Hire and rental insurance (1 Viewer)

Lonewolf McQuade

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Aug 4, 2010
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Hi folks!

Looking to hire out a couple of our campers (we sell commercial vans and the odd camper).

Been phoning around insurance companies and nobody seems to want to go near camper vans, especially if you want to hire them out to the public. I know its quite a specialist area so will be expensive but so far I've not found anyone willing to touch the idea. Everyone palms you off to the next company that isnt interested either.

Our trade insurance will not do it either which is unfortunate as we are already paying them a small fortune.

Does anyone know any companies that will arrange insurance for the member of the public to hire a camper?

Many thanks,
:thumb:
Mike. :Smile:
 

hilldweller

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Dec 5, 2008
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Does anyone know any companies that will arrange insurance for the member of the public to hire a camper?

Many thanks,
:thumb:
Mike. :Smile:

Yes. Your competitors do. So why not be a bit tricky, sent someone to look at hiring one and in conversation "can I have full insurance details, I want to make sure I'm well covered."
 

Snowbird

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Yes. Your competitors do. So why not be a bit tricky, sent someone to look at hiring one and in conversation "can I have full insurance details, I want to make sure I'm well covered."
Youth and schooling is no match for old age and cunning eh Brian:winky:

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Lonewolf McQuade

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Aug 4, 2010
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Yes. Your competitors do. So why not be a bit tricky, sent someone to look at hiring one and in conversation "can I have full insurance details, I want to make sure I'm well covered."

I thought about doing this actually (being sneaky mystery shopper) but I thought I would just try on a forum first as I thought it might be common knowledge - I don't like wasting people's time whether its a competitor or not...

Thanks though! :Cool:

:D
 

hilldweller

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I don't like wasting people's time whether its a competitor or not...

Thanks though! :Cool:

:D

Very noble but in this world it seems that it's the cheats who prosper.

You may have noticed by now there is already a MH hirer on here, he may, or may not choose to comment. He's certainly on record saying MH hire is far from the best part of his business.
 

rainbow chasers

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Oct 30, 2009
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I can sympathise with Brians comments there - we do things too honestly, and to be frank - it makes it a longer, more tiring route!

I can also understand the comment from the hirer on here (we specialise in it, so have no other interest). If you are running sales as well as hire, it will be a struggle - as hire is so very time consuming, and you will often make more profit selling a van that hiring a motorhome. Take on the costs of insuring, liability, H&S and the extra costs such as advertising and maintaining that, dealing with enquiries etc. It does take up quite a bit of time - and that is just the admin side!

You will need two insurance premiums, one a traders hire policy and a self drive hire policy - why both beats me as they both cover the same thing, but that is what is required. They are very expensive in the first two years, as you have no doubt discovered, they want two years books as a minimum! In our first year of trading, we did well, were fully booked up and just managed to cover our insurance premiums!

That said, we may be able to offer some help, so i have sent a PM to talk you through it and impart some tips or solutions that may help.:thumb:

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Paula

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Apr 15, 2008
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We have only the one MH which we hire out when not using ourselves. We need only the one policy because we are not in the motortrade.

We used a broker to get the hire insurance which is a fleet insurance and not cheap but it is easily covered by the hire fees - and we don't even charge an arm and a leg for the hire of our vehicle like some hire companies.

If you pm me I will give you the low down.

It is quite a good business as far as we are concerned so far - this is our 1st full season of hiring out ! Our MH is second hand and although we love it, because it means we can get an away break for a few days sometimes (oherwise it is difficult for us). It is not perhaps as precious to us as to some peoples vehicles are. We understood when we went into hiring that things would get broken and it might even get worse than that. We have had the odd thing go arwy - but nothing we couldnt handle yet!

However we are very choosy about who we hire to and if for any reason at all I have ANY hesitation on the first phone call, we wont hire to them. In 9 hires this season there has been only one like that. It can be difficult saying no we wont hire to you after all - but it has to be done.

:O

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johng

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Aug 15, 2007
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1984 C ClassGMC
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hmm I have been wondering about this.. My van is damn old, but there still may be a market for hiring it out to someone....

I am not using it at all, but paying £40 a month to keep it... I could try and sell it but it would be a shame...
 

Peter JohnsCross MH

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Jan 5, 2008
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Norwich Union costs us about £70 a week per van when on hire, continental cover extra,

BUT we have been with them for many years and it is just part of our entire policy which covers every aspect of our business and the total premium is massive per year.

My advice stick to selling vans, far easier and less hassle,

Now you have had the free advice Link Removed here and support Fun !

Peter
 

rainbow chasers

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Oct 30, 2009
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Norwich Union costs us about £70 a week per van when on hire, continental cover extra,

BUT we have been with them for many years and it is just part of our entire policy which covers every aspect of our business and the total premium is massive per year.

My advice stick to selling vans, far easier and less hassle,

Now you have had the free advice Link Removed here and support Fun !

Peter

I tried to help him through ours insurers, but would not touch him alone as his vehicles would be jap imports and he had no self drive history. Even going through our name, it still worked out as much as an a-class per week!

I think he wanted to hire them cheap and make a nice little income, but with the costs of it - realised that there isn't alot to be made after all the insurance costs etc!

Glad I did enquire for him, as i was going to pick up one of these - just as well I didn't - even with our 14 years NCB, they were a sting for insurance!

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