California Vehicle Classification & VW UK

[Gary&Heather]

That's what I have read on these forums regarding CMC & C&CC... I was quoted by Direct Line & LV, both stated full factory fittings covered, as if nothing had changed since before model description change, which is what it should be - nothings changed...

Direct line insurance do not insure camper vans if you have insurance from direct line you will find that you are insured as an MPV not a campervan.

 

[WelshGas]

Oh, just thought I would share this information with you.

The official DVLA Body Type Codes are:
27 = "Motorhome/Caravan"
96 = "MPV (Multipurpose Vehicle)"
So the Body Type ("MH") that Comfort have used in my insurance since early 2017 to date is not an official designation.
I can't help feeling that this could be all rather academic.

Well there is only one way to find out, but not something I would recommend though.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Direct line insurance do not insure camper vans if you have insurance from direct line you will find that you are insured as an MPV not a campervan.

Misselling?

 

[MartG]

Direct line insurance do not insure camper vans if you have insurance from direct line you will find that you are insured as an MPV not a campervan.

I was with DL and asked about adding the Cali to my existing car - no problem they said, quoted me just over £500 and stated all factory fit was covered "turn it upside down, what falls out is not covered'!, but I went elsewhere...

They may well class it as an MPV though... but is that a problem?

 

[Digger]

Direct line insurance do not insure camper vans if you have insurance from direct line you will find that you are insured as an MPV not a campervan.

Actually Direct Line covered my Ocean as a campervan and covered all factory fittings and its specified on my documentation.

 

[BeagleMum]

Actually Direct Line covered my Ocean as a campervan and covered all factory fittings and its specified on my documentation.

Our Landcruiser & 2nd car were insured with D L.
We bought a Beach (2 rear bench) in June & as our insurance is due renewal beginning of September we approached D L to see if they would cover us as a Campervan until renewal is due.
They did, we made sure we clarified cover & were happy to accept for the short term, particularly as we surprisingly got a £20 refund on the price we had paid on the Landcruiser.
We are due to shop around specialists in the next week for 12 months cover so will see what transpires.

 

[homerorchid]

Just wondered what interested people think of this e-mail I was thinking of sending to relevant insurance companies before I forward it. Any suggestions would be appreciated:
"
Hello
I own a "VW California Ocean", which was registered as new on 15th March 2019 (If you are unfamiliar with this VW Factory produced vehicle please Google it). it's a; from new VW factory built "Campervan", it has for example;
- Gas hob
- Sink with running water
- On board gas cylinder
- Wardrobe
- Pop-top electrically operated raising roof (sleeping area for 2)
- 2 Belted Bench seat for 2 in the back which converts in to a double bed (Total sleeping for 4)
- Top loading fridge
- Attached wind out canopy

All the above is standard and manufactured by VW from new and assembled by VW from new.

As I am sure you will agree this is not an " After Market Campervan Conversion", it is a "From New VW Factory Built Campervan".

Frustratingly from around 2019 the DVLA has decided to describe "VW California Oceans" (Campervan) on the "V5C" in the following terms;

MODEL: Transporter T30 TDI BMT

BODY TYPE: MPV

TAXATION CLASS: Diesal Car

The implications of this can be owners inadvertently insuring their "VW California Ocean" as an "MPV" which it is definitely not, it is a "VW Factory built Campervan".

My concerns are that insuring our vehicle as an MPV does not accurately describe the vehicle and therefore relevant insurance cover might not be provided. I need to know "IN WRITING" that both the "VEHICLE" and the "HABITATION AREA" are covered by my insurance. This vehicle is not an ordinary commercial van, or an ordinary MPV, it is (in our case) a "£73000 VW Factory Built Campervan".

Please can you inform me "CLEARLY" in writing if you/your underwriters are able to insure our vehicle + the VW factory built habitation area

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience

 

[Joker 1299]

Just wondered what interested people think of this e-mail I was thinking of sending to relevant insurance companies before I forward it. Any suggestions would be appreciated:
"
Hello
I own a "VW California Ocean", which was registered as new on 15th March 2019 (If you are unfamiliar with this VW Factory produced vehicle please Google it). it's a; from new VW factory built "Campervan", it has for example;
- Gas hob
- Sink with running water
- On board gas cylinder
- Wardrobe
- Pop-top electrically operated raising roof (sleeping area for 2)
- 2 Belted Bench seat for 2 in the back which converts in to a double bed (Total sleeping for 4)
- Top loading fridge
- Attached wind out canopy

All the above is standard and manufactured by VW from new and assembled by VW from new.

As I am sure you will agree this is not an " After Market Campervan Conversion", it is a "From New VW Factory Built Campervan".

Frustratingly from around 2019 the DVLA has decided to describe "VW California Oceans" (Campervan) on the "V5C" in the following terms;

MODEL: Transporter T30 TDI BMT

BODY TYPE: MPV

TAXATION CLASS: Diesal Car

The implications of this can be owners inadvertently insuring their "VW California Ocean" as an "MPV" which it is definitely not, it is a "VW Factory built Campervan".

My concerns are that insuring our vehicle as an MPV does not accurately describe the vehicle and therefore relevant insurance cover might not be provided. I need to know "IN WRITING" that both the "VEHICLE" and the "HABITATION AREA" are covered by my insurance. This vehicle is not an ordinary commercial van, or an ordinary MPV, it is (in our case) a "£73000 VW Factory Built Campervan".

Please can you inform me "CLEARLY" in writing if you/your underwriters are able to insure our vehicle + the VW factory built habitation area

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience

Personally, I think you’d be wasting your time. Decisions about how vehicles are rated and covered by insurers are made way above the level of anyone in customer services who is likely to read your email. But good luck anyway.

 

[Jester]

Just wondered what interested people think of this e-mail I was thinking of sending to relevant insurance companies before I forward it. Any suggestions would be appreciated:
"
Hello
I own a "VW California Ocean", which was registered as new on 15th March 2019 (If you are unfamiliar with this VW Factory produced vehicle please Google it). it's a; from new VW factory built "Campervan", it has for example;
- Gas hob
- Sink with running water
- On board gas cylinder
- Wardrobe
- Pop-top electrically operated raising roof (sleeping area for 2)
- 2 Belted Bench seat for 2 in the back which converts in to a double bed (Total sleeping for 4)
- Top loading fridge
- Attached wind out canopy

All the above is standard and manufactured by VW from new and assembled by VW from new.

As I am sure you will agree this is not an " After Market Campervan Conversion", it is a "From New VW Factory Built Campervan".

Frustratingly from around 2019 the DVLA has decided to describe "VW California Oceans" (Campervan) on the "V5C" in the following terms;

MODEL: Transporter T30 TDI BMT

BODY TYPE: MPV

TAXATION CLASS: Diesal Car

The implications of this can be owners inadvertently insuring their "VW California Ocean" as an "MPV" which it is definitely not, it is a "VW Factory built Campervan".

My concerns are that insuring our vehicle as an MPV does not accurately describe the vehicle and therefore relevant insurance cover might not be provided. I need to know "IN WRITING" that both the "VEHICLE" and the "HABITATION AREA" are covered by my insurance. This vehicle is not an ordinary commercial van, or an ordinary MPV, it is (in our case) a "£73000 VW Factory Built Campervan".

Please can you inform me "CLEARLY" in writing if you/your underwriters are able to insure our vehicle + the VW factory built habitation area

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience

I have gone your route and believe its not worth it I now have a case number from VW UK who say they have a team on this case. As I said in a earlier post more individuals need to contact customer care commercial and vent your frustration, ie we purchased a Campervan not a diesel MPV car. VW have more clout than a private individual.

My contact with VW UK
Dear Mr ?????
Thank you for speaking with me regarding case reference: VN15????????

Should you wish to speak to me before our next scheduled contact, please call me on 0114 450 3402 during my working hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 - 4:30

Kind regards

Rumina Islam

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK

Please if anyone has the same issue please get off your ass.



from my iPhone

 

[homerorchid]

I'll ring "Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK" tomorrow. Don't suppose people will take this issue seriously until they have to sadly make an insurance claim with regards to their MY19/MY20 etc insurance

 

[WelshGas]

I'll ring "Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK" tomorrow. Don't suppose people will take this issue seriously until they have to sadly make an insurance claim with regards to their MY19/MY20 etc insurance

You bought a Campervan. It should be VWs responsibility to do all that they can to ensure that is what you are supplied with. An MPV is not the same as you have found out.

 

[pjm-84]

What do you think the insurance will do? Do you think they will not pay out?

 

[WelshGas]

What do you think the insurance will do? Do you think they will not pay out?

As has been stated above some Specialist Camper/Motorhome Insurance companies/brokers will not accept a vehicle with MPV as Body Type so the range of Insurance Companies available to an owner is reduced/limited through no fault of their own.

 

[homerorchid]

If it's insured as an MPV and not a camper van then I have concerns that they may not pay out for claims relating to the habitation part of the van and other aspects such as the pop top. If I were to obtain motorhome insurance they may argue that I did not make them aware that the V5c says it's an MPV.

 

[flying banana]

I was with DL and asked about adding the Cali to my existing car - no problem they said, quoted me just over £500 and stated all factory fit was covered "turn it upside down, what falls out is not covered'!, but I went elsewhere...

They may well class it as an MPV though... but is that a problem?

So turn it upside down and YOU fall out. Does that count?I really hate car Insurance. Robbers all of them. I go with the cheapest quote because giving them more money makes no sense most of the time. I'd rather take a risk of a dent or 2 than pay these people more. Its like the TV licence. Where a law makes you pay. Whether you want it or not. Crooks. But a necessatity

 

[pjm-84]

In simply terms don't you insure the vehicle. This will come up on their database. Either they cover it or not.

 

[Ian Maddocks]

Comfort has accepted my (Jul 2019) California Ocean w/V5 of MPV, the underwriter has agreed this is a big balls up and taken the high ground.
I am trying to get the V5 Model classification changed from Transporter to California, I assumed that was a clerical error, now waiting on DVLA to return V5.

 

[Joker 1299]

This whole saga seems rather odd to me.

And here's the irony. Comfort, a broker, then use AVIVA as the underwriter to insure your Cali! Nuts.

No, it’s quite normal. In some specialist areas the underwriter will rely on a broker’s specialist knowledge of the risks to allow better rates and/or to take on risks that they would normally avoid.

 

[Jester]

Comfort has accepted my (Jul 2019) California Ocean w/V5 of MPV, the underwriter has agreed this is a big balls up and taken the high ground.
I am trying to get the V5 Model classification changed from Transporter to California, I assumed that was a clerical error, now waiting on DVLA to return V5.

Hope all goes well for you, if not please call VW UK, the more Cali owners the more pressure upon them.

 

[the_spudster]

For those who have Oceans why not go down the standard reclassification route as per a conversion? The end result will be the same. The V5 will show 'Motor Caravan"
Insurers are more interested in modifications and you can honestly state that there are none.

 

[Digger]

For those who have Oceans why not go down the standard reclassification route as per a conversion? The end result will be the same. The V5 will show 'Motor Caravan"
Insurers are more interested in modifications and you can honestly state that there are none.

Apparently not. Conversions are being classified van with windows on T6 forum.

If any change by DVLA it will possibly only apply to original manufacturers own - Ocean or MP.

 

[Loz]

For those who have Oceans why not go down the standard reclassification route as per a conversion? The end result will be the same. The V5 will show 'Motor Caravan"
Insurers are more interested in modifications and you can honestly state that there are none.

Not anymore. DVLA are no longer accepting reclassifications to Motorhome.

 

[Bellcrew]

So turn it upside down and YOU fall out. Does that count?I really hate car Insurance. Robbers all of them. I go with the cheapest quote because giving them more money makes no sense most of the time. I'd rather take a risk of a dent or 2 than pay these people more. Its like the TV licence. Where a law makes you pay. Whether you want it or not. Crooks. But a necessatity

I am amazed how cheap insurance is these days, what with crash for cash merchants/fraudulent whiplash claims and so many uninsured drivers who seem to be reckless idiots to a man.
The day they refuse to insure you is when the do really hits the fan.

 

[homerorchid]

It's not a point of insurance companies refusing to insure you, the question is are you able to get insurance that covers not just the van but the habitation area as well

 

[homerorchid]

Am I right in saying that "Motorcaravans" and "Commercial Vans" (as used by most campervan converters) don't attract the "Luxury Vehicle Tax" (Over £40,000) government first registration tax + subsequent next 5 yrs additional payment (drops after 6yrs)? but "MPV's do attract this tax. If this is the case it could be suggested that the reason this situation has occurred is to allow the government to gain more tax by classifying the California Ocean as an MPV. I can't see the DVLA allowing someone to reclassify their MY19 VW California Ocean to "Motorcaravan" and providing them with a refund of the Luxury Vehicle Tax and a further 5 yrs of reduced tax. The insurance implications for owners due to this change in Classification from Motorhome to MPV have clearly been highlight