"Insurance" VB Air Suspension

[homerorchid]

Does anyone know if having "VB Air Suspension" (only VW approved air suspension) has any effect on insurance premiums?

 

[calikev]

no i dont think so my insurance company said if it was vw approved it wouldnt cost me anymore

 

[homerorchid]

Thanks for that, I will check with insurance companies before having it fitted but just wanted an idea of peoples experiences

 

[bvddobb]

Well, the insured value may be higher!

 

[homerorchid]

Do you have VB Air Suspension installed bvddobb, if so what insurance company did you use, did it increase your insurance, were there any other insurance issues

 

[bvddobb]

We have VB, yes. We are insured with the dutch camper club (NKC). The total insured value was increased with the approx. € 5,000 of the air suspension. So, the premium was also increased a few €. The premiums as a % of the insured value did not increase, though.

The same principle applied for the cost/value of other ‘fixed’ mods we have, e.g. raised air intake, bottom protection, solar panels, etc. They all increase the insured value of the van, and as such they al increase the premium somewhat. But al in line with the general premium %.

 

[homerorchid]

Thank you very much for your detailed reply, I'll take to insurance companies, great to hear others experiences, thanks again.

 

[ChrisB]

I've just been quoted 7180 euros for full VB air suspension, here in Spain! Price includes all taxes & homogolation (ITV) fees.

 

[briwy]

I've just been quoted 7180 euros for full VB air suspension, here in Spain! Price includes all taxes & homogolation (ITV) fees.

That's a crazy price. It would be cheaper to take it to the UK and get it done.
No re the insurance. We've never been charged more and have always declared it.

 

[ChrisB]

That's a crazy price. It would be cheaper to take it to the UK and get it done.
No re the insurance. We've never been charged more and have always declared it.

 

[ChrisB]

Unfortunately, making alterations to a motor vehicle is not that easy to do in Spain. Any modifications (and I do mean any) to the original vehicle spec' have to be done by (or inspected and approved) by an authorised and qualified vehicle engineer. You can imagine how difficult it is to get a garage to 'certifcate' any work they haven't done themselves. VB only have one authorised 'partner' for their systems in Spain and that is in Barcelona. They appear to have the monopoly on the franchise. Once the work is completed, they have to submit a 'projecto' (report) that complies with eu homogolation reg's (in spanish) to the vehicle inspectorate. The VI (ITV) will then inspect the work, and if satisfied, they will include the approved alterations onto the vehicle's mechanical inspection document. If the work was carried out in the UK then it is highly unlikely that the Spanish authorities would accept any modifications done outside Spain. You really don't know how lucky you are in the UK LOL! After all this rigmarole has been complied with, you can then notify the insurers as to the alterations and they will give you the increased premium.

 

[bvddobb]

We used to have a situation like @ChrisB describes in NL as well until a few years ago, with upgrading the max approved weight. What happened then, is the car was exported (on paper only) to Germany, where there was already a homologation for the VB air suspension on a VW van with higher max weight. So it was ok with the DE road authorities. Then it was imported back: when one imports a vehicle from one EU country where it is approved, it gets automatically approved in the other EU country, and is given a new country license based on the other country's data, so WITH the higher weight limit. That was all a purely administrative process, handled within a day. There were several dealers who specialised in the process.
Nowadays it is no longer necessary: there is an NL homologation on the VB air with higher weight limits. Our max weight with the VB air suspension is since 3250 kg.

 

[Ksar-el-kebir]

Does anyone know if having "VB Air Suspension" (only VW approved air suspension) has any effect on insurance premiums?

None. I asked my insurer, Safeguard and they said it’s VW approved so I got it!

 

[Eliot]

Does anyone know if having "VB Air Suspension" (only VW approved air suspension) has any effect on insurance premiums?

hi, did you get the VB air suspension fitted? I'm based in France and thinking of getting it fitted in Switzerland (I feel it's more likely I'll get a proper job done). Be interested in your experience of living with the air suspension, thanks!

 

[homerorchid]

Still on the cards but unfortunately not as yet. Still really love the idea of all the benefits I feel that full air suspension would give us.

 

[babble]

i'm now thinking about doing this. Anyone with experience of doing it in Belgium? Advice most welcome! (i'm guessing you may have had it fitted in NL? then i'm wondering how difficult the paperwork part was to have it approved etc?)