Safeguard and Beach

Hi all,

Been doing the insurance 'dance' the last couple of days and stumbled on somthing I decided to share.

I got a quote from safeguard and it was competitive - I then looked at the small print.

On page 14 of their policy documentation it defines what a motor home is and must include

A cupboard and/or wardrobe
A permanent installation to house a water container of not less than 6 gallons

The beach does not meet this criteria and underneath this is says

"Failure to comply with this condition may mean we will refuse to deal with any claims arising from your motor home being stolen"

I contacted safeguard and they said as the beach was on their system they could insure it

Anyone willing to risk it - I went elsewhere

That's another reason to go with someone who knows what their talking about. I went with the Caravan Club, not the cheapest, but at least they new what the California SE was straight away.

As the beach does not have the fitted kitchen and water etc, the caravan club would not class it a camper an and refused me insurance. They will accept it on sites though!

Sorry 'Beach' owners but you do not own a Motor Caravan in the eyes of British motor vehicle construction rules, see here https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...formation_Sheet_Registering_a_DIY_Caravan.pdf

There is no way I am inferring that a Beach is in any way DIY but those requirements are the ones that should be adhered to when registering a vehicle to have the body type marked as 'Motor Caravan' on its V5C. It could be read that any Beach registered with a body type of Motor Caravan on the V5C and insured as such is not in fact insured at all. I am not trying to scare monger but it is serious food for thought and may also alter the rate of VED that some are paying.

Don't shoot the messenger!

Rod

I insured my Beach with LV, transferred over from my car. Costs me around £340 a year fully comp with my GF on the policy and £300 excess. I am 40 with full no claims. It's insured as a California Beach which has its own profile on the insurance systems (I only know because they couldnt find it under Transporter/T5).

It is my daily driver so insured for 10k miles a year.

My V5 arrived today (wow that took it's time) and it indeed says "Motor caravan" much to my surprise. I don't see how a consumer could be held responsible for a DVLA error, if it is an error. , I would also say that those guidelines are for a DIY campervan, the Beach is "factory" which may be why it has qualfied?

Hi all, picking up my Beach in 2 weeks and rang up the usual insurance companies. Admiral and Aviva i was told do not insure Campers
LV and Safeguard about the same depending on what cover they provide and what you wanted!. I decided to ring up Saga as i can!. Saga were the best price and best cover and did GAP for the first 2 years. The sales person then said that they had always wanted a camper and cook inside one. I informed her that the Beach did not have a fixed Cooker etc. They then stated that Saga could not insure me then.
I became somewhat frustrated with the sales person as i had spent half a lifetime going thru the questions.They stated that according to the DVLA check my vehicle was registered as a Motor Caravan so she believed my vehicle was a Full Blown Camper. I apologised,and the sales person then informed me that had they insured me and i had made a claim it would have been contested, and i have no doubt i would have lost out as i believe the bottom line is that it ts my responsibility.
To cut a long story short i went with Safeguard, fully explaining my DVLA status. They assured me that their underwriters recognised the Beach as a VW Factory Conversation without fixed cooker etc and insured it as such regardliss of its DVLA status. I will though be contacting my VW Dealership to sort it out befor i pick the Van up, thats if they can!!
As an aside i also contacted Comfort Insurance somewher along the way who stated that if my Beach was classed as a Motor Caravan they could insure it!!!!!
Its a tricky world this insurance lark

Did you get your club discount OK?

Hi David
Safeguard acknowledged the discount after I prompted them.... it came to about 12%, not the 18 I thought it would be. They claimed they had incorporated the discount into the quote.... and it was a pretty competitive price. Felt confident they grasped the concept of a Cali Beach.

Just renewed my insurance with Saga. We were with LV last year.

Not sure how Saga can have said that they don't insure the Beach (as above) as all you have to do is to put in your registration. There is no declaration anywhere that you have to make about it having cooking facilities or not. So I can't see how there can be any comeback.

Anyway at £170 it's a great saving on LV which was the best for us last year. £250 excess, both of us retired with full no claims and no speeding etc. Even the EU cover beat the CC. Unlimited with Saga, 270 days with CC, 45 days with LV.

Well chuffed!