Antique vs. Classic Car Insurance: What the Labels Mean

By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO

“Is my car an antique or a classic?” is one of the first questions collectors ask us, and the honest answer is that it depends on who is asking. Your state’s motor vehicle agency uses one set of definitions for plates. Insurers use their own definitions for collector policies. And a car that has been modified may fall into a third group entirely. This guide sorts out the labels so you know what actually affects your insurance. For the full picture on coverage, see our classic and collector car insurance guide.

Antique, classic, vintage and modified: the general meanings

Outside of any one state law or insurance policy, collectors tend to use the words this way:

• Antique: an older vehicle kept in original condition or restored to original. State plate programs most often use this word.
• Classic: a collectible car that may be younger than an antique, such as muscle cars, sports cars and later-model favorites, still kept close to original.
• Vintage: usually an informal term for early cars, often pre-war, and widely used by clubs and events.
• Modified: a car collectible because of changes made to it, such as hot rods, street rods, resto-mods, customs, replicas and kit cars.
• Modern classic or exotic: a newer limited-production or high-performance car kept as a collectible and driven sparingly.

How New England states define antique and classic vehicles

These definitions control plates and registration, not insurance. They’re still worth knowing, because they shape what collectors in each state call their cars.

New Hampshire: over 25 years

An antique motor vehicle is one over 25 years old, maintained for exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest, not used in commerce, and kept in original or restored-to-original-or-better condition rather than for daily use (RSA 259:4). More on collector car insurance in New Hampshire.

Massachusetts: over 25 years

An antique motor car is one over 25 years old maintained solely for exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest, including test drives to prepare for them and trips to and from repair shops, and not used primarily to carry passengers or goods.

Connecticut: 20 years

Connecticut issues Classic Vehicle plates for vehicles at least 20 years old. An antique, rare or special interest vehicle is 20 years or older, preserved because of historic interest and not altered from the manufacturer’s specifications, and a separate “modified antique motor vehicle” category covers older cars modified for safe road use (CGS 14-1). More on collector car insurance in Connecticut.

Maine: more than 35 years for new registrations

Maine generally requires an antique auto to be more than 35 years old, with an exception for cars 25 to 35 years old that were registered as antiques before January 2025. The car must have an original or original-spec engine, be kept in original or restored condition, not be the owner’s primary transportation, and not be altered or reconstructed. Maine offers separate hobbyist plates for street rods and custom vehicles.

How insurers classify collector cars

Insurers don’t simply follow state plate rules. Most collector programs sort cars into two broad groups:

• Antique and classic: cars collectible because of age and preservation, in original condition or restored to original.
• Modified: cars collectible because of changes from original condition. These usually go into a separate program with its own rules and documentation. See modified car insurance.

Within those groups, an insurer looks at the car’s age, condition, value and collectibility, how it’s used, where it’s stored, and who drives it. Each insurer has its own age and condition guidelines, and they don’t always line up with your state’s. That’s why we’ll confirm eligibility for your vehicle rather than rely on its plates.

Why plates don’t decide your coverage

A car with antique or classic plates isn’t automatically eligible for collector insurance, and a car without them may still qualify. This matters most in Connecticut, where many ordinary 20-year-old cars carry Classic Vehicle plates and state law doesn’t restrict how they are driven. A collector policy still expects hobby use, secure storage and a separate daily driver. If your classic-plated car is your daily transportation, a standard auto policy is usually the right home for it.

Original, restored or modified: where the line falls

The line between a restored car and a modified one isn’t always obvious. A few rules of thumb:

• Repairs and restoration using original or reproduction parts generally keep a car in the antique or classic group.
• Engine swaps or changes for more performance usually move a car toward the modified group.
• Body changes, such as chopped roofs, custom fabrication or replica bodies, usually mean modified.
• Safety and drivability upgrades like seat belts, disc brakes or electronic ignition are treated differently by different insurers. Tell us about them.

When in doubt, tell us everything that’s been changed, with photos. An accurate classification up front protects you at claim time.

What the label changes in your policy

Whether your car is treated as an antique, a classic or a modified car can affect the documentation you need (modified cars usually need more photos and build records), how the agreed value is supported, the deductible options available, and which insurer is the right fit.

Each carrier draws these lines a little differently, which is one reason we shop collector cars with several, including Hagerty, J.C. Taylor, Liberty Mutual, Cincinnati and American Modern. As an independent, family-owned agency founded in 2005, with access to 40+ carriers, we can look at more than one option. We don’t charge any fees, and we are New Hampshire’s highest-rated agency on Google, with 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between an antique car and a classic car?

It depends on who is asking. Each state’s motor vehicle agency sets its own definitions for plates and registration, and each insurer sets its own definitions for eligibility. In general, ‘antique’ points to an older car kept original or restored to original, while ‘classic’ is used more loosely for collectible cars that may be younger. Insurers also look at condition, value, use and storage, not just age.

Does my car need antique or classic plates to get collector insurance?

No. Plates and insurance are separate decisions. A car with antique or classic plates isn’t automatically eligible for a collector policy, and a car without them may still qualify. We’ll confirm eligibility for your vehicle based on the car and how you use and store it.

How old does a car have to be to count as an antique?

For registration, it varies by state. New Hampshire and Massachusetts use more than 25 years for antique plates, Connecticut uses 20 years for Classic Vehicle plates, and Maine now generally requires more than 35 years for new antique auto registrations. Insurers set their own age and condition rules, which can differ from the state’s.

Can a modern car be insured as a classic?

Sometimes. Some insurers will write limited-production, exotic or special-edition modern cars on a collector policy if they are driven sparingly and stored securely. If you drive the car regularly, a high-value auto policy is usually a better fit.

What happens if my classic car has been modified?

If the body has been altered or the engine changed for more performance, an insurer will usually treat it as a modified car rather than an antique or classic, which can mean a separate program and more documentation. Period-correct repairs and safety upgrades may be treated differently. Tell us about every change so the policy matches the car.

What our clients say

From our client surveys. Comments are lightly edited for typos only.

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Sources

• NH RSA 259:4, Antique motor vehicle definition
• Massachusetts RMV, Antique Motor Vehicle Plate application
• Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 246 (Sec. 14-1 definitions)
• Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A, Sec. 101, definitions
• Maine BMV, Register an antique auto or motorcycle