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insuring a panel van as a camper

Posted: 23 Apr 2006, 11:39
by dink
if i was to buy a panel van and install a home made camping interior into it
do i have to insure it as a panel van or a camper
also the bus i have now is not ready for the road, the insurance company say it's only a camper if it has running water and a sink and a cooker
i have a cooker in the bus but not a sink
we've alway's used a washing up bowl in the past

Posted: 23 Apr 2006, 16:31
by kevtherev
I've always thought that Ins. co. take type from the log book.
my conversion was done by Autosleeper and is on their data base.
It's all about risk assesment.
If a registered co. has converted the van then the assesment is known.
If you D I Y then they will asses it accordingly.

Posted: 23 Apr 2006, 17:00
by matt
easy solved
fill in change of use on v5
put 2 axle rigid motorcaravan on log book
send off to dvla
wait a week
as if by magic, its a camper

Posted: 23 Apr 2006, 20:25
by dubsta
tis true what the matt man say I did this 8)

Posted: 23 Apr 2006, 20:36
by DiscoDave
send off to dvla
wait a week
what for?? your more likely to have to wait for death before it comes back and even than they might not have bothered to do anything with it!!!

Posted: 23 Apr 2006, 22:51
by missusjen
DiscoDave wrote:
send off to dvla
wait a week
what for?? your more likely to have to wait for death before it comes back and even than they might not have bothered to do anything with it!!!
I've not had mine back yet.....sent it off on the 29th march..... :?

Posted: 27 Apr 2006, 14:13
by ermie571
change of engine number and fuel to dual...2 sent off together. One back within a week, the other 10 days!!

amazing
:shock:

Emma

Posted: 28 Apr 2006, 20:10
by smavan
so chaps let me get this right, to change my "panel van" to a camper i just send in the v5 with those wonderful words and they send it back as a 2 axle rigid body motorcarvan. no questions asked no trip to local office for them to check!

Posted: 28 Apr 2006, 20:55
by missusjen
We never had to before......

Still haven't got my V5 back for the Syncro though..........glad this thread keeps reminding me.... :roll:

Posted: 30 Apr 2006, 13:28
by blu trukkie
Ours took about a week to ten days to come back..........Must be a Northern thing, you know.......SLOW !!!! :twisted:

Posted: 30 Apr 2006, 14:40
by missusjen
It's still not back........this is over 4 weeks.........I'm wondering when to start worrying.....

Posted: 30 Apr 2006, 17:37
by Flibbertigibbet
I have sent mine off as I thought I had to let them know it runs on L.P.G. they say they don't need to know had two forms back which say my van is white :roll:

Posted: 02 May 2006, 12:30
by dbroada
it may depend on the insurance company though. all above is correct about getting your V5 changed but some insurance companies insist that to be insured as a camper you must their minimum requirements which often include: side windows(!), sink & running water, table, a 6ft bed, wardrobe etc. This is to stop traders chucking a matress in the back and use it as a delivery truck during the week and insuring it at the cheaper camper rate.

Not all companies insist though so be prepared to shop around if you don't meet their minimum requirements. Mine doesn't as a number of those items were sacrificed (table, wardrobe & running water) to suit how we wanted to use the van.

Posted: 02 May 2006, 19:10
by Chunkmama
I have a home conversion, my insurance company gave me six months to convert my van if I didn't do it my insurance would revert to a commercial ins which is more expensive. I have to send in some photos to prove the work I have done and fill in a check list to say the state of certain things such as electrics. The value of the van is harder though as you have to say why you want to give the value of the van as more than you paid for it. Maybe coz its a proper camper now isn't good enough. So we now have running fresh water and waste water collection a sink, a bed and several cupboards or wardrobes as they can be refered to, a comfy bed and electric.

Which reminds me I must do that, seeing as I have been camping in it already. To test it you understand

Posted: 05 May 2006, 13:45
by monkeynut
Glad to see no one has been draged off for a SVA test :)