NEW OCEAN INSURANCE QUOTE

[TjaayUK]

Hi All!

First post, so be gentle! After being a silent stalker on here for the last year I’m finally picking up my Ocean on Saturday. I’d wrongly assumed the insurance process would be straightforward, affordable and very much the final tick in the box before enjoying long anticipated road trips - how naive of me!

I’ve ordered a well specced 199 4Motion having recently sold my 2017 530d BMW M Sport which was insured with LV for £450, yet LV now won’t quote. The price comparison sites offered £1346 as best and final with some unknown providers; however I’ve just had £846 offered online through Safeguard. I’ll give them a call in the morning; however just wanted to see if there is any further guidance or advice in terms of providers and also do’s and don’t when requesting a policy for the van? i.e, I’ll occasionally be using the van to commute (is this a “no-no”?), I’ve added my wife to the policy who despite driving far more aggressively than me is saving me significantly versus a standalone policy for myself! That kind of thing..

If you don’t mind sharing (and I fully comprehend the complex insurance algorithms mean it’s difficult to compare like for like), but how much are you paying and with who?

Thanks in advance and I promise to be more active one I have the keys in hand!


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[Perfectos]

Hi TJ & Fam

congrats on the New Van

as you intimate, insurance is a thing that can be affected by many factors.
have a look at this thread for a few suggestions.

Insurance

Can anyone recommend an insurance company specialising in campers?

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Why Did LV decline to quote ? Did they give a reason ?
many on here are insured with LV !

there are plenty of other historical threads that you will find by using the the search function (top right)

hope that helps

 

[TjaayUK]

Hi TJ & Fam

congrats on the New Van

as you intimate, insurance is a thing that can be affected by many factors.
have a look at this thread for a few suggestions.

Insurance

Can anyone recommend an insurance company specialising in campers?

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Why Did LV decline to quote ? Did they give a reason ?
many on here are insured with LV !

there are plenty of other historical threads that you will find by using the the search function (top right)

hope that helps

Hey Perfectos, thanks for the speedy response and links - I’ll certainly run through them all now!

LV flagged discrepancies in my application. claims, driving history, ownership and no claims discounts tending to be the key contributors to this; however they are unable to be prescriptive and I’ve triple checked all the info submitted and it’s accurate. It’s an odd one as I’ve never had issues in the past, but something is obviously flagging and blocking the application. I’ll keep exploring the forum and also see if there are any cases of this. I must add LV were lovely and very helpful, but obviously their hands are tied in terms of the details available to them


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[SusiBus]

There is loads of info on the forum re insurance. Use the "search forums" function on the top of the page. We use Comfort Insurance, as do many members. They really know about insuring Californias, and rates are good. We pay £341 for a 204 4Motion , husband and wife, no convictions ( at the moment! ), and are old. Comfort tel: 020 8984 0777

 

[TjaayUK]

There is loads of info on the forum re insurance. Use the "search forums" function on the top of the page. We use Comfort Insurance, as do many members. They really know about insuring Californias, and rates are good. We pay £341 for a 204 4Motion , husband and wife, no convictions ( at the moment! ), and are old. Comfort tel: 020 8984 0777

Thanks SusiBus


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[BigJohn]

Hi Tjaay, feeling your pain at the moment, we're in exactly the same situation. I'm sure you've seen my posts in the safeguard thread

Comfort have a reasonable quote but I'm not keen on the 48hr unaccompanied rule in their policy. Safeguard appear to only be insuring motor accidents, not camping. I'm still waiting for AIB to get back to me - guess I'll phone them again tomorrow. I can't remember where I got to with LV (I have notes but they're not with me atm!).

Re: LV not quoting, a couple of months ago I changed my other car for something small that my daughter could learn to drive in, this resulted in many quotes through the meerkats and others to work out which car to buy & numerous other permutations to get the cheapest insurance - eventually one of the companies refused to quote because I'd hit them so many times!

 

[Hawthorn37]

Hi @TjaayUK, as per other comments, there are some good threads on insurance on the forum. We are maybe a week or so behind where you are - hopefully collecting our van soon. So, I did some exploratory calls in December to see the lie of the land. Without repeating what’s in the thread @Perfectos has mentioned, I discovered that it’s not all about price.

With such a high value asset, carrying an abnormal amount of your valuables and possessions in it, plus camping equipment, in my mind the choice involves slightly different selection criteria to insuring a straight car. Aspects such as ‘new for old’, camping equipment, valuables in the vehicle, time outside the UK, onward travel and accommodation, all play a part.

I was surprised for instance to find our home insurance is fairly useless when it comes to possesions out of the home, unless locked away in a glove compartment or a covered boot, and totally useless for camping equipment.

In this regard, we are currently looking into the specialists such as Comfort, CAMC insurance, AIB, Safeguard and A-Plan etc ( there are others - see the thread above). We have / do insure with LV for cars, travel etc., and a great company they are too. I had a quote for an Ocean from LV at 1/3 of the cost of CAMC and about 1/2 of AIB, however I personally don’t feel the level of cover from LV is adequate for our needs. But in the end it’s all about your perception of risk, your personal circumstances and choices.

 

[SusiBus]

I seem to remember.asking about the 48-hour leaving the vehicle unaccompanied. I think the reply was not as onerous as it sounds. For example, I don't think they are talking about if you leave your vehicle at an airport when you go away for a week's holiday. I think they're talking about if it's put in storage, like motorhomes are stored away from the owners house over long periods during the winter, but ask the question.

 

[MeltedGoldfish]

Comfort seemed quite hard over with the 48 hr rule when I asked (admittedly a couple of years ago), for example I couldn’t leave it at my work car park for 2 days when away on a business trip. That said…they did say they could allow it as long as you notified them each time. Airports while on holiday were ok but (they didn’t allow parking services where you have to hand over your keys - perhaps not unreasonable!), but it just wasn’t practical for me to be calling them every time I needed to leave my van at work for a couple of days, which could have been a few times a month.

As it is, Covid means it would never have been a problem anyway - so very much depends on how you use it.


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[Corradobrit]

Just be thankful you're not living in Germany. Quotes I'm getting range from 700-1500€ (the lower quotes are from dodgy underwriters) for comprehensive cover, 3 years NCB, one named driver with clean driving license and 57 years of age. The best quote from a reputable company like Allianz is almost 900€.
btw what are peoples thoughts/experiences with Allianz? Not having lived in Europe for the past 25 years I'm a little out of the loop.

 

[studioTUNGSTEN]

Comfort seemed quite hard over with the 48 hr rule

Surely, comfort are very weird guideline on a parking location. they rejected mine as I am having a resident only - key gate -24hrs under surveillance parking. Its def. better secured than a street parking But not on their acceptance. I am using caravan and motor home club insurance instead, just under £500, couple, full NCD. They simply include unlimited travel and other small covers which is convenient too.

 

[andyinluton]

I seem to remember.asking about the 48-hour leaving the vehicle unaccompanied. I think the reply was not as onerous as it sounds. For example, I don't think they are talking about if you leave your vehicle at an airport when you go away for a week's holiday. I think they're talking about if it's put in storage, like motorhomes are stored away from the owners house over long periods during the winter, but ask the question.

The trouble with insurance companies is that if what you think doesn't match what they meant it's you that looses out in the event of a claim.

 

[MeltedGoldfish]

Surely, comfort are very weird guideline on a parking location.

Agreed. I got into a long conversation with them about my work location, which was an open car park inside a much bigger fenced/gated and guarded compound. But they could only recognise a “fenced car park”, which is different, so wasn’t convinced they would honour it if something happened. Even after that they weren’t the cheapest anyway, so I went elsewhere with a policy that didn’t have any such restrictions.


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[B J G]

Just be thankful you're not living in Germany. Quotes I'm getting range from 700-1500€ (the lower quotes are from dodgy underwriters) for comprehensive cover, 3 years NCB, one named driver with clean driving license and 57 years of age. The best quote from a reputable company like Allianz is almost 900€.
btw what are peoples thoughts/experiences with Allianz? Not having lived in Europe for the past 25 years I'm a little out of the loop.

You can't compare German Insurance cover to UK cover as German has any Driver, no such thing as acts of God etc. Any Driver is because of the scenario where the Driver is unable to drive, illness or accident, another driver can drive to complete the journey (on a Motorway eg).

 

[B J G]

Hi All!

First post, so be gentle! After being a silent stalker on here for the last year I’m finally picking up my Ocean on Saturday. I’d wrongly assumed the insurance process would be straightforward, affordable and very much the final tick in the box before enjoying long anticipated road trips - how naive of me!

I’ve ordered a well specced 199 4Motion having recently sold my 2017 530d BMW M Sport which was insured with LV for £450, yet LV now won’t quote. The price comparison sites offered £1346 as best and final with some unknown providers; however I’ve just had £846 offered online through Safeguard. I’ll give them a call in the morning; however just wanted to see if there is any further guidance or advice in terms of providers and also do’s and don’t when requesting a policy for the van? i.e, I’ll occasionally be using the van to commute (is this a “no-no”?), I’ve added my wife to the policy who despite driving far more aggressively than me is saving me significantly versus a standalone policy for myself! That kind of thing..

If you don’t mind sharing (and I fully comprehend the complex insurance algorithms mean it’s difficult to compare like for like), but how much are you paying and with who?

Thanks in advance and I promise to be more active one I have the keys in hand!


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You probably should have arranged insurance before the new rule on giving new policies a discount to attract business came in.
High new policy costs will probably be a regular issue now.

 

[BigJohn]

I just heard back from AIB, a good quote, almost identical to comfort. An Aviva policy. Covers camping accidents - weather incidents with the roof, cooking fires Etc. £5k contents cover, 3 years new for old, £200 excess. They would need a tracker fitted but I don't think that's a great problem. When I asked about the 48hr rule he phoned the underwriter to check and came back to confirm that no, it can't be left for more than 48hrs without informing them. When I asked if they could get a quote from another underwriter, he said that due to the value of the 'van, no one else was likely to quote.

I'm not sure where to go next. I might phone him back - we're due to go skiing in March, if I leave it in a public carpark for a week will they cover it? If I visit the van every day and say hello is that enough - what's the definition of 'unattended'?

 

[66tim99]

I just heard back from AIB, a good quote, almost identical to comfort. An Aviva policy. Covers camping accidents - weather incidents with the roof, cooking fires Etc. £5k contents cover, 3 years new for old, £200 excess. They would need a tracker fitted but I don't think that's a great problem. When I asked about the 48hr rule he phoned the underwriter to check and came back to confirm that no, it can't be left for more than 48hrs without informing them. When I asked if they could get a quote from another underwriter, he said that due to the value of the 'van, no one else was likely to quote.

I'm not sure where to go next. I might phone him back - we're due to go skiing in March, if I leave it in a public carpark for a week will they cover it? If I visit the van every day and say hello is that enough - what's the definition of 'unattended'?

why don't you inform them you are leaving it in a public car park for a week and see what that costs?
Or give LV a call?

 

[BigJohn]

I called them back, they checked with the underwriter and said that if I can see the vehicle every day then it doesn't count as unattended!

I will try LV as well...

 

[JM1997]

Hi All!

First post, so be gentle! After being a silent stalker on here for the last year I’m finally picking up my Ocean on Saturday. I’d wrongly assumed the insurance process would be straightforward, affordable and very much the final tick in the box before enjoying long anticipated road trips - how naive of me!

I’ve ordered a well specced 199 4Motion having recently sold my 2017 530d BMW M Sport which was insured with LV for £450, yet LV now won’t quote. The price comparison sites offered £1346 as best and final with some unknown providers; however I’ve just had £846 offered online through Safeguard. I’ll give them a call in the morning; however just wanted to see if there is any further guidance or advice in terms of providers and also do’s and don’t when requesting a policy for the van? i.e, I’ll occasionally be using the van to commute (is this a “no-no”?), I’ve added my wife to the policy who despite driving far more aggressively than me is saving me significantly versus a standalone policy for myself! That kind of thing..

If you don’t mind sharing (and I fully comprehend the complex insurance algorithms mean it’s difficult to compare like for like), but how much are you paying and with who?

Thanks in advance and I promise to be more active one I have the keys in hand!


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Hi we bought a T5 a few years ago and found DialDirect insurance ok and they insured both myself, wife and two daugthers

dialdirect.co.uk

Hope this helps

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Hi All!

First post, so be gentle! After being a silent stalker on here for the last year I’m finally picking up my Ocean on Saturday. I’d wrongly assumed the insurance process would be straightforward, affordable and very much the final tick in the box before enjoying long anticipated road trips - how naive of me!

I’ve ordered a well specced 199 4Motion having recently sold my 2017 530d BMW M Sport which was insured with LV for £450, yet LV now won’t quote. The price comparison sites offered £1346 as best and final with some unknown providers; however I’ve just had £846 offered online through Safeguard. I’ll give them a call in the morning; however just wanted to see if there is any further guidance or advice in terms of providers and also do’s and don’t when requesting a policy for the van? i.e, I’ll occasionally be using the van to commute (is this a “no-no”?), I’ve added my wife to the policy who despite driving far more aggressively than me is saving me significantly versus a standalone policy for myself! That kind of thing..

If you don’t mind sharing (and I fully comprehend the complex insurance algorithms mean it’s difficult to compare like for like), but how much are you paying and with who?

Thanks in advance and I promise to be more active one I have the keys in hand!


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That sounds about right from Safeguard. I’ve used them for 8 years or so. I’ve always found them good to deal with. They are a specialist, which I think helps. I think we pay £650 or so but our van is 2008 so worth less to replace. We park off road. You absolutely must tell them if you’re going to commute. I didn’t, and then drove to work on Boxing Day once (no trains) and a car piled into me on the way home. I think Allianz were actually sympathetic and charged me £50 to include commuting even though the accident had already taken place. Eventually the other party paid up. Safeguard are brokers. The free AA cover is good. Used that a couple of times.

 

[Velma's Dad]

You absolutely must tell them if you’re going to commute. I didn’t, and then drove to work on Boxing Day once (no trains) and a car piled into me on the way home. I think Allianz were actually sympathetic and charged me £50 to include commuting even though the accident had already taken place. Eventually the other party paid up.

Ha ha let me guess: "sympathetic" Allianz then passed you over to a claims handling business who arranged for you to have a credit hire 'loan' car and all the rest. From which they will have made a fat profit, and Allianz will have got a backhander "referral fee" of several hundred quid. And of course they then also trousered the extra £50 you paid.

On the other hand you can bet your life that if it had been an at-fault prang on your part, you'd have been left high and dry with no opportunity to "upgrade" (and if people had got hurt and the police got involved you might also have been liable for a criminal charge of not having valid insurance).

Anyway for all those reasons LC is of course 100% right, no-one should ever make a mis-statement about the types of use on an insurance proposal, it's a recipe for disaster.

 

[Hawthorn37]

I just heard back from AIB, a good quote, almost identical to comfort. An Aviva policy. Covers camping accidents - weather incidents with the roof, cooking fires Etc. £5k contents cover, 3 years new for old, £200 excess. They would need a tracker fitted but I don't think that's a great problem. When I asked about the 48hr rule he phoned the underwriter to check and came back to confirm that no, it can't be left for more than 48hrs without informing them. When I asked if they could get a quote from another underwriter, he said that due to the value of the 'van, no one else was likely to quote.

I'm not sure where to go next. I might phone him back - we're due to go skiing in March, if I leave it in a public carpark for a week will they cover it? If I visit the van every day and say hello is that enough - what's the definition of 'unattended'?

That’s disappointing from AIB, they quoted me before Xmas with what I thought was a good deal, but didn’t think to ask about the 48 hour thing. Interestingly, my quote didn’t require a tracker, and the chap said the premium reduction would be minimal if I had one fitted. They also had a second insurer in the wings, Axa I think, which was £300 more.

I’m tending towards CAMC - 2 years new for old. Some good reviews.

 

[Hawthorn37]

So from what I’m currently finding, Aviva appears the go-to insurer for motorhomes and campervans for a number of brokers, as it gives competitive premiums. It looks like Comfort, AIB and Think Insurance use Aviva, and it’s Aviva that has the 48 hour rule. I’m querying whether airport parking is allowed or not - through Think Insurance.

The other detail I found today was the 3 years ‘new for old‘ cover with Aviva has some limitations. It has a maximum 15,000 miles or 3 years whichever is soonest, the van must be maintained per manufacturers guidance, and it doesn’t apply to ex demonstrators, or with 250 miles on the clock when you buy it. I can understand the principles, but 15,000 miles makes it not so attractive. CAMC insurance covers 2 years new for old without the mileage stipulation.

Another detail, the Aviva based policy covers camping equipment (via Think Insurance they quoted £2500 including awnings). Initially my reaction was “that’s great news!”. Then after questioning, to be insured the kit must be locked in the vehicle, so only useful if you’re on the move. CAMC cover £1500 for awnings, toilets tents etc that are attached or in the vicinity of the vehicle.

AIB and Think are suggesting ‘a small discount for fitting a tracker’ maybe 5% or so. What was more important was the factory fit Thatcham Cat 1 alarm. However I think this will depend upon where you live / how the van is parked.

That all said, I’m still pondering - given CAMC is around double the premium of AIB and Think, and I’m conscious of not trying to over-insure.

 

[Wildcamper]

Give A-Plan Specialist Vehicles a call. You can get to them via any A-Plan office or directly. They are in Thatcham near Reading. They gave me an excellent quotation and provide specialist campervan policies.

 

[WelshGas]

So from what I’m currently finding, Aviva appears the go-to insurer for motorhomes and campervans for a number of brokers, as it gives competitive premiums. It looks like Comfort, AIB and Think Insurance use Aviva, and it’s Aviva that has the 48 hour rule. I’m querying whether airport parking is allowed or not - through Think Insurance.

The other detail I found today was the 3 years ‘new for old‘ cover with Aviva has some limitations. It has a maximum 15,000 miles or 3 years whichever is soonest, the van must be maintained per manufacturers guidance, and it doesn’t apply to ex demonstrators, or with 250 miles on the clock when you buy it. I can understand the principles, but 15,000 miles makes it not so attractive. CAMC insurance covers 2 years new for old without the mileage stipulation.

Another detail, the Aviva based policy covers camping equipment (via Think Insurance they quoted £2500 including awnings). Initially my reaction was “that’s great news!”. Then after questioning, to be insured the kit must be locked in the vehicle, so only useful if you’re on the move. CAMC cover £1500 for awnings, toilets tents etc that are attached or in the vicinity of the vehicle.

AIB and Think are suggesting ‘a small discount for fitting a tracker’ maybe 5% or so. What was more important was the factory fit Thatcham Cat 1 alarm. However I think this will depend upon where you live / how the van is parked.

That all said, I’m still pondering - given CAMC is around double the premium of AIB and Think, and I’m conscious of not trying to over-insure.

Ask the Bacon Butty question.
If I'm cooking bacon in the van on the Gas cooker and the pan catches fire, then the fabric ceiling, am I insured?