Classic car insurance can provide cover for older, cherished vehicles that are driven less and often worth more each year, not less. It can settle claims against an agreed value you set up front with the insurer, works around limited annual mileage, and understands that a Jaguar E-Type or a Ford Escort Mk1 is not the same risk as a modern hatchback.
At Chris Knott Insurance, we have arranged insurance for enthusiasts since 1983. We are an independent, UK-based broker, and we search a panel of classic car insurers to find cover and pricing that often is not available on comparison sites. It is classic car insurance you can trust, from a team that knows these cars. Get a quote.
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Andy was brilliant - talked me through all the options clearly, no pressure, and found me a much better deal than the comparison sites. This is how insurance should be done.
I needed specialist cover for my classic Jaguar and Chris Knott sorted it quickly and at a great price. Really impressed with the level of knowledge and personal service.
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First-class service. I dealt with Emma who was patient, helpful and knew exactly what I needed for my thatched cottage. Got proper specialist cover, not a standard policy.
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Whether you call it classic vehicle insurance or vintage car insurance, it works differently from a standard car insurance policy. A classic policy is usually settled on an agreed value rather than a shifting market value, expects lower annual mileage, and allows repairs by marque specialists using the right parts. It reflects how classic cars are owned: driven for pleasure, stored carefully, and kept in good order.
There is no single legal definition, and each insurer sets its own criteria. As a rough guide:
| Category | Era | Typical view |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran | Built before 1919 | Earliest cars, valued for rarity |
| Vintage | 1919 to 1930 | Pre-war, collectable by age alone |
| Classic | Roughly 1930s to 1990s, often 20 years and older | The core of most classic policies |
| Modern classic | 1980s to early 2000s | Judged on rarity, desirability and condition |
Age is only part of it. A car might qualify because it is over a certain age, because it is rare, or simply because it is no longer your main car. If you are not sure your car counts, just ask us.
From pre-war icons to modern classics, we arrange cover for a huge range of makes and models. Some of the popular classic cars we insure include:
Whether your car is on this list or not, if it is cherished and driven sparingly, it is worth asking us for a quote.
Cover varies by insurer and by the level you choose, but a specialist policy is usually built from these parts:
Optional extras include breakdown cover arranged with the AA. Exclusions, excesses and eligibility conditions apply, and the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) and policy wording set them out in full.
Agreed value is the difference between being paid what your car is really worth and what a guide book thinks it is worth.
Say you own a 1974 MGB GT. A standard insurer's market value guide might read around £9,000, but a well-restored example changes hands closer to £15,000. On a market value policy, a write-off could pay the lower figure. With an agreed valuation of £15,000 recorded up front, that is the figure the claim is settled against. Insurers usually ask for photographs and, for higher-value cars, a professional or owners' club valuation. Review it each year, as strong classics keep climbing in value.
This is where owners get caught out. A vehicle built or first registered more than 40 years ago is usually exempt from the annual MOT test, as long as no substantial changes have been made, such as replacing the chassis, body, axles or engine. Vehicles built before 1 January 1986 can also apply for the historic vehicle tax class, meaning no car tax (VED) from 1 April 2026.
But exempt from MOT and tax does not mean exempt from insurance. If your classic is used or kept on a public road, it still needs at least third-party cover. Under Continuous Insurance Enforcement, a car that is neither insured nor declared off the road can land you a fine. If yours is off the road for a while, a SORN policy keeps it protected without paying for cover you are not using.
Yes, though it changes the policy. Limited-mileage cover suits a weekend car, so regular use usually needs a higher mileage limit set up as a daily driver policy. Be honest about mileage and use, as getting it wrong can affect a claim. The same goes for any modified work, which needs to be declared and can usually be covered.
Insurance comes down to trust, and that is something we have earned since 1983:
If you own more than one classic, a multi-car policy keeps everything on one renewal date, and we also cover imported classics from around the world.
It often can be, depending on the car, the driver and how the policy is set up. Classics tend to cover low mileage, live in a garage and are cared for, which insurers see as lower risk. We cannot promise a lower price for everyone, but searching a specialist panel gives us more room to find one than a single insurer would.
Some classic policies include driving to and from shows and events, and European cover for a set number of days a year. The exact number sits in your policy wording and IPID, so check it before a big trip or a season of events.
Yes. Age-based MOT and tax exemptions do not remove the legal need to insure a car used or kept on a public road. At a minimum you need third-party cover, or a SORN declaration if it is off the road. It is one of the most common misunderstandings we hear.
Dive into our Knowledge Hub to explore easy-to-read articles on all things motor insurance - from breakdown cover and agreed value policies to the latest news, tips on excess, no-claims bonuses and more. It’s our way of empowering you with insight - because informed drivers make better coverage choices.
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Read More →From classic cars to daily drivers, breakdown cover to multi-car policies, we arrange specialist motor insurance for every type of driver.
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ExploreEvery page is written and fact-checked by our UK-based insurance specialists. Chris Knott Insurance has been arranging cover since 1983.
As an UK-based broker, we have been arranging the right cover for enthusiasts since 1983, with a real team in Hastings and no pressure or jargon. We take the time to understand your car and how you use it, then search our panel for cover that often is not available on comparison sites. Please read the policy wording and IPID for full details, including exclusions and excesses.
Request a quote, or call the friendly team you can trust on 0800 917 2274 to talk it through.
