As for the cost of insurance, the cost of insuring a classic car when compared with the premium asked for a more modern car could turn out to be considerably less. It is well worth looking around to see how the quotes compare.

Then there’s road tax. As long as your classic was built pre-1973, it should qualify for zero rated road tax. You still need to display a tax disc but that’s money saved and in your pocket.

Social
Ask many owners why they run a classic car and they often reply that owning and running one can be a very sociable pastime indeed, depending on your approach. Simply running an old car means you could get waved at by other like-minded individuals as you drive around in your own historic machine. If you so choose, you can go one step further and join a classic owners club.

Whether you join a club specialising in a particular marque, or a local classic club catering for owners of any oddball machines, you can be sure to have some fun and at the same time have a rich vein of knowledge in which to tap into should you encounter a problem with your own car. Members are always willing to help out with advice, or sometimes even the loan of tools. Many of the larger one-make clubs also remanufacture rare spares for your particular car, so for that reason alone it pays to join.

Environmental
There are some sound environmental benefits to running an older classic car. With all the energy and resulting pollution that goes into producing a brand new car, why not buy a classic instead. This is an excellent example of re-using something that is a little older, instead of automatically binning it and replacing with a later model.

Most Classics are ok to run on unleaded just like modern cars do. Admittedly some classics do require a few modifications before they can do a significant mileage on unleaded, but yet again this is an example of modifying and adapting an existing resource (in this case an old car) to modern conditions, instead of just junking it and replacing with a new car.
Older cars lend themselves to maintenance in ways that no modern car can hope to do. Most components in cars of the 1970s and earlier can usually be stripped down, the failed part located, and that one item replaced quite cheaply. Compare this to a new car with its sealed for life black boxes which are destined for the bin and immediate replacement, upon showing a problem.

There you go. Three simple reasons why buying yourself that classic car of your dreams might not be such a crazy idea after all.

Sureterm are pleased to offer Classic Car articles for enthusiasts that include buying, how-to guides and latest news. For Classic Insurance, visit one of the UK’s most competitive insurance specialists – Sureterm Direct.

The Jaguar XK120 was first revealed to the public at the London Motor Show in 1948, and it reinvented the world of sports cars by providing a car with elegant curves, a fantastic chassis, and a remarkable price. It became the fastest production car at the time of launch, and was rivalled only by the V12 Ferrari which was 4 times the price.

This proved to be an unbeatable combination, and became a milestone for Jaguar whilst reviving the motor industry with much fanfare after the war. Interestingly, the XK120 was only really designed as test bed with which to show off the XK engine, but with orders flooding in Jaguar wasted no time and put the car into full production. Several versions were eventually released, with the Roadster version being a hit amongst Hollywood stars like Clark Gable. It is still a design classic today, and in 1999 the car featured in the box office hit Cruel Intentions, driven by Ryan Phillippe & Reese Witherspoon.

The XK120 was the creation of Sir William Lyons, aka “Mr. Jaguar”, and was powered by the 3442cc power plant dubbed the XK engine, generating 160bhp, and the XK120 is so named as its top speed tipped 120mph. As expected it was a success on the track and was driven by some of motor sports biggest legends such as Stirling Moss and Ian Appleyard, and helped Jaguar win the Le Mans title on several occasions.

There are still a large number in circulation today, looking as they did when they first rolled off the production lines thanks to being a favourite amongst classic car enthusiasts and being lovingly restored. If you are interested in purchasing one, expect to pay in excess of £70000 for a prime example.

Owners of such a car should use a special classic car insurance broker, and conduct a car Insurance Comparison online to find the best insurance quotes.

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So how do you choose firstly a website, then a company, then the policy, that is going to be right for your prized possession, your cherished classic car?

You could like the majority of people start off by visiting a large car insurance comparison site, such as the ones you will see advertising during virtually every commercial break on television. don’t expect to find any bargains at these types of sites. They are designed around standard polices for standard vehicles, and although many of these sites willl now quote for classic cars, the premiums are often heavily loaded and more often far from competitive. Having spent time filling out the application form online it can be disappointing to find that most companies on the comparison panel are refusing to quote for your particular classic, or have loaded the premium as the do not want your business. For the majority of the large car insurance companies, classic cars mainly equate to expensive claims, and not profitable target business.

When comparing what can at first appear to be, cheap classic car insurance through one of thee large supermarket distribution outlets, be very careful to read all the wordings in the small print, paying particular close attention to the information regarding claims.

If you own a classic car you need to ascertain that in the event of an accident your classic car will be taken to a specialist or maker approved repairer and that only genuine replacement parts will be used on your car to repair it. Unfortunately you will find that most mainstream car insurers have a network of approved repairers nationwide, and will often insist that cars covered under their policy contracts must be repaired through these outlets. In situations such as this, what appeared to be a bargain cheap car insurance deal at source, could prove to be a very expensive mistake.

The solution to the problem is to approach a specialist car insurer or broker, in particular one who has experience in underwriting classic motors, and preferably has a large book of business of classic car insurance. Unlike in many other professions for example healthcare, a specialist in car insurance is often cheaper than the High Street names and offer better value quality cover that can be tailored to the requirements of your specific classic car make and model. By specialising in a particular market niche these car insurers have developed group schemes for virtually every type of classic. By joining one of these schemes you are joining a risk pool of like minded individuals and similar cars. The specialist car insurer is able to determine more accurate rates for a particular classic and you will also benefit from the power of group buying which delivers economies of scale in the form of shared risks and cheaper premiums.

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1. Do you plan to insure the car for what you feel it’s really worth? Your agent will undoubtedly ask how much insurance coverage you are seeking — if your personal opinion of value is higher than the vehicle’s appraised value, you may want to consider a higher level of coverage.

2. Do you plan to participate in car club events? If so, you need to consider the amount of liability you can incur in such events. A classic car that is stored 365 days a year has much less potential for liability claims than a car that is driven regularly in parades and other event.

3. Are you planning an extended period of renovation for the car? If so, do you need to insure the car while it’s off the road?

4. Do you plan to ship the car any time soon? If so, additional coverage may be warranted since the car will be outside of your control.

5. How many miles a year do you expect to drive the car? If these miles are limited, you may be able to negotiate a lower premium. Be sure to ask about any maximum mileage limitations. An annual restriction of 2,500 miles may be imposed by your car insurance company.

6. Who will be repairing or maintaining the car? Again, if the car is outside of your control, you may want to consider higher theft and damage coverage. On the flip side, if you personally maintain the car within secure confines on your property, you may want to pay for minimal coverage.

The answers to all of these questions need to be considered before you decide how much coverage is warranted for your classic car. Also, car owners should be aware that some insurance companies specialize in classic car insurance. But as with any car insurance policy, it’s best to get quotes from several insurance providers before making a decision. Hopefully, by carefully considering the answers to the six questions we’ve discussed, you’ll be prepared to shop for the best coverage for your classic car.

Thinking of shopping online for multiple car insurance quotes? You may want to visit the website recommended below to get at least five quotes for your classic car insurance.

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