Camper van insurance

Aquaholics · 04-07-2013 10:41am #1

Hi all,
Just bought a camper conversion VW T5 and trying to get insurance on it. Camper on log book with all certs. Been told by Dolmen and Stuart Insurances that I need a minimum internal head height of 1.8m or they won't insure it. Does any one know any way around this without having to physically raise the ceiling height. Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks

paddyp · 04-07-2013 8:25pm

Aquaholics wrote: »

Hi all,
Just bought a camper conversion VW T5 and trying to get insurance on it. Camper on log book with all certs. Been told by Dolmen and Stuart Insurances that I need a minimum internal head height of 1.8m or they won't insure it. Does any one know any way around this without having to physically raise the ceiling height. Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks

They've insured other sub 1.8m vans the 1.8m thing is gone in legislation since 1/1/2011 so I'm sure they would have to quote you.

paddyp · 04-07-2013 8:26pm

Aquaholics wrote: »

Hi all,
Just bought a camper conversion VW T5 and trying to get insurance on it. Camper on log book with all certs. Been told by Dolmen and Stuart Insurances that I need a minimum internal head height of 1.8m or they won't insure it. Does any one know any way around this without having to physically raise the ceiling height. Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks

They've insured other 1.8m vans the 1.8m thing is gone in legislation since 1/1/2011 so I'm sure they would have to quote you. Who were the previous owners insured with?

04-07-2013 9:31pm

Insurance policy and government requirements are not the same thing. Why else would you need a DOE and an engineers report. The 1.8m is still listed in Dolmen's terms and conditions.

paddyp · 05-07-2013 2:03am

Sir Liamalot wrote: »

Insurance policy and government requirements are not the same thing. Why else would you need a DOE and an engineers report. The 1.8m is still listed in Dolmen's terms and conditions.

The insurance companies are required by legislation to quote though to prevent them from picking and choosing their customers.

The only grounds on which an insurer can refuse cover is where to provide insurance would be 'contrary to the public interest'.

http://www.insuranceireland.eu/consumer-information/general-non-life-insurance/motor

They could still say its not part of the 'group scheme' and quote you 2500 euro. But you can appeal that too.

Before going down that route I'd contact brokers:
http://www.wexfordinsurance.com/personal-insurance/camper-van-insurance
http://www.kiddinsurances.ie/
http://lorcaneganinsurance.com/camper-van-insurance/
http://www.brittoninsurance.ie/
http://travelers.ie/iwcm/Ireland/Literature/Documents/Campervan_108.pdf

then you could try the clubs:
http://www.iccc.ie/benefits.htm
http://www.imcc.ie/
http://www.motorcaravanclub.com/

Keep a record of everyone you talk to dates and times in case you do need to contact the iff.

You could also find out who is insuring this guy:
http://www.detour.ie/

He had low roof campers.

wolfdub · 19-07-2013 10:27am

How did you get on with this?

I'm having the same issue with a converted T25.
I can't get insurance as it's less then 1.8M.

blueskys · 30-07-2013 10:13am

Same predicament here, any advice appreciated

wolfdub · 30-07-2013 10:57am

Try
http://www.motorcaravanclub.com/

There underwritten by Allianz and don't have a height restriction on the campers.

Good luck

blueskys · 30-07-2013 3:49pm

Thanks Wolfdub
That's a great help, was beginning to give up hope there!

wolfdub · 30-07-2013 3:52pm

No Problem.
Happy camping.

alanclarke1975 · 08-08-2013 8:15am

Spoke to Wexford Insurances over email yesterday. They confirmed that they use the scheme setup by Stuarts that is insured by Aviva.

They dont insure under 1.8 fullstop. They feel that the campervan has to be temporary living accommodation and being able to stand has to be one of them.

They will insure pop-tops.

With so many tin tops on the roads - who are people getting insured with?

Macy0161 · 08-08-2013 8:28am

alanclarke1975 wrote: »

With so many tin tops on the roads - who are people getting insured with?

Could be a few reasons. Could be with a scheme that doesn't have the restriction, as linked to above. Could be with the insurer from before they introduced it for new business. Also they may not be insured as a camper at all!

alanclarke1975 · 08-08-2013 8:33am

This is what i am thinking.

I assume insuring it as a MPV or a People carrier (as insuring as a van will not cover the seats in the back / using for pleasure element)

So has anyone successfully insured a camper conversion, classified it as a campervan (so the log book reflects same) and successfully obtained MPV / Car insurance?

Been quoted 5k for a installing a pop -top so trying to avoid the outlay for obvious reasons

wolfdub · 08-08-2013 9:50am

Hi, I was a new insurer on a thin top T25 and due to the height restriction now in place I was knocked back by most insurances brokers.

I found two that could help me ->
www.motorcaravanclub.com
http://www.odonovaninsurances.com

So I got it sorted and I'm now a happy camper!

alanclarke1975 · 08-08-2013 9:55am

Thanks wolfdub for the definitive answer

So next question is - I presume the van will need to be insured as a van prior to conversion and then insured as a campervan after.

Its all a bit of a headache - tell me its worth it

wolfdub · 08-08-2013 6:26pm

You'll have to get it insured as a van first until you conversion is done.

Don't forget you'll also have to get it taxed as a campervan eventually. There's a few hoops to jump through with that too!

But hell yeah it's well worth it!

paddyp · 08-08-2013 8:44pm

wolfdub wrote: »

Hi, I was a new insurer on a thin top T25 and due to the height restriction now in place I was knocked back by most insurances brokers.

I found two that could help me ->
www.motorcaravanclub.com
http://www.odonovaninsurances.com

So I got it sorted and I'm now a happy camper!

Is it axa is underwriting it? Who did you got for in the end?

reelkidmusic · 08-08-2013 8:57pm

alanclarke1975 wrote: »

Its all a bit of a headache - tell me its worth it

Absolutely 100% worth it. I'm just at the end of all the work, headaches and doubts. Just after clearing it as a camper and it's the best feeling to stand back and look at it and have it ready to take out on the road.

wolfdub · 09-08-2013 9:39am

paddyp wrote: »

Is it axa is underwriting it? Who did you got for in the end?

Underwritten by Allianz.
Went through motorcaravanclub.

So it looks like Axa and Aviva have the height restriction and unfortunetly most of the irish brokers use them.
To be honest they'll be missing out on business. 2 out of my 3 mates have tin tops.

paddyp · 09-08-2013 1:16pm

wolfdub wrote: »

Underwritten by Allianz.
Went through motorcaravanclub.

So it looks like Axa and Aviva have the height restriction and unfortunetly most of the irish brokers use them.
To be honest they'll be missing out on business. 2 out of my 3 mates have tin tops.

I'm about to do a low roof conversion too so thats great news, sick of height barriers, even got kicked out of a designated camper spot in lahinch last weekend as the gardaí told the council to close the outer barrier.

MOB993 · 11-09-2013 11:42pm

So planning a Defender pop top conversion and looking to see if I can get insured before I do anything..
What are the companies that will insure a vehicle without 1.8m clearence or 1.8 with pop-top??

Motorcaravanclub and www.odonovaninsurances.com ???

africates · 26-11-2014 7:08pm

Hi, Anybody had any success insuring Mitsubishi Delica L400 converted to campervan? It seems that motorcaravanclub refuses to insure it cause it is Dleica... but they do insure Bongo or low roof VW?!

Can I have as campervan in lodgebook and insured as people carrier? It will be converted from 6 seater...

CJhaughey · 27-11-2014 11:28am

africates wrote: »

Hi, Anybody had any success insuring Mitsubishi Delica L400 converted to campervan? It seems that motorcaravanclub refuses to insure it cause it is Dleica... but they do insure Bongo or low roof VW?!

Can I have as campervan in lodgebook and insured as people carrier? It will be converted from 6 seater...

Do it properly or don't do it at all.
Insurance needs to be correct or there could be serious repercussions down the line if anything happens.

africates · 27-11-2014 2:29pm

This is actually what I am trying to do - do it properly!

That's why I am asking question, did somebody have any success with it - without hiding anything, etc.

If nobody wants to insure campervan (this is what logbook wil say) as actual campervan, who is wrong then?

If there will be company who will insure it as car with campervan in logbook, knowing all mods etc., what is wrong with this?

Maybe I am missing something here?

peace

CJhaughey · 27-11-2014 5:06pm

africates wrote: »

This is actually what I am trying to do - do it properly!

That's why I am asking question, did somebody have any success with it - without hiding anything, etc.

If nobody wants to insure campervan (this is what logbook wil say) as actual campervan, who is wrong then?

If there will be company who will insure it as car with campervan in logbook, knowing all mods etc., what is wrong with this?

Maybe I am missing something here?

peace

If it is a Camper as by the revenue definition of a Camper( I have no link but there are plenty of examples of it on here if you search) Then one of the companies offering camper insurance should cover it.
If not then you need to find an insurance company that will cover you outside the group schemes.
It may be a lot of ringing but someone will have your business.

africates · 27-11-2014 7:52pm

we already started ringing.... to know before we buy... no success yet

CJhaughey · 27-11-2014 11:22pm

africates wrote: »

we already started ringing.... to know before we buy... no success yet

Walk away then. If its not insurable then it could just be trouble.
Plenty of sham conversions out there, Commercials and people carriers converted to campers but not changed on the logbook.
If its a commercial then there will be VRT payable, Private still needs to be signed off by a SQI. and Logbook changed by Shannon.

piuswal · 30-11-2014 10:52pm

Macy0161 wrote: »

Could be a few reasons. Could be with a scheme that doesn't have the restriction, as linked to above. Could be with the insurer from before they introduced it for new business. Also they may not be insured as a camper at all!

Did you try Dolmen

Bawnmore · 24-04-2015 8:16pm

Posting here rather than starting a new thread - did anyone here manage to get anywhere with an MPV converted campervan. Been looking at and planning a build for awhile, but would be pointless without having someone to insure.

Camper van insurance

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