Classic car finance
Specialist funding for classic and collector cars held through a business, where the asset may appreciate rather than depreciate.
- FCA regulatedAppointed Representative, FRN 1031964
- 60+ lendersWhole-of-market panel, not one bank
- 5.0 from 19 Google reviews
- No credit checkEnquiring leaves no mark on your file
Yes, through specialist classic car lenders rather than mainstream motor finance. The structure is usually hire purchase or a balloon-backed agreement written in the company name, secured on the vehicle. Because a classic can hold or gain value, funders assess it as a collectable rather than as a depreciating car, valuation, provenance, originality and marque desirability all matter more than age or mileage. The thing that catches people out is the valuation: lenders lend against an independent or recognised guide value, not against what you agreed to pay at auction or in a private sale, and if those two numbers differ you make up the gap.
Who finances this
Business owners buying a collector car through the company, often alongside an existing prestige or company car. Triggers include an auction lot coming up, a private sale where funds are needed quickly, or releasing cash from a car already owned. Also collectors consolidating, moving several cars onto one facility, and businesses buying a period vehicle for genuine promotional or event use.
How lenders see it
Classic lenders think like valuers. The first question is what the car actually is: marque, model, year, matching numbers, originality, restoration quality and documented history. A well-known model with a deep market and good auction records is far easier to fund than something rare enough that nobody can price it. Because many classics are stable or appreciating assets, funders can be more comfortable than they would be on a modern car that loses value from day one, and agreements are often written with that in mind. The company covenant still counts. They want a business that can service the facility without relying on selling the car. Declines come from unverifiable provenance, project cars mid-restoration, replicas presented as originals, and cases where the agreed price sits well above every recognised valuation.
Buying used
Yes. Every classic is a used car, so the question is provenance and condition, not age
What would a classic car cost per month?
Cars are treated differently from commercial vehicles. A van generally qualifies for the annual investment allowance ; a car generally does not, and instead attracts writing-down allowances tied to its CO 2 emissions, with fully electric cars in the most favourable position. A car made available for private use also creates a benefit in kind for the driver. The rules change between budgets and your position depends on how you trade, so treat this as the direction of travel and get your accountant to confirm the detail before you commit.
Also in business car finance
See everything we fund in business car finance →
Machines we have funded
| Jaguar E-Type Series 1 | British sports classic with strong values |
|---|---|
| Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 | Air-cooled classic Porsche |
| Porsche 964 Carrera 2 | Air-cooled 911 sought by collectors |
| Ferrari 308 GTS | Italian classic with wide collector appeal |
| Aston Martin DB6 | British grand touring classic |
| Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda | Elegant classic roadster |
| BMW E30 M3 | Modern classic with motorsport pedigree |
| Land Rover Series III | Utility classic popular with restorers |
| Jaguar XJ6 Series 2 | Luxury classic saloon for touring |
| Lotus Esprit S3 | British classic sports car with rising values |
Can you get finance on a classic car?
Yes, from specialist lenders who fund collector vehicles rather than from mainstream motor finance. They lend against an assessed value supported by recognised guides or an independent valuation, and they care about provenance, originality and documented history far more than about age. A car with a thin or disputed history is the hardest to place.
Will a lender fund a car bought at auction?
Some will, and a few are set up specifically for it, but timing is the issue, auction houses want settlement quickly. The workable approach is to get the facility agreed in principle before the sale, with the lender aware of the lot and a value they are comfortable with. Turning up with an invoice and no prior approval rarely works.
Do classic cars get the same tax treatment as company cars?
A car is a car for capital allowance purposes, so it gets writing-down allowances rather than the annual investment allowance a van would get, and an older petrol classic sits in the least favourable emissions band. If it is available for private use it also creates a benefit in kind. This is very much an accountant conversation, not a broker one.
Can I raise money against a classic car I already own?
Yes, if it is owned outright and you can evidence title. This is a sale and hire purchase back arrangement: the funder buys the car and you hire it, releasing cash into the business. Lenders will want the V5, proof of purchase and a valuation, and they will check there is no outstanding finance on it.
Does the car need an agreed-value insurance policy?
Most classic lenders insist on it, and it is sensible regardless. Agreed-value cover means the insurer has accepted a figure in advance rather than arguing market value after a loss, which protects both you and the funder’s security. Your broker will usually want sight of the schedule before drawdown.
Tell us what you need
About a minute of plain questions, and no documents to dig out.
Prime is established and profitable with clean credit. Specialist covers newer businesses and credit that needs explaining, the asset carries part of the risk, so finance is often available where an unsecured loan is not.
Illustrative only, not a quote, a flat rate is not an APR, so the APR on a given agreement will be higher. VAT and fees excluded.
Start my enquiryNo credit check, and enquiring leaves no mark on your credit file. Finance is subject to status. We are a credit broker, not a lender.
Only pricing it up?
An enquiry is a conversation, not an application. Nothing runs against your file until you tell us to go ahead.
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Conor reads every enquiry himself. We will call you within 24 business hours, and it will be the person who actually arranges the finance, not a call centre, and not a form that disappears.
A real person on your side
One adviser from your first enquiry to the money in your account. No call centres.
Your adviser
Conor HullMon to Fri, 9am–6pm
5.0 from 19 Google reviews
Thinking about classic car finance?
A few questions, and we will tell you what the panel can do. No obligation, and no call centres.
