Modifying car to van

chelmsfordhandyman

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone in here might have some experience at what i'm hoping to do.

I need a van for work, but cannot afford to insure any that I have looked at.
My next idea is to buy a reasonably priced and decent engine size car and use as a van.
I have been doing some research and was hoping some one might have some experience at doing this, just to offer some guidance as not quite sure on the legality and who needs to be informed etc.

Any info or suggestions gratefully received!

paddedjohn

Get an estate car and black out the windows if need be, but ive always found it cheaper to insure a van than a car.

chelmsfordhandyman

same problem with insurance.... most are 1700 cc minimum, so need something smaller which is a pain

muddyl

What about a corsa van, im sure you can get 1.5 diesels.
Or if insurance is a problem, a volvo estate. Usually very low insurance group due to grandpa appeal, but they are mahoosive inside.

pitkin2020

you don't say whats effecting your insurance, is it age, previous ban, points etc?? As paddedjohn said I have always found vans cheaper to insure than a car and I have always insured vans full comp inc tools.

mikey72

What about a people carrier, or an estate.

Norman_Castle

just to offer some guidance as not quite sure on the legality and who needs to be informed etc.

You would need buisiness use on your insurance but I cannot see any reason why you cannot remove the seats etc. Obviously you cannot carry passengers without them and you need be aware of overloading. As above a Volvo estate is, for me, cheaper to insure than a Fiesta. Its a pity they're a bit thirsty. A local carpentry company has a few corsa vans with large homemade roof racks. Very practical.

thefishdude

renault megane scenic and just take rear seats out and store them untill you wan to use em again they made to be lifted in and out. and you can get a hell of a lot in the back of one. the amount stuff i have had in mine never ceases to amaze me. oh and i mean pre shape change so 2002 or eaarlier

Horizon81

Have you had any quotes for a car derived van - like the corsa or fiesta which is basically the same as the car but with metal panels for the rear windows? If thats no good I agree with the estate car with tinted rear windows - don't peugeot do a smallish diesel 206/307SW? Or a citroen berlingo?

forgotmyname

Actually converting the car into a vam will attract increased premiums.

Its a converted vehicle so a lot of insurers wont touch it, Some online quotes will not work either.

If buying an estate and blacking out the windows, Dont forget to declare that before taking out the policy.

Lum

Depends on how you black out the windows.

The really cheap way would be to tape binbags over/under the glass. You haven't modified the vehicle then.

Seconding the Volvo estate option. Cheap to insure and my old 940 could carry a lot more than, say, an Escort van or similar. They are a bit thirsty in petrol form though.