Classic Car Insurance for 18 year old

Searching for classic car insurance for an 18 year old? You’ve come to the right place.

If you’re a young driver and you’ve just passed your test: congratulations! You’ve just opened up one of life’s great joys: getting behind the wheel of a car and letting it take you wherever you want to go.

The freedom you’ve won for yourself is incredible. Added to that, we hope, is the thrill of driving itself.

But what sort of car do you want to take you on all these great new adventures? Have you considered starting out with a car from a different era? A classic car can be a wonderfully distinctive car to own.

You’ll have the satisfaction of owning something a little bit different, and standing out from the crowd.

And, in case you’re wondering if these cars are difficult to maintain, often they are not at all. With a great network of owners’ clubs and parts suppliers, owning a car from a previous generation can be much more satisfying than owning a newer car from today.

What’s more, your costs for insuring a car like this shouldn’t be high. Indeed, depending on how you use the vehicle, your classic car insurance costs may be lower than those for a standard car.

Let’s look a little more at whether owning a classic car could be a smart move for you.

Is classic car insurance for 18 year olds available?

Absolutely. First of all, let’s remember that any car that’s being taken out on the UK road network must be insured.

That’s true whether the driver is a freshly passed 18 year old or a 50 year old with 30 years’ driving experience.

Here at Lancaster, we’re very keen to encourage younger drivers to own and drive classic cars. After all, inspiring younger drivers to take up classic car ownership and restoration is crucial if we want the UK’s brilliant classic car heritage to survive into the next few decades and beyond.

For one thing, these younger enthusiasts take on the maintenance of these classic cars as older drivers retire from classic car ownership. As well as this, having a body of younger classic car enthusiasts means that cars from newer generations will also earn their place as classics.

Of course, younger drivers will often find that they face high premiums from insurers when they first get out on the road. If a modern car is expensive to insure, surely a classic is going to be even more so?

Not necessarily. Some classic car insurers are able to arrange car insurance cover for younger drivers that won’t put you out of pocket.

Should you consider a classic car as a younger driver?

Yes, we think that there’s a strong case for starting your car ownership with a classic. After all, owning a modern classic such as, say, a Mk1 VW Golf GTI carries more cachet than pootling about in a modern-day Ford Focus like the rest of the herd.

Owning a great car from yesteryear will definitely help you to stand out – on the road, on the street, and among your peers.

But that’s not the only advantage to buying a classic car. It can even make financial sense too, with some classic vehicle insurance providers offering limited mileage discounts for those drivers who aren’t doing huge miles in their classic.

There’s also the fact that a classic car will often go up in value – unlike a modern car, which starts to shed value the minute you drive it off the showroom forecourt.

Indeed, modern cars continue to depreciate right across their lifetime – until they reach classic status, if they even do. A classic, however, can increase in value while you own it, if it makes that jump from ‘classic of the future’ to cast-iron classic.

To give an example of what we mean, we wrote a feature about some cars from the 2000s which are still cheap now, but which – we think – will soon acquire classic status.

You can still buy a Mk1 Ford Focus, Audi A2, or Mk5 VW Golf GTI for very reasonable money at the moment. But you may find, in a few years, you are the proud owner of a classic.

What classic cars might suit a young driver?

This is an interesting question. We’re imagining that, as a young and freshly passed driver, your idea of the perfect car is something distinctive and a little bit sporty.

On top of this, it should be affordable to buy, restore and maintain, run, and insure. So what classics might fit the bill here?

Read on for five of our top suggestions for a starter classic. 

1. Peugeot 205

The 1980s were a boom decade for the supermini. Just as the Fiesta and Polo hit their stride with their second generations, a whole new generation of clever, smart-looking little ‘minis came onto the scene. And, arguably, the best of them was Peugeot’s 205.

This is a beautifully designed small car which remains instantly recognisable – and still turns heads – to this day.

There are a decent number still around in Britain. It seems that, as with the VW Golf, even owners at the time realised that this particular car was going to be worth looking after.

You’ll be able to choose from diesel and petrol cars: the diesel 205s can be recognised by the D at the end of their name (XLD, GLD, and GRD, for example). They will return superior fuel economy, giving you that little extra cash for other essentials such as car insurance.

Of course, if your budget can stretch to it, the iconic 205 is the GTI. One of these seminal hot hatches will give you instant kudos in the university car park or wherever you take it.

You will find you get higher quotes from insurers for a GTI. But it could all be worth it to own one of the best sports hatches ever made.

2. Triumph Spitfire

Looking for something fun, pretty and nimble? You could do a lot worse than a classic British two-seater.

You won’t need particularly deep pockets to acquire a Triumph Spitfire, particularly one of the later, 1970s generations.

Buy one of these and you’ll have one of the prettiest and best-handling cars of its era. You’ll also find a great community of fellow owners, ready with help and advice with restoring and maintaining your Spitfire.

That community is centred on a few different owners’ clubs. These include the excellent marque-wide Club Triumph.

Benefits of joining this thriving Triumph fans’ club include access to a whole raft of shows and events, plus reductions from insurers and spare parts providers.

3. Ford Focus Mk1

Still a reasonably common sight on our roads, the original Ford Focus is edging towards classic status among fans.

Aesthetically, that wedgy, angular ‘New Edge’ Ford styling has aged well, and a Mk1 Focus still looks fresh on today’s streets. But it was the brilliant handling that really made the car its name.

If you’re after a small car whose handling and performance will make you grin, the Focus should be on your list. If that car also needs to be affordable and easy to look after (thanks to a still huge ownership community), we can think of very few rivals.

4. Mazda MX-5

If roof-down summer driving fun is on your checklist, we can think of few cars that will suit your needs better than a Mk1 or Mk2 Mazda MX-5.

Each generation of this nippy, fine-handling roadster has been a brilliant car. It’s the first two generations, though, that have already gained classic status.

The little Mazda drew on the 1960s Lotus principles of brilliant handling and agility through light weight. That means that this car is an absolute hoot to chuck around.

The bulletproof Japanese engineering adds safety and reliability to that sense of fun. Hugely popular from the word go, each generation of MX-5 is still around in good numbers on the used market. That gives you plenty of choice.

It’s one of the cars for which we most frequently arrange classic car insurance. Here’s our buyer’s guide to this brilliant little car. 

5. Porsche 924

Hang on, we’ll bet you’re thinking. A Porsche? That’s well out of my league. And yes, that may be true for the most iconic Porsche out there, the legendary 911.

A true classic 911 – from the 1970s or 1980s – probably won’t leave you much change from £25,000, and many will go much higher than that. Insurers, also, will charge high premiums for this famously hard-driven sports car.

However, we’re talking here about the 924, the German marque’s entry-level car from the same period. It looks great in a swoopy, retro-futuristic way.

However, it can be found on the used market for anything from £4,000 upwards. Amazing looks – and, thanks to its sprightly but manageable performance, insurance bills that won’t leave you out of pocket.

Will I be able to get some classic car insurance quotes as a younger driver?

Definitely. At Lancaster Insurance Services, we’ve got over 35 years of experience in arranging classic car insurance. So, if you fancy getting around in something cool from a couple of decades ago, we can arrange the insurance that you need.

We can insure everything from a classic Audi TT to a cult Japanese import car.  

Our huge experience and knowledge of the classic car industry means that we can get insurance quotes for pretty much every classic car out there. And we can find you a quote for the classic of your dreams, whether you’re a seasoned driver or an 18 year old just starting out.

Will modifications affect your classic car insurance premium?

As a young driver, we can understand that you may be tempted to modify your car. After all, you’ll want to give your vehicle a bit of individuality, to help it – and you – to stand out from the crowd.

However, modifications may affect premiums in the eyes of most insurers. After all, many modifications are all about improving the car’s performance. And that means increased speed, and increased risks, on the road.

Couple this with the fact that insurers will regard young drivers as a higher risk group than more experienced motorists, and you could have a recipe for some high insurance premiums.

However, as insurers ourselves, at Lancaster we recognise that many drivers – especially younger owners – want to enhance the look or performance of their car. That pride you take in the looks of your vehicle probably means that you will take good care of it, too.

We have relationships with some specialist insurers working specifically in the modified car marketplace. This means that we will be able to use our contacts to find some modified car insurance to suit you – saving you both time and hassle.

If you’re wondering how your own car modifications will affect your insurance, why not call us on 01480 484826 for a chat? Our helpful team will be able to advise on how those changes may affect your insurance quotes.

I want to start collecting cars. Can I get multi car cover?

Of course, for many classic car fans, one vintage vehicle is not enough. They want more!

You may find that your first experience of restoring and driving an MGB or a Triumph Spitfire is so addictive that you want to do it all again.

Or you may have a classic that you’re working on as an ongoing project, but still need some classic wheels for all your day-to-day needs.

At Lancaster, we can provide multi car insurance. We can cover all your classic cars under one policy with one handy renewal date - meaning less admin time for you.

We’ll just need to know a little bit more about what will be the best multi car insurance deal for you.

Tell us more about you and your cars by completing the call-back request form on our website. We will then call you back at a time to suit you, to talk further about your insurance needs.

Are there any car insurance guides I can read?

We want to make insurance as clear and simple as possible. With that in mind, we’ve written some helpful car insurance guides on our website.

First of all, we would encourage you to read all the benefits you can expect when you take out a car insurance policy with us.

One of the benefits we’re particularly proud to offer is our Two Year Agreed Valuation. This is an independent valuation of your classic car that can be really useful in helping you to get a fair price if it’s ever written off or stolen.

If you’re new to driving and on the lookout for your first car, you’ll definitely want to read our guide to the best classics for first-time owners.

These include:

• MGB Roadster
• Mini
• Morris Minor
• Triumph Herald

Top tips for first-time classic owners

Do your research - some classic cars will be easier to maintain and run than others. The simpler the better for your first vintage motor.

Join a classic car club - becoming a member of a classic car club brings many advantages including endless amounts of knowledge, easy access to parts and spares and even potentially a discount on your classic car insurance premiums. Here at Lancaster we work with many classic car clubs up and down the country to offer their members a discount on their insurance cover.

Invest in a garage - keeping your new pride and joy tucked away safely could help to reduce the cost of insurance.

Visit car shows - if you’re looking for classic car inspiration, join the classic car community at car shows all over the UK. Don’t miss the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the NEC, where you can meet the Lancaster team face to face.

Set yourself a budget - if you’re tackling a restoration project, set a realistic budget and time frame. We’ve got some top tips for your first restoration elsewhere on our blog.

Remember, we can offer classic car insurance for 17 year olds, too.

Why choose Lancaster?

 Here at Lancaster we’ve been arranging classic car insurance for over 35 years.

• Car Club member discounts up to 25%
• Static Show Cover
• Historic Rally Cover
• Choice of repairer
• Salvage Retention
• Free EU cover up to 90 days
• Two Year Agreed Valuation available for £18
• Laid Up Cover Available
• 24 Hour Claims Helpline
• UK Based Call Centre
• Limit Mileage Discounts

Found a car that’s hard to insure? Talk to the team today as we specialise in finding cover for hard-to-insure and MOT exempt classics.

How do I get car insurance quotes from Lancaster?

There are three easy ways to get a quote for your classic car insurance:

1. Get an instant quote online - just follow the link on our website.

2. Request a call back - complete the Call Back Request form and we’ll call you back at a time to suit you.

3. Call today - drop us a line on 01480 484826 to discuss your specific requirements today.

Let the team at Lancaster find the right classic car insurance for you.