Best insurance to go for on new California Ocean?

[milli117]

Hi we are collecting new Cali and wondering as first time owners best insurers to go for from people with experience, what should we make sure we have and any tips welcome

 

[Elmo3]

For a new Cali, I’d stick with Safeguard or Comfort. Whatever others might say, don’t insure it with LV, there are inconsistencies.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Hi we are collecting new Cali and wondering as first time owners best insurers to go for from people with experience, what should we make sure we have and any tips welcome

We were in the same situation as you back in November. Shopped around and went with Comfort on recommendation. Not the cheapest quote we had but full cover for the vehicle and it’s camper fittings and at a reasonable cost.

 

[milli117]

Do you go on to them direct or through vw? where do I get a quote and are there any discounts from this club? Thank you by the way

 

[calikev]

safeguard work for me

 

[Sad]

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As above, stick with the specialist insurers, we're with AIB

 

[milli117]

Thanks I have gone with safeguard

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Do you go on to them direct or through vw? where do I get a quote and are there any discounts from this club? Thank you by the way

Go direct. There is a discount for VWCC but you need to be a VIP member I believe.

 

[Shadrack]

Hi we are collecting new Cali and wondering as first time owners best insurers to go for from people with experience, what should we make sure we have and any tips welcome

I went with Comfort 4 years back after help from this forum, never looked back.

 

[Bill]

I'm picking up a new coast in about a week and I'm going with safeguard

 

[Cali Phillip]

safe guard have been good so far, renewal price was good to.

 

[Seamelody]

Insured the Cali Ocean and Audi Cab,thru Admiral Multicar, very competitive and when we had to claim easy process and no issues.


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[JandA]

I went with LV and did consider comfort and Safeguard but could not see what the extra cost covered.
Both companies are agents so there is a fee...they also include breakdown cover as standard..you don’t need it with a new vehicle....and we don’t have high value things in the camper and those we do have eg cameras etc are all covered in our household cover. Just make sure that the vehicle...in our case VW California Ocean 204 4motion is noted so the correct replacement value is clear.
I also went to both the CCC and CC and there were stupid money.

 

[WelshGas]

I went with LV and did consider comfort and Safeguard but could not see what the extra cost covered.
Both companies are agents so there is a fee...they also include breakdown cover as standard..you don’t need it with a new vehicle....and we don’t have high value things in the camper and those we do have eg cameras etc are all covered in our household cover. Just make sure that the vehicle...in our case VW California Ocean 204 4motion is noted so the correct replacement value is clear.
I also went to both the CCC and CC and there were stupid money.

Don’t have a “Camping” accident then.

 

[JandA]

Don’t have a “Camping” accident then.

Hi WelshGas...for my benefit and others, it would be useful if you gave detailed info of what you mean by that so we can all understand

 

[WelshGas]

Hi WelshGas...for my benefit and others, it would be useful if you gave detailed info of what you mean by that so we can all understand

As has been mentioned before, excellent cover in the event of a road accident, but camping accidents, kitchen fire, damage by awning etc whilst camping - check the small print.

 

[JandA]

As has been mentioned before, excellent cover in the event of a road accident, but camping accidents, kitchen fire, damage by awning etc whilst camping - check the small print.

Thank you, I will check it, however in talking at length with LV before I placed the insurance with them they classify and have insured it as a “motorhome” so must know it has cooking facilities and cover that risk, also an Ocean comes with an awing as a standard fitting so as that is noted on the policy document it is reasonable to assume that if any of those fittings cause an issue the insurer had covered the risk. Maybe if you have non standard VW items fitted which they are not aware of then they may have wriggle room but always worth asking the question. If I get any adverse response I will let the forum know.

 

[Algor]

As has been mentioned before, excellent cover in the event of a road accident, but camping accidents, kitchen fire, damage by awning etc whilst camping - check the small print.

Do you have any evidence of LV not paying out on a camping accident? One of the great things about a cali is that it is manufacturer built, insurers know exactly to the nut and bolt what they are insuring. I can understand why people who own a conversion may need to go to a specialist insurer, but the cali is fully transparent with it's specification by it's reg number. There is no if's or but's, it is as it was built and that is what is insured as by any mainstream insurer.

 

[WelshGas]

Do you have any evidence of LV not paying out on a camping accident? One of the great things about a cali is that it is manufacturer built, insurers know exactly to the nut and bolt what they are insuring. I can understand why people who own a conversion may need to go to a specialist insurer, but the cali is fully transparent with it's specification by it's reg number. There is no if's or but's, it is as it was built and that is what is insured as by any mainstream insurer.

I refer you to my answer that you responded to. I AM NOT REFERRING TO A MOTOR ACCIDENT and what is or is not covered for repair = but the cause of the damage, specifically damaged caused whilst camping. I'm not searching the Forum on your behalf, I'm sure you are capable, but there are numerous posts by members who were unhappy about the response they received when enquiring about camping accidents. They went elsewhere. If the company cannot/will not categorically confirm such cover on the 1st enquiry then in my book you'll have to fight your corner hard and that's not a company I wish to deal with.
If you are happy with your premium and cover, then fine.
But I wonder why there are companies that specialise in insurance for Leisure vehicles such as camper vans and motorhomes?

 

[Seamelody]

I refer you to my answer that you responded to. I AM NOT REFERRING TO A MOTOR ACCIDENT and what is or is not covered for repair = but the cause of the damage, specifically damaged caused whilst camping. I'm not searching the Forum on your behalf, I'm sure you are capable, but there are numerous posts by members who were unhappy about the response they received when enquiring about camping accidents. They went elsewhere. If the company cannot/will not categorically confirm such cover on the 1st enquiry then in my book you'll have to fight your corner hard and that's not a company I wish to deal with.
If you are happy with your premium and cover, then fine.
But I wonder why there are companies that specialise in insurance for Leisure vehicles such as camper vans and motorhomes?

Ummm I’ve not had issues with a motoring claim, definitely going to check the camping side-sound advice


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[Elmo3]

I refer you to my answer that you responded to. I AM NOT REFERRING TO A MOTOR ACCIDENT and what is or is not covered for repair = but the cause of the damage, specifically damaged caused whilst camping. I'm not searching the Forum on your behalf, I'm sure you are capable, but there are numerous posts by members who were unhappy about the response they received when enquiring about camping accidents. They went elsewhere. If the company cannot/will not categorically confirm such cover on the 1st enquiry then in my book you'll have to fight your corner hard and that's not a company I wish to deal with.
If you are happy with your premium and cover, then fine.
But I wonder why there are companies that specialise in insurance for Leisure vehicles such as camper vans and motorhomes?

This. My concerns were confirmed in writing by the head of underwriting at LV when insuring a new Ocean. Went with Comfort instead, no brainer. It baffles me why folk try and save a couple of quid on a policy which doesn’t cover the whole vehicle properly. LV are a good insurer and I use them for other things, but a Cali, no way.

 

[gvick]

Seconded for Comfort - just renewed with them for £386 business and pleasure 10k mileage (I don’t need breakdown) plus I have tracker and immobiliser.
Safeguard were twice as much for me .

 

[JandA]

Thank you, I will check it, however in talking at length with LV before I placed the insurance with them they classify and have insured it as a “motorhome” so must know it has cooking facilities and cover that risk, also an Ocean comes with an awing as a standard fitting so as that is noted on the policy document it is reasonable to assume that if any of those fittings cause an issue the insurer had covered the risk. Maybe if you have non standard VW items fitted which they are not aware of then they may have wriggle room but always worth asking the question. If I get any adverse response I will let the forum know.

following WelshGas comments I had and extensive discussion with senior guy at LV yesterday regarding level of cover. They acknowledged that their cover did not used to be comprehensive enough for Campervan/ motor home owners as it was all lumped into their general car policy however in recent months this has changed. They told me that as an insurer ( rather than a broker) they provided policies purpose written for brokers who specialised in campers/motorhomes and decided that they would start offering the same type of policies direct to clients as well as through brokers and providing you get their “motorcaravan“ cover and have it stated as such on your documents then that covers everything in the van and all camping accidents as you would expect. My docs didn’t with my vehicle being described as a VW T30 California Ocean 4 motion 204 however LV have now reissued my docs describing it as a VW Motorcaravan.
So thank to you Welshgas for your comments I now have the right description on my documents in the event of any issues. It’s interesting how a few words can make all the difference.

 

[Wogga]

following WelshGas comments I had and extensive discussion with senior guy at LV yesterday regarding level of cover. They acknowledged that their cover did not used to be comprehensive enough for Campervan/ motor home owners as it was all lumped into their general car policy however in recent months this has changed. They told me that as an insurer ( rather than a broker) they provided policies purpose written for brokers who specialised in campers/motorhomes and decided that they would start offering the same type of policies direct to clients as well as through brokers and providing you get their “motorcaravan“ cover and have it stated as such on your documents then that covers everything in the van and all camping accidents as you would expect. My docs didn’t with my vehicle being described as a VW T30 California Ocean 4 motion 204 however LV have now reissued my docs describing it as a VW Motorcaravan.
So thank to you Welshgas for your comments I now have the right description on my documents in the event of any issues. It’s interesting how a few words can make all the difference.

Out of interest what level of contents cover is included with LV? Comfort is £5k so should easily cover all the odds and sods we carry especially the silver dinner set.

 

[JandA]

Out of interest what level of contents cover is included with LV? Comfort is £5k so should easily cover all the odds and sods we carry especially the silver dinner set.

It’s £1000 which is fine for me....all valuable items such as the silver dinner set and my camera gear are covered by my all risks house policy As I wouldn’t leave anything of high value in my California unless I was taking it away with me.