Determining Whether Your Car Is Classic Or Antique

Nothing really beats a perfectly restored antique or classic car. Elegant line, dazzling chrome and even genteel carriage evoke pleasant memories of the past, transporting us into personal fantasy where “They don’t make them like they used to” will never ring false. But how are people ever to tell if their hobby cars are antique or classical? Thankfully, there are guidelines. Just remember, whether a car is classic or antique, it should generally not be used as a daily commuter, unless you have unlimited funds at your disposal and don’t need auto loans to purchase vehicles.

Arent classic and antique the same thing?

It isn’t necessarily true that classic and antique are the same as some would argue. According to Wikipedia, “classic car” is used to refer to high quality vehicles from pre world war II era. However, according to U.S. auto insurance laws, 20 years of life for a car is approximately double the expectancy intended for most modern cars, so the “classic car” title sets in after a car is 20 years old. And classic or antique car insurance is always more expensive than insurance for a standard vehicle because older models don’t have the same safety features that come standard in newer cars. In the United Kingdom, the term “antique car” isn’t used, although they do use the phrase “vintage” to refer to vehicles more than 100 years old.

Contact the Classic Car Club of America

The Classic Car Club of America (aka the CCCA) is full of people who live and breathe classic and antique cars. They have their own standards of what is considered antique or classic. Classic is what they call cars that are considered expensive mass market vehicles made between 1949 and 1985. Original parts need to be included in these cars and it doesn’t necessarily have to be American-made. The Antique Automobile Club of America classifies cars that are older than 25 years antique, but “the legal definition for the purpose of antique vehicle registration varies widely,” according to Wikipedia.

Things are different in the UK

Car insurance companies in the UK also decide what a classic car is. Cars made 15 to 25 years ago are considered modern classic cars, but to confuse things a bit, UK insurance companies aren’t sticklers about this. Cars that don’t fall within the guidelines can still be considered collectible.

Classic car insurance final word

Funneling money into maintaining and restoring a classic or antique car makes insuring it essential. Discussing the matter with a licensed insurance agent is what you should do if you want to fully protect your classic or antique car investment.

Citations:

Wikipedia (classic car)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_car

Wikipedia (antique car)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antique_car

HowToDoThings.com

http://www.howtodothings.com/automotive/how-to-determine-if-your-car-is-a-classic

Classic Car Club of America

http://www.classiccarclub.org/