyers’ demand for the car and its corresponding price. However, many sellers often offer mediocre, substandard cars at extravagant prices in an attempt to confuse the buyers and make huge profits in the transaction. That is why it is essential to know who you are buying from and how trustworthy and reputable the seller is. Along with many other top-quality services and professional car gurus, the VCC team also offers very competitive prices for the vehicles we sell, making the deal both reliable as well as cost-effective for our precious buyers. 

 

Licence Plates & Historical Designation

 

The license plates can also be of considerable help when it comes to understanding which category the car falls into. In fact, individual US states have their own specific criteria to determine the category of the car and decide whether a vehicle has the historical designation. The State of Alabama, for example, offers “Vintage Vehicle” status for automobiles that are either private passenger automobile, motorcycle, fire truck, standard truck or truck tractor that weighs not more than 26,000 pounds gross weight, is over 30 years old, and is operated as a collector’s item. After specifying the category and designation of a collectible vehicle, this information is then printed on the license plate of the car, making it much easier for you to find out what you are investing in. As old cars generally require a great amount of upkeep and maintenance, it is essential to understand these subtle differences and research the market before making an important decision. 

 

 

Define Your Style!

 

Once you are behind the wheel of your vintage car, you give it all the rights to create and project an image about you. Explore a wide range of options and choose something that you are truly passionate about, something that steals your heart away every time you look at it. If you’re overwhelmed with options, get into the habit of creating detailed lists where you can write down all the pros and cons associated with each car. A great place to start your research is our inventory, which provides detailed descriptions, excellent introductory videos, and captivating historical information on every car that you come across on our page. Once you’ve gathered all the necessary information and have identified your top favorites, your search will be more oriented, better organized, more time-efficient, and, consequently, successful! That being said, we highly encourage you not to choose an extremely rare car for your first purchase, as rarity also implies costly upkeep and expensive repairs as the parts of rare vintage cars are very limited in supply and, for that reason, often require you to pay over the odds.

 

 

Ensure Good Insurance!

 

Modern car insurance significantly differs from classic car insurance in a variety of ways. Particularly, insuring a classic or vintage car is much more costly than the insurance for modern cars, which is explained by the hard-to-find car parts as well as by the fact that older automobiles require an extensive amount of upkeep. What’s more mind-blowing is that insurance plans vary even between classic, antique, and vintage categories, tailoring every insurance package to the needs of the specific vehicle group. These differences and nuances may make you feel overwhelmed, but don’t rush to get upset or discouraged, we have some good news for you! As collectible cars are generally not used for everyday driving, many insurance companies offer some amazing premiums at low prices and provide buyer-friendly plans designed specifically for vintage cars. We advise you to choose an insurance company that has a narrow scope of specialization and concentrates mainly on classic cars, as these generally tend to offer a broader spectrum of packages that include comprehensive insurance plans for older vehicles. Hagerty, for example, is the world’s largest provider of specialty insurance for collectible vehicles and offers premiums that are up to 36% lower on average than standard daily driver insurance. Something even more fascinating to know is that your future vehicle may qualify for Agreed Value insurance and low premiums even if it does not have an official historical designation. The Agreed Value policies enable you to decide the value of your collectible and provide you with the full insured value in case of total loss. Invest in a quality insurance plan and rest assured that everything possible is being done to keep your collectible and finances safe!

 

 

Take the Road!

 

One of the worst ways to treat your new collectible vehicle is to never take it for a ride. Vintage cars tend to decay and deteriorate even in the cleanest and most proper storage conditions if they are not taken to the road, at least from time to time. Think of your new vehicle as a living organism that needs movement and exercise in order to stay healthy and fit in the longer term. Cars, be they old or new, need activity as much as they need fuel to keep going, both figuratively and literally, and, therefore, they should never be stored in a dark, gloomy garage for extended periods of time. We truly understand your tendency and desire to regard your new collectible as an antique figurine behind the glass vitrine of the museum, which you are afraid to touch for fear of causing even minor damage to the article of virtu. Yet we strongly advise you to perceive your machine as a... machine and treat it accordingly. Just make sure that you follow our tips on how to prepare your vintage car for the road, and you are safe to enjoy the ride!

 

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