Campervan Insurance / First Campervan Questions

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EwanM 24 Jul 2018

Any recommendations on campervan insurance?

Also what did you wish you knew before buying your first campervan?

Pitfalls and benefits of owning a VW Transporter or similar?
 

 snoop6060 24 Jul 2018
In reply to EwanM:

Herts were really good with me. Half the price of my car and my van is worth 10x as much. Extra £60 for a guaranteed payout agreed in advance in the event of a total loss. 

> Pitfalls and benefits of owning a VW Transporter or similar?

People either wave at you when you drive past or think you are a tw*t.

Bellie 24 Jul 2018
In reply to EwanM:

If you pick up a copy of a campervan/motorhome monthly magazine, you will find plenty of insurers and brokers advertising. I had no idea about which insurer to look for before my first conversion, so.its a good refererence for web addresses. Mine needed a special policy as a day van... Not full conversion.  Good luck with the hunt.  Ill see if i can find one and stick up some web addresses for you later.

 

 

J1234 24 Jul 2018
In reply to EwanM:

I have been told. 
Find the layout that suits you.
Go to motorhome show at NEC

Its highly likely I will buy the wrong one first time.

My mate had a brand new California and had a lot of niggling issues with it. This could mean that VWs have a lot of niggling issues OR that the people who advise its better to buy a van secondhand as the first owner will have sorted out the niggling issues, are correct.

I have not got to insurance yet, but all sources advise its not that bad.

PS make sure that what you buy will fit on your drive.

 snoop6060 24 Jul 2018
In reply to EwanM:

Oh also if you are gonna spend big monies for a already converted van, especially a VW, budget another 400-600quid to secure it properly. They are an absolute magnet for scum bags. They are secure enough where they most likely will need the key. So they will come and get it. Mine is getting a ghost immobiliser fitted soon. It's independent of the key and there is no way to know it's installed (well until the van doesn't start with the key). 

If I bought a new van is be tempted to paint it or wrap it so it looked old and rusty!  Or just buy a really old van that nobody wants to nick

Post edited at 09:27
 LG-Mark 24 Jul 2018
In reply to J1234:

Spot on advice there... 

Regarding VW Californias in particular, most people who own these look down on everyone else as if they are on benefits...  However, i'm not remotely convinced by the conversion, stylish yes, functional, not-so-much. I think they have severe limitations and scope more functional modification is very limited.  

To the OP - Compare conversions and layouts carefully. Decide what is most important to YOU, don't buy style, buy functionality. 

I really enjoyed my T5, but too small for my family. there just isn't enough storage space for gear (unless you don't actually do anything other than walking). Using a drive-away awning is a no-no for me personally as if you have to erect something to store gear, you've got too much. Might work on a campsite, but not a layby on the A5.

 

Andrew Kin 24 Jul 2018
In reply to EwanM:

The biggest benefit of getting a VW version is that if it isn't right for you, its resale value will remain high.  VW tax works both ways

 

I built a Merc campervan over the winter and already have some ideas of what I want to change.  Consider that anything you buy will be a compromise in some way and you wont be to dissapointed

Removed User 24 Jul 2018
In reply to EwanM:

Did you even have an inkling that considering other people’s petty disapprovals would be such a big part of owning a van 

I bought my first one recently, a professionally converted VW T5. It’s an 09 plate with a fair if not spaceship mileage and a good history (FSH and mostly been driven on long continental runs). I figured that if a campervan doesn’t suit me I can sell it in a year for little loss, and if it does I can get a newer van and have it converted to my spec after being informed by owning this one on what I want and don’t want in a van.

No pitfalls as yet, I really wanted a Transit Custom but this one appeared and I’m very happy so far. Getting 42-43mpg on a run and once out of town it’s quite civilised and comfortable. Mine has a high top, I’d possibly prefer a pop top not least for the difference in autoroute toll charges. Insurance wise I went with Adrian S Flux who specialise in ‘alternative’ vehicles. 

One thing for sure is that while it’s perfectly manageable on tight mountain roads and easy to park, I wouldn’t want anything bigger.

 I’ll take the above security advice very seriously.

Let us know what you decide on and good luck if you go for it. I’m loving it so far

 

1
 Siward 24 Jul 2018
In reply to LG-Mark:

If self converting, my 2p worth say get a lwb high roof, so you can stand up inside, store bikes and kit and stuff inside, have room to stand cooking whilst the bed is made up etc. Just more liveable. A VW kinda thing is really just a large estate car as opposed to a van.


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