At Start Rescue we believe that when the terms car and classic are used together, it shouldn't mean that vehicle breakdown cover is prohibitively expensive.

This is why our classic car breakdown cover policies ensure you get the assistance you need at an affordable price.

Whether it's the sound the engine makes, or the unique automotive styling of a bygone decade, classic cars offer that little bit of magic that modern cars might sometimes lack. Classic car owners are passionate about the vehicles they own and need breakdown cover for their classic that they can rely on.

Our classic car breakdown cover is built around the needs of a driver of an older or classic car. You get classic car roadside assistance from operators who work on older vehicles and classic car recovery if your car cannot be fixed where it has broken down. Start Rescue covers vehicles of any age in the UK, so breakdown cover for older cars is standard here rather than an exception.

We offer:

• Cover for vehicles of any age in the UK
• Roadside recovery for classic cars included at every level
• Unlimited callouts*, Misfuel Cover and accident recovery as standard
• No excess or call out charges when you buy direct

*Unlimited callouts are subject to policy terms.

Why Classic Car Owners Choose Start Rescue

Plenty of providers cap the age of the vehicle they'll cover. We don't. Start Rescue covers vehicles of any age in the UK, so your classic is eligible whatever its age, and UK classic car breakdown cover sits alongside our standard range rather than a separate product.

Over 78% of vehicles we attend are repaired at the roadside.** Where that's not possible, classic car recovery gets the car to a garage or home, in line with your cover level.

97% of customers recommend us after receiving assistance** We're authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and there's no excess or call out charge when you buy direct with us.

** Based on data for all recoveries made between November 2025 and April 2026.

Choosing your cover level

• 1 Star cover - The entry level, with roadside recovery for classic cars limited to a 10 mile radius.
• 2 Star Cover - Includes the same features as 1 Star Cover, with the addition of Nationwide Recovery.
• 3 Star Cover - The tier most customers choose, holding a 5 Star Rating from Defaqto which marks it as having the highest quality features and benefits in the market, 3 Star Cover includes Nationwide Recover and Home Assist in addition to the standard benefits offered.

Why Choose Annual Classic Car Breakdown Cover?

A car that only comes out in good weather can make annual cover feel like more than you need. In practice it tends to work the other way round.

Faults on older vehicles are often nothing to do with the miles you have just driven. They show up on the first run of the season, on the way back from a garage visit, or on the drive home from a show in August. Annual classic car breakdown cover means you are not weighing up whether a particular trip is worth arranging cover for.

Continuous Monthly Breakdown Cover for Classics

Whilst many customers benefit from the reassurance offered from an annual classic car breakdown cover policy, you may prefer to opt for monthly cover.

Our Continuous Monthly Cover offers the convenience of regular payments, with a smaller outlay up front and, with no minimum contract period, the flexibility to have cover for your classic for as little or as long as you like. Monthly cover will simply continue renewing until you cancel.

Both our Annual Cover and Continuous Monthly Breakdown Cover options also give you:

• Automatic Renewal Protection, so cover does not lapse without you realising; This can be particularly useful if you have annual cover and do not drive your classic as often, or at all in the winter months. (Automatic renewal can be switched off at any time within your Customer Lounge). 
• Policy management at any time through theCustomer Lounge
• Breakdown reporting through the free Start Rescue app

Annual classic car breakdown cover starts from £80.56 a year on our Local Recovery level, with Continuous Monthly Cover available from £8.06 per month.***

***"Your Price" figure from the pricing widget. Final price depends on vehicle age.

What Does Classic Car Breakdown Cover Include?

Every Start Rescue vehicle policy includes the same core protection. The cover level you choose then decides how far that protection reaches.

Included as standard on every policy

• Unlimited Callouts
• Roadside Assistance
• Local Recovery up to 10 miles
• Accident Recovery
• Alternative Travel
• Emergency Overnight Accommodation
• Key Assist
• Misfuel Cover
• Towed Caravans and Trailers
• Free Mobile App
• Free UK Accident Assistance Service

Classic Car Vehicle Cover or Personal Cover?

For most classic owners, the car is not the only vehicle in the household, and that can change which policy makes sense.

If you mainly drive your classic for leisure and have another car for everyday use, Personal Breakdown Cover often fits better, because it follows you into whichever vehicle you are travelling in. If you have other drivers within your household that you would like to cover, with a Start Rescue personal breakdown cover policy, it is possible to add up to 4 members (including yourself) from the same household.

Alternatively, if you have a number of cars in your household that are driven by others, you may find a Start Rescue vehicle cover policy for classic and older cars better fits your needs. There is no limit to the number of vehicles you can add to a Start Rescue vehicle policy, with the benefit of a 10% discount for any additional vehicle you add to your vehicle breakdown cover policy.

Misfuelling and unlimited callouts* are included as standard on both.

*** All vehicle types must not exceed 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight. We cannot cover minibuses, limousines, motorhomes or horseboxes, or any request for service where the vehicle is being used for motor racing, rallies, public hire, private hire, courier services, or any contest or speed trial or practice for any of these activities.

Motoring Advice

Be sure to look through our Motoring Advice section for more auto-related money saving guidance.

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