Insurance

[sparky]

Yes I think your probably right anything that deviates from the so call norm insurance company's don't like.
I did try footman james Im still waiting for a reply Ill give them a call monday and speak to them. ill look into kit car specialist insurance company's.
And to think I actually considered building my own ev it must be extremely hard getting insurance for self build projects! thanks
Neil.

[qdos]

It's actually not difficult at all getting insurance on self build projects You just have to know where to go. It's not difficult to figure out where not to go

[ChrisB]

I did try footman james Im still waiting for a reply.............

mmmmmm had a similar problem sadly with FJ

Fluxy should be able to quote for you I'd think, I've insured some whacky stuff with them before, try going down the route of its an electric Multispace rather than a Berlingo van, as once you have put in the windows in it then its no longer a van anyway is it

ChrisB

[sparky]

I did try flux without success Ill try them again and put it a different way.
maybe Ill look into self built again I often thought that a ex post office ldv pilot crew-bus would be ideal you got 6 seats room underfloor and at back for batteries etc and conventional drive layout.

[tim.strutt]

Well after reading this thread, I've just shipped an email to Footman James asking about a multivehicle policy - to include three berlingos and our Landrover - I've mentioned seat conversions so that should be interesting.

I'll let you know if they reply to my email.

We are curently with the NFU, who insure our Berlingos as "multispaces" - they do their own underwriting, however we are currently paying £200 per Berlingo.

Also I've located this company, although I called a couple of months ago, and I'm still waiting a callback from them!

http://www.pluginsure.co.uk/plug_contact.htm

Tim.

[qdos]

Also I've located this company, although I called a couple of months ago, and I'm still waiting a callback from them!

http://www.pluginsure.co.uk/plug_contact.htm

Tim.

Woooh now that's an ineresting company I might drop them a line in my capacity as Editor of Plugged In and ask them some of these awkward questions.

So has anyone here used them? If so what are your impressions. What questions do people have for Insurance companies?

I can feel an article comming on Let me have all your thoughts, questions and opinions.

So I've started a thread here for you guys to put down your snippets and let's see if we can get a good article sorted for the magazine

[Grumpy-b]

I too am doing the rounds for re-insurance.
CO-OP who I was with, wont consider any modifications at all. Footman James will do mods, but wont insure a private person in a van for business use (I need to go to more than one office/ fixed place of work) currently trying the NFU as I have an intro there, next will be Adrian Flux.

If I get anywhere I will let you know.

Grumpy-b

[tim.strutt]

Good luck Grumpy.

The NFU WILL quote you, but will refer to the underwriters, and put it as a Car, probably because they classed mine the same as the 1571cc Multispace, quotes about £200 as mentioned. regards the rear seat conversions with them, again good luck, I've still not bottomed them on this one, I've mentioned it, but actually still not 100% happy if they cover seat converted Berlingos!

UPDATE 19JULY 2010 - NFU have changed their policies. They now have electriques on their commercial vehicle insurance. The problem is its a commercial vehcile insurance so no other vehcile 3rd party cover, and thwe premiums up to c £350!!!.

We do however still have one van thats been renewed as a berlingo multispace as its had a rear seat conversion, and we had to have a letter from the local garage to say its been professionally fitted - they also do the MOTs.

I've been busy trying to find alternative quotes for insurance...

Results so far.

PlugInsure- I asked again today, and was called back and warned their intitial enquiries were around the £490 (!) mark, per van.

Citroen Insurance (UK Insurance Ltd) - In summary, yes they will quote for a bog standard Electrique, but any modifications, especially a seat would have to be referred back by the Underwriters to Citroen, and reading between the lines, it matters not one jot whtehr you get it N1 tested by a suitable automotive organsiation and certified as passing, because, reading between the lines, as its not a standard "factory fit" it has to be referred back to Citroen..


Footman James - What an utter utter utter (get the picture) waste of space.
I called this lunchtime to see about my email, and had to give my details again only to be told I was through to the wrong area as " they won't do multiple vehicles unless there is an equal number of 15yrold for the number of "modern" vehicles", so he put me through to Andy.

Andy wanted to go through all my details again, and so I suggested I resend him the email with it all on, on the understanding I was looking for them to quote for each vehicle. This he agreed.

Over an hour later I called, and was told I couldn't talk to Andy, and would have to give my details again to this new sales person!!!!

I then asked if its possible to talk to Andy or him call me, as he already had all the details in the email She took my number, and I've just received an email from Andy and I quote...

" At this time are unable to quote on a multi-vehicle policy as we require at least two classic vehicles to anyone modren vehicle,
classics being more than 20 years old. "

AHHHHHHHH!

I am nothing if not persistent, so I'll try this one last time with them.

Failing that can anyone recommend a "Friendly" kit car insurer, as this looks the best route at the moment to getting "converted Berlingos" insured.

Tim.

[tim.strutt]

FootmanJames - No problems finally, and ran through the quote (for a 2001 Berlingo full ncd, rear seats, secure/private parking, no business use) = £353.25.

One question the quotes of £100+ mentioned from FJ, as an electric vehicle, they claimed to me they had to quote as an equivalent, which is a group 8 Van. Hence the premium is "so high" for a speed, range and power restricted electriic vehicle, as they don't have an "electric" Berlingo on the list.

On the very good news side, they had nill problems with seat conversions, but to confirm they too wouldn't entertain insuring for business use - i.e. plumber. But after spending some time talking to different people/lines in FJ, I wonder if I actually got through to the right area.


Adrian Flux, will cover Berlingo electriques, but not with Seat convertions - so they put me through to "Call Connection", who wanted to take all my details, and I asked three times, so you'll cover electric vans, with a seat conversion - on the third time of asking, and after saying "yes we do" twice previously, decided she'd better check with her suppervisor. Ah No they don't, NO ELECTRIC VEHICLES! Actually they don't at all because they are simply a call transfer agency....

Looks like its back to the NFU then, once I can get written confirmation of covering the seats, especially at a price of just over £200, for us, and should I need to use it for business use, then they'll cover us.. Otherwise it looks like its to FootmanJames at £353.20 for the one with the seats and re-assess converting the remaining Berlingos.


Now shich one was it that wouldn't entertain the side windows, was that FJ.., or Adrian Flux? Confused I most certainly am.

Hope this is of some use.

Cheers, Tim

[Grumpy-b]

Similar tale. I have also tried Pluginsure or whatever they are, and they dont do modified vehicles , but would refer it to their insurer, Norwich Union. Nuff said, I didnt bother, NU are rubbish for normal quotes so I didnt go there. I did however suggest that since there are a number of us wanting such insurance perhaps they would like to look into it further. This was going to be put to their director, he has my contact details if he wishes to get back.

Adrian Flux was the same as already found by Tim Strutt through Call connect, Im still waiting to hear back from one company they gave me a telephone number for.

NFU seemed happy to do a deal, and so far they would be insuring it as a multispace with electric power. Cost was higher than you were quoted, but I do need the Class A business use so I can go to other offices, or even the station and claim my mileage.

For mine Im happy at that as all my parts, seats , windows etc are all multispace. Conversion is relatively easy, I also have a multispace to copy the floor mounts etc from.

I also dangled the carrot of another one to insure in a couple of months as my Mk2 shelled multispace gets finished.

So unless I get another better offer, the NFU looks a good deal. I was happy with the Co op for a std vehicle and they gave a good starting discount.

Grumpy-b