Seeking advice: motorhome insurance for Spanish storage (1 Viewer)

[mikebeaches]

I'm looking for a decent specialist motorhome insurance broker.

It's proving challenging identifying a suitable underwriter willing to to cover our requirements, because we want to keep the van securely stored in Spain during the winter months, flying down to use it every few weeks. It will remain UK-registered and doesn't require an MOT until next summer.

Doesn't seem like a big ask to me, but apparently it is for many/most of the mainstream insurers.

The plan is to store the van at Chris Parking http://www.chrisparking.com/ close to Alicante airport.

I'm aware of the '6-month' rule for foreign registered vehicles used in EU states.

We've met Chris - the German owner - and his parents, who all live on the premises; and inspected the facility - it's super impressive, very secure indoor parking, 24-hour video surveillance etc. Bit like Fort Knox. Oh, and they'll even plug-in the hook-up whenever we want to keep the batteries conditioned.

I've got a couple of insurance avenues I'm exploring, but could really do with some decent broker recommendations.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

 

[tacr2man]

Cant you just take out a spanish agreed value policy for protection of goods on damage, fire or theft . It doesn't require it to cover it as a road going vehicle. Dont think any ins co over in UK will insure a MoHo parked in Spain , as they wont have any actuarial data on which to base it .

 

[sweetie]

But as you say about the 6 month rule. It would be illegal to use in Spain after it been there for 6 months and you would then have to register it in Spain.

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[mikebeaches]

But as you say about the 6 month rule. It would be illegal to use in Spain after it been there for 6 months and you would then have to register it in Spain.

Fully understand and appreciate that, and wouldn't intend to have it there for more than 6 months.

 

[mikebeaches]

Cant you just take out a spanish agreed value policy for protection of goods on damage, fire or theft . It doesn't require it to cover it as a road going vehicle. Dont think any ins co over in UK will insure a MoHo parked in Spain , as they wont have any actuarial data on which to base it .

Interesting suggestion and worth investigating reference an 'agreed value' policy. Thanks!

Frustratingly, I spoke to the Camping and Caravanning Club at the beginning of the year, who in turn secured the agreement of one of their underwriters to cover me. They even gave me an indicative quote - which was more than I pay with my current insurer, but perfectly acceptable, given the perceived additional risk for what I want.

My insurance wasn't up for renewal at the time, but will be later this month. So I called this morning to say I'd like to go ahead, only to be told the underwriter had had a change of heart and no longer wished to provide cover.

I'm now rather wishing I'd taken the cover offered at the time and simply accepted the loss of premium/administration charge when cancelling my existing policy. However, another reason I didn't go ahead was the prospect of having to renew mid-winter, while the van is in Spain, and possibly facing the challenge I've got now.

 

[Xabia]

Don’t laugh at this suggestion Mike, but many years ago when I was arranging insurance on heavy goods vehicles with Lloyd’s of London a scheme was established whereby the third party liabilities were covered in the usual motor insurance markets but the fabric of the vehicle was insured in the Marine market.

You might be able to arrange static cover for the motorhome in the Marine insurance market in Spain or even via Lloyd’s in the U.K.

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[mikebeaches]

Don’t laugh at this suggestion Mike, but many years ago when I was arranging insurance on heavy goods vehicles with Lloyd’s of London a scheme was established whereby the third party liabilities were covered in the usual motor insurance markets but the fabric of the vehicle was insured in the Marine market.

You might be able to arrange static cover for the motorhome in the Marine insurance market in Spain or even via Lloyd’s in the U.K.

Thanks Xabia! And I promise not to laugh. In fact, it could be a very useful route to explore.

Do you happen know of any Spanish brokers or underwriters that might be able to assist, particularly if they are used to dealing with English clients?

 

[Xabia]

Hi Mike, I don’t know of anyone specific but perhaps a call to these people might give you a lead: http://www.sisinspain.com/contact-us/

Mike

 

[mikebeaches]

Hi Mike, I don’t know of anyone specific but perhaps a call to these people might give you a lead: http://www.sisinspain.com/contact-us/

Mike

Many thanks Mike!

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[Littlewheels]

You might give these people a try they have offices in the UK but the head office is is Spain, they insure lots of UK registered Cars in Spain and the Website shows Luxury Yachts etc.

 

[mikebeaches]

View attachment 235639 You might give these people a try they have offices in the UK but the head office is is Spain, they insure lots of UK registered Cars in Spain and the Website shows Luxury Yachts etc.

Thanks for that! Another useful avenue for me to explore. Much appreciated!

 

[mattg]

I'm looking for a decent specialist motorhome insurance broker.

It's proving challenging identifying a suitable underwriter willing to to cover our requirements, because we want to keep the van securely stored in Spain during the winter months, flying down to use it every few weeks. It will remain UK-registered and doesn't require an MOT until next summer.

Doesn't seem like a big ask to me, but apparently it is for many/most of the mainstream insurers.

The plan is to store the van at Chris Parking http://www.chrisparking.com/ close to Alicante airport.

I'm aware of the '6-month' rule for foreign registered vehicles used in EU states.

We've met Chris - the German owner - and his parents, who all live on the premises; and inspected the facility - it's super impressive, very secure indoor parking, 24-hour video surveillance etc. Bit like Fort Knox. Oh, and they'll even plug-in the hook-up whenever we want to keep the batteries conditioned.

I've got a couple of insurance avenues I'm exploring, but could really do with some decent broker recommendations.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

I'm looking for a decent specialist motorhome insurance broker.

It's proving challenging identifying a suitable underwriter willing to to cover our requirements, because we want to keep the van securely stored in Spain during the winter months, flying down to use it every few weeks. It will remain UK-registered and doesn't require an MOT until next summer.

Doesn't seem like a big ask to me, but apparently it is for many/most of the mainstream insurers.

The plan is to store the van at Chris Parking http://www.chrisparking.com/ close to Alicante airport.

I'm aware of the '6-month' rule for foreign registered vehicles used in EU states.

We've met Chris - the German owner - and his parents, who all live on the premises; and inspected the facility - it's super impressive, very secure indoor parking, 24-hour video surveillance etc. Bit like Fort Knox. Oh, and they'll even plug-in the hook-up whenever we want to keep the batteries conditioned.

I've got a couple of insurance avenues I'm exploring, but could really do with some decent broker recommendations.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

Hi Mike, did you resolve this one, am in the same boat.
cheers
matt

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[mikebeaches]

Hi Mike, did you resolve this one, am in the same boat.
cheers
matt

Hi Matt

Yes, I did!

I arranged the insurance through a broker in Wiltshire - Advance Insurance:

Motorhome Insurance | Advance Insurance

And they used Ageas as the underwriter:

Ageas

Ageas is a provider of personal insurance in the UK. Ageas has provide cover to over 3 million car, home, pet, van and business customers in the UK.

www.ageas.co.uk

Together they were able to come up with exactly the cover I wanted. For the winters of 2018/19 & 2019/20 we kept the van securely indoors at Chris Parking, close to Alicante airport for 6 months, as indicated in the original post. We were able to come and go as we wanted from an insurance perspective, and we paid Chris for a full 6 months parking each time - I think just over €400 euro if I recall. That included shuttles to and from the airport. It all worked really well until the pandemic hit, and unfortunately we haven't been over since March last year.

The insurance policy is only for vans valued up to £40k, so if you've got something more valuable it might not work for you? It was just sufficient for us.

The van is still insured through Advance with Ageas and, surprisingly, our premium has reduced each year.

I believe we started at about £450, and I think it's around £295 now. It seemed there was perhaps a bit of a set up fee initially, because various negotiations were required with the underwriter, but I was perfectly happy because they provided what I wanted.

As it happens, our van got stranded at Chris Parking, because our final flight out from the UK, to drive it home, was cancelled at a couple of days notice due to lockdown! But the underwriter was great, when we let them know, they said they were happy to keep it 'on risk' in Spain for as long as necessary. And, as indicated, no subsequent increase in premium.

Prior to that, we'd been with Comfort for about 8 years, They were fine until I asked for the special arrangement - at first they didn't want to know, and eventually after some pressure at renewal time, quoted around £1k premium (previously £320 pa) and wanted exact dates in advance of precisely when the van would be in storage and when on the road in Spain. We could probably have just about lived with that, but preferred the flexibility we had though Advantage/ Ageous, and of course it was half the price.

Good luck - hope you get something sorted out, whoever you go with.