Vintage car hire from the people who keep them running
A vintage car is a piece of living history, and the people who own them are usually the people who restored them. BookAclassic lists genuinely old cars across the UK, from Edwardian and 1920s tourers through the 1930s saloons and 1950s Americans to the classics of the 1960s, hired directly from private owners who know every bolt. Most are available chauffeured for weddings and events, and a good number can be driven yourself.
What counts as vintage
Strictly, vintage means built between 1919 and 1930, with veteran cars before that and post-vintage thoroughbreds up to 1945. In everyday use, vintage car hire covers anything with running boards, a long bonnet and a bit of brass, and most of the cars people search for are 1930s to 1950s models. On BookAclassic you can filter by year to find exactly the era you want.
Vintage cars available to hire
- 1920s and 1930s tourers and saloons from Austin, Morris, Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Daimler
- Beauford and Regent tourers built in the vintage style for wedding work
- 1940s and 1950s American classics: Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet and Ford
- 1950s British saloons from Jaguar, Rover, Austin and Armstrong Siddeley
- 1960s classics including Jaguar Mk2, Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and Mercedes-Benz Fintail
Vintage wedding car hire
Weddings are the most common reason to hire a vintage car, and most owners offer chauffeured hire, driving the bride and the wedding party themselves and staying for the photographs. Owners are found across the UK with the greatest choice around London, Birmingham and the Midlands, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol and Scotland, and dedicated wedding car pages list what is available by city.
Self-drive vintage cars
Driving a pre-war car is a different experience from driving anything modern, with crash gearboxes, cable brakes and a pace that suits country lanes. Some owners offer self-drive hire for a day, usually with a thorough briefing and sometimes an accompanied first few miles. The listing will say whether self-drive is available and what the owner asks of the driver.
Film, photography and events
Vintage cars are in demand for period film and television work, advertising and editorial photography, vintage fairs, anniversaries and themed parties. Owners can usually supply period-correct details, and many are happy to attend with the car in appropriate dress.
Booking a vintage car
Find a car near your venue or home, check the year and the owner's description, and send a request with your date and locations. The owner confirms directly and you book securely through BookAclassic. Genuine vintage cars are rare and summer weekends go quickly, so enquire well ahead.