Classic car insurance

Yes, you can get classic car insurance if your car has modifications. But the price of your policy might be higher than usual, as your insurer could view any modifications as an additional risk.

Your insurance company might see modifications, such as a high-quality re-spray or a upgraded upholstery, as an attraction for thieves. Anything that increases your classic car's performance could mean a more expensive repair bill after an accident.

If you’re going to make modifications to your car, always tell your insurer what modifications you've made. Not doing so means you’re in danger of invalidating any future claims.

Yes, classic cars don't have to pay for car tax.

If your vehicle was built before 1 January 1983, you can apply to stop paying for vehicle tax from 1 April 2023. You still need to go through the process to tax your vehicle, but you don't need to pay.

Don’t know when your vehicle was built? If it was first registered before 8 January 1983, you can still apply to stop paying vehicle tax.

Getting classic car insurance when you're 17 years old might be a little trickier than for older drivers. You would have to run a quote to see if you were offered any results from our panel. But remember as we don't offer specific classic car insurance, always check with the insurance company on any limitations, or extras you might need before agreeing to proceed.

Usually, classic car insurance is only available for drivers who are at least 18 years old. This is because many policies ask for the policyholder to have held their driving licence for at least a year.

But if you can find specialist classic car insurance for 17 year old's elsewhere, there might be extra requirements such as:

• Belonging to a classic car owners' club
• Limits on the age of the car e.g. no older than 30 years
• Annual mileage caps
• Clean driving history

Classic car clubs could have several benefits for you:

• Tapping into the experience of fellow members for expert advice
• Potential discounts on services and related merchandise
• Depending on the insurance provider, being a member of a classic car club could give you a discount on your policy
• The joy of socialising with like-minded and passionate owners

You can find classic car owners' clubs at a local and national level, and you can be as involved as you want. If you're passionate about your classic car, it could be worth considering signing up.

Classic car insurance tends to be cheaper than standard insurance policies. This is because classic cars aren't out on the road all that often. Classic cars tend to be looked after by their owners, and those who drive classic cars tend to do so with greater care.

All this combined tends to make classic cars a lower risk to insure than more modern cars for everyday use. So you might find when comparing classic car insurance policies that the prices you see are more favourable.

Classic cars are usually viewed by insurance companies as for recreational use and not for commuting. Some policies also have a cap on annual mileage, for example, 2,500 miles per year.

There are policies that allow you to use your classic car for commuting but the price of your insurance is likely to go up. It's worth checking the price of a policy for commuting against social use only to see if it's worth upgrading your cover.

No, classic cars don't need to get an annual MOT.

Here the definition of 'classic' is more than 40 years old. If the vehicle was built or first registered more than 40 years ago and no ‘substantial changes’ have been made to it in the last 30 years, it doesn't need an MOT.

You might find it difficult to compare vintage car insurance. Given the age of these cars, many car insurance companies don't offer cover.

If you're looking to insure a car from the 1930s and before, you might need to contact a specialist vintage car insurance provider.

A substantial change refers to any vehicle alterations that have changed the technical characteristics of the main features of the car. This only includes vehicle alterations from within the last 30 years.

For example, replacing the chassis, body, axles or engine to change the way the vehicle works.

Substantial changes, like modifications, have the potential to significantly increase your car insurance costs. If you're thinking about making changes to your classic car, talk to your insurer first.

Yes, you can get breakdown cover included or as an optional extra for your classic car. But it depends on the insurance provider as to how much extra this would cost, or if it's included in the policy price. If in doubt, always talk to the provider to check. When you get a quote, you'll see in the breakdown cover column whether it's included or an extra cost. You'll also see the additional cost where relevant.

There are normally different levels of breakdown cover available. But always read the policy terms or check with the provider what you're actually getting.

Depending on your level of cover, common benefits of breakdown cover include:

• Home assistance that provides additional cover if your car won’t start, and you're near your home.
• National recovery that covers your car if it breaks down away from home. If your car can’t be fixed locally, a recovery vehicle and team are sent out to help you.
• European cover that provides protection when driving in Europe, with cover generally available for up to 31 days a trip, and 90 days a year in total. Before you take your classic car on a European break, make sure you call your insurer to let them know just in case anything happens. The insurer can then start your cover.