Car Insurance Question

eamon
eamon Posts: 2,319 Forumite
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in Insurance & life assurance
Hello Folks

I've changed my car and purchased an item that fits in the boot (this item converts into a camp bed and cost me £1700 inc VAT).
As its not a permanent fixture to the car i.e. the car has not been modified in any way and I can remove the item at any time. I don't think it counts as a camper van conversion.Thus my question is do I need to tell my insurer. Also current car insurance limits personal belongings to £100. So in the event that my car got stolen/broken into would I be better of claiming of my house contents insurance?

I look forward to your thoughts

Eamon
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Comments

  • Hasbeen
    Hasbeen Posts: 4,404 Forumite
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    eamon wrote: »
    Hello Folks

    I've changed my car and purchased an item that fits in the boot (this item converts into a camp bed and cost me £1700 inc VAT).
    As its not a permanent fixture to the car i.e. the car has not been modified in any way and I can remove the item at any time. I don't think it counts as a camper van conversion.Thus my question is do I need to tell my insurer. Also current car insurance limits personal belongings to £100. So in the event that my car got stolen/broken into would I be better of claiming of my house contents insurance?

    I look forward to your thoughts

    Eamon

    Is it Swiss?

    You would have to ensure that you were covered on your contents for that amount £££ for personal possessions outside the home?

    If not add it as an optional extra to your contents policy.
    The world is not ruined by the wickedness of the wicked, but by the weakness of the good. Napoleon
  • eamon
    eamon Posts: 2,319 Forumite
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    Not Swiss, Welsh!
  • rs65
    rs65 Posts: 5,682 Forumite
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    I'm struggling to picture this.


    Is it a car accessory? Do you have a link?
  • Hasbeen
    Hasbeen Posts: 4,404 Forumite
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    eamon wrote: »
    Not Swiss, Welsh!

    The expensive ones I was thinking about are Swiss what Welsh company/manufacturer did you purchase from.
    The world is not ruined by the wickedness of the wicked, but by the weakness of the good. Napoleon
  • eamon
    eamon Posts: 2,319 Forumite
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    Bought it from http://www.amdro.co.uk/products/boot-jump-camper-car-c-10_15.html

    I've gone for option A. It seems a lot of money but it is all relative. I go to at least 4 events every year and I'm fed up with tenting it. I also wanted a newer car and this allows for both with some compromises. Somebody with the appropriate skills & tools could make something similar for alot less, I have neither but I was able to chuck money around.

    As it happens I've now removed it from the boot and stored in my house. The insurance bit has me a little worried (Sods Law etc) but I will find a solution.
  • rs65
    rs65 Posts: 5,682 Forumite
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    So it looks car specific therefore a car accessory. You'll need to have a read of your home and car policies to see where car accessories are covered, especially to that value.


    The stove caught my eye. I seem to recall concerns with some insurers regarding cooking facilities. Is the stove used in the car? Might be something insurers want to know about.
  • eamon
    eamon Posts: 2,319 Forumite
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    Yes I agree car insurers can be a picky lot. The stove is an alcohol burner very popular in yachts apparently. The stove fits inside/on top a pull out drawer and the only way to access this is to have the tailgate fully opened. I'm going to have a really good read of my home insurance. Given how popular camping is in the UK (and how expensive all the camping gear can add up to be) there will be a means of having it covered for theft. If everything gets burnt to a crisp then I have a bigger problem than worrying about insurance.
  • rs65
    rs65 Posts: 5,682 Forumite
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    Camping gear is easily covered under your home insurance (unless maybe when left in an unattended). This isn't camping gear though. This looks like a car accessory so might not be covered on home insurance.


    Car accessories are usually covered on car insurance but the value might be an issue if they don't know in advance.


    I strongly suspect having cooking facilities will definitely cause you problems. Might be best speaking to a campervan type broker or leisure specialist broker if your current insurers don't play ball.
  • caliew
    caliew Posts: 74 Forumite
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    Hi I have worked in the insurance sector for a number of years I have just left due to childcare reasons. Is it classed as an adaption does it screw into the car to secure? If an adaption then usually needs to be logged as an adaption and the underwriter may need to be made aware. A camp bed is a grey area as a personal belonging is an item that is designed to be carried, for example a non portable electronic item such as a desktop computer comes under a household good as you cannot regularly carry it around whereas a laptop computer is classed in insurance terms as a personal belonging as it can be carried around. So a campbed can it be put in a bag and carried about for eg. A couple of mile walk? that would come under a personal belonging if not then it would probably be a household good. Check the section on your home insurance for the claim limit for 'contents temporarily removed' usually in section 1 it might hold a higher claim limit and as long as it's locked up and there was forcible and violent entry but it's a long shot. Sometimes a term called 'contribution' can take place where two underwriters pay out if it crosses over 2 policies and both contribute a percentage, however it's rare that car and home both pay out and they won't pull out full limit - just a percentage of limit dependant on how many policies are paying out. Is it dvla registered as a car or a van?
  • eamon
    eamon Posts: 2,319 Forumite
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    Hi Caliew.

    It is a car. The unit I have purchased fits in the boot, then by using somebody elses very clever design and engineering coupled with the characteristics of the car it converts into a mini campervan. One of my previous posts links to the supplier and they have a video showing the set up. I've read the appropriate DVLA guidance and its not by their definition a "motor caravan" as it is not permanently attached to the body of the vehicle by welds, brackets, screws or rivets etc.

    I suspect that I will need to get it attached to my home contents insurance as some kind of alternate camping gadget. But if you can suggest a better approach then I am all ears.
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