Classic Car Hire Insurance and Deposits Explained

Insurance is the part of classic car hire people worry about most, but it's actually the most straightforward once you know how it fits together. Here's what's covered, what the deposit is for, and what you'll need to qualify.

Who arranges the cover

You don't need to organise your own policy. For self-drive hires of cars located in the United States, insurance is provided through BookAclassic and selected at checkout. Everywhere else, the owner arranges the cover for the hire, so the terms vary by listing. What matters is meeting the terms attached to it; that's where the licence and age requirements come in. If you're new to the whole process, start with how to hire a classic car.

What the security deposit protects

Separately from insurance, a refundable security deposit is held against damage. It's not a charge in the usual sense; it's headroom on your card that's released after the car comes back as it left. The amount varies by car and is shown before you book.

• The deposit covers minor damage, excess, and the return condition of the car.
• It's refunded once the owner has checked the car back in.
• Keep the headroom free on your card for the duration of the hire.

Licence and age requirements

For self-drive hires you'll usually need a full licence held for a minimum period, and to meet the owner's age and driving-experience terms. Some owners set a higher minimum age for their most valuable cars. Every listing states its own requirements, so read them before you request dates. Chauffeured hire removes this entirely, since a professional driver is at the wheel; see self-drive vs chauffeured for the trade-offs.

Where to check the detail

The exact insurance terms, deposit amount, and driver requirements live on each individual listing, because every car is owned by a different person. For general questions, our Help Centre covers the fine print, and you can always message an owner before booking.

Browse listings to see the deposit and driver terms for cars in your area.