Camper Van insurance for musicians?

Subject: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Banjiman
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 10:07 AM

We're now proud owners of a converted camper van that will be used for festivals and holidays but also as transport to and from paying gigs.

I wondered if anyone else in the U.K. has a camper insured for business & leisure and can point us in the direction of any good deals.

Thanks

Paul

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 10:15 AM

Try these guys

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Banjiman
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 10:17 AM

Thanks Tom,

Will they insure for business use? Caravan Club won't.

Paul

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 10:17 AM

I would think that normal insurance would cover you for businees and pleasure use. Any instruments would be better covered separately, I have good cover, that even covers instruments left unattended in a motor vehicle. The only proviso is that they must be kept out of sight

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Banjiman
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 10:21 AM

John McKenzie,

No, this is not the case. A lot of companies won't cover musicians in a camper van. Believe me, I've been looking. (I'm not the problem, I have a "proper" job.... it's the wife, she's registered self employed as a musician).

Cheers

Paul

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Banjiman
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 10:29 AM

Tom,

Tried your link. They won't insure either. Any other ideas.... who do you use for your van?

Thanks

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Brother Crow
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 10:46 AM

Try:

http://www.musicguard.co.uk

My mando is insured with them, and I believe they do vehicles too...

Graeme,
Brother Crow.

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: theleveller
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 10:49 AM

Paul, I've got our instruments insured separately but they are only covered if they are left in the car, out of sight - not in the caravan. So that's what we do (no room for them in the caravan, anyway!)

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 10:53 AM

Adrian Flux is your best bet for specialist insurance.

John 'G'

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: GUEST,Golightly
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 11:06 AM

Victor C Knight (London) specialises in insurance for musicians. I don't need specialist insurance any more, but used them happily for years when I did.

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Banjiman
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 11:07 AM

Pete,

This is for the van itself, not the contents.

It seems to get difficult because it is a modified vehicle (originally a Dales Post Bus! and now a 4 birth camper van) and because Wendy has an odd profession (Musician, clearly they're an unreliable lot!)

John G...... do you have any contact details?

Thanks

Paul

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 11:20 AM

Try here. They are also very helpful on the phone.

John

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 11:20 AM

Maybe they're worried she may have a banjo, and the other caravanners will fire-bomb you!

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: GUEST,Golightly
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 11:30 AM

Forgot to say, we had a home-converted camper van insured for a musician's use. I'm fairly sure it was both business and domestic as it was on the same policy as the musician's other car which was certainly for business use. Initially we had to get the van inspected and 'certified' as a safe conversion. To do this we asked the company who had cut the window holes in the van for us to write a testimonial confirming that the conversion was safe . After that the insurance was renewed annually with no further questions asked.

I have to say this was a few years ago, but it was already very hard for musicians to get any kind of car insurance.

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: gnomad
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 11:42 AM

Back when I had campervans I found Safeguard were good, and they were happy to include business use without additional cost when I requested it.

Mind you I wasn't, and am not, a musician, so my best suggestion is that you ask them. Insurers are very wary of musicians, also actors, licensees and one or two other groups. You can expect a premium loading from most insurers who are ready to quote, and will likely find that many will simply decline to quote.

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 11:44 AM

Most insurance companies won't touch campers any more. Commercial Union dumped me after half a lifetime. But the CCC do take working vehicles Paul - they insure mine. But I'm not only insured as a musician - I set it up when I was doing TV and other things too, so I'm covered for all sorts (but it does cost a fair bit). Maybe they're more choosy in these times. It does have to be a 'proper' conversion. I had to supply an invoice from a registered conversion company. When I turned 50 I tried Saga. They couldn't get their heads round a camper being used for work!

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: vectis
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 03:45 PM

I insured mine with "insure motorhome" and they were really helpful. Mine is a standard motorhome but they covered my bits and bobs as well as the van so they've got to be worth a phone call.

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 04:19 PM

Paul,

Is there any reason why Wendy needs to be a co-insuree? Insure it in your name only.

When I put my partner on my 'single' policy as an 'additional driver', I had no questions asked beyond date of birth and address

Ed

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Banjiman
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 04:40 PM

Guest Ed,

They are all asking far more questions than that. They want occupation etc and driving history etc. She also needs it for business use where as I only need it for leisure ..... effectively I never get paid for a gig otherwise we would pay ridiculous tax.

There are a couple of suggestions above that from the websites look really useful. We will be on the phones tomorrow. I have managed to get 3 quotes today.... 2 really expensive and one half the price of the other 2..... but still pretty costly. Still we got a bargain on the van!

Thanks for the suggestions..... happy to take any more you might have.

Cheers

Paul

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 08:37 PM

Paul, when I bought my converted LDV the Cooperative Isurance was the cheapest by far and did'nt ask any questions regarding the conversion of it, that was about five years ago and I'm still with them

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Trevor
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 07:52 AM

I just sorted mine last week. The cheapest and best by far that I could find was with AXA and I think I did it through these: http://www.comfort-insurance.co.uk/.

Mine's a converted Fiat Ducato and there weren't too many questions.

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: theleveller
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 08:03 AM

Paul, have you tried Safeguard - they're part of Swinton Insurance?

www.safeguarduk.co.uk

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Banjiman
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 08:18 AM

Thanks guys,

We're just phoning round now and getting some much better quotes (and a lot less sucking in of breath!)

I'll let you know who the winner is later!

Really appreciate the help.

Paul

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Banjiman
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 08:20 AM

p.s. Richie, Co-op won't touch conversions now..... interesting that!

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Zen
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 08:36 AM

...originally a Dales Post Bus! and now a 4 birth camper van

I would be wary of such a vehicle!

Zen

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Banjiman
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 08:44 AM

"Adrian Flux is your best bet for specialist insurance." John
McKenzie

Sure is (and they're selling us a policy!), the problem for most companies is not with the converted van (most companies would cover this) but with the occupation of "musician" . Comfort & Safeguard won't touch 'em.

....... and thanks Mr Parsons' for your kind comments regarding banjos!

Thanks John.

Paul

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Banjiman
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 08:48 AM

"I would be wary of such a vehicle!"

We had it checked by our garage (before we bought it), clean bill of health, FSH and a very professional conversion job..... in fact the owner of our garage said he would have bought it himself at the price we paid.

So we're not worried (and we've got good AA cover!!!)

Cheers

Paul

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Harmonium Hero
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 08:53 AM

The Tour Bus (actually a Ford Transit Connect, I just have delusions) is insured with Sabre, for my private and business use, with my wife covered as an additional named driver. They know I'm a musician. I was previously with Zurich - also as a musician - but had ro change when I got the van, as they don't do vans. I'm paying approximately the same for the van as I was for the Nissan Micra, although the road tax is 50% higher. Don't know whether they do campers or conversions though, but you could try.
Regarding Guest Ed's suggestion; I suspect that they would regard that as commercial use, and would, therefore, expect Paul to be insured on that basis. In fact, as far as I know, insurance companies who won't cover musicians include amateur musicians as well. So somebody going to a brass band practice is still, as far as they are concerned, a musician, and will not be covered in the event of an accident. They also don't like actors, sportsmen - anybody, in fact who comes under the general heading of 'entertainment'. I don't think anybody knows why. They can be so wily when it comes to paying out that it's always best to be sure they know exactly what you're about when they take you on.
John Kelly.

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Zen
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 08:59 AM

4 birth camper van!

I'm sure the mechanics are fine!

Zen

Subject: RE: Camper Van insurance for musicians?
From: Banjiman
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 09:21 AM

Yes it has a family of young Smart Cars!