The Manitoba Driver, from Manitoba Public Insurance About 400 words You’ve been tinkering for months, cutting out the body rust, welding in new metal and replacing worn out mechanical parts. Now you’re ready to bring your lovingly restored vintage vehicle back to the street. But what should you consider for insurance? Your broker, or a representative from Manitoba Public Insurance, can help you decide what your best choices may be. You have many options when it comes to deductible levels, third-party liability coverage and features like lay-up coverage. Dave Findlay, Manitoba Public Insurance manager of Valuation Services, says one important step classic car owners can take is to help establish their vehicle’s value by documenting all the work they’ve done on it. “Take pictures of your car’s condition throughout your ownership,” Findlay says. “If it’s been restored, keep ‘Before,’ ‘During’ and ‘After’ pictures to show what and how much work has been done. Have all your dated receipts for parts and labour handy for reference.” Otherwise, insuring a classic is just like insuring the family car. You’ll have to choose a deductible amount, which is the portion of a loss that you must pay before your coverage kicks in. So if you get into a fender-bender at the shopping mall, what deductible do you want to pay to begin your repair? The basic policy begins with a $500 deductible, but you also have the options of $300, $200 or $100, with each level providing reduced coverage for theft, partial theft, glass repair and replacement, wildlife collision, fire, vandalism and hail. Liability coverage protects you from property damages or bodily injuries claimed against you by others whether you are or are not responsible for an accident. Your basic coverage begins at $200,000 and you have the option to purchase more – $1 million, $2 million and $5 million. Take into consideration that you are personally responsible for the damages beyond your limit. One option classic car owners may want to consider is lay-up coverage, which might save you money if you’re planning to mothball your vehicle for months at a stretch, such as over the winter. You keep your plate, but neither it nor your registration will be valid for driving. Lay-up still covers accidental loss or damage – such as fire, theft and vandalism, hail and lightning – but doesn’t cover collision damage or claims others make against you. You can reactivate your regular coverage when you want to return to the road
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