LAID-UP CAR INSURANCE

Laid-up classic car insurance is specialist cover for a classic vehicle that will not be driven during the policy period. It is intended to protect against certain risks that remain while a vehicle is stationary.

At Lancaster Insurance, we recognise that there are several reasons why you might keep your classic vehicle off the road. You may be working on a full restoration, carrying out repairs, storing it between periods of use or keeping it off the road under a SORN.

Instead of covering the risks associated with driving, laid-up insurance focuses on specified events that may affect your vehicle while it is stored.

Depending on the policy arranged through Lancaster Insurance, cover can include:

• Accidental damage

• Fire

• Theft

• Parts and accessories kept with the vehicle

• An agreed valuation option for qualifying vehicles

Cover arranged by Lancaster Insurance can protect an eligible vehicle, its parts and accessories while it is laid up at the agreed storage location. The available policy benefits may differ between insurance schemes or according to the cover selected.

The precise protection will be confirmed in your policy wording and schedule. These documents will also explain the applicable limits, excesses, storage conditions and exclusions.

The minimum policyholder age stated for Lancaster Insurance laid-up cover is 21. Eligibility is not guaranteed and remains subject to the relevant insurer’s criteria.

You should review the quotation, policy wording, schedule and Insurance Product Information Document before arranging cover. These documents provide the definitive description of what is and is not insured.

A laid-up policy from Lancaster Insurance may be considered when your classic vehicle will not be used on public roads.

Common circumstances include restoration projects, mechanical repairs, seasonal storage and longer-term storage. The vehicle’s condition and storage arrangements must be disclosed accurately when requesting a quotation.

A classic car restoration can involve mechanical, structural and cosmetic work. During that process, the vehicle may not be roadworthy or ready for an MOT, but the car and its components can still hold considerable financial and personal value.

Laid-up classic car insurance arranged by Lancaster Insurance may cover specified risks while the restoration is taking place. Parts and accessories kept with the vehicle may also be included, subject to the relevant limits, conditions and exclusions.

You should provide complete and accurate information about the vehicle’s present condition, the work being undertaken and where it will be stored. This information allows the insurer to assess the individual circumstances of your vehicle.

Cover for defective workmanship, mechanical breakdown or gradual deterioration should not be assumed unless it is expressly confirmed in the policy documents.

Some classic vehicles are stored between periods of use. Others may remain off the road for a prolonged period while their owners decide whether to restore, repair or sell them.

Even when a vehicle is not being driven, accidental damage, fire and theft may remain relevant risks. A laid-up policy arranged by Lancaster Insurance can provide cover against specified events during the storage period.

You may have purchased a classic vehicle that needs mechanical work or body repairs before it can return to the road. Alternatively, your car may be substantially complete but not ready for regular use.

In these circumstances, laid-up classic car insurance arranged through Lancaster Insurance may reflect the fact that your vehicle is currently stationary and will not be used on public roads.

You must disclose the nature of the project and the vehicle’s actual condition. Cover for damage caused by defective workmanship, mechanical failure or gradual deterioration should not be assumed unless it is expressly confirmed in your policy documents.

A SORN is a declaration made to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency confirming that a vehicle is being kept off the road. A SORN does not provide insurance or compensate you if the vehicle is stolen or damaged.

You may therefore choose laid-up classic car insurance from Lancaster Insurance to protect against selected off-road risks. Insurance remains separate from the legal process of declaring your vehicle off the road.

Laid-up insurance is not generally a legal requirement where a vehicle has a valid SORN and is kept entirely off public roads. However, the SORN itself does not protect the vehicle against accidental damage, fire or theft.

Under the government’s SORN rules, you need to make a SORN when you take a vehicle off the road and want to stop taxing and insuring it for road use. A vehicle is considered off the road when it is not kept or used on a public road, such as when it is stored in a garage, on a drive or on private land.

Arranging laid-up insurance through Lancaster Insurance does not make a SORN on your behalf. Similarly, making a SORN does not arrange laid-up insurance for your vehicle.

You should check the current Welcome to GOV.UK SORN guidance if you are uncertain about the rules applying to your circumstances.

This page contains general information and does not constitute legal advice or a personal recommendation.

A SORN is a statutory notification made to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. It confirms that a vehicle is being kept off the road.

Laid-up classic car insurance is a contract of insurance. It can provide protection against specified events affecting an eligible vehicle while it is stored.

Making a SORN does not insure your vehicle. Arranging cover through Lancaster Insurance does not make a SORN or complete any other statutory process on your behalf.

A SORN cannot be backdated and does not normally need to be renewed. It will be cancelled when the vehicle is taxed again or if it is sold, permanently exported or scrapped. You should consult current government guidance for the rules applying to your vehicle.

Laid-up classic car insurance from Lancaster Insurance is not intended to provide cover for ordinary road use.

Before driving your vehicle, you must ensure that it is legally permitted to be on the road and that appropriate road-going insurance is in force. You may also need to tax the vehicle and hold a valid MOT unless a lawful exemption applies.

A legal exception allows a SORN vehicle to be driven to or from a pre-booked MOT or another permitted testing appointment. However, this does not automatically mean that your laid-up insurance covers the journey.

You must confirm that suitable insurance is in force before driving. Do not assume that permission to make a particular journey means that the journey is insured.

When you are ready to return your classic vehicle to the road, Lancaster Insurance may be able to arrange road-going classic car insurance, subject to eligibility and underwriting criteria.

Lancaster Insurance has been arranging classic car insurance since 1984. We have access to a panel of insurers that provide classic car, vintage car and classic vehicle insurance schemes in the UK.

This experience allows Lancaster Insurance to consider a range of classic vehicles, including eligible restoration projects and vehicles kept off the road.

A laid-up policy arranged by Lancaster Insurance can include accidental damage, fire and theft cover. Parts and accessories kept with your vehicle may also be protected, subject to the selected policy.

This type of cover recognises that a classic vehicle can remain exposed to loss or damage even when it is not being driven.

The exact protection will depend on the policy arranged. You should check the limits, exclusions, excesses and security requirements shown in your insurance documents.

At Lancaster Insurance, we have access to a panel of insurers offering classic vehicle insurance schemes. We use the details you provide to consider the policies available for your circumstances.

No particular policy, price or level of protection is guaranteed. Availability will depend on the information provided, the selected insurance scheme and the insurer’s underwriting criteria.

When requesting a laid-up classic car insurance quotation from Lancaster Insurance, you must provide complete and accurate information about your vehicle and its circumstances.

You may need to provide:

1. The vehicle’s make, model and age.

2. Its current condition.

3. Details of any repairs or restoration work.

4. The address and location where the vehicle will be stored.

5. Information about the security arrangements.

6. The vehicle’s value and any modifications.

7. The intended annual mileage.

8. Relevant details about the proposed policyholder.

These selections help the quotation system consider laid-up cover. They do not guarantee acceptance and do not define the final policy terms.

You should answer every question accurately and to the best of your knowledge. Incorrect or incomplete information could affect your cover or the payment of a claim.

An agreed valuation records a value accepted for insurance purposes. It differs from relying solely on the vehicle’s general market value, but it will apply only where it is included and confirmed under the terms of the policy.

The Lancaster Insurance laid-up cover information states that an agreed valuation may be available for vehicles aged 15 years or over for £18.

This option is subject to underwriting criteria and may vary between insurance schemes or according to the cover selected. The valuation process and any supporting evidence required will be confirmed when the insurance is arranged.

You should not assume that an agreed valuation applies unless it appears in your policy documentation. The documentation will confirm the agreed figure and any conditions that apply.

Your classic car can remain exposed to accidental damage, fire and theft even when it is not being driven. Laid-up classic car insurance can provide protection against selected risks while an eligible vehicle is stored, restored or repaired.

At Lancaster Insurance, we can arrange laid-up cover that may include accidental damage, fire and theft protection. Parts and accessories kept with your vehicle may also be covered, while an agreed valuation may be available for qualifying vehicles aged 15 years or over.