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Excess insurance for VW campervan hire

We're thinking of hiring a 1970s VW campervan for a few days.

Normally when hiring a car I get excess insurance, as is generally recommended on here. The excess on the campervan is £1000, which can be reduced to £500 for £15/day. I can't find any 3rd party alternatives. I've found a couple of places that do motor home hire excess insurance - http://www.moneymaxim.co.uk/motorhome-hire-insurance - but nothing that would cover such an old vehicle.

Does anyone know of a product that would cover this?
Let's settle this like gentlemen: armed with heavy sticks
On a rotating plate, with spikes like Flash Gordon
And you're Peter Duncan; I gave you fair warning

Comments

  • Bob_the_Saver
    Bob_the_Saver Posts: 5,610 Forumite
    benjus wrote: »
    We're thinking of hiring a 1970s VW campervan for a few days.

    Normally when hiring a car I get excess insurance, as is generally recommended on here. The excess on the campervan is £1000, which can be reduced to £500 for £15/day. I can't find any 3rd party alternatives. I've found a couple of places that do motor home hire excess insurance - http://www.moneymaxim.co.uk/motorhome-hire-insurance - but nothing that would cover such an old vehicle.

    Does anyone know of a product that would cover this?

    Having used the van version for work many years ago my only suggestion would be don't. (And I'm a 'classic vehicle fan)
  • benjus
    benjus Posts: 5,433 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    Having used the van version for work many years ago my only suggestion would be don't. (And I'm a 'classic vehicle fan)

    Seriously? :( What don't you like about them? SWMBO is quite excited about the idea, although I'll be the poor mug driving so can veto it if necessary.
    Let's settle this like gentlemen: armed with heavy sticks
    On a rotating plate, with spikes like Flash Gordon
    And you're Peter Duncan; I gave you fair warning
  • Bob_the_Saver
    Bob_the_Saver Posts: 5,610 Forumite
    edited 28 May 2013 at 9:23PM
    I can only speak about the one we used (for a very specific job). They say the engine can be removed quickly (needed to be) if I drove quickly it would drop a valve. Bob the Saver senior had a campervan very briefly and we went on a family holiday
    to a repairshop.
    They're too small to use as a real campervan in my opinion, OK if you're 19 with a 18 year old girl and a surfboard for the weekend with other things on your mind rather than a good night's sleep. For grown-up's that's why today we have motorhomes and
    less back-ache. I think of them as a 'festival tent' on wheel, and there is no hint of bitterness due to lack of 18 year old girl :D honest.

    PS. SWMBO?
  • Bob_the_Saver
    Bob_the_Saver Posts: 5,610 Forumite
    Talking of young ladies, the later VW camper's did have their fans.


    http://www.carpages.co.uk/volkswagen/volkswagen-images/volkswagen-california-29-01-09.jpg
  • benjus
    benjus Posts: 5,433 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    We're not actually planning to sleep in it... my fiancee loves them, and she wants to hire one for our wedding as a kind of multipurpose vehicle: to transport people and things to the reception venue (where we're staying both before and after the wedding), to drive away from the church after the wedding, for posing in photographs, possibly to park outside the venue to serve canapes.

    The van she's found is hired out through a classic car club - it's in great shape inside and out, the engine's been rebuilt and it's nicely painted. I'm just a bit concerned about the insurance excess...
    Let's settle this like gentlemen: armed with heavy sticks
    On a rotating plate, with spikes like Flash Gordon
    And you're Peter Duncan; I gave you fair warning
  • Gloomendoom
    Gloomendoom Posts: 16,551 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Could you hire the owner as well, to act as a driver?

    That way the insurance is their problem.
  • Bob_the_Saver
    Bob_the_Saver Posts: 5,610 Forumite
    edited 28 May 2013 at 10:09PM
    benjus wrote: »
    We're not actually planning to sleep in it... my fiancee loves them, and she wants to hire one for our wedding as a kind of multipurpose vehicle: to transport people .

    I take it she knows how much room there actually is/isn't inside then.

    Well have a really good day whatever you decide.

    Still no wiser on SWMBO, I take it that it has no connection to BIMBO
  • Bob_the_Saver
    Bob_the_Saver Posts: 5,610 Forumite
    OK got SWMBO !
  • benjus
    benjus Posts: 5,433 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    OK got SWMBO !

    And discovered Google in the process, I'll wager! Bet you're glad you opened this thread now
    Let's settle this like gentlemen: armed with heavy sticks
    On a rotating plate, with spikes like Flash Gordon
    And you're Peter Duncan; I gave you fair warning
This discussion has been closed.
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