Insuring a classic British car - a guide brought to you by Moneysupermarket.

Sometimes, you just can't beat the look, sound, and smell of a classic British car. From Jaguar's elegant stalwarts to the hardiness and reliability of the Land Rover, the United Kingdom have produced some fantastic vehicles throughout the years, as any of their proud owners will eagerly tell you. Of course, if you're going to take these fine automobiles out on the road they'll need to be insured, and often insuring a classic car can be a little different to insuring a brand new one.

So what's the difference?
Of course, most classic car drivers aren't likely to be making the commute to work or trips to the shops in their pride and joy. Moneysupermarket.com says "Generally, although not always, the cost of a cheap classic car insurance policy is less than for a more modern vehicle. This reflects the fact that a vintage car will be better cared for, usually garaged and typically driven for fewer miles every year." Some insurance companies are now starting to realise this, offering specially tailored Classic Car cover. These generally mean that they will not allow the mileage to be over a set amount, and the car should only be for occasional use only - This may seem a little restrictive, but adhering to these rules will often result in decreased premiums - and after all, we all want cheaper car insurance.

Anything Else?
Yes, there are a few other optional extras that you could consider including on the policy, depending on what you use the car for - Track Day Cover, for example, covers you for special events that you might want to take the car to, or if you drive something of particular worth, it may be worth considering an agreed valuation. Most companies will require an independent expert examine the vehicle, but will then insure the car for that amount precisely - but make sure the valuation is guaranteed as some providers will not pay it otherwise.

You should also try and find a policy that will allow you to have the agreed valuation reconsidered every year. As time goes by and the vehicle becomes rarer, its value will rise, and as such you'll want to revise the value of it annually - don't forget any rare embellishments, badges or accessories as well, as these can be expensive to replace.

Also, you may want to include Salvage Retention in your policy. Essentially, what this means is should you make a claim due to the car being damaged in any way, the company will allow you to keep the vehicle as a base for restoration or a source of spares. Be sure to read the terms of this carefully however, as often the car has to be of a certain age before the providers will consider protection of this sort.

Finally, if you restore cars you're likely to want the car to be covered while it's off the road. While there are many specialist policies for just this reason, always make sure the car is also covered when it's on the road as well.