Classic and vintage car insurance 

For a car to be classed as vintage it must have been manufactured between the year 1919 and the year 1930.  The term classic is generally applied to a car manufactured post World War II and before the end of the year 1973 but is also commonly also given to cars of more than 10 years of age that are considered collectable. 

Popular classic and vintage cars 

Among the thousands of classic cars available, there are a number that are perpetually among the favourites of classic car collectors.  This is commonly because they have readily available replacement parts, or because they have strong support available in the form of an owners club.  Many also enjoyed a long production run which has helped a large number to be preserved to the current day. 

A few examples include the Volkswagen Beetle (1945-1985), Ford Anglia 105E (produced between 1959 and 1967), Jaguar MK2 (1959-1967 with two variants running from 1967-1969), the Triumph Herald (1959-1971), and the MGB (launched 1962). 

Austin, Morris, and Singer were the largest and most prolific vintage car manufacturers in Britain.  In 1922 Singer launched a new series which comprised of a number of cars featuring a six cylinder head engine, the most popular cars from the series were the Light Six, Super Six, and the Senior Six.  Five years after the launch of the series Singer debuted the Junior 850cc, which was the best selling car of its class during the vintage era. 

The BMC ADO16 enjoyed a very successful run as the Model 1100/1300 between the years 1962-1974, with manufactured numbers in excess of 2 million and appearing as Britain’s best selling car for 7 of those years. 

Classic and vintage car insurance 

Some insurers can be quite selective about the types of cars they are willing to insure, some may prefer not to insure cars by particular makers or those over a certain age.  This is where the specialist car insurers can prove useful. 

A specialist insurer should generally be able to provide the classic car enthusiast with a cheaper premium than a conventional insurer because they are well-equipped to deal with the specific insurance needs of their owners. They are commonly able to take into consideration the fact that classic and vintage cars are generally well looked after and maintained, will often be kept in a garage and are quite often used infrequently or over lower mileages than many other cars. 

Many insurers will also require that you be of at least 25 years of age since younger drivers will pay high premiums on classic and vintage cars. 

Comprehensive cover for a classic or vintage car should ideally provide: 

-      A limited mileage discount. 

-      Increasing value cover, which allows you to increase the car’s value annually. 

-      An agreed valuation, which is the amount that is guaranteed to be paid out if the car should be damaged beyond repair, or stolen. 

Something which is also worth finding out from the insurer is their policy on replacement parts.  Many owners prefer their replacement parts to be authentic and this should be checked with the insurer to find out whether they are able to accommodate this. 

Specialist car insurance providers 

Insurers who provide specialist car insurance include: 

-      Adrian Flux

Includes limited mileage cover, agreed value cover, wedding hire cover, track and rally cover, and laid up policies to protect classic projects. 

-      Express Insurance

Offers cover for track days and long distance rallies. 

-      Footman James

Includes agreed valuation, motor legal expenses and personal injury cover against road rage and car jacking. 

-      Hagerty International

Offer a range of benefits including agreed valuation, cherished plate cover, limited mileage, rally and event cover, restoration cover, and salvage options. 

-      Lancaster Insurance

Policy benefits include up to a 65% introductory discount, classic car club discounts, limited mileage discount, and guaranteed agreed valuation. 

-      Performance Direct

Offers comprehensive, third party, and third party fire and theft only schemes for every day and popular classics. 

Making a claim on your classic car insurance 

You should always notify your car insurance provider as soon after the event has occurred as you can.  Most insurers will have a 24 hour telephone number to contact for just this reason.  Be sure to ask your insurer what evidence or documents you will need to supply in order to support your claim.  Generally its best to supply as much as you can, including photographs, and if possible contact details for anybody that witnessed the event. 

Always consult with your insurer and wait for approval from them before booking your car in for repairs, doing this may help speed up and simplify the claims process as they may suggest an approved repair centre. 

If you are not satisfied with the service your insurer provides in the event of a claim, remember to shop around for your car insurance at renewal time.