Vintage vehicles: how to insure them?

In France, several are vintage cars that are registered and listed. Like all other vehicles, they must be insured. Fortunately, even though these types of vehicles can be very expensive, their insurance premiums can still be more reasonable. Insurers offer special policies for these beautiful cars. Probably because a classic car covers much less mileage compared to other vintage cars. This article explains how vintage car or motorcycle insurance works.

How do you define a classic car?

Older car models, older than 30 years are considered as vintage cars. This kind of car must undergo a technical inspection every five years and must also have a special car registration document. To obtain it, the car owner must contact the FFVE or Fédération Française des Véhicules d'Époque (French Federation of Vintage Vehicles), specifying the make, age, model, serial number, power, seating capacity and chassis number of his car. He must also provide legal proof of residence, identity, old vehicle registration document and photographs of the vehicle before obtaining the registration document. This can take 1 to 2 months. Some insurers consider a rare vehicle as a collector's car. Thus, it is possible that a car under 30 years old can benefit from specific conditions dedicated to vintage cars or motorcycles. The insurance premium for a vintage car is often cheaper than that of a classic car. Indeed, a classic car is less exposed to the risk of accident since it rarely leaves the garage.

What are the conditions of access to insurance for a vintage car?

Generally, the insurer requires that the insured has, in addition to the vintage car, a modern vehicle for daily commuting. The insured must also be 21 years of age or older. The insured must not have been involved in a car accident for at least 2 years. And contrary to what many people think, a special or vintage's car registration is not compulsory, a simple registration is sufficient. Vintage car insurances are only issued for recreational use. However, some contracts allow occasional use if the owner's car breaks down. Other insurance contracts may require conditions such as limited mileage, prohibition to lend the steering wheel, expulsion of a young person whose licence is less than three years old. Some insurance policies may also exclude cars that are sporty or too powerful. But in any case, the offer proposed by each insurance company is very diversified, some companies may even conclude a tailor-made contract.

Why and how to insure the vintage car?

Quite simply because all vehicles, whether modern or classic, require insurance cover. Failure to comply with this obligation risks serious administrative and financial penalties. Indeed, the penalty for a car without insurance can be very high. It is also possible that your licence could be revoked and your vehicle confiscated for up to three years. To insure your vintage car, you have the choice between a vintage car insurance or a classic insurance. You are not obliged to take up a vintage  car insurance. However, it is best to take out a specific insurance because insurers like drivers of vintage vehicles. Probably because they are passionate and don't take risks with their car, making sure they drive carefully and maintain their vehicle regularly. These vehicles also rarely leave the garage. The risk of accident is then statistically lower, which makes the insurance premium more affordable.

What are the advantages of registering for collection insurance?

The collection insurance has several advantages, even if it is possible to insure your collection vehicle with a classic contract. Indeed, car insurance contracts offer the same guarantees whether it is classic or specific. However, the collector car insurance contract offers a plus for collector cars. In the event of an accident for example, it makes it possible to compensate the driver according to the collector's rating. The insured can declare the value of the car and adapt it to the evaluations and repairs of its rating. The collection insurance also generally includes the circuit guarantee. This guarantee authorizes the use of the car on the circuit. And the tariff conditions are more advantageous. In addition, insurers frequently offer price reductions when the contract covers cars in a group or when the insured is part of a group of collectors. To find the best insurance contract for your car, you can use an online collector's insurance comparison tool. This tool is free and without obligation, thanks to it, you can put the proposed offers in competition and benefit from numerous insurance quotes for vintage cars quickly. If you would like a personalised service, you can ask an insurance broker to find you a tailor-made contract.
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