Serious newbie here! In need of advice!

roadrunner16

I'm looking for advice on buying a van/car !

a bit of back ground,

I'm 24 and am looking to buy a van ( maybe a seven seater car ) and bum around Europe for a year or so, to pursue a hobby/sport, I would be living in the van and using it to travel/transport small amounts of equipment.

The problem is , I know feck all about vans and cars in general, the cost/hassle of insuring a van over a car with no, no claims bonus seems to be pretty great, doing research seems to lead me in circles as to how old a car/van to buy to reduce the cost of insuring and purchasing it. Would there be any extra complications with living in the vehicle I want to insure ? I'd be insuring the vehicle here but using it in europe,would that need to be declared and cost me a fortune to do ? would it be easier to insure using a European insurer ?

All I am really looking for is a reliable/ spacious enough vehicle that wont cost a fortune to buy/insure, any and all suggestions welcome.


many thanks !

P

Nuw

It might be easier to go with an estate car, something like a big volvo. Won't be as good to live in but should be spacious enough for a mattress and will probably be easier on tax/insurance etc...

Just a thought though, I've no first hand experience with this. As to the insurance, maybe a broker would be able to help you out with this.

The AA might have some experience with this, maybe worth a phone call as well.

punisher5112

Ford galaxy or seat Alhambra or similar diesel of course if travelling and loads of room also fully tint out rear windows and your sorted

Nuw

punisher5112 wrote: »

Ford galaxy or seat Alhambra or similar diesel of course if travelling and loads of room also fully tint out rear windows and your sorted

A people carrier actually makes a lot more sense than an estate... I really don't have the "MPV reflex".

Del2005

roadrunner16 wrote: »

I'm looking for advice on buying a van/car !

a bit of back ground,

I'm 24 and am looking to buy a van ( maybe a seven seater car ) and bum around Europe for a year or so, to pursue a hobby/sport, I would be living in the van and using it to travel/transport small amounts of equipment.

The problem is , I know feck all about vans and cars in general, the cost/hassle of insuring a van over a car with no, no claims bonus seems to be pretty great, doing research seems to lead me in circles as to how old a car/van to buy to reduce the cost of insuring and purchasing it. Would there be any extra complications with living in the vehicle I want to insure ? I'd be insuring the vehicle here but using it in europe,would that need to be declared and cost me a fortune to do ? would it be easier to insure using a European insurer ?

All I am really looking for is a reliable/ spacious enough vehicle that wont cost a fortune to buy/insure, any and all suggestions welcome.


many thanks !

P

What is the hobby / sport you plan on doing? No point in buying an estate if the equipment is big. Are you planning on sleeping with the equipment required in the vehicle also? One other thing to note is that sleeping in a vehicle during the summer on continental Europe will not be comfortable.


Insurance wise it appears that you've never had insurance before so no matter what you buy it'll be around €2k if you are lucky. You will only have 3rd party coverage for most of the year in Europe so no point in buying something expensive.

eeguy

I'd look to something with a high roof like a Ford transit. You could kit out the inside with basic home comforts.
Fold out bed, sink, cabinets and a gas stove.

Rack on the roof for more storage.

I couldn't imagine sleeping in an estate and having to drag myself out of a cramped car every morning.

Something like this beaut: https://www.donedeal.ie/commercials-for-sale/2008-transit-lwb-high-roof/13503082?campaign=3

Mervyn Skidmore

Renault kangoo? have seen them kitted out as mini campers.

roadrunner16

punisher5112 wrote: »

Ford galaxy or seat Alhambra or similar diesel of course if travelling and loads of room also fully tint out rear windows and your sorted

good point, about the tinted windows, never even though of that :pac::pac:

Yeah I will probably be doing a large amount of driving so a diesel will be the way to go I reckon.

roadrunner16

Del2005 wrote: »

What is the hobby / sport you plan on doing? No point in buying an estate if the equipment is big. Are you planning on sleeping with the equipment required in the vehicle also? One other thing to note is that sleeping in a vehicle during the summer on continental Europe will not be comfortable.


Insurance wise it appears that you've never had insurance before so no matter what you buy it'll be around €2k if you are lucky. You will only have 3rd party coverage for most of the year in Europe so no point in buying something expensive.

rock climbing, the equipment wont take up a huge amount of space, not like I've a surfboard or anything like that

yup bingo, It'll be the first time I'll be the sole person insured on a vehicle, yeah I figured I'd be paying a fortune for insurance :rolleyes:

Yeah I'll also be bringing a tent or two for camping on the warmer nights but am really trying to avoid the cost of a large van, The suggestion of the Renault Kangoo is an interesting one.

roadrunner16

Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »

Renault kangoo? have seen them kitted out as mini campers.

never thought of a smallish van like that, its the perfect size, but the question of insurance is the big one, I'll do some calling around tomorrow, thanks for the suggestion.

roadrunner16

Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »

Renault kangoo? have seen them kitted out as mini campers.

ok, even more stupid question incoming, that's still a Category B Vehicle ? I'm pretty sure it is, just wanted to double check, it's under 3500kg thats the only condition I can find !

Del2005

roadrunner16 wrote: »

ok, even more stupid question incoming, that's still a Category B Vehicle ? I'm pretty sure it is, just wanted to double check, it's under 3500kg thats the only condition I can find !

Yes they are B licence vehicles. You won't find them cheap though, no motor homes are, and you'll only have 3rd party cover.

I dont know anything about it but would it be possible to buy a van in france and insure it there?
Driving a RHD for a year is going to wreck your head.

Nuw

BrownFinger wrote: »

I dont know anything about it but would it be possible to buy a van in france and insure it there?
Driving a RHD for a year is going to wreck your head.

I'm pretty sure you'd need an address there to do this. Worth a try though.

roadrunner16

Del2005 wrote: »

Yes they are B licence vehicles. You won't find them cheap though, no motor homes are, and you'll only have 3rd party cover.

thanks, just wanted to double check.

roadrunner16

BrownFinger wrote: »

I dont know anything about it but would it be possible to buy a van in france and insure it there?
Driving a RHD for a year is going to wreck your head.

jaysus I never even thought of that ! :eek::eek: good point !

Nuw

One link probably worth checking out, couple going on road trip, they started in UK though, but gives a good feedback on what they went through:

http://zerototravel.com/budget-travel/how-to-road-trip-around-europe/