Veteran & vintage car insurance
Specialist insurance to protect your pre‑war and early post‑war vehicles.
About our veteran & vintage insurance
Veteran and vintage cars are living pieces of motoring heritage. It’s easy to overlook the true value of these vehicles. Whether yours is an Edwardian tourer, a 1920s sports car or a pre‑war saloon, it represents craftsmanship, engineering and character that no longer exist today.
So, it needs insurance that respects its age, rarity and the care that goes into keeping it on the road.
At Abbeyfields Insurance, we specialise in arranging tailored cover for veteran and vintage vehicles of all ages and types. With decades of experience in classic and specialist car insurance, we make it simple to protect your vehicle with cover built around how you use it.
Why do you need veteran & vintage vehicle insurance?
Standard car insurance isn’t usually appropriate for vehicles built before the 1940s. Without specialist cover, you risk being drastically underinsured if the worst happens.
Your car might be a long‑term restoration project, a carefully preserved original or part of a multi-vehicle collection. You may take it to rallies, club events or shows, or bring it out only for special occasions and lay it up the rest of the time.
Whatever your situation, our veteran & vintage insurance will protect your vehicle against accidents, loss or damage, so you can focus on preserving and enjoying it without worrying about its cover.
What our veteran & vintage insurance includes
With decades of experience in insuring veteran and vintage vehicles, we understand the passion and commitment that comes with owning one. We underwrite policies on behalf of the UK’s leading specialist insurance companies, and our admin fees are among the lowest on the market. Whether you own a vintage Morris, Austin or Singer, a retired military vehicle or an early racing car, we can help you protect it. Your veteran or vintage insurance policy can include:
- Limited mileage discount
- Owners/enthusiasts club member discount
- Motor legal expenses (optional, up to £100,000)
- Breakdown and accident recovery
You can insure your vehicle at an agreed value at no extra cost and update it whenever you need to. If it’s written off after an accident, you’ll receive that pre‑agreed settlement, minus your policy excess. And if your vehicle needs work after a claim, you can choose your own specialist repairer to ensure it’s returned to its pre‑claim condition.
Why choose Abbeyfields for your vintage or veteran insurance?
Abbeyfields is an independent, family‑run broker with vast experience in insuring classic and heritage vehicles. When you call us, you’ll speak directly to someone who understands the specialist insurance market and can help you get the right cover straight away. Here’s what you get when you choose us to insure your vintage or veteran vehicle with us:
Decades of expertise
Personal service from people who care
Tailored policies built around how you use your vehicle
Strong relationships with leading UK insurers
Fast, friendly support whenever you need us
Help with your claims from start to finish
Competitive premiums
Simple, hassle‑free policy updates whenever your circumstances change
Frequently asked questions
Check out our FAQs below. If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, get in touch. We’ll be happy to help.
Vehicles built before 1919, during the earliest years of motoring, are typically defined as veteran cars. They come from a time when manufacturing was still evolving. Many were hand‑built using techniques and materials long since replaced.
Their classification is closely tied to major historical events. World War I dramatically reduced car production in the UK. But it also accelerated advances in engineering and mass‑production methods. By the time manufacturing resumed after the war, the industry had changed significantly, which is why 1919 is widely recognised as the dividing line between veteran and vintage vehicles.
The global economic pressures of the late 1920s and early 1930s further shaped the landscape, reducing the number of UK manufacturers and leaving marques like Morris, Austin and Singer as the dominant names of the era.
There are many veteran and vintage cars in private collections and museums across the UK. Some of the most common examples include:
- Austin 7
- Lancia Lambda
- Ford Model T
- Bugatti Type 35
- Alfa Romeo 8C
- Allard
- Alvis 12/50
- Amilcar C Series
- Bentley 3-litre
- De Dion Bouton
Most common definitions of vintage cars put the manufacturing date between 1919 and 1930. Post‑vintage cars, manufactured between 1931 and 1945, share many of the same engineering characteristics and historical significance. Vintage cars mark a significant era in automotive development. They bridge the gap between early manufacturing techniques and the more standardised production that followed.
Our policies are based on three variables – the year, the value and the mileage.
Therefore, we can insure a wide range of vehicles regardless of their classification. Put simply, it doesn’t matter if you own a vintage car or an antique vehicle that pre-dates WWI, we can still arrange cover for it.
Yes. There’s no upper limit on how many vehicles you can have on your policy, or the total value of your collection. We also offer laid-up insurance if you don’t intend to use your vehicles.
Get your veteran & vintage insurance quote today
Just call our friendly, expert team on 0121 655 3420, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, or leave your details using our form and we’ll call you back as soon as we can. We’ll talk about its history, how you use it, and what makes it special to you. Then, we’ll create a policy that protects it properly. We look forward to hearing from you.
