Classic car insurance

We don’t compare classic car insurance – here are some companies[1] offering quotes[2]

  • it's Classic Car Insurance is an insurance price comparison site for classic cars. Simply enter your details on the easy-to-use quote form and get competitive quotes from Grove & Dean's specialist car insurance brands. Find the policy that's right for you and your classic vehicle and start saving today. Because this is a specialist UK classic car insurance comparison site, it's Classic Car Insurance addresses the needs of owners, providing bespoke policy features such as agreed values, salvage retention, spare parts cover together with discounts for car club members. Visit it's Classic Car Insurance now, compare quotes and save money on your classic car insurance.

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  • Lancaster Insurance Services has proudly arranged classic car insurance for more than 30 years. Specialising in arranging cover for your cherished vehicle, our tailored and comprehensive policies are designed to protect your investment. We have access to some of the most competitive classic car, vintage car and classic vehicle insurance schemes in the UK and work with carefully selected underwriters to enable us to offer both comprehensive and bespoke insurance solutions, with our customers in mind.

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When is a car classed as a classic car?

Any car more than 15 years old and worth more than £15,000 is considered a classic – but the exact definition is entirely up to the insurer.

You probably think of a classic car as having a certain traditional look or features, but as long as you meet the insurer’s criteria, you might find that you’re able to get classic car insurance for all sorts of vehicles, just because they’re a bit older than others.

Some insurers will only cover a classic car if it’s not your main vehicle, so you’d need to have another car which you use for your everyday driving.

Classic car insurance

What is the difference between classic car insurance and regular insurance?

Features of classic car cover often include:

  1. Agreed value payouts
  2. Laid up cover
  3. A limited mileage discount
  4. Wedding hire cover
  5. An owners club discount
  6. Cover for classics that have been modified
  7. Claim free driving

A classic car that you use as your secondary vehicle won’t accumulate a no claims discount (NCD). But some insurers will consider your years of ‘claim free driving’ instead of the number of years you’ve had a NCD.

What does an ‘agreed valuation’ mean?

Some classic car policies will insure you for an agreed value instead of market value.

Standard car insurance will only pay out the current market value of your car if it's stolen or written off. That can leave classic car owners out of pocket because they've spent time and money lovingly restoring their car to be worth more than the market value.

With an agreed value policy, the insurer instead sets a fair value with you before your cover starts – and that's what you'll receive if your car's stolen or written off.

Find out more about agreed value car insurance >

Is classic car insurance cheaper than regular car insurance?

Classic car insurance can be cheaper than a standard policy. Insurers recognise that older vehicles have lower speeds and simpler mechanics than modern vehicles, as well as owners who look after their cars well.

That all means they can classify them as a lower risk and offer cheaper premiums.

There are other benefits to classic car insurance too – a specialist policy can give you extra cover designed specifically for your classic car.

You’ll be covered for all the usual things like fire, theft and third-party damages. But you’ll also be able to get additional cover for restoration, exhibiting your car and racing on track days.

Classic car insurance will also cover repairs which can be more expensive for vintage cars than for standard ones, as replacement parts can be harder to find.

What add-ons are available for a classic car insurance policy?

Restoration cover

Restoring your car can take months or years. If your classic car is being restored by a professional, they might have motor trade insurance which protects your vehicle while it’s in their care. But it’s not a legal requirement and it might not offer enough cover for your classic car. Instead, you can get classic car insurance that covers your laid-up motor while it’s being restored.

Cover for vintage show display

You’ll be covered for dents and scrapes while showing your car, plus third-party liability just in case you bump into something or someone.

Track day racing

Whether you enjoy leisurely drives around iconic racetracks to show off your classic or take part in time trials to test its muscle, you’ll be covered for any damage or accidents. Your premiums are likely to be higher depending on how many races or events you attend.

Going abroad

Most car insurance policies with EU cover will give you the lowest level of cover that’s legally required: third party only. If you're involved in an accident and it was your fault, that means you’d have to pay for your repairs yourself which could be particularly expensive for classic cars. Read your documents carefully and ask your insurer about increasing cover to drive abroad if the standard cover with your policy isn’t enough.

Breakdown cover for classic cars

Vintage cars aren't always reliable, so make sure you have some sort of classic car breakdown cover. It won't necessarily be part of your classic car insurance policy as standard.

Some insurers offer breakdown cover as a policy add-on when you buy classic car insurance – carefully review the policy features and cost of the combined policy and compare it with standalone cover before deciding.

Look for policies with roadside assistance and local recovery and watch out for vehicle age limits. Some breakdown cover providers won’t cover classic cars because their age puts them at a greater risk of breaking down.

Compare breakdown cover
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How can I reduce the cost of classic car insurance?

You can lower the cost of your classic car insurance by:

  1. Limiting your mileage

    The less you drive, the less likely you are to have an accident.

  2. Fitting a modern immobiliser and tracking device

    As well as being great deterrents, a tracker can help to recover your classic car if it is stolen.

  3. Joining an official car club

    Some insurers will see your car club membership as evidence of your dedication to taking care of your car, and give you a discount.

  4. Paying annually

    You’ll be charged interest if you pay for car insurance monthly, so paying yearly is cheaper.

Find out more about the ways you can lower the cost of your car insurance.

Frequently asked questions

  • If you’re using your classic car for special occasions, such as transporting people to weddings, a standard car insurance policy might not cover you.

    You’ll need to take out a business policy instead. You might also need extra cover for public road rallies or trials.

    Check the terms and conditions of your policy to see whether you’re covered for business use.

  • Unless you’ve applied for a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN), you’ll need year-round cover for your car, even if you only use it in the summer, or if you just take it to an occasional rally or event.

    If you don't need cover to drive your car out on the road, you can get a laid-up policy instead. It'll cover your car against fire, theft, and vandalism while it's in storage or being restored.

    Laid-up policies don't usually cover you for driving anywhere, although some policies for classic cars can include a small amount of cover for out on the road to cover you for things like travelling to car shows.

  • Some insurers assume you only drive your classic car occasionally and put a very low limit on your annual mileage.

    You might even be asked to sign a mileage declaration stating you'll stay under an agreed mileage and provide a photograph of your odometer at the policy's outset.

    If you use your classic car on the daily commute, make sure you stay within the mileage limits. If you think you might exceed the agreed mileage, tell your insurer immediately so it can increase it to make sure you're still covered.

  • You don’t pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) – also known as road tax – on cars that were manufactured more than 40 years before 1 January of the current year. For example, if your car was manufactured in 1981, it’d be tax exempt from 1 January 2021.

    The criteria for this tax exemption is reviewed on 1 April each year.

  • Yes. Standard insurance is much more expensive if you have a modified car, but this isn’t usually the case with classic car insurance.

    This is because insurers know that most modifications are necessary to preserve your classic car, not to make it go faster. So as modifications are almost expected, you’ll likely not be charged much extra for them.

  • Some classic cars are exempt from MOTs, but that doesn't mean you can't take it for a check-up. A mechanic might spot something you can't see, which could prevent costly repair bills. Regular servicing will help the engine stay healthy for longer too.

  • Yes, it can. Insurers usually take car club membership as a sign of your dedication – the more dedicated you are, the more care you take, so the less risk you pose – and will give you a discount.

  • It’s unlikely. Most classic cars are used as a secondary vehicle and won’t accumulate a NCD. Although some insurers will consider your years of ‘claim free driving’ instead of the number of years you’ve had a NCD, so you might be able to get some sort of discount. Check the policy details before you buy.

  • No – most classic cars are stored more securely and driven less than regular cars, plus owners tend to be more careful with their prized classics. This means annual premiums don’t increase as much because there’s less risk to the insurer.

  • Most classic car policies have a minimum age limit. There may be a few insurers that cover younger drivers, but you’ll probably have less choice and it’ll cost more.

See also

More car insurance guides

Tools and calculators

[1]We do not offer a full comparison service on classic car insurance at Gocompare.com but instead have provided links to some companies that offer classic car insurance quotes. These companies are not listed in an order that indicates that one is better than another but are instead ordered in line with our commercial arrangement with each one. Please remember, as different companies offer different policies, it is up to you to choose the one that best suits your needs.

[2]Gocompare.com introduces you to it's Classic Car Insurance Services and Lancaster Insurance Services to provide classic car insurance quotes. it's Classic Car Insurance Services and Lancaster Insurance Services are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Gocompare.com's relationship with it's Classic Car Insurance Services and Lancaster Insurance Services is limited to that of a business partnership, no common ownership or control rights exist between us.