From Mad Max war machines to Bond cars: Can you insure a collectable car?

The publicity of a large-scale film production can do wonders for the wallets of those involved, but it seems auto stars (or the humans who own them) can also accumulate wealth from a Hollywood appearance. 

The latest installment in the James Bond franchise, No Time to Die, was released this month. In line with the premiere, British classic car insurance company, Hagerty, has released some figures on the value of Bond’s various rides . 

Hagerty’s analysts calculated that the value of Bond cars used in production of the films increased by 1,000% on average compared to standard prices of the same model. 

Interestingly, a few famed shiny and chrome cars closer to home have gone on sale recently. Last month Lloyds Auctions was taking “expressions of madness” for 13 of the hand-built, high-octane vehicles from Mad Max: Fury Road – we’re talking Furiosa’s war rig, the disturbing musical doof wagon, Max’s resurrected interceptor and more rides to eternal.

The global auction is now closed, but we’re waiting to hear the final dollar figure the victorious bidder will pay, as all the (apparently driveable) vehicles are being sold as one set. We were even pondering the potentially exorbitant price on Mozo’s podcast, The Finance Burrito (listen below for all the deets).

And that got us thinking, how do you find a car insurance policy to suit such notorious wasteland wanderers?

Insurance for collectables

The first question you’ve got to ask is if you’re going to actually be driving these beasts. If not, then comprehensive car insurance – which includes cover for damages you might cause your own car and other cars while driving – probably isn’t the ideal road to take, as some aspects aren’t relevant for a car sitting in a display room.

Home and contents insurance is also unlikely to cover such a valuable collection. You might be able to find a policy that includes collectables, but it’ll probably come with a set coverage limit which doesn't meet the value of the items. So, it might be worth investigating independent, tailored valuables insurance for this kind of collection.  

Insurance for vintage or classic cars

If you are using your wheels on the road, you might want to consider classic or vintage car insurance, regardless of whether or not the car is a film star. This kind of specialised cover generally offers the same insurance features as a comprehensive policy, but can provide add-ons that might be specific to your ride, whether it’s a pre-war motor or a brand new but eternally classic Mustang.

Keen to investigate more car insurance options? Start by comparing the policies below.