The 2025 driving season is officially upon us and for many classic car and truck owners that means getting their rides back on the open road. Unfortunately, this is also the time of year that many owners get hit with auto insurance rate increases, even those with good driving records and who haven’t had to file a claim. In fact, the average cost for auto insurance has increased 51% over the past 3 years, six times faster than inflation overall according to The Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Good Drivers and Auto Collectors Are Being Overcharged

In addition to the severe insurance rate spikes impacting law-abiding daily drivers, collectors of classic, antique, and custom cars are among the most severely affected by these insurance cost increases. Not only are auto collectors likely paying more than they should be given their reduced risk profile, but the coverage they do buy could prove to be radically insufficient. This unfortunate truth will only be discovered when they need to make a claim.

These collectors face a double inequity: not only are they statistically less likely to get into an accident or file a claim, but standard auto insurers often don’t offer proportionally lower rates for owners who drive their vintage vehicles fewer miles than their daily drivers. Adding further strain on collectible vehicle owners is the limited options available when it comes to classic and collector auto insurance. For decades, these owners have been faced with the same old confusing programs and complicated coverage options, not to mention those pesky letters landing in their mailboxes telling them their rates have gone up yet again.

Some Good News for Classic & Collectible Vehicle Owners

In all this market turmoil there does seem to be some good news for classic car and truck owners, and word is quickly spreading. Recently the auto enthusiast community has been buzzing about a program being offered by the Dallas-based collector vehicle insurer OpenRoad.

Customer testimonials from owners previously covered by standard auto insurers, as well as many previously insured by classic car insurance providers, continue to roll in highlighting significant savings, better coverage, and superior customer service. With so many auto enthusiasts making the switch to OpenRoad, it seems that they have finally found everything that they have been looking for in a classic auto insurance provider. Just check out these recent customer reviews:

• “Almost half the price (of) your competitors for equal coverage.”
• “Better coverage for less cost than other classic car insurance companies.”
• “They made it easy for me to switch from my old insurance policy to new one and at less than half the price!”
• “Not only did they match our previous collector car insurance, they beat it even after adding another vehicle to the policy! They are rockstars! Would recommend to everyone!
• “To my total surprise I got more coverage for a fraction of what I have been paying.”
• “Pricing was 20% lower than their direct competitor for the exact same coverage on multiple vehicles… These days, when insurance (cost) is outrageous, these people stepped up to the plate … Thank you, Open Road.”

Setting a New Bar for Classic & Collector Vehicle Insurance

OpenRoad has built a truly unique collector vehicle insurance program that all starts with their pricing. Not only do they provide significant savings for drivers with great driving records, but they also account for the reduced accident frequency associated with collector vehicles, often resulting in far lower insurance rates overall. But OpenRoad goes above and beyond on pricing, offering additional discounts to car club members as well as customers who transfer their coverage from another classic car insurer.

With OpenRoad, paying less definitely doesn’t mean getting less. Far from it! In fact, their coverage goes above and beyond what many other programs out there can offer. In addition to getting all the coverage you’d expect with any auto insurance policy— think comprehensive, collision, uninsured motorist, and the like — every OpenRoad policy comes with several protections tailored to car collectors.

Their agreed value policy guarantees that the insurance payout you’ll receive in the event of a total loss equals the actual worth of your classic car, rather than a depreciated value that most insurance programs use. This guarantees that you’re covered for the true value of your ride, considering the time, effort, and investments you put into your vehicle as well as its condition and rarity.

For anyone who has ever needed to file a claim for their classic or collector vehicle, you know how frustrating the process can be. OpenRoad is setting a new bar here as well. Under their program you know that if you need to file a claim the repairs will be done right. Not only will repairs be performed with OEM parts specifically tailored to your vehicle, but you’ll also get to choose a repair shop you know and trust, one that specializes in collector vehicles and classic car restorations. One customer described their recent claim experience with a testimonial that reads, “I can’t imagine any better customer service. I was extremely satisfied with my recent interaction with Open Road. Friendly, knowledgeable and courteous. My claim was handled quickly and efficiently. Best service ever! Thank you.”

OpenRoad also includes a generous emergency roadside cost reimbursement program at no additional cost as well as coverage for the relocation and temporary storage of your ride in the event of major disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires.

Delivering Superior Customer Service & Specialized Coverage

Beyond the significant cost relief, many customers also point to the excellent customer service they received with reviews that include statements such as, “The team went above and beyond to help us,” and, “Overall, the best experience I’ve had setting up insurance.” That’s some high praise for an auto insurance company.

Rapidly Expanding Across the U.S.

To keep up with the massive market demand that they’ve seen, OpenRoad has been rapidly rolling out its insurance program across the U.S., quickly growing coverage availability to 24 states. Don’t reside in one of their currently live states? Don’t worry, the brand plans to add coverage across several more states by the end summer 2025. You can also sign up for their launch newsletter and get notified as soon as coverage is available for your area.

Get your quote today and see how much you could save in about 5 minutes.

Today we take a closer look at a stunning 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG coupe, the modern successor to the 300 SL “Gullwing” of the 1950s. Under the hood sits a hand-built, 563-horsepower 6.2-liter V8, which is paired with an AMG Speedshift 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. With just 7,924 actual miles, this heritage-inspired supercar is in excellent condition.

The cockpit is loaded with comfort and tech, including a Bang & Olufsen 1,000-watt sound system, heated designo leather seats, navigation, and Park Assist. Tune in as we walk around this SLS AMG and explore its connection to its iconic ancestor. At the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Palm Beach Auction, this 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG sold for $203,500.

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It’s no secret that manual transmissions have been going the way of the Dodo—if Ferrari has moved on from it, then it’s clear we are in Code Red. Now, for 2026, we can name one more casualty in the name of “progress.”

The Nissan Versa has the lowest base price out of any car in the American market. The base model, the Versa S FWD, includes a five-speed manual for around $18,330. However, since less than 5 percent of 2024 Versas sold last year in America was the Versa S FWD with the standard transmission (that’s about 2000 cars), Nissan will no longer offer the transmission or the trim level on our shores.

Car and Driver reports that the Versa is built in Aguascalientes, Mexico, one of the many countries whose exports to the U.S. will be affected by President Trump’s tariffs. A 25-percent tariff will raise the Versa’s price by over $4500, which will likely reduce the take rate of the manual transmission even more.

“While automakers might be able to absorb tariff costs on higher-priced vehicles while still returning a profit, the typically thin profit margins on affordable cars make such an increase far more damaging,” says the Ann Arbor periodical. As such, it makes sense for Nissan to call it a day for the five-speed and focus on the most popular configurations in order to improve production efficiencies.

If nothing changes in our crystal ball, the Honda Civic Si will become America’s cheapest car with a manual transmission at just over $30,000.

I recently took the 2025 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4X4 on some trails near my old house. That got me thinking about some of the things I’ve learned over the years driving various trucks and SUVs off-road. If you’ve never experienced the pleasure of doing that, I’ve put together some tips that might come in handy your first time. There are a lot of technical guides out there that are very useful, but I thought I would suggest things to keep in mind that you might not see in those.

If You Feel Like You’re Out of Control, You Probably Are
It doesn’t matter if you’re blasting over sand in a Ford F-150 Raptor or crawling over rocks in a Jeep Wrangler – if you feel as if you’re over-driving your headlights/wipers/shocks/senses/talent, heed your gut’s warning and slow down. Your vehicle (and you) will last much longer that way.

The same logic applies if you think something is wrong with your vehicle. I was at an event several years ago and heard that someone there snagged the side of an expensive SUV on some fencing. Instead of parking and getting out to see how best to handle the situation, they just gassed it and dug a long scratch onto the side of the body.

Get a High When You’re Solo

Sharing anything automotive-related with friends or family is always great, but there’s nothing wrong with going off-road by yourself. Just use common sense and prepare accordingly. If all this is new to you, your first voyage is probably not going to be deep into remote, treacherous territory. If it is, go with people that are experienced, resourceful, and well-equipped for the terrain, weather, and potential emergencies. But if there’s a beginner’s trail near you, make sure someone knows where you’re going (sharing your location through your phone is a good way to do that), and get some dirt under your tires. Over time, you may find going wheeling by yourself is a great way to unwind and clear your head.

Google It!
Maybe you’re past your first off-roading excursion and want to go over a different type of terrain than you’ve previously been on. Don’t just wing it. There are plenty of resources out there that tell you what to do to prepare yourself and your vehicle for certain conditions. Do you want to drive over sand? Then you’ll probably want to air down your tires so that you don’t get stuck, which means you’ll need a portable air compressor to air them back up to the right psi once you’re ready to get back on the road.

Breathe Easier

Out here in Arizona, it’s so dry that when you go down a trail, a big cloud of dirt billows up behind you and fills your rearview mirror. If you’re traveling in a group, you’ll drive through the same kind of cloud puffed up by the vehicle in front of you. Why breathe all that in when you don’t have to? Just push your HVAC system’s recirculate button and keep moving.

Keep Them Close
When you’re on a narrow trail, you run the risk of scraping your mirror caps on brush or tree limbs. Whether your mirrors fold in manually or electronically, make sure they’re close to the body of your vehicle – and that you fold them out once you get back on pavement and head home.

Don’t Believe Everything You Hear
Off-roading can be noisy, even when you’re not doing anything challenging or wild. Sometimes you’ll hear a thunk and think, That’s it. I just damaged a really expensive part! In my experience, from inside the cabin of the vehicle, things usually sound much worse than they actually are. Usually. The point is to try to minimize the situations/types of driving that lead to those loud sounds because you don’t want to get in a habit of ignoring potential warnings that something has gone wrong.

It’s Not All About the Destination

Whether you’re headed to a campsite near the edge of a canyon or to a random stopping point before you turn around and go back to civilization, stop (even if it’s for 30 seconds), look around, and enjoy where you are, the colors of the sunset, the mountains on the horizon, the wonderful near-silence of the outdoors. Don’t just roll past all that – even if your rig has beadlocks and 37s on it. Trust me, you’ll enjoy your time outdoors much more.

Featured on AutoHunter is this 2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT Z51 coupe, which is powered by a mid-mounted LT2 6.2-liter V8 paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Finished in Black and equipped with a matching removable roof panel over an Adrenaline Red Napa leather and Jet Black microfiber interior, this C8 is now offered by the seller in Delaware with the original window sticker, sales documentation, a custom car cover, a clean CARFAX report, and a clear title.

The curvaceous Black body is accented with chrome badges, the Stingray R Appearance Package’s Corvette Racing-themed graphics, and heated, power-folding mirrors with Carbon Flash Metallic caps. Additional exterior features include a front lift system with adjustable height memory, and a body-color removable roof panel. The Z51 Performance Package adds a rear spoiler and a performance exhaust system with four outlets.

The Spectra Gray 19-inch by 8.5-inch front and 20-inch by 11-inch rear trident-spoke aluminum wheels are wrapped in 245/35 and 305/30 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires, respectively.

Inside the cockpit is a pair of heated and ventilated GT2 bucket seats covered in Adrenaline Red Napa leather and Jet Black sueded microfiber. Surrounding features include a head-up display, power tilt and telescoping steering column, heated microfiber-wrapped steering wheel, rear camera mirror, Performance Data Recorder, eight-inch touchscreen with navigation and front and rear camera feeds, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Bose Performance Series 14-speaker audio system.

The configurable 12-inch digital gauge cluster shows a digital speedometer, 7,000-rpm tachometer, coolant temperature, fuel level, and more. The odometer indicates this Vette has only 3,999 miles on it. According to the CARFAX report, the odometer read 2,274 miles in December 2022.

Behind the passenger compartment and under the optional Edge Red engine cover is an LT2 6.2-liter V8 that was factory-rated at 495 horsepower at 6,450 rpm and 470 lb-ft of torque at 5,150 rpm. The pushrod engine has a dry-sump oiling system and puts power to the road through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. Additional upgrades from the Z51 Performance Package are a heavy-duty cooling system and an upgraded 5.2:1 limited-slip rear end. The Z51 hardware also includes a performance suspension and performance disc brakes with Z51-branded calipers.

Within the first 1,500 miles, this Corvette received an engine service (at 500 miles), a transmission service, and an oil change.

Do yourself a service and bid on this 2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT Z51 coupe right now. The auction for it ends on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery