Campervan conversion insurance

muzzyingondoland

We have a Mercerdes minibus that we converted to a campervan in the UK, it has never been reclassified as a campervan. We have moved to Ireland and want to import the vehicle. Do we have to officially reclassify the minibus as a camper here in Ireland? Is it cheaper to ensure a minibus or camper?

Alkers

How long have you owned it and how long are you living in Ireland.

You can claim vrt relief if you are moving residency from UK to Ireland. You will need to check the revenue.ie website for this.

If you've missed the opportunity to do this, it is likely not economical for you to register it here

Shoog

Its a difficult question to answer really.

Only people who have a legitimate registered business interest are allowed to own commercial vehicles in Ireland. That can be any business which is registered with the revenue. A lot of people get around this by using farm herd numbers but getting a herd number is no small matter. Then I also know of a few people who are using the foresters loophole as a business. So no business means no insurance on a commercial vehicle.

Its theoretically possible to run a minibus under a private insurance policy, but finding an insurance company that will accept you in the incredibly limited insurance market will be the challenge. Basically there is no legal reason why you cannot get private insurance on a commercial vehicle but I know of no company which actually offers this. Maybe a specialist broker could help here. However if your vehicle is more than 10 years old you will be faced with punitive rates of road tax for its big engine and similarly punitive rates of insurance due to its age.

Finally, if you do want to get it re-registered as a camper so that you can avail of camper insurance then you will need to cross two hurdles. The first is that you will need a Suitably Qualified Person to certify to the revenue that it meets the minimum legal requirement of what a camper actually is. This is a relatively simple process and the requirements are simple enough - you need a bed, a table and somewhere to cook and thats about it. You pay your SQP and he takes some photos and submits the paperwork to the revenue, the revenue tell you how much VRT duty you need to pay based upon what they consider to be the market value of your camper. Pay this and you have a camper.

However what the revenue considers a camper and what the insurance industry consider as campers are two completely different things. It basically comes down to the fact that those insurance companies who offer camper policies only want to deal with commercial campers - hold that in your head and the rest will make sense. Those who have DIY conversions will have to prove to the insurance company that their work is both safe and meets their minimum standards. To this end they will potentially ask you for the following things;

-the paperwork from the SQP and the Revenue

-a certificate from a qualified electrician to say that you electrics are safe

-a certificate from a qualified gas fitter to say that you gas install (should you have one) is safe and meets the industry standards for gas in a vehicle

-most will want there to be front cab to rear living space access - so no bench seats and no bulkheads

-at least 1.8m roof height in the living space

-any number of other arbitrary criteria they invent to dissuade you from applying to them

There are various different club based insurance offerings with more relaxed criteria but you will have to become a member of those clubs and that in of itself can be problematic since you are dealing with individuals who can be arbitrary in their own way and have no reason at all to justify their behaviour or decisions.

The reason why all this is so difficult is because commercial vehicles get a steep discount from the revenue over private vehicle owners so there is a strong incentive for chancers to run their private vehicle as a commerical, and camper owners get an even stronger discount so there is an even more powerful incentive for every chancer in the country to attempt to get camper insurance on their old banger of a van.

Hope that clarifies some of the issues you will face.

stephen1968

I brought a citroen relay to convert to a campervan...first thing i did was get a letter from my employer (haulage company) to say being used as commercial for the 333 euro tax band....just a thought if you know anyone that has a company....then i got my insurance as private with insuremyvan.ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120344825#Comment_120344825

Absolute nonsense. You can tax a commercial vehicle privately.

You can also insure a commercial vehicle privately. AXA for one do it, and you can get a quote online for it. No need for any specialist brokers.

dzer2

Ah lads,

Converted a Renault Master this Yr. Bought the van, put in a side window, a bed (Ikea), small kitchen with electric hob, bench Seat with table, inverter with batteries and smart charger Wired it myself got a sqi to sign off 200 euro. Sent in forms and photos to revenue they sent back a letter looking for 1150 euro for vat. Job done. Sent same documents to both tax office and insurance company no problems.

dzer2

Sorry that should read vrt in the last post

Shoog

Good to know.

Looking at a Renault Master myself, some early MK3 from around 2000 before they introduced the more modern engines.

Your photo isn't loading for me which is a shame.

dzer2

Sorry Shoog,

Will try tomorrow

harderthanf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120957136#Comment_120957136

Which insurance company? I've called a few and none will insure it until the log book has changed. Also, was it insured driving to the SQI?

thanks

dzer2

Avuva on the disc, the Sqi came to the house but would have being covered under our fleet insurance anyway

sm171

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120957136#Comment_120957136

Thanks for that. I have a question: Did you need an electrics sign off from an electrician? Did the Revenue look for receipts for conversion? Its says on the website it does but I have an already converted van and no receipts. Thanks in advance.

dzer2

No one looked fir an electrical cert. Once the sqi signed it off saying that I was responsible for the electrics and gas. Yeah revenue looked fir receipts alright we sent in a few for electrical parts hob and sink and the insulation and plywood. Keep the photos for taxing the van some councils require them