Ten cool tax exempt classic cars – and why they could be a money-saving choice for young drivers
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From a Porsche 924 and BMW E30 to a Ford Capri and VW campervan, these affordable historic cars prove classic motoring need not cost a fortune
According to insurance data, over the last two years the number of young people buying classic cars has rocketed by more than 200%.
The case for choosing an older car when you're new to the roads is pretty simple. They're cheaper to insure, cheaper to repair, they hold their value better, and they look so much cooler on Instagram and TikTok.
There's also the tax and MOT "loophole", which allows UK drivers to buy a car built before January 1, 1986 without tax or an MOT. They're even exempt from some clean-air zones, including ULEZ.
Just Kampers, an insurance company that specialises in providing cover for young people with classic cars, says a 23-year-old insuring a 1967 VW Beetle would pay £463 for fully comp, whereas if he chose a 2019 VW Polo it would cost £704.
The company says the biggest rise in classic vehicle purchases for under 26-year-olds has been centred around the pre-1980s VW Beetle, but there are plenty of other cool classics to choose from if you fancy cheating the system.
Here are 10 interesting cars we found on Auto Trader which qualify for the historic tax class.
All of these cost less than £10,000 and they could be a bargain to own and insure.
1. 1981 Austin Mini - £7,500
Cost to insure: Click here
This list couldn't not include a Mini, could it? The original Mini is seriously fun, hopelessly cute, and a doddle to keep on the road thanks to ancient mechanicals.
Look out for rust, don't be afraid of a bit of a project, and make sure you take it to shows - because everyone loves to see a classic Mini.
2. 1985 BMW 3-Series E30 - £5,600
Cost to insure: Click here
The BMW E30 is becoming a cult classic, and values will soon be responding to that. They're sensible, attractive, reliable, and robust. But they're also pretty light and rear-wheel drive, so they're a hoot on a twisty road - just don't tell your parents about that cheeky little drift on the roundabout near Sainsbury's.
3. 1983 Porsche 924 - £5,950
Cost to insure: Click here
Yes, you can own a Porsche for around £5,000, if not less. And the 924 is a seriously clever choice because it has relatively basic VW running gear, so it's relatively easy to fix and pretty reliable.
Rust is becoming an issue these days, so choose carefully, but turning up to university in one of these will never get old.
4. 1974 VW Beach Buggy - £9,999
Cost to insure: Click here
OK, this is a total wildcard, and obviously not a practical proposition, but who wouldn't lust after this amazing toy?
Beach Buggies have no roof, the interiors are about as spartan as they get, and handling on the road is more than questionable - but see how much you could insure one for and you might be surprised, if not actually tempted.
5. 1974 VW Beetle - £9,500
Cost to insure: Click here
The obvious classic car for young people, and something of a specialism for Just Kampers Insurance. Not great to drive, woefully slow, questionable reliability, but oh, so cool.
And they're also pretty practical, easy to work on, and endlessly customisable. A bit of a blank canvas, if you're the creative type.
6. 1973 Triumph Spitfire - £5,500
Cost to insure: Click here
Why not treat yourself to a two-seater sports car? You'd be surprised how easy these are to insure, and they're another car that's easy to work on.
Go for a good one, make sure it's been looked after, and you'll have hours of fun in a Spitfire - especially if you have a rural commute.
7. 1972 Triumph Stag - £7,500
Cost to insure: Click here
The Triumph Stag has got it all. Four seats, Italian styling, a removable roof, rear-wheel drive, and a V8 engine that burbles away tunefully.
They're known for being hopelessly unreliable, but it's a bit of an unfair reputation because the notorious cooling gremlins can be sorted with modern technology. Imagine turning up to work in one of these on a sunny day.
8. 1984 Ford Capri - £8,995
Cost to insure: Click here
Ford's Capri is the epitome of 1980s cool. They're starting to fetch silly money now, so don't miss the boat. Thankfully, the smaller-engine variants, the ones you can probably afford to insure, are appreciating more slowly than the big V6s. But this is one of those cars that could earn you decent money over time if you look after it.
9. 1983 Jaguar XJ-S - £9,995
Cost to insure: Click here
This one might be out of the realms of feasibility for most people, but it's worth including. The sheer luxury and prestige of owning a Jaguar surely has you tempted. And the XJS is an obvious design classic.
Values haven't gone quite as silly as had been expected in recent years, so it's a good time to snap one up. Just make sure it's been looked after, because repair bills on these can be terrifying.
10. 1973 VW Transporter Campervan - £6,995
Cost to insure: Click here
This car is as much a hobby and a way of life as a personal conveyance. Difficult to drive and frustratingly slow, but it simply doesn't get much cooler.
Values for good ones have been going a bit silly recently, but there are still a few serviceable bargains about if you go for a less desirable model, or if you don't mind tarting it up a bit.
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