What is classic van insurance?
Classic van insurance is a type of motor insurance that is designed specifically to cover vans of a certain age or vintage.
Why do I need classic van insurance?
You might need to take out a classic van insurance policy if your van is past a certain age, as a standard policy may not provide adequate cover or may be too expensive.
What counts as a classic van?
There isn’t a standard definition for what you can call a classic van, and it’ll differ between insurers so it’s a good idea to check with the insurance company you’re considering whether your vehicle falls under the category. For example, some insurers require a classic van to be at least 25 years old to be considered a classic, while others may deem 20 to be the cut-off line.
What does classic van insurance cover?
The coverage you’ll get with a classic van insurance policy generally depends on the type of cover you get and what you’ll be using your van for.
Type of cover
The types of cover you can get for your vintage van are the same as for a standard motor insurance policy:
- Third party: A third party insurance policy for your classic van means you’ll be covered for the cost of any damages you cause to another person, their vehicle, or their property.
- Third party, fire, and theft: A third party, fire, and theft policy covers everything that third party does, as well as if your van is stolen or damaged as a result of a fire.
- Fully comprehensive: A fully comprehensive classic van insurance policy includes all of the above, including the cost of any accidental damage done to your van
Data collected by Autonet between October 2018 and March 2019, accurate as of May 2019
Reason of use based insurance policy
Depending on how you use your classic van, you could get:
- Social, domestic, and pleasure: If you’re only using your classic van for recreational use, a social, domestic, and pleasure insurance policy will be enough.
- Business: Some businesses use classic vans as their company vehicle as they can stand out and attract attention for their brand. If you plan on doing this you’ll need to take out a business van insurance policy to be insured for using the van for business.
- Events: Classic car and van enthusiasts may often visit exhibitions and other events with their vehicle, however some insurers see this as high-risk – which means you might need a specialist policy to be covered fully.
What extras can you get with classic van insurance?
When you insure your classic van, you’ll have the option of adding extras to your policy to boost your level of cover. These can include:
- Legal cover: Legal cover can help you meet any legal costs that you incur as a result of your driving
- Breakdown cover: Breakdown cover ensures you get assistance if your van breaks down so you can continue your journey
- Courtesy van: With a courtesy van policy you’ll get a temporary replacement van if yours breaks down
- Use abroad: A use abroad policy insures you for driving your classic van in another country
- Windscreen cover: Windscreen cover pays for the cost of replacing your windshield if it gets damaged
- Tool cover: Tool cover means you’ll be covered for the cost of replacing or repairing tools that are lost, damaged, or stolen
Agreed value policies
Some specialist insurers offer agreed value policies to cover your classic van. This means that rather than using the standard market value of the make and model, an independent party assesses your vehicle to get a more accurate picture of its worth.
These policies can be more expensive, however they also mean you’ll be adequately covered should anything happen to your classic van.
Modified classic vans
You might also need specialist classic van insurance if your van was modified. If this isn’t the case, you will have to inform your insurer of any modifications you’ve made to the car when your policy starts, as you might find that you’ll otherwise be unable to claim as a result.
How much does classic van insurance cost?
The premium you’ll pay to insure your classic van may be lower than a standard insurance policy, as insurers could assume that you’ll be more careful driving it compared to a normal van. They may also assume that you won’t use the classic van as your everyday vehicle, so it would probably spend less time on the road altogether.
However, replacement parts might be harder to find and repair costs could be more expensive for older vehicles, which could balance it out.
In general, the price will depend on the following:
- Your claims history: If you’ve made a number of claims in the past, this could then cause prices to go up, as insurers may see you as a high-risk driver
- Your age: Older drivers are generally more experienced, and insurers therefore see them as a low risk of making a claim
- Your vehicle: Bigger vans, vans with bigger engines, or vans with modifications can all also be costlier to insure
- Your location: if you live in or keep your van in areas with high crime rates, insurers may judge your van to be at a high risk of being stolen, so you’ll likely have to pay more for cover
- Your security and storage measures: Likewise keeping your van on the street or without any alarm mechanisms could be seen as a bigger risk than keeping the van in a locked garage
Data collected by Autonet between October 2018 and March 2019, accurate as of May 2019
Classic van membership clubs
One way you might be able to bring the premiums down for your classic van is by joining a classic van membership club. This is because insurers could see this as proof that you’re dedicated to your van and would therefore take a lot of care with it – as a result they may offer you a discount on your premiums.
It’s important to remember that the price of membership may well cancel out the discount you get, but you might also have more access to technical advice, spare parts, and a thriving social scene.
Compare classic van insurance quotes
You can find a better deal on classic van insurance by comparing quotes with MoneySuperMarket. All you need to do is tell us a little about yourself, your vintage van, and your driving history, and we’ll show you a list of quotes tailored to your exact needs.
You’ll be able to compare quotes using important factors such as the overall cost per month and year, the excess you’ll have to pay if you claim, and any additional policies included in the offer. Once you’ve found the deal you want just click through to the provider to finalise your purchase.
However, you should remember that the cheapest policy isn’t always the best. You should aim for a balance between the right level of cover and the best possible price – this way you can avoid ending up over- or under-insured.