Four in five car collectors span multiple marques, but mainstream drivers increasingly loyal to one brand

New data reveals that classic car enthusiasts are increasingly turning their backs on single‑brand loyalty, with four in five (79%) collectors owning vehicles from multiple marques.

The data, analysed from over 10,000 Lancaster Insurance policyholders who own more than one classic car,1 also shows that the average owner has 2 different marques in their collection.

The shift towards multi‑marque ownership comes as classic cars continue to grow in popularity as both investments and lifestyle purchases in the UK.

The data revealed that only 21% of classic car multi‑car policyholders remain loyal to a single brand, which contrasts with mainstream UK drivers, with research finding 60% would plan to stay with their existing brand when changing cars.

“While recent research has found mainstream drivers tend to stay loyal to one manufacturer, our data suggests that enthusiasts are more open to diversifying their collection,” explains Yvonne Gosney, Senior Trading Manager at Lancaster Insurance.

“Having a more varied collection can allow enthusiasts to enjoy a broader spectrum of classics from different manufacturers and periods of time and can provide a more varied driving experience that we know enthusiasts value.”

The data also reveals the marques with the most loyal followings among single‑brand classic car collectors to be:

• MG (16%)
• Land Rover (14%)
• Ford (13%)
• Volkswagen (8%)
• Mercedes (5%)

These loyalty patterns differ from the mainstream market, with data finding Toyota (75%),  Tesla (70%), Lexus (68%), Subaru (67%) and Kia (67%) lead the way for customer retention statistics.

“We know that classic‑car collectors have different requirements to mainstream motorists. While everyday drivers value reliability and tend to stick with brands they know and trust, classic owners buy more for passion, nostalgia and driving experience,” explains Yvonne.

"Whether they have one marque or several, we know that keeping up to date with different insurance policies can become complicated. Our multi vehicle policies covers all classics under one policy, making it a convenient way to insure all your classics, offering one renewal date, simplified admin and tailored cover for a mix of models,” summarises Yvonne.

For more information or to receive a quote, please visit our Multi Car Insurance page.