Classic car insurance on a van

piston

I have a 1990 Golf van, currently taxed commercially but not really being used for commercial purposes.

I would like to insure it as a classic as it should be cheaper and the annual mileage isn't very high. I generally just use it for carrying my bikes around. If I were to tax it privately, would there be any reason why I couldn't get a classic policy (I do own a slightly more modern car as well). I presume it would still need to be tested as a commercial as I asked at the NCT centre the last time I had my car in and they said they couldn't NCT a van.

swarlb

Why on earth would a 1990 anything, let alone a VW Golf Van be a 'classic'.
I've a 1988 Fiat Ducato van, is it a classic ?, after all its older than the Golf !!
The whole remit behind lower road tax, and cheaper insurance, was to help keep owners of genuinly 'old' cars in use.
Not as a means to quantify normal run of the mill vehicles as a means of cheap transportation.

diesel powered

I just picked a 1990 van a corolla as week day car but sites like quinn direct dont allow you insure anything less than 1992 on website.....
does this mean i can try for classic like pistons case as its 22year old is it 21yrs for classic and 30yrs for vintage as far as i know...

I think there is nothing wrong either with insuring as classic vehicles they are of age and kept to road worthy condition then why not ? that would be like to say some fella in government would have to decide what a "genuinly old car" is as said by swarlb. how would a golf not be a classic if its 22yrs old , there is now 6 generations dating from early 70's so i think it easily qualify's

bijapos

piston wrote: »

I have a 1990 Golf van, currently taxed commercially but not really being used for commercial purposes.

I would like to insure it as a classic as it should be cheaper and the annual mileage isn't very high............

Just ring around piston, ring a few brokers and a few companies who do classic insurance, they are the only ones who can fully answer the cost question.

swarlb wrote: »

Why on earth would a 1990 anything, let alone a VW Golf Van be a 'classic'.
I've a 1988 Fiat Ducato van, is it a classic ?, after all its older than the Golf !!
The whole remit behind lower road tax, and cheaper insurance, was to help keep owners of genuinly 'old' cars in use.
Not as a means to quantify normal run of the mill vehicles as a means of cheap transportation.

There is a big enough scene for 20-30 year old cars, "youngtimers" as some people call them. They shouldnt be knocked, there is a certain danger limbo time in a cars history when its somewhere between "old" and "classic" and is in danger of being scrapped, usually around 15-25 years of age.

The 90 Golf van is a good example, once very common here, not too many remain and its something that in a few years will look well at a show, its the kind of car that someone had, or their brother/father/neighbour/aunt/uncle had and is therefore interesting to a lot of people.

Just because its common, doesn't mean its exempt from classic status, a Ferrari F40 is a classic, so why not a Golf van. Either way many insurance companies freely offer classic insurance to 20 year + cars and this is what the OP is trying to get. Nothing wrong with that.

carchaeologist

My 1990 Seat Ibiza is insured on a classic policy through the Irish Vintage Society. I'm sure a van wouldn't be an issue either, I think they do commercials too.

diesel powered

Just out curiosity not getting into your business but how much are you paying on the Seat Ibiza ?

And had to to become a member also to avail ?

thanks

also anything on age restrictions im only 21 myself but is it 25 to qualify ?

hi5

How you tax it shouldn't make a difference to classic insurance,but you are not allowed use it for work,your mileage will be limited any way.
These people advertise cars over 20 years and commercials too.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/2710625

diesel powered

Thanks hi5 give buzz in morning and put end to this thread

salysol

hi5 wrote: »

How you tax it shouldn't make a difference to classic insurance,but you are not allowed use it for work,your mileage will be limited any way.
These people advertise cars over 20 years and commercials too.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/2710625

That may be the case with that insurer,but on the other hand,the company i use are more flexible,as far as i recall ,from 20 to 30 years is classic and costs €220,with open driving to full irish licence holders,no limited milage,social domestic and pleasure cover,the only conditions are you have to be 25 or older have a current main car insured.
oh and an extra €25 to join the club,or vintage which is 30 years €125.
0578622100

piston

swarlb wrote: »

Why on earth would a 1990 anything, let alone a VW Golf Van be a 'classic'.
I've a 1988 Fiat Ducato van, is it a classic ?, after all its older than the Golf !!
The whole remit behind lower road tax, and cheaper insurance, was to help keep owners of genuinly 'old' cars in use.
Not as a means to quantify normal run of the mill vehicles as a means of cheap transportation.

A MKII Golf is just as much of a classic as something like a Morris Minor. They are becoming thin on the ground and deserve to be preserved. For people of my age they are the type of cars I grew up with and look back on with fondness and you will see a lot more of them at shows in the not very distant future. If you're rich enough to look down your nose at my Golf through the windscreen of your MKII Jag, that's your problem, not mine.

superfly35

Piston, your van is a classic vehicle from an insurance point of view and in my opinion too.

As carchaeologist mentioned ring up FBD, and tell them that you want information about the classic car scheme with Irish vintage society of ireland.
http://www.irishvintage.net/

The price should be €135, for third party, €165 for third party fire and theft and €215 for fully comp.
Those people are easy to deal with. You also need to pay €25 of subscription.

If they can't do it, try Carol Nash.

You should be able to insure it at a decent price.

Blue850

swarlb wrote: »

I've a 1988 Fiat Ducato van, is it a classic ?,

no, thats a miracle

superfly35

Hi Piston,
I have literally just feel the form for my new car and they are accepting commercial under 5 tonnes. So your van should be no bother. The FBD direct phone number 1890 58 65 86, they are dealing with Irish vintage society in this office.
I will ring them tomorrow if I was you.

piston

Thanks everyone for the advice. I have another two months of the current policy to run but am doing some digging around to see what I can do at the moment.