Insurance for California Ocean

[Lost Boy]

For me i went with LV, mainly as Comfort said that it wouldn't be insured for more than 48 hours outside a friend's house unless it was on their drive, so that doesn't work for me. Comfort has a higher allowance for the camping kit inside I admit but LV is more car like insurance, so I can leave it where i want, when i want, frankly when I'm camping I'll be with it most of the time. I suspect its about what you use your van for most, mine's a daily and a camper and not just a camper so LV works best for me.

 

[Keith Smith]

My renewal with LV has just come up and so I phoned them yesterday to ask if I was covered as a campervan. I was on the phone for half an hour while he went away and checked and he assured me that LV know the California is a campervan so I am fully covered. I’ve renewed but not entirely happy.

 

[andyinluton]

Despite being on this forum for more than 10 years I've yet to see any report of anyone having an insurance payout refused or reduced due to the insurers not realising a VW California was a Campervan.

 

[WobblyWellers]

I just spent a bit of time on the phone with LV and they were adamant that they no longer insure Campervans. I explained that it was a stock VW Ocean not a conversion and that others seemed to be able to get quotes recently, but to no avail. Looks like it will be renewed with JustKampers at £536.

 

[brcas64]

Hi,
I just insured with LV on a 2020 T6.1 ocean which I pick up tomorrow. £540 for myself wife and daughter. I did not have any questions or issues. (I will introduce myself as soon as I get the van.Someone in LV has got it wrong.

 

[acer]

I just spent a bit of time on the phone with LV and they were adamant that they no longer insure Campervans. I explained that it was a stock VW Ocean not a conversion and that others seemed to be able to get quotes recently, but to no avail. Looks like it will be renewed with JustKampers at £536.

I’ve just renewed with LV again. They definitely know that they’re insuring a campervan. Perhaps it’s the channel you go through, or just luck of the draw on who you speak to that is responsible for people’s differing experiences?

 

[WobblyWellers]

I’ve just renewed with LV again. They definitely know that they’re insuring a campervan. Perhaps it’s the channel you go through, or just luck of the draw on who you speak to that is responsible for people’s differing experiences?

That's really strange. I tried online and on phone, so maybe just give it another go and see if I get a different answer.

 

[acer]

That's really strange. I tried online and on phone, so maybe just give it another go and see if I get a different answer.

Yeah, ask for Dave

 

[AdventureX]

Hello,

I'm currently looking at renewing my insurance. This is my 1st full year of VW Cali owernership. I've tried LV for a quote. They have come back with a very reasonable price (much different than Comfort). My only concern is that Comfort are a speciliast for campervan's and LV are not.

Comfort have the unattended policy which is not much of an issue for me. They also offer the new replacement within the first 3 years of owenership (as long as you've been the registered keeper since new).

However LV offer the market value at the time. I spoke to LV on a chat portal and clarified the insurance cover.

This is what they said:

• Thanks for getting in touch. We do not specialise in campervan insurance, but do insure some models. To also check is this a converted campervan?
  Chat Agent
  
  12:37
• 
  It's been built as a campervan by VW. It's not a van that has been converted to a campervan
  
  
• C
  Ok, what is the make of that?
  Chat Agent
  
  12:38
• 
  Volkswagen California Ocean T6.1
  12:39
• C
  Ok, so that is one we do insure. Our policy isn’t specifically designed to cover motorcaravans and as a result it may not give you all of the cover you need. There will be cover for accessories and other items fitted to the vehicle such as:
• · Fitted Awnings
• · Cookers
• · Fridges
• · Beds
• · Cupboards
  
  
  
• The cover limit for Personal Belongings is increased to £1,000 on Motorcaravans. This will cover the customer for any personal belongings such as:· Bed Linen· Cooking Utensils· Crockery· Cutlery etc.· Clothes
  
  I've not made a decision yet on what do about my policy but I would be interested to hear other members thoughts.
  
  
  

 

[Snoopy23]

There are many cali owners with lv Im with LV and used to work for them in claims, always been most competitive i believe there replacement cover is upto a year from new reg!
Comfort is a broker so not direct insurer like Lv who are now owned by aviva and have Vw approved insurers on there books should you need a repair just make sure you ask an many repair shops will not touch California. But do what your head says!

 

[Lost Boy]

Ask Comfort if they'll cover you whilst its parked on the road outside a friends house whilst you sleep in the house and you'll be surprised at the answer, I went with LV, more competitive and frankly who is going to break in to steal by duvet and pots and pans, its the van thy will be after.

 

[AdventureX]

There are many cali owners with lv Im with LV and used to work for them in claims, always been most competitive i believe there replacement cover is upto a year from new reg!
Comfort is a broker so not direct insurer like Lv who are now owned by aviva and have Vw approved insurers on there books should you need a repair just make sure you ask an many repair shops will not touch California. But do what your head says!

Thanks for your reply. After speaking to two different LV agents, i have felt pretty reassured about the level of cover for the camper. The big difference between Comfort and LV is the personal belongings cover. I'll see how I get on for the next 12 months

 

[Lewis8144]

Hi all,
i have insured with Adrian Flux as they were my first port of call and significantly cheaper than my last insurer. They asked for the value of the van which I gave. But they are now offering/asking me to do an agreed value assessment based on this:

Market Value
As we have not agreed the value of your motorhome prior to a claim, the payout will be subject to the findings of an insurance assessor who would inspect your damaged motorhome to assess the motorhome's value prior to the incident. In the event of a total loss claim, the value of your motorhome will be determined as the cost of replacing your motorhome, if this is possible, with one of a similar make, model, year, mileage and condition. Typically, the amount shown on the insurance schedule indicates the maximum possible payout.

To me this reads your motor home is worth 40K eg, and if you crash the assessor could inspect the remains of a vehicle and decide that it was actually only worth 10k or whatever they decide. They are asking for photos and also the agreed value will cost £18.

Has anybody else come across this and what are your thoughts on it? For me to cancel with them, and i haven't paid up front is going to cost £225.

Thanks in advance for all replies.

 

[WelshGas]

Hi all,
i have insured with Adrian Flux as they were my first port of call and significantly cheaper than my last insurer. They asked for the value of the van which I gave. But they are now offering/asking me to do an agreed value assessment based on this:

Market Value
As we have not agreed the value of your motorhome prior to a claim, the payout will be subject to the findings of an insurance assessor who would inspect your damaged motorhome to assess the motorhome's value prior to the incident. In the event of a total loss claim, the value of your motorhome will be determined as the cost of replacing your motorhome, if this is possible, with one of a similar make, model, year, mileage and condition. Typically, the amount shown on the insurance schedule indicates the maximum possible payout.

To me this reads your motor home is worth 40K eg, and if you crash the assessor could inspect the remains of a vehicle and decide that it was actually only worth 10k or whatever they decide. They are asking for photos and also the agreed value will cost £18.

Has anybody else come across this and what are your thoughts on it? For me to cancel with them, and i haven't paid up front is going to cost £225.

Thanks in advance for all replies.

It would appear they are treating your vehicle as a 3rd party conversion where you have to provide evidence of the conversion elements added to the base vehicle.
I would have another word with them to make sure they understand that a VW California is built and sold by VW and has NO 3rd party elements added and its value, unlike a Conversion, is readily available from multiple trade and retail sources.

 

[Perfectos]

To add to what WG said, the "book" value is available for all OEM models and is used extensively in the trade to determine values.

The "official book" value can be obtained from any car trader!

How do insurance companies value your car?

Wonder how insurance companies determine the value of your car? This guide tells all.

www.carwow.co.uk

It may be that Adrian Flux are doing you a favour, if you agree a value , then that's what will be paid out in case of total loss