Classic Jaguar Insurance

By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO

Few cars draw a crowd at a New England car show the way an E-Type does. We insure XK120 roadsters that have been in one family for decades, E-Types restored to concours standard, Mark 2 saloons that come out for summer drives and XJ-S convertibles that are still used every week from May to October. They share a badge, but their values, risks and right policies are very different.

This guide covers what’s specific to insuring a classic Jaguar. 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 Jaguars are treated as collector cars?

XK120, XK140 and XK150 (1948 to 1961)

The XK sports cars came in roadster, drophead coupe and fixed-head coupe forms. Early aluminum-bodied XK120s, cars with competition history and well-documented original cars carry the most value. They’re insured as serious collectibles, with appraisals and careful records.

The E-Type (1961 to 1974)

The E-Type was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1961, and production ended in June 1974, although some of the last cars weren’t registered until 1975. It ran through three series: the Series 1 with the 3.8 and later 4.2 litre engines and a 2+2 added in 1965, the interim cars collectors call the Series 1 1/2, the Series 2 from 1968, and the Series 3 V12 from 1971. The final run of fifty Commemorative cars carried a plaque with a facsimile of Sir William Lyons’s signature. Series, body style, early details such as flat floors and outside bonnet locks, and matching numbers all affect value.

Saloons, the XJ6 and the XJ-S

The Mark 2 and the earlier compact saloons, the big Mark X, the XJ6 and XJ12, and the XJ-S that followed the E-Type are widely collected and often driven more than the sports cars. Values are lower and vary with condition, so a well-supported agreed value and a policy that matches how often you drive matter most.

Special and modern collectibles

The XJ220, limited-run cars and factory continuation cars from Jaguar Classic are collectibles in their own right. An F-Type or a modern XK you drive through the week is an everyday car and goes on a standard or high-value auto policy. See exotic and high-value collector car insurance for how that decision is made.

Heritage Certificates and the numbers that matter

The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust holds the production records for every SS and Jaguar built since 1931 and issues Heritage Certificates for vehicles more than ten years old. A certificate shows the car’s entry exactly as it was recorded at the factory: original color and trim, dates of build and dispatch, original destination and, where recorded, the original registration. To get a complete certificate, you supply the chassis or VIN, engine, body and gearbox numbers.

The Trust is clear that a certificate is not proof of a car’s identity, originality, condition or ownership today. It’s still strong evidence when we set an agreed value, especially paired with:

• Photos of the chassis plate and the stamped engine, body and gearbox numbers
• Restoration records and receipts, with photos taken during the work
• JCNA or other concours judging sheets and any appraisal
• Records of the original tool kit, hood, tonneau, hardtop and wheels
• A list of every modification or non-original part

A Series 1 3.8 roadster, a Series 2 coupe and a V12 2+2 sit at very different price points, so a generic E-Type value is almost always wrong for a particular car. Revisit the number at renewal, and see agreed value explained for how it’s documented.

Rust, wiring and repairs

Older Jaguars rust in the sills, floors, wheel arches and structure, and an E-Type’s monocoque center section is expensive to repair correctly. Keep the car off salted winter roads and have any car inspected by a marque specialist before you buy. Older wiring is another risk, so a battery cut-off switch and a fire extinguisher are sensible additions. When something goes wrong, ask whether you can choose the specialist who repairs the car and how the policy handles reproduction versus original parts. If your car is apart, see restoration and project car insurance.

Modified, upgraded and electric Jaguars

Many E-Types and XKs now have five-speed gearboxes, upgraded brakes, fuel injection or electric power steering, and a growing number have electric conversions. These are modifications, and they change how the car is insured and valued. Tell us about every change, keep the receipts and photos, and see our guide to modified car insurance. An original car and an upgraded one can be valued very differently.

Driving: clubs, concours and British car shows

New England is a strong region for Jaguar owners. The Jaguar Association of New England and the Jaguar Club of Southern New England, based mainly in Connecticut, are both affiliated with the Jaguar Clubs of North America and hold tours, technical sessions and concours events. British Car Day at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline was held June 28, 2026, and the British Invasion in Stowe, Vermont, celebrated its 35th year on September 18 to 20, 2026. Concours judging, club runs and show-field parking are routine hobby use. If you trailer your car to events, see car shows and trailering.

Club slaloms and timed events are a different matter, because collector policies commonly exclude timed and competitive events. Talk to us before you enter one.

Storage and New England weather

Over the winter, a Jaguar needs a locked, dry building and a battery tender more than it needs heat. Damp storage speeds up rust, so watch humidity in a seasonal garage, and many owners use a car cover and a dehumidifier. Read our winter storage guide before you put it away, the nor’easter checklist if you’re near the coast, and the spring checklist before the first drive.

Collections and the rest of your insurance

An E-Type often shares the garage with an MG, a Triumph or an Austin-Healey. One collector policy can usually carry several cars, and we make sure the home and umbrella coverage around them fits. If you also own an Aston Martin, a Land Rover Defender or a Bentley, our marque guides cover those cars, and our guide to classic car collection insurance covers several cars on one policy.

If you have a claim

Take photos at the scene and before any parts are removed, and ask the adjuster up front whether your marque specialist can do the work. A Heritage Certificate and restoration photos prove how the car was built and finished, which matters when panels or trim must be remade. A total loss on an agreed value policy pays that value less your deductible.

Why work with an independent agency

Original, restored, upgraded and electric-converted Jaguars don’t all fit the same program. Working with several collector insurers lets us place each one where it belongs and keep it in step with your daily cars, home and umbrella.

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.

We insure Jaguars from Kittery and the NH Seacoast down to the Connecticut shore. For each state’s antique and classic plate rules, see New Hampshire, Connecticut and Maine.

Frequently asked questions

Is my Jaguar old enough for collector car insurance?

Most older Jaguars are. XKs, E-Types and Mark 2s are classic collector cars, and well-kept XJ6s, XJ-Ss and XJ220s are increasingly collected. Insurers also look at how the car is used and stored and whether you have a separate everyday car. We’ll confirm eligibility for your vehicle.

What does a Jaguar Heritage Certificate show?

It shows how the factory recorded the car when it was built: original colors and trim, build and dispatch dates, destination and, where recorded, the original registration. The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust issues them for vehicles more than ten years old. It doesn’t prove the car’s identity, originality or condition today, so pair it with photos and records.

Does a matching-numbers E-Type need a higher agreed value?

It often supports one. Engine, body and gearbox numbers that match the factory record are a large part of an E-Type’s value, alongside series, body style and condition. Document the numbers with a Heritage Certificate and photos, and make sure the agreed value reflects them rather than a generic price.

How should I insure an E-Type with an electric conversion or modern upgrades?

Tell us exactly what was changed. Electric conversions, fuel injection, five-speed gearboxes, brake and suspension upgrades are modifications, and they change how a car is insured and valued. Keep receipts and photos, and see our modified car guide. We’ll confirm eligibility for your vehicle before you rely on a policy.

Do I need to tell my insurer before a JCNA concours or a club tour?

Club concours, tours and shows are the kind of hobby use collector policies are written for. Tell us about long tours, trips out of the country and any slaloms, autocross or timed events, which are commonly excluded, so we can check coverage before you go.

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

• Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust: Heritage Certificates
• Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust: the last E-type built
• Jaguar Club of Southern New England
• Larz Anderson Auto Museum: British Car Day 2026
• The British Invasion, Stowe, Vermont