Seems expensive to me!

[Littleoldman]

Thinking of buying a Merc Sprinter spotted one online 2012 SWB 100,000 miles. Contacted an insurance company for a quote while I'm converting it and it came back £980 which to me sounds excessive especially since I wouldn't be using it but for a few trips to get materials. I have 9 years no claims. Can't understand it, but I have never bought a van before. Is there a good company out there that understand the self build motorhome community. For 14 years I had a motorcycle trike and there was one insurance company that were great to deal with who made the extra effort. The other choice I have is to get the van delivered and not insure it until it's done. It's pretty secure with me and I could always take the wheels off !!!! Thanks guys.

 

[TerryL]

Looks like you've been quoted as a commercial vehicle. It would be simpler to wait until it's converted IMO.

Maybe ring a couple of the specialist brokers on here for their opinions?

 

[Lenny HB]

Why not insure it as a van for private use only then change insurers once it's converted.

 

[Littleoldman]

Would you not insure it while your converting it? It can be on SORN with the DVLA and if it’s parked off the road doesn’t it still need to be insured? I don’t need to use it while I’m converting it, and I think the sellers could arrange delivery. So I wouldn’t need to drive it at all.

 

[Littleoldman]

Lenny that’s what the quote was for. Maximum 5000 miles although it probably would be nil miles.

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[Treeeev]

Hi

There are a limited number of insurance companies who will insure a van whilst it is being converted to a camper (you normally get about 3 months) who will be a little cheaper, however it is still quite expensive. For example, 10 years ago I insured a VW T4 van with Adrian Flux whilst I was converting it and that years insurance was approx. £700. The following year once it was converted, it was around £200.

Apart from Adrian Flux, I think other companies who insure whilst a van is in the process of conversion are A-Plan, Brentacre, Just Kampers, HIC. There are probably a few more but I've not looked for some years for this type of insurance. Maybe some of the other self builders could suggest some?

Alternatively, you could do as you suggested and get the van delivered and kept off the road

Cheers

Trevor

 

[Silver-Fox]

Why not insure it as a van for private use only then change insurers once it's converted.

It’s not that easy with some of these companies.
If it says commercial on there screen that’s it.

Years ago I sling two extra seats in my Transit and they wanted to insure it as a mini bus

 

[ambulancekidd]

We did something similar a few years ago, we bought a 2006 (906 model) later shaped van which had been sorned every winter by the owner driver who had a grass cutting business & she only had 27k on the clock.
She had over £1000 worth of Kenwood satnav fitted & some other desirable extra's.

Now we insured through "Churchill" & explained that we would be converting it as we went, they were perfectly happy with that as long as we let them know when we'd changed anything major.
First job was to have bonded windows fitted along with a Teleco aerial & it didn't cost us a penny to have details changed from time to time.
If memory serves me right we paid under £300 for the year.

Hope this helps.

 

[Littleoldman]

Silver-fox. your right , they are limited by their rules. Hope I can get around them some how. Thanks
Thanks Lenny HB and Terry L. all your advice and suggestions are welcome.
Treeev, thanks for the detailed advice will contact those companies tomorrow. Great help thanks
ambulancekidd, It looks like you have done this a few times. and you have a great van. We are having a smaller one to start with. My wife will share the driving, she does the motorway stuff and I do the city urban twisty roads. She doesn't want to drive a large van. If it works out will move up to a larger model next time (haven't started yet!). Will contact Churchill tomorrow also. Thanks

 

[Littleoldman]

Hi all just had a quote form Adrian Flux of £294 which is a lot less that the £980 I had yesterday. Will go with them as the quote is for the van being converted. Thank you all for your help, hope I can reciprocate one day. Pleasant journeys to you all.

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