Van conversion - insurance implications?

[StevenH]

I am looking at a van conversion from CCK campers. They do their own pop top, so obviously not TUV approved. I’m happy with the design and materials, and I understand it won’t cause MoT issues.

Will I have any problems with insurance? (Currently with brentacre as modified van)

Thanks.

 

[Bav]

It will always depend on the specific insurer, but a non-TUV-approved pop-top is unlikely to cause any issues - after all, most makes of pop-top aren't TUV-approved.

If you have any lingering doubts or concerns, call Brentacre and ask them directly.

 

[DXX]

I am looking at a van conversion from CCK campers. They do their own pop top, so obviously not TUV approved. I’m happy with the design and materials, and I understand it won’t cause MoT issues.

Will I have any problems with insurance? (Currently with brentacre as modified van)

Thanks.

Only Brentacre will know if it’s a problem.
I was insured with Brentacre for a couple of years, one of the good features is that they require a list of all modifications.

 

[CodyWagon]

Hi all, we're new here and would appreciate any advice about insurance for our panel van to campervan conversion in the NE.

Seems a problem if we're parking on street in a NE postcode - first quote from A Plan is massive!!! and More Than wouldn't touch us because of value of van (over £40K) and the on street parking even if it's outside the house.

Picked up some other possible insurers on other forum threads and trying Adrian Flux, Brentacres and NFU. Likely it'll be the same issue?!

Any thoughts?
Cheers

 

[CJW]

NFU Won't insure if it's been converted. My wife's sister in law works for NFU insurance and looked into it for me.

 

[CodyWagon]

NFU Won't insure if it's been converted. My wife's sister in law works for NFU insurance and looked into it for me.

thanks for that, good to know

 

[DXX]

NFU Won't insure if it's been converted. My wife's sister in law works for NFU insurance and looked into it for me.

I’m on my second year with NFU with a campervan, very competitive prices.
What they do want is ‘motor caravan’ on the V5 and they need to approve the conversion (approved converter I assume).

 

[CJW]

I’m on my second year with NFU with a campervan, very competitive prices.
What they do want is ‘motor caravan’ on the V5 and they need to approve the conversion (approved converter I assume).

Maybe different parts of the country use different underwriters then? OP should enquire with NFU then since yours is insured with them.

 

[Bav]

Whilst the conversion is ongoing, I'd stick to the campervan specialists. They understand the nature of piecemeal upgrades, whereas other insurers are likely to require you to inform them of each and every modification you make, when you make them, and then make you pay for a policy adjustment each time.

 

[CodyWagon]

Thanks all for the info. I've just spoken to NFU and you're right, they can only quote on the completed campervan once the change of use is logged with DVLA.

Thankfully we've got sorted with more reasonably priced insurance from Brentacre (insurer is Markerstudy) as a converted van although they don't cover business or commuting. And postcode wasn't raised as an issue. Phew!!! It also covers us throughout the conversion and they only need the spec sheet once it's all done. Seems like they know what their customers need.

Cheers to everyone on the Forum for sharing their info & experiences, it's really helped us out.

 

[Bav]

Thanks all for the info. I've just spoken to NFU and you're right, they can only quote on the completed campervan once the change of use is logged with DVLA.

Thankfully we've got sorted with more reasonably priced insurance from Brentacre (insurer is Markerstudy) as a converted van although they don't cover business or commuting. And postcode wasn't raised as an issue. Phew!!! It also covers us throughout the conversion and they only need the spec sheet once it's all done. Seems like they know what their customers need.

Cheers to everyone on the Forum for sharing their info & experiences, it's really helped us out.

Next question is: will your van be worth significantly more than market value once the conversion has been completed? If so, your next policy should be an Agreed Value policy (as opposed to a standard Market Value policy), otherwise you could find yourself out of pocket in the event of a write-off.

 

[DXX]

Maybe different parts of the country use different underwriters then? OP should enquire with NFU then since yours is insured with them.

NFU don’t use brokers as far as I’m aware, you deal direct with the insurer which is NFU.
It’s the ‘motor caravan’ bit which counts as far as I’m aware, obviously if the post code is high risk they may refuse but that’s the same with any insurer

 

[CJW]

I'm just repeating what I was told by close family who's a manager for NFU insurance - if it's been converted, we can't touch it. Your experience is different and I don't know why. V5 and approved conversions were not mentioned to me, but maybe that's because she knew I'd converted it myself. OP should approach NFU.

 

[CodyWagon]

Next question is: will your van be worth significantly more than market value once the conversion has been completed? If so, your next policy should be an Agreed Value policy (as opposed to a standard Market Value policy), otherwise you could find yourself out of pocket in the event of a write-off.

good advice ta, will look into this once conversion is done

 

[Salty Spuds]

good advice ta, will look into this once conversion is done

FYI, When the conversion is completed, the DVLA won’t reclassify as a Motor Caravan. It’ll come back as “Van with windows”. So don’t get your hopes up. The more enlightened insurers are aware of the issue & will still cover you. The story maybe very different with the mainstream run of the mill insurance companies.

 

[Ozi]

I'm just repeating what I was told by close family who's a manager for NFU insurance - if it's been converted, we can't touch it. Your experience is different and I don't know why. V5 and approved conversions were not mentioned to me, but maybe that's because she knew I'd converted it myself. OP should approach NFU.

NFU will certainly cover a professional conversion, as that who I’m with this year

 

[CJW]

NFU will certainly cover a professional conversion, as that who I’m with this year

Thank you

 

[jimc91]

Thanks all for the info. I've just spoken to NFU and you're right, they can only quote on the completed campervan once the change of use is logged with DVLA.

Thankfully we've got sorted with more reasonably priced insurance from Brentacre (insurer is Markerstudy) as a converted van although they don't cover business or commuting. And postcode wasn't raised as an issue. Phew!!! It also covers us throughout the conversion and they only need the spec sheet once it's all done. Seems like they know what their customers need.

Cheers to everyone on the Forum for sharing their info & experiences, it's really helped us out.

I’m with Brentacre, every time I add a mod I add it to the modification schedule and email them a scanned copy and they add it to their file, I wouldn’t wait until the conversion is finished to update them if your conversion is spread over a few months just in case something happens in the meantime.

 

[CJW]

Thanks all for the info. I've just spoken to NFU and you're right, they can only quote on the completed campervan once the change of use is logged with DVLA.

Thankfully we've got sorted with more reasonably priced insurance from Brentacre (insurer is Markerstudy) as a converted van although they don't cover business or commuting. And postcode wasn't raised as an issue. Phew!!! It also covers us throughout the conversion and they only need the spec sheet once it's all done. Seems like they know what their customers need.

Cheers to everyone on the Forum for sharing their info & experiences, it's really helped us out.

Glad you got sorted.

 

[CodyWagon]

FYI, When the conversion is completed, the DVLA won’t reclassify as a Motor Caravan. It’ll come back as “Van with windows”. So don’t get your hopes up. The more enlightened insurers are aware of the issue & will still cover you. The story maybe very different with the mainstream run of the mill insurance companies.

Cheers! It's a bit of a minefield so all the info and advice is great