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When you’re the owner of a classic car, history matters. Your car is a remarkable survivor from an earlier age, with its own story to tell and secrets to keep. A vehicle birth certificate (also known as a heritage certificate) is a useful document confirming the origins of your classic car.

So how do classic car birth certificates work, and what are the benefits of having one? Remember, if you do manage to secure a certificate, keep it in a safe place alongside your classic car cover.

What is a classic car birth certificate?

Somewhere out there is a factory ledger detailing the day your classic car rolled off the production line.

A car birth certificate provides an exact copy of the factory record, showing the vehicle specification, identification number, production date and any other relevant information such as the colour and model.

The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust holds an archive with records for many classic car manufacturers, including Aston Martin, Austin, BMC, British Leyland, Land Rover, MG, Morris, Riley, Rover, Standard, Triumph and Wolseley.

Certificates for many of these cars can be obtained from the British Motor Museum.

If records for your classic car are not held by the British Motor Museum, they may be held by the manufacturer. For example, the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust holds many records, while the Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, Germany holds details of classic VWs.

What does a classic car birth certificate look like?

A certificate from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust includes details such as make and model, car/chassis number, engine number, body number, specification, colour, date of build, date of despatch, destination (dealer), other numbers such as key numbers, details of factory fitted equipment, who the certificate is issued to and the date of issue.

The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust offers a number of different options for certificates, ranging from basic packages to documents presented in special wallets and folders, laminated copies and technical specification documents. Reissues of certificates are also available if yours has been lost over the years.

A VW certificate contains similar information about the model, engine specification, date of building, date of leaving the factory, country of destination and extra options added.

More car manufacturers are picking up on the interest in car certificates and starting their own schemes. For example, in August 2020 Lotus launched a scheme for owners to buy a certificate giving their vehicle’s full history.

Certificates are generally well-presented documents with the company logo and archivist signature. Some suppliers may include the option to insert a photograph of the vehicle onto the certificate.

If you are buying a classic car, it is always worth double checking the authenticity of a heritage certificate yourself, as there have been instances where these have been produced fraudulently.

What are the benefits of having a classic car birth certificate?

Having a classic car birth certificate is not just about owning a lovely object that you can display with pride. There are practical benefits, too.

Historic vehicle tax exemption

For one thing, if you are seeking to exempt your vehicle from car tax using the historic vehicle exemption, a certified copy of the production record will confirm the date of manufacture of your vehicle. Owning a classic car is not a low-cost hobby, with storage, maintenance and classic car insurance costs to think about. If you can reduce spending on your tax bill, so much the better!

The historic vehicle tax exemption is available for vehicles aged 40 or over, so for example from 1st April 2020 you can apply for an exemption for cars built before 1st January 1980. You still need to register to tax your car, even if the exemption applies.

Without a birth certificate, the historic vehicle tax exemption is only available from the first date the vehicle was registered. Dating letters are also available for classic cars, confirming the date of build.

However, for tax purposes the DVLA will only accept a full certificate in order to qualify for the exemption.

Some vehicles cannot be issued with birth certificates because the records which were kept by the factory around the date of their manufacturer are inconsistent. For example, this applies to Minis produced between 1969 and 1977.

Confirmation of provenance

If you ever decide to sell your classic car, provenance will be extremely important in ensuring it commands the best price. The birth certificate leaves no doubt about the car’s history, and can even reveal intriguing secrets about its past.

For example, by obtaining your vehicle’s birth certificate you may find out that it has some quirk that makes it more valuable.

It may be a prototype model, it may have had a famous owner at some point or it could have had a starring role in a well-known film. You just don’t know until you find out and do some digging!

If your car does have a special history, this could increase its value – the team at Lancaster can arrange agreed valuations for your classic.

It may be that something reduces the car’s value when you find out its full history – in which case, you may be able to reduce your classic car insurance premiums accordingly.

The certificate will also help you to show whether or not the car has had major alterations since manufacture.

If the engine and chassis numbers match, you know it hasn’t had a touch of the Frankenstein treatment by inserting another car’s engine at some point.

Renovations and restoration

If your classic car has been altered, the certificate helps you to discover its original condition, giving you the option of restoring it to its former glory. For example, you might want to invest in wheels that are closer to the originals, or change a modern radio for one that looks more authentic.

A certificate can also give classic car restorers important information about the car, ensuring that the parts sourced are correct for your vehicle.

It takes time and effort to source classic car parts. A birth certificate helps to remove any ambiguity.

Do you need reliable insurance for your classic car to protect your special vehicle?

Contact the friendly team at Lancaster Insurance for a quote today.