Classic car as a wedding car: 7 reasons and what to check

Why a classic car as a wedding car?

A classic car as a wedding car gives your day atmosphere straight away. Chrome, round headlights and a leather bench seat feel different from a modern car. Still, a car that is half a century old is also simply an old car. Below you will find seven reasons to choose a classic car for your wedding first. After that: what to check and what to ask the rental company if you are getting married in 2027.

Seven reasons: the advantages of a classic car as a wedding car

1. Romance you can see at once

A classic car has shapes you no longer see on new cars. Long bonnets, rounded wings and gleaming chrome suit a wedding well. You hardly need to decorate it. A few flowers and a ribbon are enough.

2. Photos that never date

In twenty years, a modern car will be instantly recognisable as "that car from back then". A classic car was already old on your wedding day, so it does not age in the photos. Your photographer can also use the car as a backdrop: you on the running board, or the two of you together behind the wheel.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz W180 from William Wientjens

3. An arrival that stands out

Your guests are waiting outside and hear the car arriving. The sound of an old engine and the chauffeur opening the door for you turn that one moment into something everyone remembers.

4. The ride itself becomes a moment

You travel more slowly in a classic car. You sit close together and have a little time to yourselves. Often that ride is the first quiet quarter of an hour of the day.

5. A style for every theme

Classic car is not one single style. A Volkswagen Beetle or a Volkswagen T1 bus suits a cheerful wedding or a boho-style wedding. A Rolls-Royce suits a formal day. If you want something that looks classic but is a little newer, also have a look at the classic cars.

6. It suits old buildings

Are you getting married at a castle, on an estate or in an old town hall? Then a car from the same era fits in beautifully. In the photos, the car and the building then form one whole.

7. A car with a story

A classic car often has a long life behind it. You could, for example, choose a car from the year your parents or grandparents got married. Ask the rental company about the car's history: who drove it, and where did it come from? That is the kind of story you will enjoy telling your guests. If you are still undecided between styles, first read how to choose a wedding car.

What actually is a classic car?

There is no fixed rule. For motor vehicle tax, a passenger car counts as a classic car if its date of first registration is at least 40 years ago. This is set out by the Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax Administration). Insurers handle it differently. According to the Consumentenbond (Dutch consumers' association), some insurers already count a car as a classic from 25 years old. A rental company that says "classic car" or "classic" can therefore mean very different cars. So always ask for the year of manufacture.

The inspection also depends on age. According to the RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority), a passenger car aged 30 or older must go for its APK (the Dutch MOT) once every 2 years. From 50 years old there is no longer an APK requirement. In that case, maintenance by the owner is all the more important.

Want to check something yourself? With the free RDW number plate check you can see from the registration number when the car is due for its APK. The date is listed under "expiry dates and history".

Drawbacks of a classic car as a wedding car, and what to ask

A classic car needs a little more preparation. None of these points is a reason to give up. With the right questions you can sort them out in advance. Below, for each point, you will find what the issue is and which question to ask the rental company.

Heat and no air conditioning

Many classic cars have no air conditioning, writes wedding car rental company Trouwautoshop. On a warm day it can therefore get stuffy inside. How often is it warm? According to the KNMI long-term averages for De Bilt (1991-2020), July had an average of 9.2 days of 25 degrees or more.

Heat is also hard on the engine. According to the ANWB, overheating and problems with the carburettor and the ignition are typical breakdowns for classic cars.

Ask the rental company: how does the car cope in hot weather, and can the windows or the roof be opened?

Rain in an open car

An open car or convertible is gorgeous, until it rains. In De Bilt, in the summer months there were on average some 10 to 11 days per month with at least 1 mm of rain. That is no forecast for your day, but it is a reason to have a plan. The wedding blog Bruid en Bruidegom recommends taking an umbrella or rain cover with you for a convertible.

Ask the rental company: is there a hood, how quickly can it be put up, and is there a closed car if it pours?

Photo: Mercedes-Benz SL Pagode from Trouw Porsches

Space for your dress and train

Old cars are often smaller inside than they look. The same rental company mentions less legroom, especially with a large wedding dress. A narrow door and a low seat make getting in more difficult.

Ask the rental company: can you try getting in beforehand, and how wide is the rear door?

Speed and route

A classic car usually drives more slowly, says that same rental company, and that makes the journey time longer. So allow plenty of time between the ceremony, the photo location and the party.

Ask the rental company: which route will the chauffeur take, will the car go on the motorway, and how much time does he allow per journey?

Seat belts in an old car

According to the RDW APK handbook, cars from before 1971 do not have to have seat belts. For cars from the years after that up to 1990, they are only compulsory in the front. In the back, there may therefore be no seat belt.

Ask the rental company: are there seat belts, and in the back too?

Breakdowns and a replacement car

An old car can let you down. There are no reliable figures on how often that happens with wedding cars. Bruid en Bruidegom recommends asking about the maintenance history and about a replacement car in case of a breakdown.

Ask the rental company: when was the car last serviced, and which car will come if it does not start? Put that in your agreement.

With or without chauffeur

Some rental companies offer a classic car only with chauffeur, others let you drive yourself. That differs per rental company. An old car drives differently from what you are used to. In Geldrop in 2022, a groom drove a goldsmith's classic Rolls-Royce himself after a short driving lesson. He pressed the accelerator instead of the brake and the car ended up against a tree, reported Omroep Brabant. That is a single incident, but it shows why a chauffeur who knows the car gives peace of mind. With a chauffeur who knows the car well, all you have to do is get in. If you would still like to be behind the wheel yourself, first read wedding car hire without a chauffeur. If you are allowed to drive yourself, also ask how you are insured.

Ask the rental company: does a chauffeur come with the car, and if not, will you get a test drive beforehand?

Photo: Porsche 356 A Coupé from Vintico

How to choose your classic car

Do you know which style you are looking for? Then take a look at what is available and request a free quote from a few rental companies at once. You will find all the cars at classic wedding car hire. In every request, ask the same questions about year of manufacture, air conditioning, hood, seat belts, chauffeur and a replacement car. That way you can compare the answers fairly side by side. For a rough idea of the cost, read what wedding car hire costs. When to book and what to put in writing is covered in the checklist for hiring your wedding car.