Insurance for a Newcomer?

[Morganic]

I'm taking delivery of a California SE on Monday.

I've shopped around for insurance and the best I can get is quote for £350 from Caravanguard. This for me and two named drvers both over 25.

However when I went to the Google comparison site I found that LV ( my current insurer) would give me cover for £209 and would just substiute my Golf for the California at a modest price until thr next renewal.
I queried this with LV and they were more than happy to insure me. Seems a bit too good to be true!

Anyone had a similar experience? I would also add that I get a discount for being in the CSMA

 

[david white]

Sounds a very good price, as mentioned before on here you need to check it includes cover for the interior ( kitchen etc.. )

 

[Noeleen]

Hi People!

Wondering if there is anybody out there with a California insured in Rep of Ireland? I am trying to get cover if using a Cali daily, without having a car also. I eventually got a quote via a broker for cover with STEWART INSURANCE GROUP (I never heard of them before). It is €645 comprehensive, which is not bad probably.

Has anybody any further info, please?

Thanks in anticipation!

Noeleen

 

[WelshGas]

I insured my new California with the Caravan Club - more expensive than some BUT includes GAP insurance for 2 years - New for Old - in the case of a write off accident.
Also 270 days abroad full cover and none of this "Can't leave it for 48hrs without phoning Insurance Company ".
They also have a good reputation and use repairers approved by your vehicle manufacturer so that there are no warrant issues.

 

[calireg]

i ended going with comfort insurance ,as we have aviva on our daily driver car and they told us about comfort being that aviva own comfort ... price was good as well.

 

[pjm-84]

No problem with Aviva on my old Volvo but just had Comfort on the line and was told the "36hrs unattended rule and notification"

I said what happens if its in the VW Dealers over the weekend? Hmmm..... that's different.

Looking like the C&CC at the moment but they require a Tracker due to the cost of the vehicle. Which one they cant seem to tell me.

 

[Meoncoast]

Had C&CC year 2 of ownership no mention of tracker, year 3 using Caravan Club, no isssues extras for winter/summer wheels or sidebars, Only vehicle and daily drive. Full NCD maintained, unlike Comfort.

 

[Nigel]

I got a number of quotes form my New California and ended up going with comfort they were very helpfull and covered me for £290 for me and the wife including £3000 for loss of articles with a single item limit £400 but not laptops or jewellery however there is a safe built in to the cali..also 90 european cover. and to and from place of business.

 

[pjm-84]

Caravan club - Hmmm tried today. £460
Comfort - 36hr rule
C&CC - £321 - Tracker required as the vehicle is over 50k.
LV - £460

 

[calikev]

I think a lot of people are confusing the comfort 36 hr rule
It only applies to Europe and not the uk

 

[Nigel]

funny but i was told by comfort that if the vehicle was going to be left somewhere for more than 36 hours i had to inform them... But my vehicle was value over 50k and i got insurance for £290

 

[pjm-84]

I'm not 100% sure and I'm no lawyer!

The continental clause is interesting. Minimum cover is provided with full cover in the territorial limits (Great Britain defined as being in the territorial limits)

In addition to the minimum cover, full cover as
described by your policy applies in all countries as
defined in the Territorial Limits provided:
• your motor caravan is kept in Great Britain,
Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the
Isle of Man
• use of your motor caravan for visits to countries
outside Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the
Channel Islands and the Isle of Man is not of a
permanent nature
• the vehicle remains in your custody or control.
If for any reason your vehicle will not be within
your custody or control for a period in excess
of 36 hours, then you must notify Comfort
Insurance in advance. Please refer to Section
I of this policy for information on security of
stored vehicles.








Storage
Your motor caravan will be considered to be stored or in storage when it is not in use for the purposes of
travel or other day-to-day activity.

Territorial limits
Countries where 365 days cover applies and no Green Card is required:
Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, the Republic of Ireland, Andorra,
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France
(including Monaco), Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy (including San Marino and the
Vatican City), Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland (including Liechtenstein).
All other acceptable countries outside of the EU, a single trip limit of 120 days applies and a Green Card is required.

Change of storage location

12. You must tell us immediately if you are intending to store Your Motor Caravan for a period in excess of
36 hours at an address other than the storage address disclosed to us. This will not apply if you are using
Your Motor Caravan at the time. If you fail to notify us of any such change of storage address your policy
may be voided or any claim may be declined.

 

[pjm-84]

Apologies it's quite difficult to edit when copying and pasting from a PDF.

 

[WelshGas]

I was told that I could not leave it at the airport if I was going on holiday, without informing them. No problem with a Range Rover Vogue. Sorry not the service I want. Caravan Club, no problem and 2 years GAP insurance on a new vehicle. Cost for some is important, for me I want a service that caters for my requirements.

 

[reserves]

How do people deal with not being able to have no claims bonus on two vehicles? Use the no claims on the Cali, or their car?

 

[skinnywhippet]

I have 2 cars plus the Cali with LV and it isn't an issue for them.


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[reserves]

I have 2 cars plus the Cali with LV and it isn't an issue for them.


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I've been told it's not possible to have No Claims Bonus on more than one car by many insurers. Didn't look at LV for some reason.

 

[calikev]

Ive got 3 years ncb with comfort and 10 with my car with admiral

 

[skinnywhippet]

They said it was OK as long as there hadn't been any accidents in the last 12 months. We just bought a Golf and VW insurance gave us a quote, but they wouldn't allow me to use the NC.


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[mucksmuff]

We had to have a tracker fitted to ours , couldnt get insured without one..

 

[motacyclist]

I was with Shield (about £220 full NCB) but had to cancel when I changed the van because they would not insure the new one without a tracker. Apart from this Shield are good people to deal with.

When I priced up the Trackers it was more than the insurance!

Went on the Meerkat site and LV were cheapest at £227 inc business use, and they didn't require a Tracker. Had to pay extra for continental travel though, about £30 I think, and then there was the usual legal expenses cover at £25.

 

[pjm-84]

Yep I think it may be LV for one or two years until the value of the vehicle drops.

Any savings in the insurance are far outweighed in the cost of the tracker and subscription

 

[Andy]

Do be careful on insurance, you need to make sure your insurer will cover all the Cali interior ie kitchen, cooker, wardrobe etc & be repaired by preferably a VW workshop that is familiar with the vehicle. I have heard horror stories from people having repairs to interior by people who are not familiar with them. ie damage & fittings not working / fitted correctly.
When I first got my Cali SE in 2011 a lot of the insurers I got quotes from, when asked about covering the above they said no.
I will only insure my cali with a camper van specific insurer, Caravan & camping club insurance, comfort, safeguard etc.

 

[Bellesca]

My apologies for the rant but...
Why can't the Insurers get their act together.
For the same level of cover I have been quoted from £400 to £1900 (vw the upper quote, obviously).
Some want a tracker or limit the mileage, despite all new vans having tow-away protection (doesn't count!!)
Some accept no claims, some say you can't use no claims, some will let you transfer your spouse's no claims.
Some give reduction for overnight in a locked garage, steering wheel lock or wheel clamp...others don't care if it's parked on the road!!
I despair of this industry.
The hunt continues.......aaaarrrgggghhhhh

 

[AndyFromTheBrac]

+1 for comfort insurance - really friendly and helpful staff, specialist campervan policy (everying *including* the kitchen sink) Had 2 claims now, one windscreen and then when my wife reversed into a tree (doh!). It was only a minor claim, but still required new bumper/paint etc. They were really easy to deal with and sorted everything with no fuss (hard to put a price on that) - plus my renewal premium went down, even with these 2 claims!

One thing I discovered with other insurance co's is that they wouldn't cover things like alloys or any other extras as they viewed the Cali as a van As mentioned above, def worth checking the small print!