Running Costs

The fixed costs are knowable to the pound, from the zero-rated tax to the capped MOT fee to the price of petrol this week. The variable costs are where the money goes, and no official source publishes them. What can be stated, what cannot, and how to budget for a car that was built to be fixed.

A practical guide to tyres for a classic car. Crossply versus radial, the UK law on mixing the two, getting the right period size and speed rating, why tyre age matters more than tread on a low-mileage classic, and where to buy proper classic tyres.

Buying the car is the easy part. This is the practical side of classic ownership in Britain, keeping it legal, keeping it on the road, and keeping it protected, covering number plates, road tax and historic status, low-emission zones, tyres, fuel, storage, and what it all costs.