Insuring a small runaround as well as the Cali

[Zebedee]

I have my insurance with Just Kampers and at the moment the Cali is my sole vehicle. I live in London and with the extra charges coming in for diesel vehicles I am looking at buying a small car as well. Probably a VW Up High Up as it has a similar spec of goodies as the Cali. I have been quoted £606 on the Cali (11 years NCB) but £1036 on the Up!

Any singlies out there who have any advice .....loads of people must have more than just the Cali?

 

[2haw]

My partner has a high up and it's a great little car. We have the 75hp version but it still needs more power, looking to trade it in for either a 90bp or the Up Gti in the new year.

We pay about £250 A year Insurance and made a claim 3 and half years ago.

 

[andyinluton]

We bought a new Up Beats for the kids to learn in a few months ago because it was so cheap to insure. Its registered in my name but the insurance policy holder is my 17 year old daughter. Two adults & 2 17 year old learners cost £325 with no no claims, once either of them pass their test it goes up to about £1500.

The Beats stereo sounds really good & is more powerful than the engine but we are getting 55mpg round town, the heater blows out hot air within a couple of hundred yards from home, the aircon blows ice cold immediately. Its not quick being the 60bhp but is nippy enough round town & handles like a go kart & will do 90 if needed on the motorway. The interior trim is excellent the price level with a decent chunky leather steering wheel, electric windows etc.

We absolutely love it & intend replacing the wife car with the GTI model when it comes out after christmas.


Back to your original question - I think it was direct line that have previously let me mirror the no claims discount on a second policy in the past. Can you put your cali on a motorhome specialist policy & use the no claims on the up?

 

[owen_h]

Ive got the Seat Mii version and would mirror the comments above as to how much fun the car is to drive. The suppension also copes with the potholed and badly repaired roads brilliantly.
As to the original question I pay just under £300 for insurance with LV. In the first year I got the Mii they allowed me to use the NCD from the Cali on the Mii as well. since then the Mii has its own NCD.

 

[mccp]

once either of them pass their test it goes up to about £1500.

Going back four or five years now, but when we had learners it paid me to shop around when one passed the test. Some insurers are pretty good for learners, but load the premium a lot for a novice once they have passed. You might find it's cheaper to cancel the current policy and start a new one. Also, it pays to get at least two experienced drivers with clean licenses/no claims and their own car on the policy alongside the new drivers. The thing I found odd was that fully comp was cheaper than TPF&T.

My best guess was that all these things indicate that you are a family that takes personal responsibility seriously, and so the underwriters class you as a lower risk.

 

[andyinluton]

I did all the comparisons for insurance based on the cost after one of them has passed. I could have halved the cost whilst they are learning but the later premiums would be far higher.

I never expected it be cheap as I have declared the kids part time jobs & have them covered for driving to & from work, which in my sons case is a licensed hotel - so late hours etc.
Some of their friends have insurance with black box monitoring & have to have the car parked up between 11pm and 7am That wouldn't work for us, also my speeding etc would probably get their insurance cancelled which would be a bit embarrassing.

 

[Velma's Dad]

I wouldn't personally bother trying too hard to get the Cali and the runabout onto the same insurer. For all the pushing of multi-car policies over the last few years, I've never found them to be able to beat a string of individual policies.

Also, I'd say don't waste time trying to fathom all the underwriters' risk factors, or what NCB you theoretically have 'earned'. Just shop around until you find the insurer that gives you best best spot price.

And unfortunately you do have to keep looking at it every year at renewal, as the insurance market now works like gas and electricity: you get penalised for being loyal.

 

[mccp]

which in my sons case is a licensed hotel - so late hours etc.

When my son finishes his Masters he'll go from being a full-time student to a being a professional musician - I don't think he realises that his insurance will hit the roof! I'm fortunate that my speeding escapades have gone the way of my youthful physique - lost in the distant past.

 

[mccp]

And unfortunately you do have to keep looking at it every year at renewal, as the insurance market now works like gas and electricity: you get penalised for being loyal.

I've been insured with Admiral for the last few years. The premium goes up every year, I find somewhere cheaper on GoCompare, phone up to cancel and miraculously Admiral manage to reduce the cost. It's all a tedious game. NCD protection is probably also a bit of a scam, but it's one I fall for.

 

[WelshGas]

I have my insurance with Just Kampers and at the moment the Cali is my sole vehicle. I live in London and with the extra charges coming in for diesel vehicles I am looking at buying a small car as well. Probably a VW Up High Up as it has a similar spec of goodies as the Cali. I have been quoted £606 on the Cali (11 years NCB) but £1036 on the Up!

Any singlies out there who have any advice .....loads of people must have more than just the Cali?

I would suggest:
Check out some of the other Campervan ONLY insurers, or those who specialise, especially as you will now become a 2 car customer. Your California milage will, I presume, decrease/pa so a limited milage policy may be better. Some of these insurers do not take NCB into account, leaving you able to use this against the second vehicle.
As regards the 2nd vehicle, once again limited annual milage might be useful and you could possibly be able to offset the NCB against it.
Separate insurers are the way to go as best price for Cali might be worst for the UP.
Lastly the UP is favoured by younger drivers, if the numbers parked outside the 6th form block around here are anything to go by. Non VW equivalents are less cool and as you live in London ? All Electric?

 

[andyinluton]

"Lastly the UP is favoured by younger drivers, if the numbers parked outside the 6th form block around here are anything to go by. Non VW equivalents are less cool and as you live in London ? All Electric?"

That because the cheapest cars you can insure as a student are the citron/toyota/ peugeot C1, the vw up/ seat Mi/ skoda or that funny looking suzuki thing. Even a basic corsa is a lot more to insure.
Add in cheap financials £1k down and £100 per month on a PCP for a brand new car & you can see why they are popular.

 

[hirsty]

I’ve struggled to find specialist insurance for the Cali as it’s my only vehicle, needs business-use cover (even though I don’t use it) & is also kept on the street overnight.

If I were to add another car I’d try Admiral multicar first, but also the regular insurers for the Up! and a separate specialist for the Cali if they’d have it.

Good to hear such enthusiasm for the Up! too - I’ve always liked the look of it but have never been in one.

 

[Velma's Dad]

We looked at the Up! to replace an ageing Toyota Yaris as our family's 'student car'/runaround. Also tried the Skoda Citigo but even though it's a neat and cheap package, it was a bit like driving a biscuit tin. Too much like my late mother's Nissan Micra, the one with CVT transmission. That was like driving a biscuit tin powered by a rubber band.

In the end we went for a Suzuki Swift, which drives much more like a 'real' car. But as a city car the Up! is probably great.

 

[B J G]

Try Swinton or One Call as they seem to act as Brokers and shop around each year giving reduced renewal costs..

If you don't get NCB based on your past insurance you usually get an introductory discount which can give an equivalent reduction. Don't expect a big reduction on year 2.

 

[Andy]

Bought a smart for two which I tow behind the cali. It is fun to drive. Now cali gets little use. I have no ncb to use on it. Insured with 1st central 2nd year around £300. Everywhere else wanted £1000 + !

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[CYCLOPATH]

I've been insured with Admiral for the last few years. The premium goes up every year, I find somewhere cheaper on GoCompare, phone up to cancel and miraculously Admiral manage to reduce the cost. It's all a tedious game. NCD protection is probably also a bit of a scam, but it's one I fall for.

I found admiral the best....bizzarly my £45,000 cali costs the same to insure as my £450 beat up 2002 focus.
I got the girl on the phone to double check as it seemed wrong, £120 each
She said that if it was a T 5 van they wound not insure it, even a converted one, but as a standard California, that was the price.
I have the same run around each year when renewal comes up,,,,,I don't think I will do so well this year , from what I have been reading,. They are clobbering the retired!

 

[Tufty_B]

I would suggest:
Check out some of the other Campervan ONLY insurers, or those who specialise, especially as you will now become a 2 car customer. Your California milage will, I presume, decrease/pa so a limited milage policy may be better. Some of these insurers do not take NCB into account, leaving you able to use this against the second vehicle.
As regards the 2nd vehicle, once again limited annual milage might be useful and you could possibly be able to offset the NCB against it.
Separate insurers are the way to go as best price for Cali might be worst for the UP.
Lastly the UP is favoured by younger drivers, if the numbers parked outside the 6th form block around here are anything to go by. Non VW equivalents are less cool and as you live in London ? All Electric?

Be aware that to get a low premium with a specialist Campervan insurer it is likely that you will need to have a second vehicle, initially not an issue here with the Up, but note that it'll become invalid if you sell the Up and don't replace it straight away with another car on a standard insurance policy.

 

[soulstyledevon]

I've been insured with Admiral for the last few years. The premium goes up every year, I find somewhere cheaper on GoCompare, phone up to cancel and miraculously Admiral manage to reduce the cost. It's all a tedious game. NCD protection is probably also a bit of a scam, but it's one I fall for.

Me too.
Think I’ve been insured with them for the last 4 years.
On a positive note, when I have needed to speak with them, I seem to get straight through to someone & English speaking too.

 

[Dyddi]

I'm using a Skoda Citigo for runaround. Same car as the VW Up! with different badging so far as I can tell. Beach is currently £390 and the Citigo £182 but I no longer live in London so rates may be less. Unless you are a young driver or have claimed the figures seem to be calculated by 'left hand at the dartboard'.

 

[pjm-84]

Insurance is crazy.

I've just swapped my battered and beloved 2009 Fiat 500 1.2 (62hp) run-around for a 2016 fully "specced" up Mini JCW (231HP). Cost to change was £0.

So the insurance premium for the JCW is £191 a year with 2years NCB.

 

[Velma's Dad]

I've just swapped my battered and beloved 2009 Fiat 500 1.2 (62hp) run-around for a 2016 fully "specced" up Mini JCW (231HP). Cost to change was £0.

I had a JCW Mini for several years. Massive fun but watch out - your insurance may not cost any more (weird!) but all too easy to rack up the speeding tickets!

 

[pjm-84]

Tell me about. This things covers ground at a rapid pace. Green mode is good with the sports auto.

 

[Zebedee]

Well I ended up buying a Smart ForFour Prime Premium Plus which although small is like a tardis and feels inside like a luxury car eg leather heated seats, reversing camera, etc etc and turns on a sixpence! Not sure how to deal with the Cali as Zebedee has always been our daily driver. Insurance was crazy with quotes of well over £2200! Eventually got Direct Line down just under £500. Was going for a demonstrator and at the last minute saw a good value 2016 car and went for that. Lots of clever design bits like the Cali and many years ago worked for the PR co that did the launch. Just found the VW UP rather pedestrian. Interiors of small cars have not changed in 30 years + could have been looking at my Mum's Fiesta hot hatch she had in the 80's but the Smart is a bit sexy inside and comes with a massive subwoofer to match the doggy subwoofer!

Now working on a plan to be able to afford it. Haven't got it yet though.

Now working on plan B to somehow magic the Cali into a petrol automatic somehow!

 

[Trebor]

Bought a smart for two which I tow behind the cali. It is fun to drive. Now cali gets little use. I have no ncb to use on it. Insured with 1st central 2nd year around £300. Everywhere else wanted £1000 + !

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Bought a smart for two which I tow behind the cali. It is fun to drive. Now cali gets little use. I have no ncb to use on it. Insured with 1st central 2nd year around £300. Everywhere else wanted £1000 + !

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Any photos Andy ? We’ve had a Smart diesel for about 5 years and love it around town . Didn’t think Cali would tow it easily . Was it worth doing ?

 

[Andy]

Any photos Andy ? We’ve had a Smart diesel for about 5 years and love it around town . Didn’t think Cali would tow it easily . Was it worth doing ?

Will post photos when I get home tonight. Tows well don't know it's there. Nigh on impossible to reverse it more than a few meters in a straight line. Front wheels flop from side to side when any reverse lock is applied. It's a well known issue. (Sort of tank slapping as on a motorbike). There are a few companies that sell A-frame to tow it with. Not cheap though.

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