What details do I need?

[HisRoyalFredness]

Hello! It looks like all being well I will be collecting my new Bongo on Tuesday evening - as it's so late in the day can anyone let me know what details I will need to organise insurance cover to bring it home? It will be hopefully be going straight to my mechanic (20 mins journey) and staying there to have some work done before I use it, but I need to insure it before I leave home and of course they won't let me take the paperwork away early. It's complicated because a friend of the owner is organising the sale, so she's not sure what details to send me either.

ETA I will be joining the owners club, but don't want to do that until I pick it up, just in case it all goes horribly wrong. Would I be entitled to a back dated discount, or should I join first and if I don't get it after all, would I be entitled to a refund on club costs? It's a motorhome.

[windywatson]

Hi, Insurance may well depend on what has been done to the vehicle. For instance has it been converted to a camper? If so it will need to be insured as a motor home/camper van and you can get good insurance for it via a few different companies that cover that part of the market.
If its unconverted you shouldn't have any worries ither as most insurers have these vehicles on thier data bases. For instance my tin top is with Aviva, they where the best price for me this year. And my camper is with Safegard who specialise with leisure vehicles.
So as long as you have the registration, don't panic and treat it like insuring any other vehicle. Also dont forget this site has info on insurance.
So best of luck and welcome to the club and ownership of a bongo.
cheers

[HisRoyalFredness]

Yes it is a campervan, but won't they want to know engine size etc? I couldn't find anything exactly on insurance on here, so wasn't sure where to go to. I don't usually go online to find insurance as I usually drive modifidied cars (for dogs, nothing flash) so tend to need to go through a broker.

[Bob]

Engine size will be 2ltr petrol or 2.5ltr petrol or diesel, best to find out before you fill up.

It will be in the V5 (log book) or ask the seller.

[Simon Jones]

I would have hoped that any decent insurance company will be able to put up all the details about the base vehicle from the reg number. However, many companies struggle to get the correct model. Make sure its listed as Bongo Friendee rather Bongo Brawny or E2000 which are the earlier version. They will want to know if there are any modifications such as aftermarket wheels, towbar etc. The problem is that things like wheels may have been replaced in Japan and when a vehicle is new to you, it's not always possible to tell what is or is not original.

If its properly converted and registered as a motorcaravan on the V5 then I would suggest trying Camping and Caravanning Club as they offer very competitive quotes. I pay about £230 a year fully comp on a 5000 miles per year restriction.

[HisRoyalFredness]

It is on the log book as a motor caravan but it only says 'Mazda', nothing else. It's got the engine size but no mention of what fuel - although I'm sure she said diesel. I will check before I drive off! My mechanic is going to keep it as his place until he can get to work on it, so even when it's brought home I probably won't see it for a few weeks!

It says 'heavy oil'...

[HisRoyalFredness]

Coming out nearer £500 for me, but I don't have a lot of No claims as I was victim of a hit and run so lost nearly all of it just over 5 years ago, and they won't mirror the work van which has the most no claims on it. I've only had a second car for two years, so they're only counting that.

I'll do some more ringing round in the morning.

[MountainGoat]

Put the vin number of your Bongo (found on the drivers door post) into the second row of the Russian Bongo Clubs Bongo finder and it will give you the specification of your Bongo? If your Bongo is an auto free top and a diesel the vin number should be similar to SGL5 *****.

http://www.ruzip.ru/eumz/eumzcat.aspx

Tony

[HisRoyalFredness]

Thanks, it says all the same stuff as on the log book except clarifies diesel, thank you.

[Poohbear]

heavy oil = diesel

[HisRoyalFredness]

I've found one for £300, so that's all good, thanks everyone for your help.

[MountainGoat]

That's expensive for a camper. Did you try the Camping & Caravan Club for insurance. You don't have to be a member of the club but you get a small discount if you are.

Tony

[Simon Jones]

£300 is not bad and of course its totally dependant on claims history, age, length of time licence held, value of vehicle, location, etc. Let's not forget, Essex saw a peak in thefts a couple of years back round about the same time as a seller popped up on eBay offering parts at less than the going price....

[HisRoyalFredness]

Camping and caravanning club were the ones who wanted nearly £500!! In the end I found one for £250 with the broker who insures my work van and car.

My little Bongo is now with the mechanic so I won't see it again for a couple of weeks, if not longer! Belt squeaking on the way home, which we didn't hear on the test drive. It's got a small oil leak and a rattle my brother couldn't identify, and is due for MOT in a couple of months so it's all being checked over. Petrol guage and rear wiper don't work either, so will get those sorted out as well. The petrol guage is apparently a lot of work, but I'd feel better with it done.

[Bob]

Bear in mind that the petrol gauge is really a diesel gauge, don't miss-fuel.

Often it is just the earth connection, I'm sure there is a Fact Sheet.