Van insurance - insane prices

[BMWBen]

Looking at some quotes on vans at the moment - and don't seem to be able to get a quote that isn't hilarious.

I'm talking at least twice the cost of insuring my BMW 330d Msport.

I only need social use - has anyone got any tips as to who I can go to?

[Shaw Tarse]

I've heard that vans are expensive to insure as they're classed as a "commercial vehicle"
Not that it helps you

[BMWBen]

Not sure I can stomach paying 2k for insuring a van... Might have to rethink my plans

[Stu R]

They can be pretty pricey, but it does vary a hell of a lot depending on the van too. Difference between a Transit and a VW Transporter brand new was £500 for me.

[Tyngwndwn]

Well how big is the van ,mine is a VW caddy I know it's no more than a golf in panel guise
but it only costs £125.00 per annum.

[BMWBen]

I'm looking at an SWB Transporter Sportline. Tried quoting for the lesser transporters but that didn't affect the price at all.

[edo]

Looking at the way most Vans are driven this is not a surprise to me in the slightest.

[BMWBen]

Transit coming out at the same price for me...

I wonder if I've got some unfortunate combination of factors - to be fair, admiral are the only insurer that would quote my BMW for less than 2k (just under 900 quid last time I think). Everyone else quotes me silly numbers.

[BMWBen]

Value of the van doesn't seem to make a difference either...

God I hate this crap!

[Meoricin]

BMWBen said:

Value of the van doesn't seem to make a difference either...

God I hate this crap!

It's because vans get broken into a lot by people looking for tools. Not really any way around that, though I imagine it's a worse situation for the larger vans than for the small car-based ones.

[BMWBen]

Meoricin said:

It's because vans get broken into a lot by people looking for tools. Not really any way around that, though I imagine it's a worse situation for the larger vans than for the small car-based ones.

I would've thought that the fact I'm going from a performance car to a slow-ass van would nicely cancel that out and they'd be about the same. I guess not!

It would probably be cheaper for me to insure a TVR :O

[Shaw Tarse]

Have you tried the companies at the foot of the page?

[BMWBen]

Shaw Tarse said:

Have you tried the companies at the foot of the page?

Gotta love the google boys, they're pretty clever!

[anniesdad]

I wouldn't try any price comparison websites for van insurance if I were you. Best bet is to get yourself a personal lines broker that insures commercial risks and commercial vehicles. They're likely to be able to get a better understanding of the risk.

I couple that I know, who could probably help out;

http://www.sills.co.uk/index.php
http://www.munro-greenhalgh.co.uk/

edit: part of the problem is that you want to insure a commercial vehicle (from memory normally not insureable under a private car policy) for non-commercial use.

Edited by anniesdad on Friday 17th June 15:06

[CraigyMc]

Shaw Tarse said:

Have you tried the companies at the foot of the page?

Not everyone has any advertisements on their PH view.