Classic Car Costs

Abraham

Would any of our knowledgeable subscribers, please outline in brief what the costs are in respect of buying a Classic Car in Ireland under these three headings :
(1)

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> Insurance
(2)

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> Road Tax
(3)

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> NCT.

Lots of talk these days about this type of motoring but rakes of confusion and weird conditions are thrown about. Considering a C.C. move myself so
it would be great to get a handle on what's involved.
Many thanks in advance.

johnos1984

Abraham wrote: »

(1)

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> Insurance www.campionins.com. Depends on the year but all the insurance costs are broken down pretty clearly there
(2)

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> Road Tax once over 30 years it is €48
(3)

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> NCT. Anything Pre 1980 doesn't require one currently

You will still need a main car for most classic policies. I've had a few and never had any issues.

Insurance costs range from €100 to about €250 depending how good the policies are. Anything 15 years or older can be insured on a classic policy but again you need a modern main car

Alanstrainor

Moved.

Abraham

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Moved.

OK. Mea Culpa.
Will do penance.

Johnnos - thanks for good info.....muchos gratias.

Anan1

Abraham wrote: »

OK. Mea Culpa.
Will do penance.

He moved your question to Classic Cars because you'll get more answers in the right forum.:)

unkel

Abraham wrote: »

Would any of our knowledgeable subscribers, please outline in brief what the costs are in respect of buying a Classic Car in Ireland under these three headings :
(1)

---

> Insurance
(2)

---

> Road Tax
(3)

---

> NCT.

You'll find a wealth of information in the charter of this forum

Rough summary:

1. depends but classic insurance is generally very cheap. I paid €300 for fully comp on a classic Porsche with a 4.7l 310BHP engine

2. normal rates until the car is 30 years old. Then a fixed €48 rate for the year!

3. cars registered up to 31/12/1979 are NCT exempt. Any other 10+ year old car will need a new NCT every year

tinofapples

unkel wrote: »

You'll find a wealth of information in the charter of this forum

Rough summary:

1. depends but classic insurance is generally very cheap. I paid €300 for fully comp on a classic Porsche with a 4.7l 310BHP engine

2. normal rates until the car is 30 years old. Then a fixed €48 rate for the year!

3. cars registered up to 31/12/1979 are NCT exempt. Any other 10+ year old car will need a new NCT every year

The NCT is a right sickener.

Abraham

So many good responses here, thanks guys.
Very helpful. My bright idea does not feel so attractive now that I look at facts and experiences.

johnos1984

Abraham wrote: »

So many good responses here, thanks guys.
Very helpful. My bright idea does not feel so attractive now that I look at facts and experiences.

What are your intentions with the car?

Sam Russell

You also need to be aware that many classic insurance policies limit annual mileage to 5,000 or so.

stephendevlin

Sam Russell wrote: »

You also need to be aware that many classic insurance policies limit annual mileage to 5,000 or so.

And a normal car policy for your everyday car if im not mistaken.

Dont think they give you insurance unless you are already insured on another veeehhiiicle

Dades

Top tip:

Don't buy a classic because you want to run a car cheaply...

Buy a classic because you want a classic.

johnos1984

Dades wrote: »

Top tip:

Don't buy a classic because you want to run a car cheaply...

Buy a classic because you want a classic.

+1

Abraham

johnos1984 wrote: »

What are your intentions with the car?

Been harbouring a daft idea lately that I'd like to swan around for awhile in a Classic Car, possibly a Merc.....something all chromy and sedate and leathery. 'Twould need to be a family car too when needed althought my annual mileage is now less than 7K. Got no kids now though so it's only me and 'Marilyn Monroe' and our four legged friend : 'Liberace'.

Bigus

Try and hire or borrow one, to see if you could live with it.

Big Nasty

Bigus wrote: »

Try and hire or borrow one, to see if you could live with it.

That's a thing a lot of people getting into the classic scene don't consider. We're so used to getting into modern cars that start on the button these days. An older car is going to be more difficult to drive and not as reliable as a modern car. Every classic I've driven seems to have it's own quirks too.

That said they're easy to maintain and fix and shouldn't give you many problems once well maintained and in regular use.

corktina

Its my belief that a lot of good classics have been imported in recent years and are being run into the ground and discarded when they need work.

They arent toys and as well as having the cash to buy them , you need to be willing to learn how to look after them, acquire quite a lot of tools,spares and equipment and have somewhere out of the weather to keep them.

Muckie

I believe a lot of people have bought cars usually from the UK, loved the idea of owning a classic car(usually from childhood, same as myself).

Their used to running a modern car and when problems arrive they don't know where to go and who to bring the car to.

Then they often try to see if they can sell it on for what they paid for it.

Abraham

Muckie wrote: »

I believe a lot of people have bought cars usually from the UK, loved the idea of owning a classic car(usually from childhood, same as myself).

Their used to running a modern car and when problems arrive they don't know where to go and who to bring the car to.

Then they often try to see if they can sell it on for what they paid for it.

Possible opening there for some entrepreneur to set up a Classic Car Customer Care business somewhere accessible with a strong emphasis on really good service......?

Sam Russell

If you are considering buying a classic car, look out at how many advertisers use phrases like 'thousands spent, too many items to list' or ' brakes replaced, suspension rebuilt, much welding done, new engine two years ago, simple project to finish, only done 50 miles since, etc.'

A lot of cars can be a money pit, with little to show for it at the end. Buy carefully.

Abraham

Oh Dear ! Bad omen yesterday. Went to view a Classic and 'Liberace', our Afghan hound, peering thro his longish eyebrows refused pointblank to get into it. Put down my jacket on the rear seat and he refused to budge.
Marilyn says sometimes he has more taste than me. Hhhhmmm....no I'm not gonna say it !

12 element

You were putting your dog into someone else's classic car? :eek:

Abraham

12 element wrote: »

You were putting your dog into someone else's classic car? :eek:

Yes....after due discussion with the owner.
There will be no Classic anything in our igloo unless Liberace accepts it !

johnos1984

You need a Merc estate to keep Liberace happy

corktina

or a taxidermist

Thinkingaboutit

Abraham wrote: »

Would any of our knowledgeable subscribers, please outline in brief what the costs are in respect of buying a Classic Car in Ireland under these three headings :
(1)

---

> Insurance
(2)

---

> Road Tax
(3)

---

> NCT.

Lots of talk these days about this type of motoring but rakes of confusion and weird conditions are thrown about. Considering a C.C. move myself so
it would be great to get a handle on what's involved.
Many thanks in advance.

1) Classic ins that it substantially cheaper usually means have a modern primary, insuring it as a primary, don't know unless you mean a powered two wheeler, which you don't, c. 300 but looking hard for the documents as renewal is coming up, and it want to get quotes off a definite figure.

2) Mine is 48 Euro being 1971.

3) Exempt.

A UK import will have an MOT so there can be more trust put in it (although there can be dodgy ones there too). My biggest cost came because the brake pipes had corroded and had to be redone in full a few years ago, c. 500 Euro. The water pump and radiator thermostat and one of the sealed beam headlamps also had to be replaced. Restored cars are often given a sort of anti-rust treatment, but the wisest policy is to have a garage, or at least a good cover, and wash it often. Enlisting someone with mechanical or bodywork expertise would a good idea when viewing. Bear in mind also that older cars will be slower, brakes are weaker, and at least smaller old cars will lack power steering. Merc parts of any vintage can be got from a Merc dealer provided a person can wait on some things. Consider an Austin Vanden Plas/Wolseley 6/110 and save one from banger racers.

Abraham

corktina wrote: »

or a taxidermist

Corky....Liberace positively sulked when I told him of your suggestion and Marilyn shook the spinach maker in my direction when she heard it too !

corktina

well you dont want dogs hairs in your classic...:D

better get a sixties chevvy convertible...better for the dog and perfect for Marilyn

Abraham

Funny you should say that because I was just thinking along those lines.
At the moment and for the past year, we have been using a sports Mini but there's friction now between us because Marilyn does not like having to travel in the small back seat of the Mini.
Y'see, Liberace likes to sit up front and look out on the traffic and the world about him and he does so with a lot of pride.

I tried when we first got the Mini, to put Liberace in the back seat but he was utterly dog defiant and kicked up a right fuss so Marilyn had to go in the back just so there would be peace. He just loves it there.

The other lovely warm evening, I was stopped in Baggot St with the windows down when a chap with serious glasses drew up alongside and asked Liberace if the American Embassy was closeby. Liberace just looked at me and I knew it was a case of "will you take this" so I sorted it. The guy took a second look and took off with his own moll in hysterics. Marilyn has a problem seeing the funny side of that too.

I know that the Mini has the small reputation but it's quite big enough in other ways. We manage to get in the ferret box and the rabbit hutch in the boot.
Sad day that we ever allowed him in the front.

That Mini is a Classic Mini now, not very fast mind you, but just like Beverley Stoopid Whatever-Her-Name-Was, is a class act nonetheless and I will be sad to see it go.

But you could be right and one of those big American Classic Sports thingies might hold the solution.
Class as they say, will out in the end !