Insurance and reclassification.

[Samebutdifferent]

I've got a couple of insurance quotes to see what I might be letting myself in for.

Comfort would only insure the MP if I changed the classification to Panel Van with windows on the V5C. I'm familiar with reclassifying as I previously owned a Panel van conversion reclassified to the quaintly named 'Caravanette' so as to get adequate insurance. I presume it's M1 MPV as registered by MB

I know that DVLA have stricter rules now and it's not possible to reclassify the MP as a Motor Caravan, (BTW, I have no quibble with that as the MP doesn't look at all like a Motor Caravan to Joe public, which is the crux of the matter, but MB really should have registered it as such) but comfort say they will change to panel van with windows.

So before I had to change from panel van to Caravanette to get adequate insurance, now it's MPV to panel van

Anyone like to share their experience of insuring there MP?

The Comfort quote was £438 and. My present insurer quoted £510 (both a higher than expected) with no changes to V5C but he did say It was unusual as specialist motor home insurers don't usually insure vehicles not registered as such.

Cheers for now.

 

[Blackrat]

Hi,
Our previous E class was insured with LV. They had no issues when we got the MP, a straight forward change of vehicle with only a small increase in premium.
Come renewal time we shopped around as usual and changed to Aviva. Again no problems and it’s shown on the policy as a Marco Polo at the correct market value.

 

[Grand Tourismo]

I was with LV with another vehicle so added it on as a multicar policy, cost my about £62 for 4 months...pro rated that would be about £240 per year

For info my V5 lists the MP as body type"MPV" - Taxation class "Diesel Car" - vehicle category "M1"

 

[Samebutdifferent]

Just spoken to my insurer again and they now tell me I need to apply to reclassify with the DVLA, then when it gets refused send them the letter from DVLA with the 6 photos that were sent to the DVLA and they will insure. What a palaver!!

I did some online searches and indeed insurance can be had for £210 upwards, LV being the cheapest.

These seem to be regular car insurance. I'm not sure what cover there is for damage to the camping component of the MP in the event of accident, or what level of cover there is for personal effects and camping equipment, on my current policy it's £3500

Problem is MB say it's a MPV when it's actually a camper, so I suppose it's a choice of insure as a MPV and hope for the best in the event of a claim, or jump through hoops and insure as a motor home and be safe in the knowledge your fully covered.

 

[Steve B]

Comfort insure mine, and I went through the pictures bit but when I phoned back they said no need, depends who you get on the phone. We have also tested the policy and made a claim for a low speed reversing impact at the back (don't ask), which was handled really well, no issues. The big test would be if the van was written off or stolen, we have got it on the policy that it is a camper van we are insuring, vehicle plus roof/innards. My main issue with the policy for me is you cannot use it for work, even to and from your normal place as per most policies, so I use my other vehicle for that.

 

[Samebutdifferent]

Comfort insure mine, and I went through the pictures bit but when I phoned back they said no need, depends who you get on the phone. We have also tested the policy and made a claim for a low speed reversing impact at the back (don't ask), which was handled really well, no issues. The big test would be if the van was written off or stolen, we have got it on the policy that it is a camper van we are insuring, vehicle plus roof/innards. My main issue with the policy for me is you cannot use it for work, even to and from your normal place as per most policies, so I use my other vehicle for that.

I now see there is info in a previous post regarding this that you contributed to @Steve B glad their not just picking on me

My concern with the very competitive quotes from non motorhome specialist is what exactly do they cover camping wise. Just think of all the gear packed in the car when you go away for a couple of weeks, Would they cover the loss of all your clothing, pots and pans, BBQ, sleeping gear, tent or awning etc if the vehicle were stolen? As you said Comfort insure you as camper, I'm not sure it's the same with lists of insurers that come up in Go Compare type searches.

 

[CapnB]

I work in motor insurance and I’d strongly advise getting cover with a specialist motor home insurer with a proper underwriter. Like Caravanguard for example underwritten by RSA. Mass market price comparison websites don’t really cater for specialist vehicles and if the worst happens and your vehicle is written off or stolen you don’t want the risk of losing out on a huge value for the sake of saving £200 or similar on premium with no comeback.

 

[Samebutdifferent]

I work in motor insurance and I’d strongly advise getting cover with a specialist motor home insurer with a proper underwriter. Like Caravanguard for example underwritten by RSA. Mass market price comparison websites don’t really cater for specialist vehicles and if the worst happens and your vehicle is written off or stolen you don’t want the risk of losing out on a huge value for the sake of saving £200 or similar on premium with no comeback.

I'm thinking the same, and lets face it many would say if you can afford to spend 50k+ on a vehicle why quibble over a couple of hundred quid.

I just wish they would be more accommodating to vehicles that aren't registered as motorhomes but actually that is what they were built and used for. As @Steve B mentioned I'll keep phoning and hope to speak to the 'right' person.

 

[Epigram]

I am informed by several conversion companies that DVLA will no longer classify vehicles with pop up roofs as motorhomes on V5C even though they meet all the other criteria. I assume therefore new MPs (and Californias etc) are in DVLAs eyes are either MPVs or vans with windows.

Not sure how this fits with insurers regarding camping contents etc. but it is definitely worth probing questions and looking at the small print.
Being mischievous, I wonder what Mercedes “free” seven day new car insurance covers ?

 

[Samebutdifferent]

I've spoken to many insurers and brokers today and it just confirms what I was thinking and what @CapnB said above. If your insurance is with a non specialist company and as an MPV not a campervan, you run the risk of not having appropriate cover.

I've had a quote of £350 from AIB for insurance as a campervan without changing the class or any other malarky. It includes £5000 possessions in the vehicle. That includes all camping gear and basically anything that falls out if you turned it over and gave a good shake