Bentley Insurance

By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO

A Bentley can be a pre-war racer, a hand-trimmed 1950s Continental, a 1980s Turbo R or a 2024 Bentayga that takes the family to Vermont every winter weekend. In New England we see all of them, often in the same garage. Each needs a different kind of policy, and the value of the classic cars depends on records, coachwork and condition far more than on the badge.

This guide covers what’s specific to insuring a Bentley. For how collector insurance works in general, start with our classic and collector car insurance guide. We shop collector car coverage with carriers including Hagerty, J.C. Taylor, Liberty Mutual, Cincinnati and American Modern, and we’ll confirm eligibility for your vehicle before you rely on a policy.

Which Bentleys are treated as collector cars?

Vintage Bentleys from Cricklewood (1919 to 1931)

W.O. Bentley’s original company built its cars at Cricklewood in London, including the 3 Litre, 4 1/2 Litre, Speed Six and 8 Litre, and its cars won at Le Mans in the 1920s. These are among the most valuable pre-war cars in the world. They’re insured with specialist appraisals, detailed histories, enclosed transport and careful storage.

Derby Bentleys (1933 to 1939)

After Rolls-Royce bought Bentley in 1931, it built the 3 1/2 Litre and 4 1/4 Litre cars at Derby. Many carry bodies by independent coachbuilders, so two cars of the same model can be worth very different amounts. Records of the chassis and the coachwork are central to value.

Crewe classics: Mark VI to the T-series (1946 to 1980)

The Mark VI was the first car built at the Crewe factory after the war, followed by the R-Type and the R-Type Continental of 1952, then the S1, S2 and S3 and the T-series. The aluminum V8 that first appeared in 1959 powered Bentleys for decades. Continentals and coachbuilt cars from this era are serious collectibles, and standard saloons in good order are widely collected too.

Turbo R, Continental R and Arnage (1980s to early 2000s)

The Mulsanne Turbo and Turbo R revived Bentley’s performance image in the 1980s, followed by the Continental R, Azure and Arnage. Clean, documented examples are increasingly collected. Many are still driven, and parts and specialist repair matter more as they age.

Modern Bentleys (2003 to today)

The Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga are modern luxury cars that many owners drive often, including through New England winters, so they’re normally written on a high-value auto policy that expects winter driving. A Mulliner Bacalar or Batur, or another limited car that rarely leaves the garage, is the exception. See exotic and high-value collector car insurance for how those decisions are made.

Factory records, coachwork and provenance

For older Bentleys, history is a large part of value. The Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club in England manages an archive of factory records rescued in 1971, and it supplies copies of build records, the work and test reports compiled as each car was built, along with Heritage Certificates that set out a car’s basic details. Those records can confirm the original chassis, engine, body and specification.

Coachwork matters as much as the chassis. A car bodied by H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward, James Young or another coachbuilder, or one with special-order equipment, can be worth far more than a standard car of the same model. Keep:

• Factory build records and any Heritage Certificate
• Coachbuilder records, body numbers and photos of the body plates
• A history file of previous owners, restorations and major work
• Photos of the exterior, interior, woodwork, engine bay and underbody
• Appraisals, concours results and records of comparable sales

Coachbuilt and pre-war values aren’t tracked by price guides the way common cars are, so an appraiser who knows the marque is worth paying for. Agreed value explains how that appraisal turns into your policy number.

Repairs: woodwork, leather and older mechanicals

Much of a classic Bentley’s value is in materials and craftsmanship: veneered wood, hide upholstery, wool carpets and chrome. Repairs often go to trim and woodwork specialists, and finding matching veneer or original-specification hide takes time. Older cars also have mechanical and hydraulic systems that need marque knowledge. Ask whether you can choose the repairer, how the policy handles original-specification materials and parts, and what happens to the car while it waits. If yours is mid-restoration, see restoration and project car insurance.

Driving: tours, rallies and British car shows

Bentleys are made to be driven, and New England has an active owner community. The Bentley Drivers Club has a New England region that covers Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, and the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club’s Yankee Region welcomes Bentley owners. British Car Day at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline was held June 28, 2026, and the British Invasion in Stowe, Vermont, ran September 18 to 20, 2026. Long-distance tours and rallies are a natural use for these cars, and collector policies anticipate them. If you trailer or ship your car, see car shows and trailering.

Tell us about long tours, events outside the country and any timed runs or hill climbs, which are commonly excluded, so we can check coverage before you go.

Storage and New England weather

A classic Bentley wants a locked, heated or at least dry building, a battery tender and no contact with winter road salt. Damp is hard on woodwork, leather and older steel, so watch humidity in a seasonal garage. Our lay-up guide and spring checklist bookend the season, and the nor’easter checklist matters if the carriage house is near the water.

Collections and the rest of your insurance

It’s common for a Bentley owner to have a Crewe classic on a collector policy, a Bentayga on a high-value auto policy and a waterfront house in between. We write those pieces so the liability limits meet the umbrella without a gap. If you also own an Aston Martin or a classic Mercedes-Benz, our marque guides cover those cars, and our guide to classic car collection insurance covers several cars on one policy. For larger collections or several properties, see high net worth insurance.

If you have a claim

Photograph everything, including the interior and woodwork, before the car is moved, and tell the adjuster at the start that the car needs a marque specialist and original-specification materials. Build records and coachbuilder documents show what the car was before the loss. With agreed value, a total loss settles at the agreed amount less your deductible.

Why work with an independent agency

One insurer rarely fits a 1928 4 1/2 Litre, a 1960s S3 and a new Flying Spur equally well. As an independent agency we can split them across the right programs and keep them coordinated with your auto, home and umbrella coverage.

Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is a family-owned independent agency founded in 2005. Our 15 employees work from our Portsmouth, NH office and a Connecticut office, we are licensed in 10 states, and we work with 40+ carriers. We are New Hampshire’s highest-rated agency on Google, with 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials, and we don’t charge any fees.

Bentleys we insure are garaged across northern New England and the Connecticut Gold Coast. For plate and registration details by state, see New Hampshire, Connecticut and Maine.

Frequently asked questions

Should my Bentley be on a collector policy or a regular auto policy?

It depends on the car’s age and how you use it. Vintage, Derby and classic Crewe Bentleys driven occasionally and stored securely often fit a collector policy with agreed value. A Continental GT, Flying Spur or Bentayga you drive regularly usually belongs on a high-value auto policy. We’ll confirm eligibility for your vehicle.

Where can I find the factory records for my classic Bentley?

For many older cars, the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club archive in England holds factory build records, the work and test reports compiled as each car was built, and it also issues Heritage Certificates. Copies of those records are strong evidence of your car’s original specification when we set an agreed value.

Is a Turbo R, Continental R or Arnage old enough for collector insurance?

Often, yes. Collector insurers look at age, but also at mileage, storage, how the car is used and whether you have a separate everyday car. Well-kept, documented examples of these 1980s and 1990s Crewe cars are increasingly collected. We’ll look at your car and how you drive it before recommending a policy.

Does a coachbuilt body affect how a Bentley is insured?

Yes. Cars with bodies by coachbuilders such as H.J. Mulliner or Park Ward, or with special-order features, can be worth much more than a standard car of the same model. Document the coachwork with build records and photos, and make sure the agreed value reflects it rather than the price of a standard example.

Who repairs the wood and leather in a classic Bentley?

Usually a specialist. Veneered wood, hide, wool carpets and chrome on older Bentleys are restored by trim and woodwork specialists, and the work can take time. Ask before a loss whether you can choose the repairer and how the policy handles original-specification materials, so a repair keeps the car’s character.

What our clients say

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

“

Jon is super helpful and amazingly communicative. He responds fast with well thought out answers making the process of getting insurance for my home and car super simple.

“

Very informative, responsive, and helpful with answering any questions we had. Helped us get the best deal and coverage, explained the differences between coverage options, and let us choose what worked best for us. Highly recommend!

“

Excellent guidance on insurance options and fantastic quoting and onboarding experience. We trust their recommendations and feel that we have best coverage for peace of mind at best possible cost.

Read more client testimonials

Sources

• Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club: archive services
• The National Archives: Rolls-Royce and Bentley records
• Bentley Motors: Heritage Garage and Heritage Collection
• Bentley Drivers Club: New England region
• RROC Yankee Region: events
• Larz Anderson Auto Museum: British Car Day 2026
• The British Invasion, Stowe, Vermont