Insurance including living in van

[Dave Preston]

I moved my insurance to AIB and the quote was way cheaper than previously (Staveley Head?) last year, as long as I limited my mileage and van was on drive when not in use - not a problem. When my house sale completes I am going to live in my Renault van conversion on The Isle of Skye until I find and buy a house there. I didn't expect it to be a problem with my insurance but thought I'd check. Apparently the insurer will only cover me to live in my van for up to 2 months for an additional premium, and after that will not cover me. AIB are looking for an alternative insurer, so hopefully they will come back with something, but does anyone else have experience of this?
I would have thought that the risk was lower if I am in the van, after all people go on holiday for months in their vans but apparently the problem is because I don't have a house as well; I asked why that makes a difference and was told they don't know but it does!

 

[trevskoda]

as i have found in the past they make the rules up to there on agenda and there always on the winning side.

 

[Teutone]

we might be in a similar position soon. If you take an insurance policy out, there is NO mentioning of how many days you can use the vehicle. I am under the impression that I can use my motorhome 365 days a year. That's what I have insured it for. Not for 2 month.

I am not even going to tell my insurer.

 

[Daveandjacqui]

Hi Teutone,having worked in the business I would urge you to check the policy wording as there are often clauses limiting the amount of time abroad and sometimes stipulating how long you can travel in the UK.
You also need to watch a thing called utmost good faith which applies to all insurance contracts. It means that you must tell the insurers about anything which could influence their view of the risk.
This is a problem I will face at next renewal and to be honest not sure how to solve.
Just googling and read up a post on motorhome 365 where Safeguard got some good press.
Good Luck

 

[iampatman]

When I speak to other motorhomers about insurance they all seem to be paying less than me. But I can be in EU 365 days fully comp c/w breakdown cover and when I'm at home they're happy for it to be parked on the road (I don't have a drive). Other companies I've spoken to either won't insure if parked on the road or won't give me 365 days EU cover. I've been living in my van in France and Spain since October and for the last three months the wheels haven't turned. Do you have friends or family you could be "living" with until you buy your next house and just be holidaying in the meantime?
Pat

 

[Talbot]

Saga motorhome insurance has 365 days cover UK and EU and is reasonably priced.

Leading Specialist in Over 50s Insurance | Get a Quote From Saga

Year-round EU cover – included at no extra cost and for an unlimited period.

 

[Firefox]

... apparently the problem is because I don't have a house as well; I asked why that makes a difference and was told they don't know but it does!

The reason is that if you live in a house, you get lumped in with Mr Cautious-loadsofcash who uses his van 4 times a year then carefully drains it down and doesn't touch it for 6 months. Most people ridiculously under-use their vans. They are more of a status symbol to be displayed on the drive than for actual use. If you don't believe me just look at the really low mileages that people expect (and get!) on used vans. 10 years old 25,000 miles etc etc. It's a shameful waste, but what it means for insurers, is that it is a very low risk business.

If you don't have a house, you fall into the full timer, traveller of no fixed address group. It's likely to be a lower income group. They are likely to mix in "rougher" company and leave the van on roads, campsites or wilding overnight and in the day. They move around more and they can't be pinned to any particular post code. They may move in and out of high crime areas. The van is used all the time and subject to greater likelihood of damage or fire risk.

Sorry for stereotyping, but that is exactly what insurance companies do. They stereotype people, put them into boxes, and assign a risk to the box. So even though your quiet life on Skye may be much more risk free, you'll still attract some of the extra premiums associated with full timing without a dwelling.

 

[Teutone]

Hi Teutone,having worked in the business I would urge you to check the policy wording as there are often clauses limiting the amount of time abroad and sometimes stipulating how long you can travel in the UK.
You also need to watch a thing called utmost good faith which applies to all insurance contracts. It means that you must tell the insurers about anything which could influence their view of the risk.
This is a problem I will face at next renewal and to be honest not sure how to solve.
Just googling and read up a post on motorhome 365 where Safeguard got some good press.
Good Luck

Thanks for your advise, I will read it all very carefully. Better safe than sorry.

 

[FULL TIMER]

Vern is correct it what he say's in the above post, we got over the problem by using my parents address as our own and I am on the electoral roll so as far as anyone is concerned that IS our address, also handy for the quacks and banking etc, seems a pain in the arse that the only people that actually require you to have a residential address is the insurance companies everyone else seems happy just to have a contact address, If you are really stuck there is true fulltimers insurance but expensive as only a couple of companies offer it. You could also look at Boatmail or similar services a lot of boat dwellers use this as do a few over on ukhippy all that have spoken about their services seem pretty happy.

 

[Telstar]

Saga

Saga, that's just a dream for us youngsters. No doubt by the time we get there it will be like state pensions, they will have moved the goal posts.

What you need is a full timing policy. Some of your problems may be that you will not have a postal address.

Jon

 

[jagmanx]

Try comfort as well

I moved my insurance to AIB and the quote was way cheaper than previously (Staveley Head?) last year, as long as I limited my mileage and van was on drive when not in use - not a problem. When my house sale completes I am going to live in my Renault van conversion on The Isle of Skye until I find and buy a house there. I didn't expect it to be a problem with my insurance but thought I'd check. Apparently the insurer will only cover me to live in my van for up to 2 months for an additional premium, and after that will not cover me. AIB are looking for an alternative insurer, so hopefully they will come back with something, but does anyone else have experience of this?
I would have thought that the risk was lower if I am in the van, after all people go on holiday for months in their vans but apparently the problem is because I don't have a house as well; I asked why that makes a difference and was told they don't know but it does!

I am with comfort they cover me for full-timing @£850 (inc breakdown.

Semms a lot as you say in some ways the risk is lower.
Try AIB I have just contacted them and after a brief discussion about Comfort we mutually came to the conclusion to stay with Comfort for NOW.

The reason I was thinking about changing is that someone else will be using the MH for 3 weeks and they want an additional £50 a week for 1 driver and again £40 for the partner.
Not happy but that is insurance companies .. they hate peculiarities !

 

[John H]

Try Safeguard - 365 day European cover with recovery.

 

[Dave Preston]

Thank you all for your replies, particularly the explanation of why I am considered a high risk when in reality I don't think I am; there may be a greater fire risk as I will be in the van more, but I won't be necessarily be using it any more than here and will stick within the mileage limit. There will be less risk of theft as I will be in it!
Out of interest you may want to know the details for comparison:-
The current insurer is MarkerStudy Insurance Company Limited through AIB.
Premium = £180 for comprehensive cover, sole driver. Sounds good (I am 60 this year and had the van 2 /12 years so not sure if I have full no claims).
Mileage limited to 9,000.
Must be kept off road when not in use.
Compulsory Excess = £100, n o voluntary excess.
Vehicle = 1999 Renault Master 2.5D MWB Hi-top converted by Night Owl conversion.
Value = £8500

The insurer wants a £25 fee for me living in the vehicle for up to 2 months (probably admin fee) but will not insure me for any longer. The additional charge seems reasonable but I cannot guarantee I will only live in it for 2 months. it's a shame because it seems a great premium for the cover provided. I realise I could lie or not tell them but I don't want to be dishonest. I do have a friend in Scotland that will be having my mail but I don't want to have that as my address as she will lose her single occupancy reduction in council tax.

The policy wording doesn't mention any limit on time away, but then it isn't the full policy wording which I can get if I need.

Thanks all for your time, I will try safeguard and Saga but looking at what people have said I think I will be paying a LOT more.