Hagerty regularly measures the interests and behaviors of collector car buyers, with one of the key methods being the analysis of insurance quote activity. This serves as a useful indicator of interest in different types of vehicles, particularly when segmented by age group. Demographic shifts have historically preceded major changes in the car market, such as when individuals who grew up in the 1980s accumulated sufficient wealth to purchase the vehicles of their youth, leading to increased values for 1980s-era cars.
For decades, baby boomers (born 1946–1964) have been the dominant force in the collector car market and have consistently represented the largest share of insurance quotes at Hagerty. This is largely due to their significant population size, high concentration of wealth, and their formative years coinciding with a golden era of automotive design and performance in the 1960s.
Over time, however, younger generations—including Generation X (born 1965–1981), millennials (born 1982–1996), and Generation Z—have become increasingly active in the market. As baby boomers age, these younger cohorts have gradually made up a larger portion of collector car buyers. Interestingly, this trend reversed in the past year, with baby boomers regaining a stronger presence in the market.
In the first half of 2022, Generation X surpassed baby boomers as the largest cohort in the collector car market, accounting for 35% of insurance quotes compared to boomers’ 34%. At the same time, millennials and Generation Z were also showing gradual growth. However, beginning in 2025, the share of the three younger cohorts began to decline, while pre-boomers (born before 1946) and particularly baby boomers saw an increase in their market share. Specifically, the share of baby boomers rose from 31% to 36% between the beginning and the end of 2025. Although this figure slightly declined to 35% in February, baby boomers have maintained their position as the largest group of collector car buyers.
The reasons behind this resurgence are not entirely clear. While many baby boomers are either in their peak earning years or enjoying retirement, this has been the case for several years and does not fully explain the recent increase. A likely explanation is that the most active participants in the current market are also the wealthiest buyers. According to the Hagerty Market Rating, these individuals tend to belong to older age groups, which may account for the renewed dominance of baby boomers.
Report by Andrew Newton
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