Insurance – it pays to shop around

Campervan conversion insurance – oh what fun. I heard that it can be a challenge and it pays to shop around. And why CAMPERVAN insurance ? Well if you don’t make it clear that it’s a conversion and you have a claim then your £400 Fridge, £600 bed, and all those other lovely toys might not only be not covered but also may totally invalidate your claim as an unapproved modification.

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Before ordering our new van for conversion we called several insurers but eventually settled on Adrian Flux – they also insure tanks and armoured cars if that your game. Why ? Well they not only were a good price at £314 but accept that it’s a van conversion project from day one and don’t have any limits on how long it will take. Whereas, Camping And Caravan Club insurance give you 120 days to get the van converted from the day you take out the policy.

Converted, to the C&C Club, means Windows, Bed, Seating other than cab, Cooking facility, Onboard water, Fire extinguisher and Fixed table and some Storage. No question of quality but all these boxes need to be ticked inside 120 days.

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Anyway our van is due in a couple of days so we call Adrian Flux only to be told the price has gone up to £575 ! That’s £261 increase in 5 weeks ! So the ring round starts again – now this time C&C Club say yes 120 days but if you have problems or unavoidable delays just let us know and we will extend. The key thing is to send in regular photos to show progress is being made and the price of £340. Quite acceptable and a couple of days later the policy arrives …. Do you read your policy documents ? My wife does bless her thankfully….. Thatcham approved alarm – a requirement ?! There was no mention of that when we took out the policy so back on the phone …. “It has a factory fitted alarm ?? Oh that’s Ok then – I’ll make a note on the policy, no extra charge…” …. Then there is the No Business Use – but sometimes we may need to drive to work in it and that is Business Use, not domestic and leisure – “Oh that’s Ok I’ll add it to the policy – no extra charge ….” Amazing the stuff that excluded and all you have to do is ask.

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To close I have to tell the story of my wife requesting Insurance for Business Use for an earlier campervan….. The bewildered operator on the phone hesitantly asked …. “Er …. and er …. exactly what kind of business do you er, conduct in a campervan madam?”