Nothing beats a perfectly restored classic or antique 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 can vehicle owners tell if the hobby cars they have are classic car or antique? There are some guidelines, thankfully. 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.
Aren’t antique and classic the same thing?
It isn’t necessarily true that classic and antique are the same as some would argue. According to Wikipedia, some car aficionados in the United States use “classic car” to refer to high-quality vehicles from the pre-World War II era. According to U.S. auto insurance laws, though, 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 for anything, although they do use the phrase “vintage” to refer to vehicles more than 100 years old.
Get a hold of the Classic Car Club of America
The Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) has many people who live and breathe classic and antique cars. They have their own stringent standards to determine whether a car is to be considered “classic” or “antique”. Classic is what they call cars that are considered expensive mass market vehicles made between 1949 and 1985. Classic cars don’t have to be American-made, but they should still contain the original parts from when they were manufactured. The Antique Automobile Club of America classifies any car older than 25 years antique, but “the legal definition for the purpose of antique vehicle registration varies widely,” according to Wikipedia.
In the UK, things are just a bit different
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 don’t really care that much about this. Cars not in the guidelines are still collectible sometimes.
Final word on the classic car insurance
When looking at money, insuring an antique or classic car is essential, considering the amount of money put into maintaining and restoring it. You should discuss the matter with a licensed insurance agent if you want to fully protect your classic or antique car investment.
Read more on this topic here:
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/
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