Spent a day with insurance companies

[bilM]

Went to insure my new M/H yesterday as I now have a reg.
A bit about me. I have a clean UK driving licence held for more than 25years 5 years+ NCB no pending convictions and no medical stuff.
Am with the NFU and have been for the last six years no problems and my premium is around £300 a year, not too bad so they were the first choice. Gave them a call and to cut a very long story short they would only give me insurance if I insured my house with them as well and this was not going to happen, the guy did say they did not want to insure my van.
And so it began, this is a list of insurance companies that would not insure my M/H for one reason or another. Some of the reasons I got were quite funny, Comfort never want to speak to them again.
Motorhome Protect Safeguard , Admiral, Comfort, AIB, Saga, LV, Caravanwise., Caravan Guaard and a few more I can’t remember. When I talked to Comfort, they came away with a list of things I had to have. They wanted a tracker fitted Cat # 5, security fitted I think it was cat #1, I told them I would have this done as soon as I got the van however I required insurance on my M/H to take it to the installer VanBitz, they said no, they would not insure till I got them fitted and suggested I get the installer to come to the M/H to fit them. AIB pulled my house up on street view said I see you have a long driveway have you got 24Hr security locked gates, I said no, they said sorry we need you to have 24Hr locked gates.
I think the main reason I was knocked back was the M/H value, they do not want to insure you if your M/H is over £100000k.
I now have insurance with A-Plan (Ageas) and has only cost me £1900. Overall A-Plan agents were very helpful. The Caravan Club would also insure me through Ageas but it was well over £2000.

 

[MisterB]

ouch !!! hopefully it will reduce once you get the aforementioned security upgrades.

 

[bilM]

ouch !!! hopefully it will reduce once you get the aforementioned security upgrades.

I have had to get Premier Motorhomes to fit a tracker before I would get any insurance Cat #7.

 

[Lenny HB]

I think the main reason I was knocked back was the M/H value, they do not want to insure you if your M/H is over £100000k.

By the time you have fitted a few extras not many Motorhomes under that these days.

 

[urban_biker]

I'm not looking forward to this stage of my new motorhome purchase. Although mine will only be valued at around 90k. I was also hoping to get a few weeks temporary cover to give me time to get it in to Vanbitz and have non-starter and Growler installed.

Are there companies that do specialist temporary cover I wonder? I think I will be starting by talking to C&C club who were my previous broker.

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[urban_biker]

Hmm- I see Adrian Flux do short term MH insurance - BUT for vehicles valued only up to 25k. Surely not many of those around these days.

 

[dash300]

Caravan Guard who I am with gave me a 2 week window to get the security fitted which I did at Vanbitz.

 

[SpeedyDux]

That OP is an eye-opener. Has there been a recent spate of MH thefts we don't know about?

 

[SpeedyDux]

Hmm- I see Adrian Flux do short term MH insurance - BUT for vehicles valued only up to 25k. Surely not many of those around these days.

AF cancelled my MH insurance policy when it took a little too long to get my personal import registered with DVLA. Squeaky bum time.

 

[Aji]

Went to insure my new M/H yesterday as I now have a reg.
A bit about me. I have a clean UK driving licence held for more than 25years 5 years+ NCB no pending convictions and no medical stuff.
Am with the NFU and have been for the last six years no problems and my premium is around £300 a year, not too bad so they were the first choice. Gave them a call and to cut a very long story short they would only give me insurance if I insured my house with them as well and this was not going to happen, the guy did say they did not want to insure my van.
And so it began, this is a list of insurance companies that would not insure my M/H for one reason or another. Some of the reasons I got were quite funny, Comfort never want to speak to them again.
Motorhome Protect Safeguard , Admiral, Comfort, AIB, Saga, LV, Caravanwise., Caravan Guaard and a few more I can’t remember. When I talked to Comfort, they came away with a list of things I had to have. They wanted a tracker fitted Cat # 5, security fitted I think it was cat #1, I told them I would have this done as soon as I got the van however I required insurance on my M/H to take it to the installer VanBitz, they said no, they would not insure till I got them fitted and suggested I get the installer to come to the M/H to fit them. AIB pulled my house up on street view said I see you have a long driveway have you got 24Hr security locked gates, I said no, they said sorry we need you to have 24Hr locked gates.
I think the main reason I was knocked back was the M/H value, they do not want to insure you if your M/H is over £100000k.
I now have insurance with A-Plan (Ageas) and has only cost me £1900. Overall A-Plan agents were very helpful. The Caravan Club would also insure me through Ageas but it was well over £2000.

Fit like,
I'm with Comfort, they gave me 2 weeks to have the van fitted with an alarm etc.
Forwarded the cert after fitting.
My van cost was £71k, 10k miles / year, live in Aberdeen, van parked at home, £385 this year.
£2k .....ouch,

Ally

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[TinaLes]

As our new van was over 75K, Comfort gave me a 2 week window to have the Vanbitz Meta Tracker & Strike back Growler Alarm Fitted, plus twin rear view camera.
I could not get despite giving VanBitz a few months notice an appointment to have the gear fitted until 1 month after the 1st Sept pick up date from the van dealership. Vanbitz used to close down every August so Eddie could get his toys out and on the road down to the south of France.
The only choice I had was defer picking the van up until early October, and driving straight to Vanbitz, which was only a short distance from the dealership.
The not so funny bit I remember well, was that Comfort had told me that they would insure the van inside the initial 2 week window to have the security gear fitted, but it would not be insured for theft!
We have been with Comfort ever since, the premium dropped a bit when we re-insured the van at year 3 for £74,999.
Good Luck to the OP, this is going to be an ongoing ever increasing problem with van prices sky rocketing these days.
LES

 

[The Wino]

I think it's going to be increasing premiums too due to the cost of windscreen replacement lots are very keen to ensure there's enough cover but when they cost as much as they do for an a class it's bound to affect the premiums

 

[Coolcats]

I have posted this before but post break in and a car plus Van stollen (they didn't take the MoHo think that was due to Vanbits flashing lights) Insurance went from around £400 to AIB wanting £3K. Adrian flux was the best I could find at £1200 its now down to about £800

Every one of our vehicles insurances went sky high so it will be interesting to see at renewal this year what can be achieved nearly post 4 years from the thefts

 

[TinaLes]

That story really is heart wrenching, to think that not only have you lost your cars, maybe a van on the drive in some cases, that despite meeting the insurance requirements for safety devices, like alarm, maybe tracker and other security measures, even inside locked driveway gates... they rub your nose in it for years after by increasing the premiums of ALL your insured vehicles for 5 years, maybe more.
I know that's how insurance companies work, but its not fair to increase premiums on all the insured vehicles for that length of time IMHO.
LES

 

[Coolcats]

That story really is heart wrenching, to think that not only have you lost your cars, maybe a van on the drive in some cases, that despite meeting the insurance requirements for safety devices, like alarm, maybe tracker and other security measures, even inside locked driveway gates... they rub your nose in it for years after by increasing the premiums of ALL your insured vehicles for 5 years, maybe more.
I know that's how insurance companies work, but its not fair to increase premiums on all the insured vehicles for that length of time IMHO.
LES

Thank you for the kind comments, apparently unless an insurance company can recover all costs from a claim even if it wasn't not your fault they mark it as a fault claim, they only mark the file non fault if they can recover all their costs. Oh should add our theft was between 03:45 and 04:45 on a boxing day morning, give the police their due a detective a scene of crime officer turned up within the hour. My Wife's car was found which was involved in a crash but my van a T6 was never located.

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[PP Bear]

I have posted this before but post break in and a car plus Van stollen (they didn't take the MoHo think that was due to Vanbits flashing lights) Insurance went from around £400 to AIB wanting £3K. Adrian flux was the best I could find at £1200 its now down to about £800

Every one of our vehicles insurances went sky high so it will be interesting to see at renewal this year what can be achieved nearly post 4 years from the thefts

It’s a good job that when they actually catch these scumbags and take them to court, they basically get let off with nothing that reflects the trauma and chaos that’s been dished out on you.

Your insurance is likely to be effected for years to come, whereas they’ll be away nicking peoples kit pretty swiftly.

Broken Blighty and broken justice system.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

I have had to get Premier Motorhomes to fit a tracker before I would get any insurance Cat #7.

Could you try installing a couple of lockable / removeable bollards behind your van?

 

[Coolcats]

It’s a good job that when they actually catch these scumbags and take them to court, they basically get let off with nothing that reflects the trauma and chaos that’s been dished out on you.

Your insurance is likely to be effected for years to come, whereas they’ll be away nicking peoples kit pretty swiftly.

Broken Blighty and broken justice system.

A couple of months later this happened

Essex and London car theft raids: About 450 officers take part​

But again unless the insurance companies get their money back, you right the victims still have to pay

Yes it was traumatic and whilst we were not disturbed knowing someone has been in your home is pretty traumatic, home is now more fortified alarms cameras security locks etc. Stop locks so its a visible deterrent but if they get the keys its useless but it may be they will just go after an easier target.

 

[andyelbac]

Is it likely that secure storage at a MH storage area is what really drives cost down (or stops it going up into silly territory)? We insured our first MH last August with A-Plan (£600). New Burstner @£86k. Sole driver, 42 years on road, 14 yrs no claims. They would only insure it with a Thatcham and Tracker. Also will only get £86 k if stolen, not cost of replacement (likely leaving us significantly out of pocket if MH is nicked, given rocketing cost of 2nd hand models). Stored at a secure, remote site. Never asked what cost would be if stored on driveway. We have length available but have a steep up and over drive and would never get the overhang to clear it (My Honda Accord scrapes on it's exhaust when I park that on the drive!). God knows what insurance would be if parked at home. At first I thought it was a right pain not being able to store it by the house but have since found out a lot of MH are stolen from driveways because of lack of security. I doubt your bog standard driveway gates will stop them. A few thousand pounds to fix a dented front end is still worth it for thieves if they can grab a £80k + MH by driving through gates.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

"Kin-hell", somewhat glad we're flying " Dan dare class" £500.00, all in, including a number of after market modifications.
Mike.

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[DavidG58]

We had a similar situation when we bought ours 10 years ago , insurers demanded alarm cat 1 or 3 can’t remember which now, but we were fully insured, just no cover for theft until alarm fitted

 

[VXman]

Very odd insurance on motorhomes. I'm with comfort and have been since I got th motorhome brand-new in 2021. So I have renewed for the 3rd time. No tracker required. I already had a cat 1 alarm fitted so I don't know whether that was required or not. Mine is parked on a drive but a very short one - the van is virtually on the road. Never any questions about that - or examinations on Google Street view.

I couldn't get any better quotes this year or in previous years. This year's renewal was £380. Others came in at up to £2000. Some required trackers.

I'm 60 and the value of the van new in 2021 was £60,000.

 

[gus-lopez]

Try these they have always specialised in providing full comp insurance for UK registered vehicles used permanently outside the Uk & only returning for an mot.
https://www.stuartcollins.com/

I know that's how insurance companies work, but its not fair to increase premiums on all the insured vehicles for that length of time IMHO.

No, that is how they are now. it used to be they paid you out & the premium rarely rose as the idea is that the whole sum collected is greater than the payouts. now they have to fund shareholders it is scam time.

Here in spain it is as it was .They claim off the guilty party . there is no 'knock for knock'. someone is to blame always.
if you have an own fault claim it rarely goes up .then again most vehicles here once around 3 years old most people only insure 3rd party.

 

[gus-lopez]

Try these they have always specialised in providing full comp insurance for UK registered vehicles used permanently outside the Uk & only returning for an mot.
https://www.stuartcollins.com/

I have just noticed that they also supply eu wide recovery at cost of £190/year might be woirth some asking re recovery for mh's?

 

[Pausim]

Am with the NFU and have been for the last six years no problems and my premium is around £300 a year, not too bad so they were the first choice. Gave them a call and to cut a very long story short they would only give me insurance if I insured my house with them as well and this was not going to happen, the guy did say they did not want to insure my van.

NFU Mutual branches are privately owned businesses with tied agencies. Some of them are not interested in motorhome insurance and others are very helpful. There have been earlier postings about some branches being less helpful than others. I would be surprised if NFU Mutual itself has a rule about only insuring expensive vehicles together with home insurance, this sounds like a greedy agent trying to gain some more business. Perhaps home insurance has more commission and less work involved. I found the NFU Brockenhurst Agency very helpful 01590 624744.

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[funflair]

We put our two cars with NFU before even ordering the Palace, once we had a delivery date they were happy to quote and we pay a lot less than bilM for three vehicles, they are a law unto themselves though as we know somebody else with a Morelo insured through the same office as us and his premium is 3 times ours

 

[Tom and Eileen]

Went to insure my new M/H yesterday as I now have a reg.
A bit about me. I have a clean UK driving licence held for more than 25years 5 years+ NCB no pending convictions and no medical stuff.
Am with the NFU and have been for the last six years no problems and my premium is around £300 a year, not too bad so they were the first choice. Gave them a call and to cut a very long story short they would only give me insurance if I insured my house with them as well and this was not going to happen, the guy did say they did not want to insure my van.
And so it began, this is a list of insurance companies that would not insure my M/H for one reason or another. Some of the reasons I got were quite funny, Comfort never want to speak to them again.
Motorhome Protect Safeguard , Admiral, Comfort, AIB, Saga, LV, Caravanwise., Caravan Guaard and a few more I can’t remember. When I talked to Comfort, they came away with a list of things I had to have. They wanted a tracker fitted Cat # 5, security fitted I think it was cat #1, I told them I would have this done as soon as I got the van however I required insurance on my M/H to take it to the installer VanBitz, they said no, they would not insure till I got them fitted and suggested I get the installer to come to the M/H to fit them. AIB pulled my house up on street view said I see you have a long driveway have you got 24Hr security locked gates, I said no, they said sorry we need you to have 24Hr locked gates.
I think the main reason I was knocked back was the M/H value, they do not want to insure you if your M/H is over £100000k.
I now have insurance with A-Plan (Ageas) and has only cost me £1900. Overall A-Plan agents were very helpful. The Caravan Club would also insure me through Ageas but it was well over £2000.

We have just renewed our policy with Lv on a 2023 Carthargo liner for two they insisted on a dash cam which we had our renewal was 300 our previous MH was an Adria Matrix 2021 that was 320 pounds a year the new one has an immobiliser plus tracker plus alarm but they never asked about any of it, it is kept on a driveway with locked gates, we have always been with LV for our MH plus our car , never had to claim but they are always helpful when I have had to call them

 

[Rudski01]

I could only get insurance through Zurich, because I live 1/2 mile up the valley from my property that I’m waiting to build on, it was already eye watering but I’d bought the vehicle, then the cheeky bustards have added another £500 premium this year due to the new customer discount that have been stopped. But the insurance companies were happy letting me park it in a CASSOA gold storage 50 miles away close to a motorway and a city.

Bearing in mind I’m in a low crime area with 1 road in and out of the valley then 1 road either south or north at least 1hr and half from a motorway, tracker system fitted, no steering wheel on it, raised on hydraulic legs and cctv, behind locked gates but computer says no

Still paid more than the OP

 

[PDrill]

All this UK insurance stuff sounds veeery strange. Might someone want to give a short summary about how this works over there? How does a insurance company deny your insurance "for one reason or another"?

Here in Finland if you have a 'clean credit record' you can have any insurance from any company for any car, and it doesn't matter if you got your license today or 50 years ago. Each of the company have their own base price and you will get a discount according to your accident history, but the price for different people will never be waaaaay different. A long time accident free driver may have a full specced insurance for 500e/year when someone with accidents in the near past (or a new driver who doesn't have any history) pays 1200e/year for the same, but no one will ever pay thousands of euros per year for this same level in any company. The previous prices are purely fictional.

If you have messed up your credit record then you usually can have only the minimal insurance (and again, from any company) which covers the damage of the 'opponent' if you f up, and it also covers all the people in the accident. The pricing goes exactly the same way as for everyone else, but you will have to pay the insurance for a year in advance.

 

[Van Weasel]

Sorry you’ve had such a rubbish time trying to get insured. I can only speak from personal experience but I used a company called Grove and Dean who came up with a reasonable price and sent me a tracker to fit myself which was an easy 2 minute job. Hope you don’t own a Range Rover as well from what I’ve heard the insurance companies don’t like them much either!

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