Insuring a Beach

[Onward&Upwards]

Hi

I'm picking up my ex demonstrator T6 Beach this week after contemplating buying one for several years and weighing up all the options. One thing I hadn't anticipated was how difficult it would be to get the vehicle insured, Have spent a great deal of today ringing round and discovered that because I need business use occasionally that it has been near impossible to get it insured, All the companies mentioned on the forums eg. Comfort, Safeguard, Scenic, CCC couldn't provide me with a quote, Eventually I rang the VW dealer who put me in touch with an insurer who again couldn't provide motorhome insurance with business use, There was a lot of discussion also as to whether the Beach is a motorhome as it doesn't has a kitchen. I have eventually managed to get a quote from Adrian Flux who can provide business use but I have to have a tracker fitted first and until I do its not covered for theft. The company who fit the trackers have advised they could fit it within about three weeks so not really an option. Direct Line said they would provide cover but not for the fittings inside or the pop up roof so again not really an option. I now have a quote from LV in excess of £500 which has business use and I have confirmed over the phone that they are aware what time of type of vehicle it is and that the awning and pop top were covered. However, the personal belongings cover is minimal. Does anyone have experience of LV insurance or got any further suggestions for me as I cant believe it is this difficult to insure? I've been tearing my hair out today

 

[Rich20]

Direct line insure my Beach. They know it is a camper and have never mentioned the roof. Not sure what they mean by the fitting inside that you mention. There aren't any are there? Got business use as well.

 

[Gary&Heather]

Direct line do not insure VW beach's they consider it to be a seven seater and not a campervan.

 

[Fast Freddie]

I used Admiral (multicar) with no problems

 

[SimonB]

Hi

I'm picking up my ex demonstrator T6 Beach this week after contemplating buying one for several years and weighing up all the options. One thing I hadn't anticipated was how difficult it would be to get the vehicle insured, Have spent a great deal of today ringing round and discovered that because I need business use occasionally that it has been near impossible to get it insured, All the companies mentioned on the forums eg. Comfort, Safeguard, Scenic, CCC couldn't provide me with a quote, Eventually I rang the VW dealer who put me in touch with an insurer who again couldn't provide motorhome insurance with business use, There was a lot of discussion also as to whether the Beach is a motorhome as it doesn't has a kitchen. I have eventually managed to get a quote from Adrian Flux who can provide business use but I have to have a tracker fitted first and until I do its not covered for theft. The company who fit the trackers have advised they could fit it within about three weeks so not really an option. Direct Line said they would provide cover but not for the fittings inside or the pop up roof so again not really an option. I now have a quote from LV in excess of £500 which has business use and I have confirmed over the phone that they are aware what time of type of vehicle it is and that the awning and pop top were covered. However, the personal belongings cover is minimal. Does anyone have experience of LV insurance or got any further suggestions for me as I cant believe it is this difficult to insure? I've been tearing my hair out today

I have LV insurance, and have had for many years. In a previous life my wife & I had to use our cars for work and got paid mileage. LV were quite happy with this and were very quick to sort out the few incidents we had satisfactorily.
When we retired and bought the California I asked LV for a price, it was more than my Mk5 Golf, quite reasonably, so I asked around many other companies and got a lot of different prices. Some companies had no idea what a California was. I have always dealt with the companies on the phone as I find them much better able to resolve my questions. Both our vehicles are parked on the street for example. Some firms just couldn't cover this. When trying to request quotations on line the questions do not seem to deal with the exact situation I have and I think they err on the high side to cover eventualities.
You don't find out how good your insurance company is until you need it. The few times we have needed LV they have been good in sorting out the problems.

 

[hirsty]

I too park my Beach on the street. I went with LV last year but my renewal quote is £553 whilst Admiral said £350-odd on website ...

Having a ring around today.

 

[SimonB]

I would add that if an offer seems really good, do get it in writing and check the conditions. Some years ago one company said it would cover our cars for business and pleasure use and the price was excellent. I asked for it in writing and they wrote back to me to say that they were not able to cover our cars for business use after all.
You are told that all calls are recorded, but they have access to the recordings to prove what you were asked and what you said, I don't know if you would have access to them in the event of a dispute.

 

[Jay586]

We're still with LV for our van & can apparently stay with them after it's converted.

This is discussed on conversion groups a lot & the firms most often recommended are A-Plan, but a particular agent who specialises, Brentacre & Greenlight.

I'd never heard of the last two but people seem happy with them.

 

[MattBW]

I've been with LV for a four or five years now, and on my second with the beach. My renewal was just £4 more than the year prior.

I need to talk to them about my slidepod to ensure that it's covered when I am away. I suspect at present its not.

 

[owen_h]

Been with LV for the last few years, pror to that was Direct Line. In both cases its a car policy rather than motorhome. This can be important if you want to maintain any NCB if the Beach is replacing a 'normal' car.
As other have said you only really know how good an insurer is if you need to make a claim but all my dealings with LV have been good. Registered a suspension modification (lowering springs) and interior mod (kitchen pod) on the policy. Dont need business use .

 

[Onward&Upwards]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Reassuring to hear from those who use LV and went with them in the end as they were happy to insure it on a car policy even when I explained it had a pop uproof and awning. Here's to the start of the adventures!