Court Opinion

ID: 9688261
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 17:41:53.466713+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:36.972802
License: Public Domain

STEINMETZ, J.
(dissenting). I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion by concluding that it has misinterpreted the law as applied to the facts. The very purpose of the special St. Paul Mercury insurance policy for antique and collector automobiles is to provide a premium substantially lower than that charged for a standard comprehensive automobile insurance policy, because antique and collector vehicles are not driven on highways with the frequency of regular automobiles.
To obtain a special policy from St. Paul Mercury Insurance Company for antique and collector automobiles, an individual is required to meet specific requirements. First, an individual must have an insurance policy covering a vehicle that is used for ordinary highway transportation.1 This requirement assures coverage for the policyholder and the holder's family should they incur damages as the result of an incident involving an uninsured motorist. Second, the policy does not cover loss or damage if the mileage of the antique or collector vehicle exceeds 2,500 miles per year. Third, the covered vehicle must not be used for traveling to or from work, school or shopping, for advertising or commercial enterprises, or for racing, rallies, or other timed events. Finally, the covered vehicle must not be altered in any *439way. For example, an owner cannot change the vehicle to look like a hot rod or customized show car.
St. Paul Mercury Insurance Company's special policy for antique or collector automobiles, unlike a standard comprehensive automobile insurance policy, limits liability coverage and uninsured motorist coverage to occupants of an insured vehicle. The only individuals who are protected under the policy for damages inflicted by an uninsured motorist are those individuals who are identified in the policy as the policyholder or the policyholder's relatives.
Because of the requirements and limitations outlined above, the premium cost for a special policy is lower than the cost of a standard policy. If Zastrow, the policy owner in this case, had purchased coverage for his 29 antique cars under a standard policy, the uninsured coverage would have cost $1,160 in annual premiums. Under the special policy provided by St. Paul Mercury Insurance Company, the same coverage for 29 cars was $435.
The statute the majority relies on is sec. 632.32(4)(a), Stats., which applies to "[e]very policy of insurance subject to this section . . .." The majority correctly states that sec. 632.32(4) does not indicate what class of persons the mandatory uninsured motorist coverage must protect. The majority opines that: "Section 632.32(4) does not expressly prohibit an insurance company from limiting uninsured motorist coverage to occupants of the motor vehicle for which the insurance policy was written." Majority op. at 431. However, then the court unjustifiably applies all of its recent pronouncements on uninsured motorist coverage as if the legislature had intended sec. 632.32(4) be applied to Zastrow's special policy.
*440Wisconsin has recognized special classifications for antique and collector cars in secs. 341.265 and 341.266, Stats., and has provided reduced registration fees for antique and collector vehicles if the owner meets certain conditions, including limited use restrictions.2 The 29 cars in this case so qualify. The majority ignores sec. 341.226 in which the legislature treats registration of this class of automobiles differently. The majority fails to recognize that the policy before us is not subject to sec. 632.32. Section 632.32 applies to standard insurance policies — not special policies.
The court has found uninsured motorist coverage as person-oriented rather than vehicle-oriented. The policy Zastrow purchased is a special insurance policy designed for antique and collector automobiles. The very limited use of these automobiles does not subject them to the normal exposure or danger from uninsured motorists. These cars frequently are never driven on highways for fear of wear and tear or breakdown. In fact, owners often have the automobiles transported to and from shows on flatbed trucks.
The fact that the state provides for special registration and recognizes different classes of automobiles because of their use on Wisconsin highways is disposi-tive to this case. It illustrates that special insurance policies, such as the one in this case, are recognized by the legislature as being different from the standard policy and should therefore be treated differently.
*441I would affirm the Marathon county circuit court.
I am authorized to state that JUSTICES ROLAND B. DAY and WILLIAM G. CALLOW join this dissenting opinion.

 The standard policy may be obtained from any insurance company. The insured is not required to obtain a standard policy from the same company that the special policy is purchased.

Section 341.265, Stats, discusses antique motor vehicles, registration, plates and use. Subsection (1) states in part:
The vehicle shall only be used for special occasions such as display and parade purposes or for necessary testing, maintenance and storage purposes.
Section 341.266(1) discusses special interest vehicles, registration, plates and use.