Classic Car Insurance


Classic Car Insurance

An important part of looking after your classic car is finding the right insurance.

Many insurers which offer classic car insurance do so at a lower premium than a modern everyday car. This is because they consider the classic car to be a collectors item — a car that will be not be driven daily and one that will be looked after meticulously by its owner.

Many classic car policies will indicate that the policy will only be valid on the condition the driver is above a certain age, for example 21 or 25 years old. They may insist that your vintage or classic car is above a certain age, for instance 15 years. They may ask that your classic car be kept in a secure garage and only travel a specified number of miles annually, for instance, up to 7,500 miles per year.

To guarantee that you find the best policy, follow the suggestions below:

Get your car independently valued and guaranteed to ascertain the amount that will be paid should the car be written off or stolen. Remember that many classic cars increase in value as they get older so get your classic car valued regularly.

When insuring a classic car, take into consideration any rare accessories belonging to the car as these can be costly to replace.

To ensure a lower premium, ask for a "limited mileage" policy of between 1,500 and 10,000 miles.

Both mainstream and specialist insurers can offer good classic car policies. One advantage of choosing a specialist classic car insurer is that their staff may have a shared love and understanding of your unique car. Specialist insurers can also offer discounted rates to members of classic car enthusiast clubs.

Whether you choose a regular or specialist classic car insurer, make sure the following criteria are included in your policy:

Agreed Car Valuation

Option to retain salvage

1500 / 3000 / 5000 / 7500 mileage options Collectors Policies Rally Cover Wedding Hire by Day or Year Track Day Cover Windscreen and Window cover Full breakdown and recovery service for the UK and Europe Medical Expenses

Many car insurers will offer discounts to classic car drivers if they are experienced driver, drivers who belong to a classic car enthusiast club or drivers who are members of the Institute of Advanced Motorists. Different levels of discounts will apply to classic cars depending on their age, for example, vehicles over 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years old. Generally, the older the car, the lower the premium. Some insurers will offer more generous discounts the longer you have owned your classic car.

If rally cover is important to you, choose an insurer which specialises in this type of policy so that you are covered for all UK and European historic rallies on an annual basis.

Mainstream classic car insurers include the AA and Norwich Union. Specialist classic car insurers include Performance Direct, Lancaster Insurance, Footman James, Heritage Vehicle part of Norton Insurance, Peter Best and Adrian Flux Insurance. There are, of course, many more insurance companies which you can find on the internet. The internet is also a useful and quick tool for obtaining and comparing various classic car insurance quotes.