Insurance on a van but is a camper…

[Just smiffy]

I intend to get a van 3500kg.. probably a commercial van and convert it to a camper but, I’ll have no windows as I want it to be a stealth van so just the cab will be on show…
Now what insurance implications will that entail….?

Any advice greatly appreciated…

 

[bigtwin]

You’ll pay a higher premium on a van.

Ian

 

[The general]

A stealth van ? So just basic inside ? Can’t you just insure it as a commercial van ? And fit it out so you cans easily take out bed ?

 

[Just smiffy]

A stealth van ? So just basic inside ? Can’t you just insure it as a commercial van ? And fit it out so you cans easily take out bed ?

It will be a proper permanent camper inside, outside will look like a normal van, except roof vents and solar….

 

[Just smiffy]

You’ll pay a higher premium on a van.

Ian

What are we looking at, 1-2 hundred more…? I wouldn’t know…

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[Badknee]

Wasn’t there a thread about van converters having problems with changing from a van to a pvc on the V5? If it stays as a van then insure it as a van perhaps Garry?

 

[Just smiffy]

Wasn’t there a thread about van converters having problems with changing from a van to a pvc on the V5? If it stays as a van then insure it as a van perhaps Garry?

That’s what I was thinking Paul, it’ll have 5-8k of conversion in the back but I’m willing to bear that in mind on the insurance, I assume you can have fixtures added to van insurance…?

It’s taxation class will be “disabled “ anyway….

 

[Just smiffy]

Is there a lot of difference between a “van” and “van with windows” because that’s what dvla are doing now I think…

 

[varaizian]

There is no point in asking a community of like-thinking motor-homers; you need to discuss it with an insurer. If you presented it as just a simple van, albeit with roof vents, solar panels and internal fittings, they might conclude, in the unfortunate event of an accident, that you had withheld vital information and invalidate the policy. They have infinitely deeper pockets than you.

 

[Just smiffy]

Wasn’t there a thread about van converters having problems with changing from a van to a pvc on the V5? If it stays as a van then insure it as a van perhaps Garry?

That’s what I was thinking Paul, it’ll have 5-8k of conversion in the back but I’m willing to bear that in mind on the insurance, I assume you can have fixtures added to van insurance…?

It’s taxation class will be “disabled “ anyway….

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[Just smiffy]

There is no point in asking a community of like-thinking motor-homers; you need to discuss it with an insurer. If you presented it as just a simple van, albeit with roof vents, solar panels and internal fittings, they might conclude, in the unfortunate event of an accident, that you had withheld vital information and invalidate the policy. They have infinitely deeper pockets than you.

I’ve no intentions of withholding information to the insurance, I was merely trying to get a feel of any complications to what I propose to do with the van..

 

[bigtwin]

What are we looking at, 1-2 hundred more…? I wouldn’t know…

Neither would I; talk to your insurer.

Ian

 

[Lenny HB]

What about putting in a couple of side windows in towards the front so it looks like a crew cab. Then you should be able to register it as a van with windows, insurance companies appear to be happy with this.

 

[Floydster]

My conversion is insured as a camper van but the v5 still says it's a van.
The DVLA changed the rules during my conversion and i wasn't going to change it to accommodate their requirements.

The DVLA themselves state that a vehicle doesn't have to be registered as a camper van to be a camper van.

Just told my insurer all the details of the conversion and they're happy.

 

[Robb]

I'm converting a Transit at the moment, I went with Motorhome Protect as I had a Swift Motorhome policy with them at the time, but they insisted on a 3 month conversion for key points, which I did at a push. I've now just insured my new Swift with AIB as they were half the price of Motorhome Protect and they also claim to have no conversion 3 month date deadlines?

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[Just smiffy]

What about putting in a couple of side windows in towards the front so it looks like a crew cab. Then you should be able to register it as a van with windows, insurance companies appear to be happy with this.

Don’t want windows Lenny, besides being too short to look out of them, it Just adds to security and condensation.
Not worried about paying extra on insurance because it’s a van, just wondering if it was a problem for insurers getting their head around it… Floydster makes a good point….

 

[Badknee]

Is there a lot of difference between a “van” and “van with windows” because that’s what dvla are doing now I think…

That’s the one Garry, I thought it didn’t change to motorhome. Have the conversation with insurance companies explaining that it’s a van with fixtures and fittings perhaps?

 

[Sapper520]

My neighbour tried three times to get his ex-DPD Sprinter registered as a Camper / Motorhome……failed miserably.

It‘s got everything our Sunlight PVC has got (except Solar) but DVLA said it’s a van with windows. I know you don’t want windows, but just telling you my neighbour gave up trying to get it registered as a Camper / Motorhome.

In the end he found an insurance company that was prepared to insure it at an agreed value.

 

[Just smiffy]

My neighbour tried three times to get his ex-DPD Sprinter registered as a Camper / Motorhome……failed miserably.

It‘s got everything our Sunlight PVC has got (except Solar) but DVLA said it’s a van with windows. I know you don’t want windows, but just telling you my neighbour gave up trying to get it registered as a Camper / Motorhome.

In the end he found an insurance company that was prepared to insure it at an agreed value.

That’s what I’ve heard, so I won’t bother trying to get it registered as a motorhome just as long as I can get the insurance to cover all that I’m going to put in there, I’m hoping that it will look like a quality camper when I’ve finished using quality fittings in it, for instance two lithium bats and victron solar equipment… I just want to be self sufficient and only visit campsites if it’s the only place to stay where I want to be…

I will start with a base van around £15k so it’s not going to be “Chuck a mattress in the back” and bobs my fluid gender…