Issues with van insurance

[Biscuit]

My friend has a long wheel base transit which has been modified with extra seating, a heater and some kitchen type amenities by a company called Clarks. When he purchased the van he was informed that it would class as a crew van and not a modified van so the insurance would not be expensive.

On his original insurance it was transferred from a previous van and didnt cost a great deal more. Now that he has come round to renew the insurance he has been told that it does not class as a crew van as the registration documents state its a panel van and is therefore, modified. This has put the insurance up three fold so as you can imagine he is not very happy.

I have suggested that he should call the DVLA and get some advice from them and he is thinking if this doesnt work out he might try to take the guy to small claims court for being misinformed at the time of purchase.
Is there any suggestions or advice that you guys can give us on this?

[burble]

He may have been misinformed when he bought it but it was his responsibility to check the ramifications of the modifications. His lookout I'd say.

Ultimately it is a modified van so he shouldn't be surprised that an insurance company classes it as modified.

[Biscuit]

Well the thought was that because it has been modified by a company who specialize in doing it, it may be different?

[burble]

Nope. A modification is a modification irrespective of who does it.

[jon bda]

Nope. A modification is a modification irrespective of who does it.

Yup, and be thankfull that he didn't have an accident whilst driving it on his previous insurance, as his insurers would of declared his insurance void for sure...

[Biscuit]

Argh nightmare. Is there any companies which can be recommended to try? We are struggling to get any quotes at all.

Wht are the chances of him getting anywhere in small claims?

[Biscuit]

Yup, and be thankfull that he didn't have an accident whilst driving it on his previous insurance, as his insurers would of declared his insurance void for sure...

Surely it would be the insurance comapany at fault, he did inform them of the modifications.

[Flibb]

is it for business usage?

And I think you can get the DVLA to change the type of vehicle, but it costs. A lot of landrovers have all kinds of things altered, and you can get them insured, the biggest problem is if you want business insurance. The best place I found for the 110 was NFU mutual, it had started out as a pickup and got changed to a 9 seater.

[Biscuit]

Well he is a musician (further adding to the problem) so the van is used to cart the band and ther gear too and from gigs. I suppose he could run it as business insurance as he is resisted as self employed?

[Flibb]

Theres some info on re registering on here
http://www.motorhomeplanet.co.uk/mot...YdOJLhT0Q,3toa

the reason I asked about business use was that I found it difficult to insure a conversion for business use with anybody other than NFU mutual

[Biscuit]

Il pass that on to him thanks

I think he will probably end up just selling the van and getting a new one.

[GoNz0]

pop to the DVLA and get it changed, simple as that really.
small claims would not be my choice as the guy who sold it him will say the same.