Classic Cars: Between Automotive Heritage and Lifestyle
Author: Thorsten Rienth
Classic cars are becoming more and more popular. No matter the fascination, it is worth taking a closer look at the safety aspects. DEKRA offers support.
A dark blue Mercedes-Benz 230 SL is driving on a country road. Rather than a loud roar, the engine emits a sonorous hum. The 1960s car attracts attention. Not because it is fast, but because it simply looks different from anything that rolls off the production line these days. Clean lines, lots of chrome, characteristic shape – classic cars have a special appeal on the road, representing a certain attitude to life, and more and more people are discovering their fascination: According to the German statistics platform Statista, in Germany, the number of classic cars more than tripled between 2012 and 2022 – to just under 650,000 vehicles. But despite all the allure, it is worth taking a closer look at the safety aspects of classic cars.
Classic cars: safety begins with the driver
Carsten Bräuer, classic car expert and head of project coordination at DEKRA Automobil, starts with the driver. “A classic car drives very differently from a modern vehicle.” Braking distances are generally longer, as many classic cars have neither assistance systems such as ABS or ESP nor brake boosters. The steering also requires more force and offers less precision. “This means that continued safe driving requires greater attention and a particularly anticipatory driving style.”
Expert Bräuer gives an example. When performing an emergency braking in a modern vehicle, the rule is to apply full force to the brake pedal. "If you do that in a ‘230 SL,’ you'll most likely end up in a ditch or in oncoming traffic. The wheels would lock immediately, and the vehicle would simply continue moving in the direction it was last steering towards." It's better to use the so-called stutter brake: press the brake pedal alternately with force and release the pressure immediately as soon as the wheels lock. “Crucially: this technique requires some practice and finesse. The same applies when it comes to mastering the special driving dynamics.”
“The cost of accident repairs exceeds the price of a training course many times over.”
Carsten Bräuer, DEKRA Expert
Bräuer recommends participating in special driver safety training courses for classic cars. The colloquial term for these is “classic car driving school.” There, participants learn in a protected environment how their own vehicle behaves in extreme situations without electronic aids and power steering. A driver safety training is a sensible investment, especially for valuable classic cars, as Bräuer emphasizes. “The cost of accident repairs exceeds the price of a training course many times over.”
General inspection is mandatory – additional checks are advisable
There are no special legally required checks for classic cars. “All classic cars with standard registration, including those with especially marked ‘H’ license plates in Germany, have to undergo a general inspection every two years,” explains Bräuer. The general inspection checks whether the vehicle is roadworthy and complies with all relevant regulations. The registration rules from the year of initial registration generally apply. Many safety systems that were not mandatory at the time may be missing, such as seat belts in vehicles manufactured before 1974. Only hazard warning lights, wheel covers, and a device to prevent unauthorized use, i.e., a lock, are now also mandatory for classic cars.
Nevertheless, expert Bräuer considers regular technical inspections before the season and after longer periods of inactivity to be advisable for classic cars. “Even if this is not required by law, it is advisable to check safety-related parts such as brakes, tires, steering, lighting system, fluid levels, battery, and fuel lines.” Older vehicles are often prone to rust, so regular checks – including on load-bearing parts and the underbody – are advisable. Many classic cars also tend to leak from the engine or transmission. “This makes regular visual inspections advisable, especially to prevent expensive consequential damages.”
Safety updates with a sense of proportion
Anyone who values added safety should consider retrofitting certain safety features. “However, a certain amount of tact is required so as not to jeopardize the H license plate,” says Bräuer. “To receive this plate in Germany, the vehicle must remain in its original condition as far as possible. However, if an innovation improves safety or environmental performance, it is usually tolerated.” Retrofitted lap or three-point seat belts or headrests, provided that the appropriate mounting points are available, do not usually cause any problems. The situation is similar when converting to brighter headlights and a more modern 12-volt electrical system.
If someone wants to replace old drum brakes with modern disc brakes, these must have been historically available for the model ex works if they want to continue driving with an H license plate. The same applies to retrofitting power steering. Modern electronic features such as ABS or airbags can practically no longer be retrofitted in classic cars, as they must always be adapted to the body structure and crash behavior of the vehicles. As a rule, “the older the vehicle, the more difficult it is to retrofit new safety features.”
Comprehensive DEKRA services
DEKRA supports classic car enthusiasts with many years of expertise and a wide range of services. The experts prepare detailed value appraisals that consider the condition, history, and restorations of the vehicle – a reliable basis for insurance classifications, purchase and sale decisions, or claims settlement. The DEKRA Classic Check provides a compact and inexpensive description of the vehicle's condition, for example as an initial assessment before purchase or sale. The check documents the actual condition of the classic car and helps to identify hidden defects or record damage before transport. A valuation report goes into much greater depth and is often important for the correct classification by the insurance company. In addition, DEKRA also offers services such as damage reports, general inspections, the H license plate registration in germany, and advice on all aspects of classic vehicles.
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