FAQs

For insurance purposes we would outline any security requirements dependent on the vehicle. If the vehicle does not have adequate security, we are unable to insure it. This is not applicable to all classic cars so it is best to call us for more information.

You would see Thatcham Approved on safety, security and crash repair products that have been tested at the Thatcham Research Centre. Each product will be tested and given a grade, with Grade 1 being the highest. Heritage would recommend that, when looking for vehicle security you would look for ‘Thatcham Approved’ products.

There are a number of things you can do to prevent your car being stolen; to start with we would recommend locking your car. Another great option is to fit an immobiliser and use a visible deterrent such as crook lock. You can even fit a battery cut off switch.

Generally this would be a GPS tracking device that can measure the position and movement of a person or vehicle. Many manufacturers are now fitting these on modern vehicles before they leave the factory, but for classic cars you can get a tracking device fitted. These can be useful if your car is stolen as it makes it easier to locate the car.

Tracking devices have become very popular so there is a lot to choose from. We do recommend that before purchasing a tracking device you check the product has been ‘Thatcham Approved’.

As a Heritage Classic Car insurance customer you can claim a FREE Skytag tracker. Click here to learn more.

If your classic car is insured with Heritage you are able to choose who you would like to include as named drivers.

Not at present. Generally the minimum age for a classic car insurance policy is 25, however as all our quotes are bespoke and a number of factors would affect your policy, we are able to insure 21 and over in some cases.

Yes we can offer cover for temporary additional drivers.

As many of our premiums are cheaper than taking an advanced driving course to begin with, this is not necessary.

An excess is when the policyholder is responsible for the first amount of any claim. For example if your excess is £50 and your claim is £150 you would pay £50 and the insurer will pay £100. Your level of access is usually agreed when you arrange your policy, though it can be changed if needed.

This is the amount you choose to set as your excess which is in addition to compulsory excess. Is it sometimes possible to reduce your premium by increasing your excess.

There is no maximum if you decide to opt for a voluntary excess. The excess is for damage, fire and theft claims and be aware of your vehicle’s value. Windscreen excesses are separate.

If you have asked the garage to repair your car, then you would pay the excess to the garage. Make sure you get a receipt for the payment as insurers will want to see proof of payment in the event you need to reclaim your excess.

Yes, We work with the industry’s leading insurers, so there is no upper limit on the value of vehicle we can insure up to. We do find that most owners have multiple vehicles so why not click here to see how we can help you with our multi car insurance?

Yes, we are very well renowned for our insurance policies with high value cars. We also find that most owners have multiple vehicles so why not click here to see how we can help you with our multi car insurance?

The simple answer is no. We are not limited to lists, it is dependent on the individual, the annual mileage and other factors which we run through whilst providing you with a bespoke quote.

Yes, a policy is available for your restoration project. Providing the car is garaged we can cover it on a ‘laid up’ basis, which is for accidental damage, fire and theft.

Yes, you must insure your classic car before driving it, even to its first MOT.

There are various mileage options covered as part of the classic car insurance policy. These are: 1500 miles, 3000, 5000 and 7500 miles.

We recommend that you contact us if you exceed your mileage limit as this may affect your policy.

Yes, just ask for commuting at the quotation stage with us and we can talk you through the policy.

Yes you are covered if you wanted to use your car as wedding transport for a friend and there is no extra charge.

Hire & Reward is a class of insurance use which allows you to legally carry passengers in return for a payment.

Yes we can. We cater for a wide range of car and 4×4 modifications.

Many modifications won’t affect your premium and there are no specific list of modifications that will. Your premium is generally affected when certain combinations of modifications are added, and as all our policies are individually tailored to you it’s best to speak to us and we’ll guide you through.

You will need to notify us of any modifications to your car(s). If you give us a call and we will guide you through the process.

If your vehicle is a total loss, the Agreed Valuation is the amount an insurer will pay minus your policy excess. For example if your Agreed Valuation was £12,000 and your excess totalled £1,000, your insurer would pay £11,000.

The value of your car is dependent on market trends and desirability. Keep a check on auctions, price guides and speak to clubs if you’re a member of one. Please note that Heritage are not valuers but we can provide a classic car valuation, free of charge and issue you an Agreed Valuation certificate.

If you need an independent valuation you can ask a car club official, specialist dealer or restorer to name a few.

There is no set period for how long your Agreed Valuation remains valid, however at Heritage we will normally review every two years. We also recommend that you keep an eye on market values. If you feel the Agreed Valuation needs reassessing you should contact you insurer or relevant car club for advice.

If the value of your car has increased or decreased, this could have an affect on your premium.

No. Your NCD is not applicable to any classic car insurance policy. However, any NCD can be applied to your non-classic cars covered by our Heritage Multi Car policy.

With modern car insurance such as our Multi Car policies, all you would need is a letter from your insurer stating how many years you have on your NCD.

With Heritage Multi Car policies, any modern cars insured will earn a NCD whereas any classic car on your policy will not. For example, if your multi car policy only includes classic cars you would not earn any NCD for them.

Whoever is the registered owner and main driver of the vehicle will earn a no claims bonus, this is only applicable to modern vehicles under the multi car policy; the no claims bonus is not applicable to classic car insurance and does not affect your premium.

Generally there isn’t a maximum no claims bonus you can accrue, however we recommend checking with your insurer as some do put a cap on the number of years you can accrue.

You can protect your no claims bonus by simply requesting this when you take out your policy or renew your insurance.

The breakdown cover you buy from Heritage is provided by Auto Legal Protection Services Limited (ALPS) and is called Road Rescue Classic Car (RRCC) for single classic car policies and Road Rescue Multi Car (RRMC) for Multi Car policies.

Our breakdown cover includes:

• Breakdown cover in the UK
• Breakdown cover in Europe, with continental roadside assistance or recovery to a local garage, completion of journey and repatriation of the vehicle back to the UK

All of the above has the added benefit that you can contact the breakdown service 24 hours a day – 365 days a year with a 40 minutes average response time. 8 out of 10 vehicles are repaired at the roadside, and there 400 operators and 4200 recovery vehicles throughout the UK. For more information on the Heritage Breakdown Cover call 0121 248 9239.

For assistance in the event of a breakdown please call 0333 333 9711. Please note that you may incur a charge if you use a mobile phone. If you are outside the UK please call +44 (0) 1444 442044.
Text messaging is available for use by deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired customers. Please text the word “Breakdown” to +44 (0) 7786 202671.
Please ensure you should have the following information available:

• The Vehicle’s registration number.
• Your name, home postcode and contact details.
• Your policy number.
• The make, model and colour of the Vehicle.
• The location of the Vehicle.
• An idea of what the problem is.
• SOS Box number (on UK motorways)

The European countries that you will receive breakdown cover in are: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, the Vatican City, Malta, the Republic of Cyprus, and other islands that belong to these countries and that are in Europe.

No, your policy does not include track day insurance.

It is possible to buy track day insurance with each case treated individually and subject to underwriting criteria. Contact us for a tailored quote.

Does my classic car insurance policy cover me to drive on the Nurburgring?

Driving on the Nurburgring is not included in your classic car insurance policy as UK insurance does not cover this. You will need to contact a specialist insurance provider.

Yes, if the premium is above £300 you can pay for your classic car insurance on a monthly basis.

You can pay for your classic car insurance using all major credit/debit cards except American Express, you can also pay over the phone, by cheque or BACS.

Yes, credit card details are not stored on site. Remember, when making any payments online look out for a small padlock symbol in the address bar (or elsewhere in your browser window) and a web address beginning with https:// (the s stands for ‘secure’).

If you need to cancel your insurance and you are still within 14 days you are only charge time on risk plus a £20 admin fee.

After that time dependant cancellation is dependent on the premium and the insurer terms.