Classic car guides
These guides cover the questions that cross marque boundaries: the paperwork, what classic means, laying a car up and buying at auction. For the detail of a particular model, use the separate reference archives.
Model buyer's guides
In-depth model guides covering checks, buying at auction, selling and ownership.
Classic car tax and MOT exemption
The 2026 tax dates, applying for the historic tax class, the separate MOT rules and how modifications affect exemption.
When is a car a classic?
The different answers used for government rules, insurance and collector categories, and what age alone cannot tell you.
Classic car storage
Preparing a car for winter or longer storage, checking the building and asking the right questions of a storage facility.
Using an outdoor Carcoon
How an outdoor Carcoon is described to work, choosing a spot, setting one up and what it does not solve.
Classic car insurance explained
What age a car needs to be, agreed value, limited mileage and insuring several classics with one insurer.
Buying a classic car
Dealer, private sale or auction compared, the checks before you buy and paying safely.
Buying a classic car at auction
Viewing, documents, bidding, results and the arrangements needed before the car becomes your responsibility.
Classic car scams
Cloned cars, fake payment and deposit scams, selling safely and how to report a scam.
The cars and their reference archives
The garage shows the five cars I keep on the road. The archives explains the separate reference sites and what each covers. These guides are free to read, with no adverts or affiliate links.
Questions people ask
Are historic tax and MOT exemption the same thing?
No. Tax exemption uses the qualifying dates and an application for the historic tax class. MOT exemption has its own age and substantial-change tests. Read the tax and MOT guide before relying on either.
Is there one age at which a car becomes a classic?
No single age works for every purpose. Government tax and MOT rules, company-car tax rules, insurance conditions and collector labels answer different questions.
Does winter storage remove the need to tax a car?
Not by itself. If the car is untaxed and kept off the public road, make a SORN. Check the storage arrangements and your insurance separately.
Where are the model-specific classic car guides?
The archives page links to the separate marque reference sites. The garage page shows the five cars Jon keeps on the road. These general guides do not replace a model's handbook or workshop manual.
Sources: GOV.UK: historic vehicles; GOV.UK: SORN; Hagerty UK: classic car definitions; FBHVC; Iconic Auctioneers: sale terms.
Checked 19 October 2026