Scumball rally type car adventure - insurance?

[Some Gump]

Hi Forum,

We're off to LE mans again this year, and there is some debate in the camp over whether or not to do a scumball / top gear challenge type effort.

Buying 2 bangers would be pretty easy, with the plan to modify, use for a week, then probably scrap. What is the best route for insurance? I'm guessing a 2 week insure for a modified car on a trip to France might be interesting?

I've done a bit of googlage, but it suggests 14 days insurance would be in the region of 150 quid - seems a bit much at 3900 PA equivilent? That's before I even look at the foreign travel side of it.
All drivers are 31, with full no claims on normal cars, if it counts.

If anyone has any pointers please let me know - I'd really prefer to do this as a daft cheap car thing than just hiring a minibus...

[DanielSan]

Travel into Europe is usually covered on most policies for upto 14 days so that shouldn't be an issue. Cost wise short term insurance cover will always be more expensive. If you insured it the day before you left on a normal policy you could cancel it within the 14 day cooling off period

[ryanMIL]

HIC Insurance specialise in this kind of thing - my friends and I used them last summer for a rally...think that was in the region of £150.

The previous year, we took out an annual policy on a direct debit, paid the first installment (around £100) and then cancelled when we got back.

Both options should be fine, just go with whatever is cheapest as it's unlikely you'll need to worry about their customer service or anything.

[Motorrad]

NFU mutual give you automatic European cover and you cancel without penalty. You can also pay by installments for practically 0% interest.

[GC8]

HIC have carved themselves a niche here. If you look through all of the charity rally sites youll see that theres is the only name that comes up with any frequency.

[Kong]

Buy a full year then cancel the policy when you get back

[StottyZr]

DanielSan said:

Travel into Europe is usually covered on most policies for upto 14 days so that shouldn't be an issue. Cost wise short term insurance cover will always be more expensive. If you insured it the day before you left on a normal policy you could cancel it within the 14 day cooling off period

This is a complete abuse of the cooling off period.

It is by far your best option should cost ~£25 for the cover.

Although remember you have to buy the insurance just as you set off, if you arrange it for a weeks time and pay upfront the cooling off period begins from when you paid. Not from when the insurance begins.

[JQ]

If you plan to use tempory cover make sure you read the T&C's first. I tried to get some day cover for a car and every policy I looked at excluded "modified" cars.

[Some Gump]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll check out those specialists.

I realise that doing a swift one on a cool down period is probably the cheapest option, but IMO it's not the right option. I'm no fan of the insurance industry, but TBH I'm an even lesser fan of taking the piss =)