I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Who's hot and who's not? Good tips and bad rips....

Moderator: Ian

JBLUE
Junior Bongonaut
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2015 6:54 pm

I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Post by JBLUE » Wed Nov 18, 2015 7:05 pm

I am Canadian but resident in the Uk for the past year and a half and I was about to buy a lovely bongo with my girlfriend ( born in uk) but it appears that because I have not been a resident in England for at least 3 years the price is ballooned!! We are both professionals, held licence for 8 years each, no claims ever, I'm 28, she is 26. The policy would be in her name and I would be a secondary driver. It seems completely unreasonable to me. Most places we called won't even insure us at all.. If anyone knows a way to possibly get insurance for a reasonable rate, 600£ or less, we would love to know. We fell in love with the bongo we are looking at and will only use it for a euro road trip. It's unconverted, 96, diesel AWD. It's such a shame insurance companies somehow find this to be such a risk.. Any help would be amazing.
Gasy
Supreme Being
Posts: 2123
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2013 5:49 pm
Location: Peterborough

Re: I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Post by Gasy » Wed Nov 18, 2015 8:41 pm

Insurance company's make it up as they like
Have you tried brokers
Lifesure and. Adrian flux get used lots on here
Keep phoning about
Don't tell them you plan on going travelling abroad (then add that on when you do go later)
Keep phoning around the brokers , don't use the Internet forms for this type of insurance
Good luck
Gas safe heating engineer / plumber if you need any advice just shout.
User avatar
cmm303
Supreme Being
Posts: 1665
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2013 8:10 pm
Location: Chippenham, Wiltshire

Re: I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Post by cmm303 » Wed Nov 18, 2015 9:21 pm

After all your work in looking to buy.... take heart that others have been through this game!

Converted attracts campervan rates from the specialists which are usually cheaper than an unconverted 8 seater. Converted vs unconverted is quite strategic and will determine which companies are likely to be better.
Thought of you as main driver as you are slightly older?
Good point from Gasy about keeping quiet about your trip. Mileage can make a big difference to premiums.
Got a car already? Try a multi-car deal with your current insurer?

Loads of threads on here about insurance premiums. Try a few searches using search in the top right with a phrase, as typed, like

insurance AND (premium OR quote OR quotation)

A lot to wade through but you'll harvest a good list of companies to try, hopefully with some success. Fingers crossed for you. [-o<
Chris with BertieB
'96 White unconverted AFT 2.5L Diesel 4WD
User avatar
mikeonb4c
Supreme Being
Posts: 22871
Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2006 10:49 pm
Location: Living with Mango Bongo in the North West but with a tendency to roam
Contact:

Re: I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Post by mikeonb4c » Wed Nov 18, 2015 9:22 pm

I'm with 2gether. Worth trying them also
Bob
Supreme Being
Posts: 15255
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:54 pm
Location: North Somerset

Re: I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Post by Bob » Thu Nov 19, 2015 12:30 am

Whilst it would be a right pain would your partner consider doing all the driving?

On an extended tour just take it steady, plenty of breaks and not too high daily mileage.

Might be worth getting quotes for her as sole driver - £1700 does seem bloomin' dear. :shock:
User avatar
helen&tony
Supreme Being
Posts: 9869
Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2004 12:49 pm
Location: Bulgaria

Re: I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Post by helen&tony » Thu Nov 19, 2015 6:17 am

Hi
My opinion , for what it's worth, is to just go for road traffic act cover until you get a few years no claims, and just take pot luck and hope your vehicle doesn't get nicked or get damaged....Age is another thing...historically, in the UK, young drivers are the ones having all the accidents, so you fit into that group. When I started driving, I had the misfortune of someone crashing a set of traffic-lights at 60 MPH and hitting me in the side, causing injury and all sorts...in fact, the car (mine) was thrown in theair and spun. The insurance company did knock for knock, and don't ask me why, as there was a solicitor and a college lecturer as my witnesses, along with dozens of passers by, who said that it was the guy's fault....BUT, because it was knock for knock, they loaded my insurance!...For a number of years, I'd just go into my pet broker's office and ask if there was a dodgy insurance company that might stay in business for 6 months or more :lol: ...fortunately it was the '60s and insurance companies were collapsing almost weekly, so they were cutting premiums to the bone!....
Sorry for the length of the reply, but it's your only choice, because you have no driving record!
Good luck!
Cheers
Helen
In the beginning there was nothing , then God said "Let there be Light".....There was still nothing , but ,by crikey, you could see it better.
User avatar
cmm303
Supreme Being
Posts: 1665
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2013 8:10 pm
Location: Chippenham, Wiltshire

Re: I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Post by cmm303 » Thu Nov 19, 2015 9:28 am

In the eyes of insurance companies, the liability for 8 people is accentuated by youth and short driving record. I would explore the converted route. It does not have to be expensive and can save more than you spend. Insurance companies have their own definitions for campervan and many do not need it to be registered as a campervan with the DVLA.

winchman did this to save on insurance: http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ve#p622159. If you are on a tight budget, conversions of this type are occasionally advertised second hand or can be built DIY.

One of many discussions around the subject: http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... rsion+save
Chris with BertieB
'96 White unconverted AFT 2.5L Diesel 4WD
JBLUE
Junior Bongonaut
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2015 6:54 pm

Re: I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Post by JBLUE » Thu Nov 19, 2015 2:02 pm

Im starting to get better prices, 1000.92£ with Aviva is still the cheapest though, which seems terribly expensive, especially for an old 1996 van. It seems that myself not being from the UK is big issue, I wouldn't have thought being Canadian was such an uninsurable aspect about me but apparently so.. Most of the motorhome specialist insurers won't insure me at all so I'm not sure if i'll find a camper conversion rate for cheaper. So far I have contacted BeWiser, Lifesure, 2 Gether, SKY, adrian flux and edison ford. Ill keep trying.
Bob
Supreme Being
Posts: 15255
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:54 pm
Location: North Somerset

Re: I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Post by Bob » Thu Nov 19, 2015 4:07 pm

Camping & Caravan Club are often competative for converted vans, might be worth the membership fee.

Good luck.
Ian
Supreme Being
Posts: 5885
Joined: Wed Jun 09, 2004 2:47 pm
Location: Bongo Mission Control

Re: I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Post by Ian » Thu Nov 19, 2015 7:45 pm

Don't limit your search to UK companies. Lots of insurance companies across the EU will cover you. Some Bongo owners are insured with German firm ADAC (www.adac.de) and they offer good rates apparently.
668. The Neighbour of The Beast.
nth
Bongolier
Posts: 350
Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2012 3:21 pm
Location: Scotland

Re: I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Post by nth » Fri Mar 11, 2016 4:32 pm

I pay more than double on my insurance since converting it than I did when it was just a standard 8 seater. :?
Was paying just under £200 now paying around £400.
95 2.5d 4WD AFT
the laird
Supreme Being
Posts: 1198
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2012 12:28 pm
Location: West lothian

Re: I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Post by the laird » Fri Mar 11, 2016 9:33 pm

Pmd you
User avatar
Tessie
Bongolier
Posts: 128
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 12:51 pm
Location: Yorkshire

Re: I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Post by Tessie » Fri Mar 11, 2016 9:55 pm

Bob wrote:Camping & Caravan Club are often competative for converted vans, might be worth the membership fee.

Good luck.
You don't have to be a member to insure with them, not sure whether membership reduces the premium or not but you are quite right about them being very competitive Bob.........in my experience anyway!
Never run out of road, traction and ideas at the same time.
User avatar
Simon Jones
Supreme Being
Posts: 9341
Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2005 3:34 pm
Location: Salisbury (ish), Wiltshire

Re: I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Post by Simon Jones » Fri Mar 11, 2016 10:52 pm

I seem to recall you get an extra 10% if you are a member.
User avatar
Tessie
Bongolier
Posts: 128
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 12:51 pm
Location: Yorkshire

Re: I can't get insured for less than 1700£!!

Post by Tessie » Sat Mar 12, 2016 12:05 am

You got me thinking Simon so I checked on their website. The cost of membership is £37 online or £43 for paper membership with a 5% discount off insurance premiums if taken out. Maybe the discount has been reduced from what it used to be.

Unless you want to take advantage of the other benefits of being a member of the C&CC then it may not be cost effective to pay the membership fee just to get a 5% reduction in insurance premium. I know in my case it wouldn't with a premium of less than £200. I am insured with them by the way.
Never run out of road, traction and ideas at the same time.
Post Reply

Return to “Insurance”