Antique, classic, vintage — the terms get used interchangeably, but they mean different things depending on context. If you're buying, selling, insuring, or restoring a vehicle, knowing the distinction matters.
Vintage cars
In the UK, "vintage" generally refers to cars built between 1919 and 1930. The Vintage Sports Car Club (VSCC) uses this definition, and it's widely accepted in the classic car world. These are pre-war vehicles — characterised by open bodywork, separate chassis, and engineering that predates most modern mechanical conventions.
In the US, the term is used more loosely and often just means "old car." If you're dealing with American sources, check what period they're actually referring to.
Antique cars
In the UK, "antique" typically refers to vehicles built before 1919 — essentially Edwardian and earlier. These are pioneer-era vehicles. Parts are extremely scarce and restoration is a specialist undertaking.
In the US, "antique" is defined differently for insurance and registration purposes — often any vehicle over 25 years old qualifies. Again, context matters.
Classic cars
This is the broadest and most commonly used term. In the UK, HMRC's definition of a historic vehicle (exempt from road tax and MOT) is any car manufactured before 1 January 1980. Insurance companies and car clubs each have their own definitions, but in general use, "classic" covers anything from roughly the 1950s through to the early 1990s.
Classic is also the term most relevant to the parts market. The cars we supply parts for — Mercedes W123, Land Rover Defender, Jaguar XJ6, BMW E30 and others — all fall under this bracket.
Why it matters for insurance
Getting the classification right affects your insurance premium and what cover is available to you. Agreed value policies — where the insurer agrees the car's value upfront rather than paying market value at point of claim — are standard for classics and important given how values have moved. Speak to a specialist classic car insurer rather than a mainstream provider.
Why it matters for parts
Classification affects what's available and where to look. Vintage and antique vehicles often require bespoke manufacture for most components. Classic cars, depending on the marque and model, may have better aftermarket support — though discontinued parts are still common. If you can't find what you need, ask us.