Classic Car Insurance

[KernowRover]

Hi all,
Can anyone tell me please what age must a car be to qualify for classic car insurance, and are there any other requirements?
Many thanks
Tom

[keithybhoy]

I think our cars qualify for classic insurance as they are no longer made. I might be wrong but thats what i was told

[Roverite]

There is no specific age for a 'classic', neither does 'classic' apply to any particular car grouping. Basically, it is a loose term that was applied to interesting old cars that didn't fit into the specifically defined Veteran, Vintage and Post Vintage Thoroughbred cars of the pre WWII era.

Historic vehicle status is a DVLA definition for vehicles that don't require a fee for their annual licence and some are exempt from the MOT. This status was a 'rolling' 25 year age, but it was frozen at 1972 for several years, but was recently reintroduced (I can't remember the year, but it is now more than 25 years), and is expected to continue rolling.

Insurance companies use different criteria and I believe some companies profess to give our cars classic car insurance, but there will be conditions. These may include, a certain age of car, or model, membership of an authorised 'club', limited annual mileage, use of a second car for everyday use and being kept in a locked concrete and tiled garage. A specialist 'classic' car insurer may insure your car as an everyday car, but my experience is that it will not be as cheap as many normal insurance companies.

One good bit about proper classic car insurance is the agreed value. For example, if your car is still listed at a certain value, you can obtain a proper insured value to reflect the true value of your car, but you will probably need a 'club' valuation. In this case, if your car is written off, you will get the full agreed value amount and will probably be allowed to buy back the salvage. There is also no 'No Claims Discount'; it is a fixed price policy, so you will not accrue any additional discounts in following years.

The problem is that these policies are supposed to be for cars that are only used occasionally, on low annual mileages and therefore the 'risk' factor for the insurer is low, which explains the usually lower premiums; but you can try!

Roverite.

[Snetty]

I think some insurers class anything over fifteen years old as classic, try Peter Best insurance.

[keithybhoy]

lancaster were great with my old minis and escorts

[Zircon]

Originally Posted by TommyD

Hi all,
Can anyone tell me please what age must a car be to qualify for classic car insurance, and are there any other requirements?
Many thanks
Tom

Hi,
By coincidence, I have just been 'shopping around' and I did ask Footman James, a broker that specialises in classic car insurance. I was told that for Rovers, they don't classify them as 'classic cars' till they are 20 years old (perhaps it is 15 for makes they reckon have more prestige).

The only insurer I found that would agree to a realistic 'agreed value', was NFU Mutual (the firm top-rated by Which?) - but unfortunately their quote was about £200 more than the figure I eventually got - from another Which? recommended insurer. As you know, it pays to shop around - but what a palaver .

All the best,

Nicholas/Zircon

[Paulontour]

My ZT is insured with Peter Best on a classic policy. Limited to 5000 miles a year includes legal aid and AA European breakdown recovery. You don't earn any NCB but you don't need any in the first place. All modifications declared for £200. You need to be a member of the MGCC or the MGOC to get cover. My car is a 2002 190.

http://www.peterbestinsurance.co.uk/

[twizellb]

I had my old Bmw m3 e36 insured on a classic policy with Classicline Insurance.
The told me at the time that as it was over 10yrs old and no longer in production that it qualified.
You had to have another vehicle you could class as your main form of transport and there was a mileage restriction.
M3 was garaged aswell.

[Roverite]

Originally Posted by Snetty

I think some insurers class anything over fifteen years old as classic, try Peter Best insurance.

I did and it was much more expensive than LV. I have used PB for proper classic car insurance, with all the limitations I mentioned earlier, but for an everyday use car, they are not competitive. Some 'classic' insurers will insure your everyday car, so long as you have a classic insured with them.

But, as I said before, try them ans see.

Roverite.

[Roverite]

Originally Posted by Paulontour

My ZT is insured with Peter Best on a classic policy. Limited to 5000 miles a year includes legal aid and AA European breakdown recovery. You don't earn any NCB but you don't need any in the first place. All modifications declared for £200. You need to be a member of the MGCC or the MGOC to get cover. My car is a 2002 190.

http://www.peterbestinsurance.co.uk/

Is that your only car?

Roverite.