Classic car insurance

If you maintain a beautiful old car, you naturally want it to be properly insured. Damage would be a shame. Regular car insurance may then be too expensive a choice. That is why car insurers have come up with special cover for classic cars (oldtimers): classic car insurance (oldtimerverzekering). This page describes the situation in the Netherlands.

What is a classic car?

It helps if we know exactly what a classic car is. Unfortunately, there is no single definition. In general, we speak of a classic car (oldtimer) for classic cars that are 25 years old or older. The Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst) also uses a minimum age of 25 years. Some insurers work with an age of at least 15 years.

Different rules apply to classic cars than to youngtimers and other cars. For example, favourable tax rates sometimes apply to classic cars. That depends on the age of the car and the fuel it runs on. The rules on classic cars have become stricter.

The premium for classic car insurance

The premium for classic car insurance works differently from the premium for regular car insurance. For example, with classic car insurance the insurer often does not look at the age of the driver. In addition, no no-claims years are built up and the insurer does not work with the bonus-malus system.

Are you a member of a classic car club? Then, according to the Dutch Consumers' Association (Consumentenbond), you can get a discount on the premium. In practice, however, only a few insurers give such discounts. This was also confirmed by the Volvo Klassieker Vereniging (Volvo classic car club).

Conditions

Classic car insurance is cheaper than regular insurance. On the other hand, a number of restrictive conditions do apply. This is because, for example, you are allowed to drive fewer kilometres with a classic car. The car is also treated with care. As a result, the chance of damage is smaller. Some of the restrictive conditions are:

• The classic car is not the car for daily use: the insured person must also have a car for daily use (source: ANWB, conditions of its classic car insurance).
• A minimum or maximum age of the insured person may apply.
• A limited number of kilometres per year applies. For example, a maximum of 5,000 or 7,500 kilometres.
• The car must have a minimum appraised value.
• If the car is worth more than €25,000, it must have an anti-theft system approved by the Stichting Certificering Motorrijtuigbeveiliging (SCM, the Dutch foundation that certifies vehicle security systems).
• The insured person may not use the classic car for racing, speed runs or hire. Taking part in a puzzle rally or touring trip as a hobby is permitted.

Would you like to drive your classic car every day? Then you need so-called semi-classic or semi-oldtimer insurance. These policies have a higher premium than regular classic car insurance.

Bear in mind that the exact acceptance conditions differ for each insurer. As a result, the choice of insurer is sometimes limited, especially if a car is not yet 25 years old. We recommend checking with several insurers. Most Dutch insurers offer their website and policy documents in Dutch only.

Do I have a youngtimer or a classic car?

If you are not sure whether your car is a youngtimer or already a classic car, it is wise to check this with the insurer. Check this with several insurers. It may be possible to take out classic car insurance. The monthly premium for classic car insurance is much lower than for youngtimer insurance. Classic cars also have other advantages, for example with regard to road tax (wegenbelasting).

The appraised value of a youngtimer

The advantage of youngtimer insurance is that the insurer knows it is a special car. This is taken into account when determining the value. Normally, the car insurer only pays the current value of the car in the event of a total loss. With youngtimer insurance, the insured person is paid the appraised value, provided the car is insured on that basis. Whether that is the case for you can be found on the policy schedule. The insurer must also accept the appraisal report. In practice, this does not always go smoothly.

Few insurers still offer special youngtimer insurance. It is often possible, however, to insure the car at its appraised value. It is wise to contact the insurer about this. The condition is that an appraisal report drawn up by a recognised appraiser is submitted.

The cost of classic car insurance

The cost of classic car insurance depends on a number of things, such as the type of classic car insurance, the chosen excess and the age of the driver. In addition, there are sometimes a number of additional costs, because the insurer imposes obligations. We have looked into which things affect the cost of classic car insurance.

Saving on classic car insurance

Anyone who knows how insurers calculate the premium for classic car insurance also knows how to save on that premium. On the one hand, there are a number of tricks and commercial discounts that can still save you more than 10%. On the other hand, there are also some points to watch out for, because some insurers still require you to take out your regular car insurance with them as well. The Federation of Historic Automobile and Motorcycle Clubs (FEHAC), however, considers this unacceptable. As a result, the total package is not always the cheaper choice.

Classic car insurance cover

Owners of classic cars are required to take out at least third-party liability insurance (WA). Anyone who does not want to risk any costs at all is best off choosing all-risk cover. In addition, there are a number of other types of cover that generally apply to all car insurance.

When comparing classic car insurance, it is in any case important not to only take the distinction below into account. Within these three types, too, the cover can sometimes differ greatly and there are often exclusions. The FEHAC sets its own requirements for classic car policies. Policies that meet these FEHAC conditions can be considered good.

Third-party liability insurance (WA) for the classic car

Third-party liability insurance (WA) is the minimum cover for every car. This insurance is compulsory by law for every car owner. It covers liability for damage to the other party. Damage to your own car is therefore not covered.

Insuring a classic car with WA + limited casco

With WA + limited casco insurance, you can insure the car against liability for damage to the other party, with the addition that damage caused by fire, broken windows and a collision with stray animals is also covered.

Insuring a classic car with WA + fully comprehensive cover (all-risk insurance)

The most extensive insurance is WA + fully comprehensive insurance (or all-risk insurance). It covers the risks of the following causes of damage:

• Damage to third parties or a two-party accident;
• Fire, explosions and lightning strikes;
• Theft;
• A chip in the windscreen;
• Collisions with animals;
• Storms and other natural forces;
• Collisions, skidding and ending up in the water;
• Other sudden external events (van buiten komend onheil).

This is the most extensive insurance and covers a lot of risks. This cover is often chosen for newer cars, but it is also worthwhile for a valuable classic car.

Switching to a different classic car insurer

It is usually fairly easy to switch to a different classic car insurer after the first year. No-claims years, for example, play no role here. It is advisable, however, to check carefully whether the other insurer imposes different acceptance conditions. In addition, the new insurer can sometimes require the insured person to take out their regular car insurance with them as well. That is not always more attractive.