Classic Car Insurance
Classic Car Insurance needs special attention, because your vintage motor could be very rare, or even the last of its kind. At 1st Choice, our team will use their specialist knowledge of the classic cars insurance uk market to ensure your vehicle gets the cover it needs at the right price. With experience in arranging cheap classic cars insurance for our clients, we can advise on the best level of protection from the best classic car insurers uk.
If you own a car that’s over 15 years old, in the eyes of many insurers it could well be considered a ‘classic’…
Classic Car Facts:
- If your car was manufactured over 40 years ago, you don’t need to have it MOT tested. Proof of roadworthiness may still be required by the insurer or HMRC though, and failure to do so could mean being fined up to £2,500 and getting three penalty points on your driving licence.
- Cars registered prior to 1981 don’t require road tax. Though a 40+ year old car will not be subject to road tax, you do still have to complete and submit a tax form. You won’t need to pay anything, unless the vehicle is used commercially, as a wedding car, for example.
- Generally, for insurance purposes, cars over 20 years old (as young as 10 – 15 years for some insurers) can be considered as a ‘classic’.
Benefits of Comprehensive Classic Car Insurance
Comprehensive is the best level of cover you can find from classic car insurers uk, and we usually recommend this protection for all classic vehicles, as more often than not classic can also mean high value, especially if it’s a rare model. It includes third party, fire & theft and will cover the cost of repairing or restoring your car if it’s involved in an accident or if it’s damaged maliciously. Comprehensive classic cars insurance uk often includes other benefits such as windscreen cover, extended cover for driving outside the UK, and a courtesy car to replace your vehicle if it’s in for repairs.
Our team will be able to advise on the cover choices that are available to you, from both mainstream and specialist classic car insurers uk. Policies can be competitive as insurers know that classic car owners are more likely to keep their vehicle well maintained and often stick to a low annual mileage. As with all insurance policies, it is important to carefully check your policy wording to check that it is suitable for all your requirements.
Tips to keep your classic car insurance comparison low
There are a few good ways that you can keep your classic car insurance premiums lower, for example, if you can maintain a lower annual mileage (between 2000 – 5000 mpa) by having a secondary vehicle you use for day to day running around. Storing your vintage motor in a more secure location helps to, like on a private drive, in a garage or in a vehicle lock up. Also, driver’s aged over 25 will benefit from lower premiums on classic cars.
Things to consider for your classic car insurance…
An important factor to consider when taking out classic car insurance is whether the insurer will insist on you using their selected repair centre in the event of an accident, or whether you get to choose your preferred specialist garage that is experienced in working your make and model of car and can source the necessary parts required.
Establishing the true value of a classic car can be tricky! If it’s a rare vehicle and parts are difficult to source/or overly expensive, the cost to repair or replace with parts of good condition can be extremely high. All modifications, including alternative replacement parts (where original parts weren’t available), should be disclosed to your insurer. When advising us of the value of your vehicle, it is worth considering obtaining an agreed valuation, rather than relying on an unpredictable market price.
When it comes to getting cheap classic cars insurance, it is particularly common for insurers to request photographs of the vehicle (exterior, interior and engine etc.). Keeping copies of receipts from any modifications or repairs can be used to support evidence of your vehicle’s value.
You may have a modified version of a manufacturer’s standard car model, but you must remember to declare any of these modifications to the insurer, as it can have an effect on your premium and risk if you have any added features or increased engine performance. If your classic car has been modified, or the engine has been tuned or recalibrated to reach the higher speeds of a more modern vehicle, your risk of having an accident is greater than if you were travelling in a lower-performance vintage motor.
You may also wish to consider a guaranteed value policy, as opposed to market value, which is common for high value and classic vehicles. In the event of a total loss, this type of policy would pay out a pre-arranged sum that was agreed at the policies inception. This could likely require a valuation certificate from an independent expert to confirm your cars value for insurance purposes.
Get Cheap Classic Cars Insurance UK
We know that classic car owners can be completely devoted to their pride and joy, so whether you drive a Ford Cortina Mk3, Triumph Spitfire, MG Roadster, or an Aston Martin DB4, 1st Choice Insurance is here to help. Whatever your requirements, we offer an award-winning service, quick quotes, competitive prices, instant cover, and your insurance documents via email.
We believe that everyone deserves a great value classic car insurance comparison, which is why we try to offer the best value for money with incredible savings. Call our friendly team today on 01743 770 500 or complete our Get a Quote Form to request a call back.