P38A Insurance - classic status?

Hi all, just thought I'd share (and maybe someone will prove I'm still paying too much) my recent insurance renewal.
I was with Direct Line and they quoted £800 for my renewal. Having come to consciousness again I went onto Admiral's website, entered all the details and their quote came back at £267.
I rang up, cleared up a couple of things that couldn't / wouldn't let me enter accurately on the website and even with legal cover blah, blah, blah added on for good measure it came out at £385.
The guy on the phone said that because the car is 20-years old they apply a 'classic' car status to the vehicle. He said all insurers can do this, but its up to individual companies to do or not. Well happy bunny. I rang DL back and said they were high and the best they'd offer was a £50 drop. Bye then.....

Yes but I think the mileage is very low and maybe you cannot use it for going to work. Or maybe it excludes class whatever business use (driving to meetings etc.)

My insurance is fully comp including business use as well as just commuting, but limited to 4000 miles a year, kept in a garage and last year I paid £186,

There's a form to fill out when the paper docs come. They want minimum 5 photos and description of vehicle. Not saying whatever benefit is a given, but the guy on the phone didn't mention anything when I said SDP and commuting. Wait and see I suppose.

£151.49 from Saga fully comp for my '98 P38 2.5 DSE.

The problem is there's no overall definition of what constitutes a 'classic' vehicle, but if you are seeking such cover don't bother with main-stream insurers, go to those brokers who specialise in that form of cover.

norseman said:

The problem is there's no overall definition of what constitutes a 'classic' vehicle

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Got that. I wasn't after classic status (was as surprised as anyone when the guy mentioned it) but he said Admiral 'may' classify it as such.

tomcat59alan said:

£151.49 from Saga fully comp for my '98 P38 2.5 DSE

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Never even thought of Saga. Doh.

Zorro587 said:

Got that. I wasn't after classic status (was as surprised as anyone when the guy mentioned it) but he said Admiral 'may' classify it as such.

Never even thought of Saga. Doh.

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Well I'm an old barsteward and they keep sending me offers, fecking funeral plan's next.

tomcat59alan said:

Well I'm an old barsteward and they keep sending me offers, fecking funeral plan's next.

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Oh I fit the bill age-wise. Mr Parkinson dying to send me a free pen

Zorro587 said:

Oh I fit the bill age-wise. Mr Parkinson dying to send me a free pen

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I wish he would.

Did you try flux, very competitive classic policy

Just to clear this in case I've mis-typed to the point of confusion, I haven't got a RR Classic (saw one at the Game Fair for £15k and had a 5-minute conversation with myself about the actual benefits of two kidneys), I've got a P38. They said they called it a 'classic car'....

Have a try with Aviva, they came up with an exceptional quote for my MX5. When I bought the P38 I added it on a multi car deal and split my 20K mileage between the two.

norseman said:

The problem is there's no overall definition of what constitutes a 'classic' vehicle, but if you are seeking such cover don't bother with main-stream insurers, go to those brokers who specialise in that form of cover.

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Yes there is, 25 years or older or a vehicle with of such interest it will be in the near future, that's why you will see a few new or nearly new cars at the classic car shows, albeit mostly very expensive high performanc cars, any others will have to wait for the 25 years.
I have a car I've owned for the last 40 years and by now know what is correctly stated in calling a vehicle a "classic".

Some classic car insurance companies will insure vehicles a lot younger than 25 but with a low annual mileage, of course you won't get an NCB with that policy.
May be our government believes that a 40 year or older vehicle is a classic as they are not required to be taxed with some earlier ones not required to be MOT

I don't want to become embroiled in an argument with you Discool but I stand by my statement. Different organisations (ie insurers etc.) all have their own ideas, as do owners. If you are self-employed for example HMRC will accept a business use vehicle 'classic' as young as 15 years (plus other criteria) whereas VED exemption doesn't apply until 40 years. In Germany for example a vehicle is officially a 'classic' at 30 years & this is what many of the UK movement would like to see here, but as it currently stands the only specifically 'dated' criteria is for vintage & veteran vehicles.

Your nodoubt correct that anyone that wants your money will make up the own rules on what or is not a classic vehicle there no law against that.
But from most classic car clubs and owners point of view also mine as a classic car owner what constitutes a classic car is... of least 25 years old or of special interest. Always has been so I'll go with that.

Lets agree that we are both correct then Discool - the only difference is between 'official' & 'point of view'
My RRC is 30yrs. old next June so it will be a classic if the UK adopts the European standard & is already by club criteria
I'm happy with the deal I get with my specialist broker, just renewed & upped the agreed value