Insurance

[GrumpyGranddad]

Me again sorry.... I have been in contact with C&MC and they have asked me to find out what make and model the immobiliser is. I have stated that it is factory fitted, does anyone have any more detail about which immobiliser is fitted? TIA

I think the important thing is that it is a factory fitted Thatcham Cat.1 approved alarm/immobiliser.

I think the important thing is that it is a factory fitted Thatcham Cat.1 approved alarm/immobiliser.

 

[DebbieO]

I think the important thing is that it is a factory fitted Thatcham Cat.1 approved alarm/immobiliser.

Thank you

 

[andyinluton]

I'm going through my insurance options now and thinking about adding a dash cam to reduce premium

Worth checking with the insurer first as a camera works both ways & can be used against you to prove an accident was your fault.
I asked on my Merc & it was suggested it would increase the premiums if I fitted one.

 

[DebbieO]

I think the important thing is that it is a factory fitted Thatcham Cat.1 approved alarm/immobiliser.

This is really bugging me now! C&MC's colleague has asked specifically for the make and model name for the alarm and immobiliser. She states that there are different Thatcham Cat 1 alarms/immobiliser and that I require the model name to benefit from a competitive quotation, otherwise I am very limited to which insurance they can offer. Without the detail I was quoted £687 with AXA. First time California owner! How does this sounds?

Didn't think that sorting an insurance would be so painful C&MC' colleague has been very helpful to be fair. She phoned up her referral team for advice too!

My dealership also reckons that factory fitted Thatcham Cat 1 is sufficient!

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

This is really bugging me now! C&MC's colleague has asked specifically for the make and model name for the alarm and immobiliser. She states that there are different Thatcham Cat 1 alarms/immobiliser and that I require the model name to benefit from a competitive quotation, otherwise I am very limited to which insurance they can offer. Without the detail I was quoted £687 with AXA. First time California owner! How does this sounds?

Didn't think that sorting an insurance would be so painful C&MC' colleague has been very helpful to be fair. She phoned up her referral team for advice too!

My dealership also reckons that factory fitted Thatcham Cat 1 is sufficient!

I went with Comfort Insurance who’s policy is specifically for campervans. Also has new for old cover included. Had no hassle from them re’ the alarm/immobiliser. If you don’t have any joy with C&MC try them.

 

[WelshGas]

This is really bugging me now! C&MC's colleague has asked specifically for the make and model name for the alarm and immobiliser. She states that there are different Thatcham Cat 1 alarms/immobiliser and that I require the model name to benefit from a competitive quotation, otherwise I am very limited to which insurance they can offer. Without the detail I was quoted £687 with AXA. First time California owner! How does this sounds?

Didn't think that sorting an insurance would be so painful C&MC' colleague has been very helpful to be fair. She phoned up her referral team for advice too!

My dealership also reckons that factory fitted Thatcham Cat 1 is sufficient!

https://www.thatcham.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/September-2020-OE.pdf

 

[DebbieO]

https://www.thatcham.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/September-2020-OE.pdf

View attachment 70739
View attachment 70740

Thanks for this, I have passed on this detail that GrumpyGrandad also sent and still the saga continues! I have sent another email to my dealership this afternoon, I'm hoping that he will come up with the answer!

 

[johna]

This does seem silly. The insurer should know all about the vehicle and the manufacturer fitted security. I was simply asked whether there was any alarm or security device in addition to the manufacturer's fitted device.

Maybe someone does not fully understand what they are doing, even if they are helpful and pleasant. Unfortunately I think this can happen whichever company or broker you deal with. My experience with C&MC was very straightforward, just a few months ago. Best of luck.

 

[DebbieO]

This does seem silly. The insurer should know all about the vehicle and the manufacturer fitted security. I was simply asked whether there was any alarm or security device in addition to the manufacturer's fitted device.

Maybe someone does not fully understand what they are doing, even if they are helpful and pleasant. Unfortunately I think this can happen whichever company or broker you deal with. My experience with C&MC was very straightforward, just a few months ago. Best of luck.

Thank you

 

[Wongo]

This is really bugging me now! C&MC's colleague has asked specifically for the make and model name for the alarm and immobiliser. She states that there are different Thatcham Cat 1 alarms/immobiliser and that I require the model name to benefit from a competitive quotation, otherwise I am very limited to which insurance they can offer. Without the detail I was quoted £687 with AXA. First time California owner! How does this sounds?

Didn't think that sorting an insurance would be so painful C&MC' colleague has been very helpful to be fair. She phoned up her referral team for advice too!

My dealership also reckons that factory fitted Thatcham Cat 1 is sufficient!

I find this staggeringly inept from tbe insurer, how many Calis do they insure? Probably dozens if not more yet they ask the same bloody questions!

 

[DebbieO]

I find this staggeringly inept from tbe insurer, how many Calis do they insure? Probably dozens if not more yet they ask the same bloody questions!

The dealership cant help further either! I will have to result in finding alternative insurance which is a shame.

 

[GrahamB]

I went with Comfort Insurance who’s policy is specifically for campervans. Also has new for old cover included. Had no hassle from them re’ the alarm/immobiliser. If you don’t have any joy with C&MC try them.

Same here. Comfort were aware of the factory fit alarm/immobiliser and that it was Thatcham Cat 1 - so it meets the requirements of any insurer. The fact that C&MC dont seem to know this would put me off frankly. Also I declared the lowering springs and bike rack as modifications but neither actually counted as such. I’m mentioning this because mods came up in another thread about insurance.

 

[This Eva]

Now got my own insurance sorted. Tried Comfort first, got the sorry you need a s7 vts tracker. He wouldn’t listen to me when I quoted several forum members eg GGD who have achieved insurance without the additional tracker. I am getting a ghost 2 immobiliser fitted tomorrow. Anyway comfort policy is underwritten by Aviva, so found the same policy via AIB but £44 cheaper without the need of the expensive tracker. There is a tracker hidden in the van a vodaphone curve costing £2 a month . So think it’s all covered. Even the We connect app confirms where Eva is.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Now got my own insurance sorted. Tried Comfort first, got the sorry you need a s7 vts tracker. He wouldn’t listen to me when I quoted several forum members eg GGD who have achieved insurance without the additional tracker. I am getting a ghost 2 immobiliser fitted tomorrow. Anyway comfort policy is underwritten by Aviva, so found the same policy via AIB but £44 cheaper without the need of the expensive tracker. There is a tracker hidden in the van a vodaphone curve costing £2 a month . So think it’s all covered. Even the We connect app confirms where Eva is.

It seems it depends who you talk to at both Comfort and C&MC. Some staff training is in order me thinks.

 

[dfps]

We've been with SAGA Motorhome Insurance for several years for vehicle and full European breakdown cover.
Never had to claim so I suppose that's a mark of how good any insurance really is but we've found the policy pretty comprehensive and price is acceptable.
Gives same breakdown cover for any caravan or trailer that's being towed ( some companies don't ).
No time limit ie : Cali could be in EU for 365 days and was an attractive element of the cover for us as some companies only allowed 90 days at a time in EU prior to brexit. They still give 365 days cover but sadly we will only be allowed 90/180 when we leave the EU so not such a big factor anymore.
May be an attractive element if someone wants to drive their Cali to a holiday home and leave the vehicle there and fly back in an out to comply with the 90/180 rule ?

 

[GraemeSmith]

We've been with SAGA as well last year, but just got an email this morning saying that their underwriter won't cover this class of vehicle any more.

We already have another couple of vehicles insured with Admiral, so I checked there and got a multi-vehicle discount taking the policy to essentially £316 per year once all of the discounts (for each vehicle) are calculated. (For anyone wanting to compare situations, we had 9 years NCB to put on the Cali, 2 drivers and no previous.., and this price included protected NCD with £250 vol excess)

 

[WelshGas]

We've been with SAGA as well last year, but just got an email this morning saying that their underwriter won't cover this class of vehicle any more.

We already have another couple of vehicles insured with Admiral, so I checked there and got a multi-vehicle discount taking the policy to essentially £316 per year once all of the discounts (for each vehicle) are calculated. (For anyone wanting to compare situations, we had 9 years NCB to put on the Cali, 2 drivers and no previous.., and this price included protected NCD with £250 vol excess)

Check the small print carefully that you have adequate cover for “ camping “ accidents/claims. Some companies only cover “ vehicle “ accidents.

 

[GraemeSmith]

Check the small print carefully that you have adequate cover for “ camping “ accidents/claims. Some companies only cover “ vehicle “ accidents.

Good point WG. On a related note, I noticed that the Caravan and Motorhome Club excluded commuting, just in case anybody is comparing them...

 

[Private_Kelly]

I ‘ve had several quotes now and the most expensive was A Plan so that invoked plan B and I read on the forum that LV are quite competitive so gave them a try and it came in at a very reasonable £208 fully comp for a Coast. Not bad at all that.

 

[Private_Kelly]

Can anyone recommend an insurance company specialising in campers?

I have just insured my Coast with LV. Cheapest quote by some margin.
I have also used Comfort Insurance in the past for my SE.

 

[LPGoodwood]

Good point WG. On a related note, I noticed that the Caravan and Motorhome Club excluded commuting, just in case anybody is comparing them...

They will add it if you ask them, for a nominal fee obviously

 

[Crofty]

As a new Ocean owner I found Comfort insurance very helpful and informative when I called them for a quote. The quote was very reasonable and comprehensive and I had no issues with questions about security devices/accessories as they were very knowledgeable about the VW Californias and I really felt as if they were interested in finding me the best deal and no question was too much.

 

[Footy69]

As a new Ocean owner I found Comfort insurance very helpful and informative when I called them for a quote. The quote was very reasonable and comprehensive and I had no issues with questions about security devices/accessories as they were very knowledgeable about the VW Californias and I really felt as if they were interested in finding me the best deal and no question was too much.

I agree, we will be using Comfort when ours arrives!

 

[WelshGas]

As a new Ocean owner I found Comfort insurance very helpful and informative when I called them for a quote. The quote was very reasonable and comprehensive and I had no issues with questions about security devices/accessories as they were very knowledgeable about the VW Californias and I really felt as if they were interested in finding me the best deal and no question was too much.

I agree, we will be using Comfort when ours arrives!

Make sure you understand the 48hr rule which Comfort operate.

 

[Footy69]

Make sure you understand the 48hr rule which Comfort operate.

Thank you I’ll check that out. Is there a way round it Welshgas