Classic Car Insurance Ireland.

Classic car insurance is a specific form of car insurance which offers protection to drivers of classic or vintage cars. So when does your old jalopy become a classic car and is there a difference between insuring an older car and insuring a classic car?

A vintage car is deemed to be a car manufactured pre 1939, while a classic car is a car over 20 years old. Classic car insurance is available for cars over 25 years old in Ireland.

In terms of motor tax regulations, a vintage or classic car is any car over 30 years old. Motor tax is significantly cheaper for vintage cars.

Generally, classic car insurance is designed to cover cars that are over 25 years old, in excellent condition, and that drive less than 5,200km (AXA) or 5,000 km (FBD) per year.

Classic cars insurance is intended to cover occasional social, domestic, and pleasure driving, and travel to classic car shows or for display purposes. Classic car insurance is not intended to cover the use of the classic or vintage car as a main vehicle.

It is also important to note that a classic car insurance policy does not cover driving other cars as part of the insurance cover.

Unlike private car insurance for regular driving, some classic car insurance does not offer a no claims discount. This varies between insurers. AXA offers up to 70% no claims discount which will mirror the no claims discount that you have on your main, private car. FBD does not offer a no claims discount on their classic car insurance.

Both insurers will offer protection for driving abroad in the UK, or the EU. AXA offers 31 days cover in the EU for pleasure driving or for travelling to car shows. FBD also covers you for using the car for occasional social or pleasure driving or for travel to motor shows in Ireland, the UK, and the EU.

AXA offers motor rescue or breakdown assistance in Ireland or in the UK with their policies. They also  offer windscreen protection as standard. FBD offers windscreen cover and breakdown assistance in Ireland and the UK as part of their comprehensive policies.

If you are a younger driver in Ireland, you will find it more difficult to find classic car insurance. AXA expressly offers their classic car insurance to drivers over 25 only.

Classic car insurance comes with several types of cover.The type of cover you choose will depend on your budget, and the extent to which you require financial protection for damage to your own classic car.

This level of cover offers protection for damage to another vehicle or third party property in the event of an accident, as well as financial protection where you cause injury to others while driving. This is the legal minimum level of cover required to drive in Ireland.

This level of cover offers protection for damage to another vehicle or third party property, and cover for injury caused to another person if you are found at fault in an accident. Third party, fire and theft cover also offers financial protection for fire damage to your own vehicle, fire brigade charges, and theft of your vehicle.

Comprehensive classic car policies offer significantly wider cover and cover all of the above, as well as protection for accidental damage to your own vehicle, windscreen cover and breakdown assist. Classic car cover typically does not cover you to drive other cars on the same policy.

FBD offers third party attached trailer cover on its comprehensive classic car insurance policy as standard.  Optional additions include third party detached trailer cover, and comprehensive cover for specified trailers.

There is limited availability of companies directly offering classic or vintage car insurance in Ireland. Although almost no insurers offer insurance to cars older than 15 years old as a main car in Ireland, there are two insurers who offer specific policies for classic and vintage car insurance.

Classic car insurance may be less expensive than you would expect and it may actually be cheaper than insuring your main car. This is due to the low mileage limits and the expectation of careful driving and good maintenance. 

Classic car insurance is also based on the adoption of an agreed value rather than a market value for the classic car. This is intended to reflect the fact that classic cars may be a hobby for an enthusiast, rather than a strictly monetary asset, and will reflect the time, money, and effort spent restoring the car.

Classic car insurance may also be less expensive as classic car insurers will retain the rights to the value of car parts and components for scrap or resale if the car is written off in an accident. This means that the insurer will not have to cover the full value of the classic car in the event of a claim.

If you want to have peace of mind that your classic car is protected for every eventuality, then it is essential to have it insured correctly,

Contact us today or take our online assessment to arrange and we will find the right cover at the right price for you.