Private insurance on a commercial type vehicle

barura

Okay, here's the deal. I can buy a van, change it to private tax, DOE it every year and all that jazz. But I just rang AXA and I can't get it insured privately.

I'm sure the hows and whys are their own problem, but I want to use this van for PRIVATE use, not commercial! Anyone know of who will insure me privately on a van? I'm trying to keep this as above board as possible.

Tigger

i don't know who does this but i know it used to be slightly more for private than commercial on a car van even though its more for commercial than private on a car

ring a few brokers that's what i'd do

barura

Just been doing that, it's quite funny. This is how the conversation goes:

Me:"Hi, I'd like to insure a van that is taxed privately."
Person on phone:"Okay, what is the make of the car?"
Me:"Er, it's a VW Caddy(just an example), 1.9 diesel."
Person on phone:"That's a commercial vehicle."
Me:"But I'm taxing it privately, the book is changed and everything!"
Person on phone:"Are you using it for business?"
Me:"No, I'm using it to transport some bikes, for private use."
Person on phone:"Ah, but are they your bikes? (Seeing that it could be used commercially) "
Me:"For all intents and purposes, lets say yes."
Person on phone:"Well, I can insure you commercially!" (with hope in voice)
Me:"But I'm a student and I don't have a business and I'm just trying to not get screwed over here by the government since if I have a commercial vehicle, I can't transport my friends to various events."
Person on phone:"Uhhhh. I don't... Uhhhhhh...."
Me:"Nevermind."
Person on phone:"Sorry I can't help."
Me:"It's cool, that seems to be the soundtrack to these conversations. Thanks for your time."

Just rang a brokers and they said they'd call me back. This is absurd! How tricky is it to answer this question? I'm at a loss here.

Tigger

can you get commercial and private insurance so you cand use it for "social and domestic" and comercial

barura

Well, it seems to be a big gray area. I can tax it privately, but not insure it privately! I can tax it commercially, but I can't use it for private use then, even if I have it insured commercially cause the policy doesn't cover that!

PCPhoto

you know who to blame (and who not to vote for next time) .... the government !!

might sound like a stupid question ...but ...are you not able to find a suitable car/saloon type which could accomodate the bicycles for transport.