Daily Driving a Classic Car: What to Know (2024)

FAQs

Daily Driving a Classic Car: What to Know? ›

Replace any component that's not working correctly before you daily drive your classic car. Install high-quality headlights, brakes, and tires. Pay attention to the oil level and consistency since older cars go through it quickly. Keep the tires properly inflated and inspect them often.

When changing your classic into a daily driver, you'll need to do a full maintenance check, including replacing or restoring some vital parts: Change oil, plugs & all filters. Replace the fan belt. Recondition the starter and alternator.

You should drive your classic car at least once a month, go far enough to get the engine and exhaust up to their normal working temperature, then come back. This is normally a twenty mile round trip.

Once you've refurbished the major systems (brakes, cooling, electrical, and fuel), there's no reason why a '50s car can't be a dependable daily driver.

Buckle up for Safety

Seat belts save lives every day, and you should always fasten yours before your car starts moving, even if the trip is a local one.

Classic car insurance policies have a limited use provision. This only allows use of the car for travel to auto shows and auto club meetings. Typically, insurers place a maximum annual mileage restriction for antique car insurance. This varies by state but usually doesn't exceed 7,500 miles per year.

Mileage holds an important place in valuing classic cars, as it provides vital information about the car's usage and wear over time. Generally, the lower the mileage, the more desirable and valuable a classic car becomes.

Classic cars also aren't as environmentally friendly as newer models. They produce higher emissions and emit more pollutants into the air. Safety: Compared to modern cars, classic cars lack many features that help keep you and your family safe on the road today.

Replace any component that's not working correctly before you daily drive your classic car. Install high-quality headlights, brakes, and tires. Pay attention to the oil level and consistency since older cars go through it quickly. Keep the tires properly inflated and inspect them often.

Oil in a vintage engine that sits idle over the winter can break down from the residual gas, dirt and other contaminants generated from running. Regardless of the number of over-the-road miles, engine oil should be changed every 6 and twelve months.

Is it safe to drive a 40 year old car? ›

Yes, you can, and this is what most classic car collectors that drive their vehicles do. Common safety adjustments made to older cars include: A three-point belt system. Anti-break lockers.

There is currently no age cutoff preventing an older adult from driving in the United States. Although, there are some voluntary measures a person can utilize to check their driving abilities.

Explanation: Your vehicle will use less fuel if you avoid heavy acceleration. The higher the engine revs, the more fuel you'll use. Using the same gear, and covering the same distance, a vehicle travelling at 70 mph will use up to 30% more fuel than it would at 50 mph.

After preparing the car, the observations can now be done. Covering all the observational points we use the six point check. The six point check is left blind spot, left door mirror, centre mirror, look at the road ahead, right door mirror, and right blind spot.

It's easy to think that driving any vintage car over long distances will be hard, or dangerous, or the car won't make it. Just because they are old, however, doesn't mean they won't survive a long journey. After all, back in their day thousands of people used these cars to road trip every year.

Classic car insurance is usually much cheaper than regular car insurance. According to Baily Insurance Agency, a classic car policy costs around $200 to $600 annually. If you own an abnormally expensive vehicle, your rates may be higher. In contrast, regular car insurance usually costs over $1000 per year.

A sports car can be a daily driver, but it will have to check some pretty big boxes—the biggest being comfort and convenience. Comfort is critical to daily driving.

A collectible may be less likely to depreciate over time if it gets less use. And insurance for a collectible or classic car that is only driven for recreation is generally more affordable and comprehensive than regular auto insurance (any car driven daily needs a standard auto insurance policy).