There are times when your classic car won’t be driven for weeks, months, or even years. You might be restoring it, storing it over winter or simply keeping it off the road as part of your collection.
Laid up cover is designed to protect a vehicle while it’s stored off the road and not being driven. Depending on the policy, it can provide protection against risks such as fire and theft.
Read on to find out how laid up cover works, when you might need it and how it relates to SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification).
What is laid up cover?
Laid up cover is a type of insurance for vehicles that are being kept off the road and not being driven. It’s commonly used for classic cars that are SORN while being restored or stored for long periods.
Laid up cover and SORN
Laid up cover and SORN are not the same thing. SORN is a notification to the DVLA that a vehicle is being kept off public roads either temporarily or indefinitely. Laid up cover is insurance that can protect the vehicle while it’s being kept off the road.
If your vehicle is SORN, you don’t have to insure it as long as it is kept off public roads. However, most people would continue to insure it in order to protect against risks such as theft and fire.
SORN and insurance rules
If your car or bike is going to be off the road for a while, then you can apply to the DVLA for SORN status, which means you won’t need to pay road tax until you plan to drive it again. The key words here are ‘off road’ which means that you not only won’t be driving your car on the road, but you also won’t be parking it there either.
Although there is no legal requirement to insure a car when SORN, most owners choose to protect their classic vehicles with laid up cover.
What does it protect against?
Laid up cover generally protects against:
- Fire
- Theft
Laid up cover does not provide wider protection like a fully comprehensive policy would as you are not covered to drive on the road. A laid up policy omits things like road risks, legal cover, third party damage and breakdown cover as it is designed to protect vehicles that are not driven or stored on public roads.
The cover available varies between insurers, so always check the policy terms to understand exactly what is included when you’re looking for insurance for your off-road vehicle.
When might I need laid up cover?
Laid up cover is ideal for whenever your car, bike or collection is not going to be used on the road for a length of time.
- Restoration: Your classic is undergoing extensive restoration work
- Long-term storage: You don’t plan to drive the vehicle for an extended period. Perhaps you’re moving abroad for a while and won’t be able to use it
- Collectible cars: The vehicle is primarily kept for display or as part of a wider collection
- Track or race cars: The vehicle isn’t intended for normal road use and requires protection from fire damage and theft when stored. You will need a separate policy for track use.
Laid up cover: what you need to remember
- Laid up cover is for off-road or SORN vehicles
- Your vehicle must be stored off public roads, like a garage or private driveway
- Your vehicle is only protected against fire and theft
- Driving-related risk protection like legal and breakdown cover, is not included
- You are not covered for driving your vehicle on public roads
- You must amend your cover type if your circumstances change
If you plan to drive your vehicle on public roads again, your vehicle should be taxed and MOT’d (if eligible) and you must get in touch with your insurer to amend your cover type to protect against driving-related risks. Unsure if your vehicle is MOT or tax-exempt? Read our guide on MOT and Tax exemption for classic cars.
So, if you’re having some repair or restoration work done, or simply looking to preserve a classic car for future use, laid up cover can protect your vehicle from a range of risks without paying for mileage, third-party liability and legal cover that you won’t need.
Want to speak to us about classic car insurance for your laid up vehicle? Give our friendly UK-based team of enthusiasts a call on 0333 323 1138.
