difficulty getting insurance! (1 Viewer)

Mar 21, 2009
1,367
874
Harwich, Essex
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5,989
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My son has converted a VW transporter panel van into a camper.
Now it's ready for the road he is went to his insurance company (Co-Op) to change his insurance over and they would not insure it because "it is has been modified and they do not insure modified vehicles."
Has anyone else had this problem or does anyone have suggestions of a company that might insure it.
Obviously he does not want to lie and say it's just a panel van cos if something happens they'll probably pay out £30 if he's lucky!!!!
 

Caggsie

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Feb 15, 2009
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I'm with caravan guard - they work for me, very knowledgable and although haven't needed to claim are very pleasant on the phone. if you google the name it should come up. There are others too - Caravan club etc but you need to be a member. I'm sure others will be along soon with their suggestions particularly as it is a home conversion.

Just google caravan insurance and loads came up heres a link for caravan guard Motorhome and motorcaravan insurance from Caravan Guard - Policy Benefits

regards

Karen
 

pudseykeith

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Nov 5, 2007
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Leeds West Riding of York
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Insurance

We converted a Merc 709. Had the same problem but the National Farmers Union [NFU]came up trumps. It has been insured with them for the last 10 years, no problems.

We had the finished MH valued to establish its worth.
good look. :thumb:

Pudseykeith

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dikyenfo

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Aug 29, 2007
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This is utter rubbish as all motor homes are conversions and the question should not arise. Motorcaravanwise do it for me also the C&CC are reasonable I believe.:thumb:
 

Terry

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Dec 27, 2007
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Hi Adrian Flux and budget will both insure self builds :thumb:It would also be wise to get an agreed valuation for the van :thumb:
terry
 

madbluemad

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Jan 26, 2008
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Hi Adrian Flux and budget will both insure self builds :thumb:It would also be wise to get an agreed valuation for the van :thumb:
terry
Hi Jayjee
Adrian Flux will cover just about anything. When your son gets his quotes from AF & NFU I'd be interested to now who gave the highest quote, not the numbers just higher/lower.

Cheers
Jim :thumb:

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Last edited:

Yetties

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Nov 19, 2007
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Hi

We did a home conversion a few years ago
Get in touch with the self build motor caravan club once you are a member there are a couple of companies that will cover the conversion for you although you do have to have certain items built in to qualify the same ones the DVLA require to class it as a motor caravan if memory is correct
We used Shield Direct and they were very helpful and reasonably priced
Neil

SBMCC ~ Self Build Motor Caravanners Club
 
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jaygee
Mar 21, 2009
1,367
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My son has got sorted now and has a great deal.
He's gone with RH Specialist and taken their motorhome and campervan policy, limited 5000 miles per year, parked on his drive at a cost of £123.90 p.a.
They were happy to accept it was a modified panel van.
 

Wildman

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May 30, 2008
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This is utter rubbish as all motor homes are conversions and the question should not arise. Motorcaravanwise do it for me also the C&CC are reasonable I believe.:thumb:
I'm sorry I cannot agree with that statement. The deciding point is who converted them. Joe bloggs with his thrown together gas and electrics all untested at one end of the scale and professionally built and tested at the otherend with many great conversions in between those extreems. Gas and elecric installations in a house can only be carried out by people with the appropriate certification. Insurance companies have to take this into consideration as the risk increases with some selfbuilds.
I by the way have carried out a number of selfbuilds over the years so am not biased against them, just aware of the possible problems.

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oldun

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Mar 23, 2008
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This is utter rubbish as all motor homes are conversions and the question should not arise.

There is a difference.

Major converters who do it for a living and turn out many MHs a year have a history and a reputation on which a risk assessment can be made. They are in some way regulated and should work to certain standards.

A conversion done by someone for their own use could be a death trap and the insurer has no idea as to the quality of the workmanship or the parts used.

This type of insurance is very specialised and will only be handled by the few brave enough to take the extra risks.
 

Bulletguy

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Feb 7, 2008
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My son has converted a VW transporter panel van into a camper.
Now it's ready for the road he is went to his insurance company (Co-Op) to change his insurance over and they would not insure it because "it is has been modified and they do not insure modified vehicles." Has anyone else had this problem or does anyone have suggestions of a company that might insure it.
Obviously he does not want to lie and say it's just a panel van cos if something happens they'll probably pay out £30 if he's lucky!!!!
Interesting to see this post as only a few weeks ago there was a similar thread where the poster was considering a 'home build conversion'. When i pointed out the problems of insurance on home build conversions, i got jumped on by others who said it's not a problem. Well as you have found out, it's not quite so simple after all!

Tell you what i'd do if i was you......get these folk to sort your insurance for you.
They reckon it's so simple....let 'em sort it for you!
 

Terry

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Dec 27, 2007
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Interesting to see this post as only a few weeks ago there was a similar thread where the poster was considering a 'home build conversion'. When i pointed out the problems of insurance on home build conversions, i got jumped on by others who said it's not a problem. Well as you have found out, it's not quite so simple after all!

Tell you what i'd do if i was you......get these folk to sort your insurance for you.
They reckon it's so simple....let 'em sort it for you!
:ROFLMAO: Hi Bulletguy,All anyone has to do is phone either of the 2 company's in my first post ::bigsmile: just like you would for a normal -big guy's- insurance
Say it is a self built - declare it has a bed, sink and cooker all fixed / fitted in and your estimated value :ROFLMAO:( cost to build plus van :Smile:and value of build time ??????????)
IF you want to value a 2k van with 2k worth of fittings = 4k or maybe 5k it will not be a problem until you value it at 10k or more then they will ask for photos etc, to prove there risk factor :Eeek::ROFLMAO: just like a normal van :thumb:-What extras have you fitted etc,
I know a few more company's who will insure self builds or little converters / built vans.:thumb: but also know a lot of company's who will only insure there recognised converters vans :Doh::Sad:::bigsmile:As a rule you should always get the value of any base van plus the parts used :Smile: then a little more for the conversion ::bigsmile: If you think your van is worth more than this that is when the agreed value (photos etc,) comes into play :thumb::thumb: If on the other hand you only think the van to be worth van plus parts then that is what you would get paid :cry::ROFLMAO: in the event of a claim for your van :ROFLMAO: JUST AS YOU WOULD FOR A NORMAL CONVERTERS VAN the insurance co's are not daft :Eeek::thumb:
terry

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Bulletguy

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Feb 7, 2008
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Hi Bulletguy,All anyone has to do is phone either of the 2 company's in my first post just like you would for a normal -big guy's- insurance
Say it is a self built - declare it has a bed, sink and cooker all fixed / fitted in and your estimated value........
Dont tell me......tell that to JayGee!
 
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jaygee
Mar 21, 2009
1,367
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Harwich, Essex
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As I have already said, thanks for all your input but he is now sorted. 12 months cover = £123.90.
The problem was that he was with the Co-Op and they do not insure anything that has been modified - car, van, bike.
On ringing elsewhere he found several companies that were happy to insure him but some wanted a letter of confirmation from a garage or motorhome repairer that the conversion had been done satisfactory. This wouldn't have been a problem and their policies all came in at around £200 - £250. When he found the present company he checked exactly tyhat the cover was what he wanted and they confirmed they did not need any documentation regarding the modification. He has taken pictures anyway.His van is worth £2-3000 at most so I suspect if it was worth say over £10,000 they may have required more clarification.
He could have left it insured with the co-op as a transporter van (as it has been for the past 2 years) but had anything happened to it they would have paid out only a very minimum amount not enought to cover what it is actually worth.

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Kon tiki

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Oct 11, 2007
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You should also contact the DVLA & change the vehicle type from a van to to a motorcarvan, when I did my last van they asked me to supply at least 4 photos with one showing the registration number. As far as I know there isn't any charge for this.
 

Bulletguy

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Feb 7, 2008
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Cheshire/Staffs
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As I have already said, thanks for all your input but he is now sorted. 12 months cover = £123.90.
The problem was that he was with the Co-Op and they do not insure anything that has been modified - car, van, bike.

He could have left it insured with the co-op as a transporter van (as it has been for the past 2 years) but had anything happened to it they would have paid out only a very minimum amount not enought to cover what it is actually worth.
Glad to hear your good news.

As you found out for yourself it's not nearly as simple as what some will have you believe. As to your final paragraph the answer is, they would not have paid out at all....period!

Undeclared modifications can make an insurance premium void. Many companies are now very 'picky' and with some companies, they will void the premium for even the slightest modification.

I used to modify mini engines at a time when sticking an overbored engine, long centre branch manifold and straight through exhaust, hardly caused any mither with insurance. Eventually they began to crack down to the point where 'modifying' lost its appeal and was no longer the fun it used to be.

A guy i knew once had his premium voided after a vehicle examiner was sent out to assess the value after being involved in a collision. Reason being he had the incorrect rated tyres on which were not to the original manufacturers spec. Picky i know....but thats how some are today.

Anyone making even the slightest alteration to their vehicle today is best advised to contact their insurance company first. If they are agreeable to you going ahead....get it in writing!
 

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