Just because a car is old does not automatically mean that it can be classified as a classic. According to the auto show experts of Charlotte AutoFair, there are certain qualities a vehicle has to possess before it can be considered a classic car.

Before going to your next auto show, learn how to recognize classic cars from antique cars. Here are five ways to determine if a car is classic:

• Limited Production Run: Generally, cars that have been deemed classic were produced in limited numbers, which is why these models are now rare. The more limited the production run of a model is, the more likely it is to be considered a classic.

• Originally Expensive: Most classic cars were expensive when they were first sold, which means only a few people could afford them when they were new.

• CCCA Definition: A safe way to determine what a classic car is is by going with the definition of the Classic Car Club of America. For the CCCA, a classic car is a distinctive automobile produced between 1925 and 1948.

• State Agency Definition: A historical vehicle can get special rates and special license plates. State agencies have their own definition of classic cars. In Michigan, a car should be more than 26 years old, considered as a collector’s item, and used only as an exhibit in a car show or similar events. Each state may vary in its definition.

• Definition Of Lenders & Insurers: Some insurers would not consider cars that were built in the 1980s and the 1970s as classic cars because of the low production standards in those periods. It’s important to check how these companies define classic cars.

To learn more about classic, antique, and collector cars, attend the Charlotte AutoFair, the largest auto show in the Southeast. Call (704) 841-1990, or visit their website for more information.