29 May<\/span> How a car becomes a classic and why you need specialist insurance<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPosted at 09:58h<\/span>
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/span> \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\nClassic car specialists and enthusiasts may debate on what exactly they define as a classic car, but there are \u2018official\u2019 classes for different purposes. The DVLA and HMRC each have their own criteria and guidance around how they would declare a car a collectible.<\/p>\n
How a car becomes a classic<\/strong><\/p>\nAs mentioned above, there are two official definitions of what makes a car a classic. One is for car tax purposes (DVLA)1\u00a0<\/sup>and another is used by HMRC2<\/sup>\u00a0when looking to sell your classic (to calculate tax). As well as this, insurance providers may have their own take when it comes to covering your car.<\/p>\nFor the DVLA (vehicle tax), officially known as Vehicle Excise Duty (VED); defines a classic car as:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Built before 1 January 1983<\/li>\n
- First registered for car tax before 8 January 1983 (to be used if you don\u2019t know when your vehicle was made).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
There are limitations though. If you meet the age requirements but use your classic car for trade and\/or business purposes (hire and rewards for example), it will not be exempt from tax.<\/p>\n
HMRC define a classic as:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Aged over 15 years<\/li>\n
- Worth \u00a315,000 or more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Typically, when you come to sell your classic car, it will be exempt from capital gains tax (CGT). As the same with the DVLA, there are limitations. If you\u2019re buying and selling classic cars with the intention of making money (profit), then this would be classed as classic car trading. This means having to pay corporation tax, the amount dependent on the level of profits. This could be 19% or 25%.<\/p>\n
Classification types<\/strong><\/p>\nAs you\u2019ve read, the DVLA and HMRC have their own broad criteria of what makes a car a classic. Classic car experts have further classified vehicles into sub-categories. These categories can help with valuations and are widely used by insurers3<\/sup>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.premierins.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Table-for-car-classification.png\")
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Why it\u2019s important to seek specialist insurance for your classic car<\/strong><\/p>\nClassic car insurance can widely differentiate from \u2018typical\u2019 car insurance. There are various reasons to explore, but in a nutshell \u2013 a specialist provider will be able to tailor the options to your specific vehicle and can take vehicle condition more into account4<\/sup>. For instance, there could be special cover that suits your frequency of driving (typically lower for classics) and your classic car may need more off-road protection features (rusting, etc.). Furthermore, if your classic car is damaged on the road, parts could be harder to find than more modern parts.<\/p>\nOften when insuring your classic car, insurers agree a valuation with you \u2013 whereas \u2018typical\u2019 car insurance generally covers market value as of the date of an insurance claim. If you know someone with a classic car, they may refer to having one as a lifestyle. Classic car insurance more often than not will have Euro cover, this means being covered in a European country as standard5<\/sup>.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re looking for specialists to cover your classic car, get in touch with our team today.<\/p>\n
1<\/sup>Historic (classic) vehicles: MOT and vehicle tax: Eligibility \u2013 GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a><\/p>\n2<\/sup>EIM24400 \u2013 Car benefit calculation Steps 1-4, classic car: definition \u2013 HMRC internal manual \u2013 GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a><\/p>\n3\u00a0<\/sup>https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/advisor\/car-insurance\/classic-car-age#:~:text=HMRC%20classic%20car%20definition&text=Your%20car%20is%20classed%20as%20classic%20if%3A,worth%20%C2%A315%2C000%20or%20more<\/a><\/p>\n
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Classic car specialists and enthusiasts may debate on what exactly they define as a classic car, but there are \u2018official\u2019 classes for different purposes. The DVLA and HMRC each have their own criteria and guidance around how they would declare a car a collectible.<\/p>\n
How a car becomes a classic<\/strong><\/p>\n As mentioned above, there are two official definitions of what makes a car a classic. One is for car tax purposes (DVLA)1\u00a0<\/sup>and another is used by HMRC2<\/sup>\u00a0when looking to sell your classic (to calculate tax). As well as this, insurance providers may have their own take when it comes to covering your car.<\/p>\n For the DVLA (vehicle tax), officially known as Vehicle Excise Duty (VED); defines a classic car as:<\/strong><\/p>\n There are limitations though. If you meet the age requirements but use your classic car for trade and\/or business purposes (hire and rewards for example), it will not be exempt from tax.<\/p>\n HMRC define a classic as:<\/strong><\/p>\n Typically, when you come to sell your classic car, it will be exempt from capital gains tax (CGT). As the same with the DVLA, there are limitations. If you\u2019re buying and selling classic cars with the intention of making money (profit), then this would be classed as classic car trading. This means having to pay corporation tax, the amount dependent on the level of profits. This could be 19% or 25%.<\/p>\n Classification types<\/strong><\/p>\n As you\u2019ve read, the DVLA and HMRC have their own broad criteria of what makes a car a classic. Classic car experts have further classified vehicles into sub-categories. These categories can help with valuations and are widely used by insurers3<\/sup>.<\/p>\n Why it\u2019s important to seek specialist insurance for your classic car<\/strong><\/p>\n Classic car insurance can widely differentiate from \u2018typical\u2019 car insurance. There are various reasons to explore, but in a nutshell \u2013 a specialist provider will be able to tailor the options to your specific vehicle and can take vehicle condition more into account4<\/sup>. For instance, there could be special cover that suits your frequency of driving (typically lower for classics) and your classic car may need more off-road protection features (rusting, etc.). Furthermore, if your classic car is damaged on the road, parts could be harder to find than more modern parts.<\/p>\n Often when insuring your classic car, insurers agree a valuation with you \u2013 whereas \u2018typical\u2019 car insurance generally covers market value as of the date of an insurance claim. If you know someone with a classic car, they may refer to having one as a lifestyle. Classic car insurance more often than not will have Euro cover, this means being covered in a European country as standard5<\/sup>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for specialists to cover your classic car, get in touch with our team today.<\/p>\n 1<\/sup>Historic (classic) vehicles: MOT and vehicle tax: Eligibility \u2013 GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a><\/p>\n 2<\/sup>EIM24400 \u2013 Car benefit calculation Steps 1-4, classic car: definition \u2013 HMRC internal manual \u2013 GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a><\/p>\n 3\u00a0<\/sup>https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/advisor\/car-insurance\/classic-car-age#:~:text=HMRC%20classic%20car%20definition&text=Your%20car%20is%20classed%20as%20classic%20if%3A,worth%20%C2%A315%2C000%20or%20more<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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