{"id":1105,"date":"2025-03-04T09:54:48","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T09:54:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sterling-insurance.co.uk/northern-ireland\/?p=1105"},"modified":"2026-02-23T10:33:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T10:33:56","slug":"when-car-become-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sterling-insurance.co.uk/northern-ireland\/blog\/classic-cars\/when-car-become-classic\/","title":{"rendered":"When does a car become a classic in Northern Ireland?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The definition of a classic car can vary by country and by insurer, but typically when does a car become a classic in Northern Ireland?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This blog will explain when cars are classed as classics, when they are tax exempt and how you can save money on your classic car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is considered a classic car in Northern Ireland?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Five years ago former Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon<\/a> announced changes in legislation to exempt private vehicles of historic interest from an annual MOT. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This change was applied to every private vehicle that was first registered 40 years ago and is now on a rolling scale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cars are usually registered on 1st April each year, which means from the beginning of this month each year every vehicle that turns 40-years-old will now be exempt from an annual MOT<\/a> and will now be considered a classic car. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, if your car was built before 1st January 1985, you were legally exempt from paying vehicle tax after 1st April 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you must still tax your vehicle even if you do not have to pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When do insurance companies consider a car a classic? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Whilst 40 years is the benchmark for when a car is considered a classic, some insurers may still be able to offer classic insurance for vehicles that are deemed vintage or collector\u2019s items. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insurance companies such as Sterling also follow the guidance of HMRC who consider vehicles over 15-years-old and have a market value of \u00a315,000+ as classic cars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each insurance company is different, but we tend to consider a wider range of vehicles as classics, not just looking at the age, but also the model, whether they\u2019ve held their market value and how rare they are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a common myth that a car must be at least 25-years-old before it can become a classic, however, this is not the case. There are many models that we consider modern classics that aren\u2019t even 10-years-old which can be insured<\/a> in this category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How are classic cars categorised? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Defining what constitutes a classic car is one thing, but what makes a car a \u2018classic\u2019 as opposed to vintage or veteran? Here\u2019s a list to help define the different categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n