11 years of placement experience with the carrier built by car people, for car people. If you own a collector vehicle, Hagerty is almost always the answer.
Hagerty was founded in 1984 in Traverse City, Michigan by Frank and Louise Hagerty — car people who saw that collector vehicles needed coverage designed around how they're actually used, not how daily drivers are rated. Today Hagerty is the #1 collector car insurer in the United States, protecting 2.8 million vehicles with $1.46 billion in revenue — up 17% in 2025. The company is publicly traded on the NYSE (HGTY) and operates in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
The core insight behind Hagerty's entire product is simple: collector cars are different from daily drivers. They're driven rarely, stored carefully, maintained meticulously, and their value often appreciates rather than depreciates. Standard auto insurance — built around daily commuters who rack up 15,000 miles a year — doesn't work for a vehicle that gets driven 500 miles a year to car shows. Hagerty's agreed value coverage, flatbed-only towing, and specialist claims adjusters are all built around this reality. When a client asks "what happens if my classic is totaled?" — with Hagerty, the answer is simple: you get the agreed value, no negotiation, no depreciation.
We have placed clients with Hagerty since 2014 — from the occasional-use collector with one special vehicle to serious enthusiasts with multiple vehicles. The same policy you can get directly from Hagerty is available through Options Insurance at the same price, with our agency advocacy added at no extra cost. When serious collectors hear the word Hagerty, they already know it's a good fit. For clients who don't yet know Hagerty, introducing them is one of our favorite conversations.
After 11 years of placing collector vehicle clients with Hagerty, here's what consistently sets them apart from every other carrier in our portfolio.
Agreed value is the foundation of Hagerty's product. When you and Hagerty agree on your vehicle's value at policy inception, that's exactly what you receive in a total loss — minus your deductible, no depreciation, no negotiation. Standard auto insurance pays actual cash value, which accounts for depreciation and routinely leaves collectors short by thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. For clients who care about getting back what they put into a vehicle, agreed value is non-negotiable — and Hagerty does it better than anyone.
When a classic or collector vehicle needs to be towed, it goes on a flatbed — never a hook-and-chain or wheel-lift tow. Hagerty's roadside assistance dispatches flatbed-only service with soft nylon straps that protect the vehicle's finish and undercarriage. For vehicles with low ground clearance, custom suspension, or paint finishes worth protecting, the difference between a flatbed and a standard tow truck is the difference between no damage and real damage. Hagerty builds this into every policy.
This is the feature that surprises most clients. With standard insurance, if your vehicle is declared a total loss, the carrier takes the salvage. Hagerty's Cherished Salvage option lets you keep your vehicle after a total loss settlement — meaning you receive the agreed value payout AND retain the car or its parts. For a collector who has a vehicle with a rare body, matching numbers, or sentimental value, being able to keep it even after a total loss is a genuinely unique benefit that no standard carrier offers.
Hagerty can insure vehicles at track days and time trials — and can insure street-legal race cars that most standard carriers won't touch. Track day insurance covers your vehicle while participating in organized events at a licensed race facility. For enthusiasts who take their cars to the track for time trials or driving events, this is coverage that literally doesn't exist at a standard carrier. It's a niche product for a niche audience — but for that audience, it changes everything.
Hagerty's claims adjusters are specialists in classic and collector vehicles — they know what a numbers-matching engine means, why a correct-date-code part matters, and how to find a restoration shop qualified to do the work properly. Standard insurance adjusters don't have this knowledge, and it shows in how claims are handled. Hagerty's industry-leading 78 NPS claims score reflects what happens when claims are handled by people who actually understand what they're insuring.
Hagerty publishes the most widely used classic car valuation guide in the industry — the Hagerty Price Guide — and offers free online valuation tools that track market trends, auction results, and comparable sales. For clients setting agreed values, this data is invaluable. Hagerty proactively recommends agreed value updates as market conditions change, ensuring clients aren't underinsured as their vehicle appreciates. This is a resource no standard auto carrier provides.
Hagerty is the right carrier for the right client — but there are honest trade-offs worth knowing before placement.
Hagerty is a standalone collector vehicle policy — it doesn't bundle with your home, daily driver auto, or umbrella. That means a separate bill, a separate renewal date, and one more policy to keep track of. For clients who prefer consolidated insurance management, this is a real friction point. It's not a coverage issue, but it's worth flagging upfront so clients know what to expect administratively.
Hagerty policies are designed for occasional-use vehicles — cars driven to shows, on weekend drives, and for pleasure, not as daily transportation. Vehicles used for commuting, rideshare, or regular daily driving don't qualify. The mileage flexibility is generous, but the usage intent matters. Clients who want to use their classic as a regular driver will need a standard auto policy for that vehicle instead.
Hagerty's roadside assistance has received consistent negative reviews for response time delays — some members waiting hours for a flatbed that was promised in 90 minutes. This appears to be a dispatch network issue in certain areas, not a coverage gap. We flag it honestly because it's in the public record. The flatbed-only service is the right call for collector vehicles; the execution has been inconsistent for some members. Having a backup roadside plan is worth considering.
For clients with low-value collector vehicles who only need liability coverage, Hagerty's agreed-value product may not be the most cost-effective option. The agreed value model is built around vehicles the owner cares enough about to insure for full replacement — if you're looking for cheap liability-only coverage on a $3,000 beater, a standard carrier will serve you better. Hagerty is for clients who understand the value of what they have and want it properly protected.
After 11 years of placing collector vehicle clients with Hagerty, here's an honest picture of who belongs with them — and who we'd steer to a standard auto carrier instead.
Hagerty's primary competitors in the collector vehicle space are American Collectors Insurance and Grundy. Here's how they compare on the metrics that matter to serious collectors. We represent Hagerty; we don't represent American Collectors or Grundy.
| Category | Hagerty via Options Insurance |
American Collectors | Grundy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agreed Value Coverage | Yes — full agreed value at total loss | Yes | Yes — specialty is agreed value |
| Cherished Salvage | Yes — keep vehicle after total loss payout | Not standard | Not standard |
| Track Day Coverage | Yes — time trials and organized track events | Not available | Limited availability |
| Flatbed Towing Only | Yes — always flatbed with soft straps | Available | Yes |
| Valuation Tools | Hagerty Price Guide — industry standard | Available | Limited |
| Scale & Market Position | #1 — 2.8M insured vehicles, $1.46B revenue | Established niche carrier | Established niche carrier |
| Independent Agent Channel | Yes — same policy, same price as direct | Yes | Yes |
| Brand Recognition Among Collectors | Industry standard — collectors know the name | Known in collector community | Known in collector community |
"When serious collectors hear the word Hagerty they know it's a good fit. Their reputation in the industry and coverage available for classics make this a must-have for the collector. We place clients with Hagerty when they know how unique their vehicle is and understand the value in covering it properly. Agreed value, flatbed towing, cherished salvage, track day coverage — these aren't features you find anywhere else. After 11 years of placement, Hagerty remains the clear answer for any client with a vehicle worth protecting properly."
— Jess Todd, Personal Lines Agent, Options Insurance
Already a Hagerty client through Options Insurance? Here are the resources you need.
Available 24/7. Choose option 1 to speak with a claims specialist. A Hagerty adjuster — who actually knows classic cars — will contact you within one business day, typically the same day. You can also file online at hagerty.com.
Mon–Fri 8am–8pm ET, Sat 8:30am–4:30pm ET, Sun 12pm–4pm ET. For policy changes, your Options Insurance agent is often the fastest route — we manage the Hagerty relationship directly on your behalf.
Available 24/7 for Hagerty Drivers Club members. Always dispatches a flatbed with soft straps — never a hook-and-chain wrecker. Have your exact location, vehicle condition, and any special start-up procedures ready for the dispatcher.
Manage your policy, pay your bill, view documents, and access the Hagerty Valuation Tools — the industry-standard classic car price guide. Track auction results, market trends, and get an accurate agreed value for your vehicle.
Jess is Options Insurance's lead agent for Hagerty placements across collector vehicle coverage. She has a natural ability to connect with clients who take their vehicles seriously — and to introduce Hagerty to those who don't yet know the name. "When serious collectors hear the word Hagerty they know it's a good fit. Their reputation in the industry and coverage available for classics make this a must-have for the collector!"
Tell us a little about what you need. One of our agents will follow up — usually same business day.
No obligation. We'll confirm Hagerty is the right fit and get you properly covered.
We'll confirm Hagerty is the right fit for your collector vehicle and get your agreed value set correctly from day one.
Start Your Free Quote →The opinions expressed on this page reflect the experience of Options Insurance agents based on policies placed and client feedback received over 15 years. Individual results may vary. Options Insurance has a commercial relationship with Hagerty as an appointed independent agent. This review is not sponsored, approved, or endorsed by Hagerty. AM Best, J.D. Power, and NAIC data are sourced from publicly available reports and are cited for informational purposes. Ratings are subject to change. Options Insurance does not represent American Collectors Insurance or Grundy. Hagerty policies are for occasional-use collector vehicles only — not daily drivers. Track day coverage availability may vary by event type and location. Comparison data is based on publicly available third-party research. Coverage availability and terms vary by state, risk profile, and underwriting criteria. This page does not constitute a coverage guarantee or binding commitment.