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Carole Nash is an insurance broker, operating since 1985, that specialises in providing classic car cover for vintage vehicles alongside motorbike cover.
Due to this specialism, our review focuses on Carole Nash’s classic car insurance. However, it also provides cover for standard vehicles as well, so you might see it pop up when you’re comparing car insurance quotes.
As the company is a broker, policies will be underwritten by one of the company’s panel of insurers, but managed through Carole Nash itself.
Read on for our Carole Nash car insurance review, including what cover it offers, how to make a claim, and what customers think of its service.
Carole Nash is known for its classic car insurance and motorbike insurance, though it does offer other types of cover.
For those driving on four wheels, rather than two, Carole Nash’s main offering is its classic car insurance.
Carole Nash defines the age of a classic car as anything that is more than 15 years old. The vehicle also needs to be primarily used as your second car and therefore driven less (usually between 2,000 and 5,000 miles per year).
If you take out a fully comprehensive car insurance policy with Carole Nash for your vintage car, it will include the following:
With Carole Nash’s motorbike insurance, your policy will include as standard:
What else is covered will be determined by what level of cover you choose.
Specific motorbike insurance policy add-ons include:
As well as classic car insurance, Carole Nash offers standard third party, fire and theft and comprehensive car insurance. If you opt for comprehensive cover, you policy will include:
On top of this, you can also take out van insurance, picking between third party, fire and theft, or comprehensive cover.
Depending on the cover, and type of insurance, you’ve chosen, you can add the following optional extras to your Carole Nash car insurance:
If you need to make a car insurance claim through Carole Nash, you should complete the following steps:
You will need to contact Carole Nash in order to cancel your car insurance policy. You may be able to cancel through your online account.
When cancelling, you’ll receive a refund for the time left on the premium (as long as you haven’t made a claim), minus the following fees:
| Cancellation period | Fee |
|---|---|
| Within 14 days of your policy start date | £0 (but £25 arrangement fee applies) |
| After 14 days, or if Carole Nash needs to cancel your policy | £40 |
If you need to contact Carole Nash about anything that isn’t claim-related, you can speak to an agent using its live chat function. It is open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays. However, any changes made over live chat will incur a fee, so you may instead want to consider making these alterations through your online account.
Carole Nash has an ‘Excellent’ Trustpilot score of 4.3 out of five, based on more than 23,000 reviews.
Of its five-star reviews that mention classic car insurance, Carole Nash is praised for the efficiency and ease of its service, and the knowledge of its staff.
Yet there are also complaints that the customer service offered by Carole Nash has declined in recent years.
“My experience of the team was very positive, [they] fully understood my requirements, engaged in my passion for classic cars and tailored my cover to satisfy my personal circumstances, I will be suggesting my friends and family give you a call.”
“Having been insured through Carole Nash since 1976, for both classic motorcycle and car cover (except they weren’t called ‘classics’ then – just current) – I cannot praise their renewal procedure, prices nor service highly enough.”
“This company’s level of service has dropped off a cliff. I have insured with them for years. I think this is because calls are outsourced. I sent pictures of my classic for an updated agreed valuation back in April since which time I have singularly failed to extract from the company or its sadly incompetent overseas staff a letter confirming the valuation is updated or otherwise. Truly remarkable. I have even raised a complaint – that will take eight weeks to respond to. Now into the end of June and no nearer resolving what should be a pretty straightforward question. Hopeless. Beware.”
Although Carole Nash has not been given a Defaqto score for its classic car policies, it carries the following ratings for its other cover options:
| Provider name | Trustpilot score | Defaqto score |
|---|---|---|
| Carole Nash | 4.3 stars | 5 stars for motorbike insurance, 3 stars for standard car insurance |
| Direct Line | 3.7 stars | 5 stars (3 stars for Third party, fire and theft and Essentials) |
| People’s Choice | 1.4 stars | 5 stars (4 stars for third party, fire and theft) |
| Hastings Direct | 4.1 stars | 5 stars (4 stars for Third party, fire and theft, 3 stars for Telematics, 2 stars for Essential) |
| Admiral Insurance | 4.4 stars | 5 stars (4 stars for Telematics, 3 stars for Essential) |
| Aviva | 4.0 stars | 5 stars (3 stars for Third party, fire and theft) |
| AXA | 4.3 stars | 4 stars (5 stars for Plus) |
| LV= | 4.5 stars | 5 stars (3 stars for Third party, fire and theft) |
| esure | 3.1 stars | 5 stars (4 stars for Third party, fire and theft) |
| Ageas | 4.1 stars | 5 stars (3 stars for Essentials, and Telematics) |
| NFU Mutual | 4.4 stars | 5 stars |
If you’re after a specialist insurance policy for your classic car, then it is worth looking into cover with Carole Nash. You might be able to find a more appropriate level of coverage that matches your passion for your vintage vehicle.
Its comprehensive classic car insurance comes with motor legal protection and breakdown cover as standard, while you’ll be able to choose a specialist repairer that you trust.
On Trustpilot it is praised for the knowledge of its staff, even if there are complaints of a downturn in the quality of its customer service. And if you’re a car club member, you can receive a discount worth up to 15 per cent.
Carole Nash Insurance Consultants Limited is owned by the Ardonagh Group.
The Ardonagh Group also owns Marmalade, Swinton Insurance, and Bishopsgate.
While it might be known for its motorbike insurance, Carole Nash also insures cars (including classic vehicles) and vans.
