DIY Campervan conversion insurance… you wouldn’t think it would be that hard to get! After living in our van in Scotland and getting camper van insurance (even with a foreign driver’s license) in just one call, we didn’t even consider insuring a campervan in the states would cause any hassle. Boy, we were wrong!
After more phone calls and stress that I’d like to remember, we finally have camper van insurance. However, it wasn’t a simple task. If you’re looking for campervan conversion insurance on a van you’ve converted yourself, there are only two options we’ve found for proper van insurance. If your van has been professionally converted, you’ll likely have a much easier time finding insurance.
A week after the insurance fiasco has settled for us, we’re happy to say we found van conversion insurance for our DIY camper van and are so happy with the price and extra coverage we’ve been offered, we’re sharing the company and specific agent with you!
Now, this post is a long one, and shoot — you can read all the way through it if you’d like.. but if you’re looking for something specific with camper van insurance, jump to it below.
- The Best Self-Build Camper Insurance
- The Only Other DIY Camper Van Insurance in the States
- Insuring a Campervan That’s Professionally Done
- Things to Note About Getting Campervan Insurance
- Insuring Your Personal Belongings in Your Van
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The Best Self-Build Campervan Conversion Insurance Coverage
Country Financial
Small local insurance agency in Southern Oregon (and 18 other states) that writes their own coverage policies. Meaning, they do not have to go with what the big dogs say. Country Financial is only in 19 states, so they can’t cover everyone, however, they can cover camper conversions from people with their home base within those 19 states.
Not only is choosing Country Financial a major win for supporting a small business when compared to top dogs in the insurance industry like Geico and Progressive — but Country Financial also supports local programs. They also have a membership fee (20 USD) here in Oregon that each policyholder pays annually to support local 4H clubs and agriculture in the area!
We have never heard of Country Financial before, but after speaking with Nicol, at the local Country Financial, I cannot recommend them (and her) enough!
QUESTIONS ASKED FOR CAMPER VAN INSURANCE:
- names and driver’s license of those wanting coverage
- home address and phone number
- VIN number
- needs photographs of all four exterior sides of van
- a picture of the kitchen
- does it have a bathroom
MAJOR PERKS OF INSURING A CAMPERVAN WITH COUNTRY FINANCIAL:
- the van can be on its own policy, does not have to have a separate auto policy as well (great for people living full time van life)
- doesn’t have to be registered as an RV, however, makes it easier for the insurance broker
- small local business, so the agent is truly interested in getting you discounts (hello, educator discount & mobile app discount)
- awesome bundle packages when also insuring personal belongings like computers, cameras, and bikes (more on that at the end of the post)
Seriously, after speaking with Nicol, I cannot recommend Country Financial enough! Give Nicol a ring, and see if she can get you covered! If you’re not a resident of Oregon, she’ll give you the number of the Country Financial in the state you’re a resident in to get you the coverage you need!
Nicol Elsasser 541. 22(six). 0159
I’m seriously so happy with the coverage we got with Country Financial. The cost of our van, based on what we believe it’s worth after the self conversion, is covered, free chip and crack repair for any windows, emergency roadside assistance up to $100, and free lodging, food, and rental car if we are involved in an accident when we’re more than 100 miles from home.
And… Nicol worked with us to get renter’s insurance and personal itemized insurance coverage on the expensive things we’ll have in the van that are not considered part of the van build.. i.e. mountain bikes, camera gear, computers.. those sorts of things! Again, more on that below!
The Other Self Build Camper Van Insurance Option
Yes, that’s singular. Here in the United States, finding campervan insurance for a DIY camper is soooo difficult. We only found two companies that even gave us the time of day for insuring our campervan. And with that, as you’ll read below, State Farm didn’t ever get back to us after gathering all our information! So here you have it, the one and only other way of insuring a campervan that you build out yourself…
State Farm
The first agent I spoke with at State Farm was willing to send our information to someone else to check for converted van insurance coverage. However, they need aaaaalllllllllllllllll the information first. I’ve read a number of other blogs where people have recommended State Farm as a van conversion insurance for self builds, so I’m sure they can do it. However, after the first person I spoke with at a local office wasn’t the most enthused, and the second office never called me back after a few weeks, I’m not recommending them if you can get coverage with Country Financial. I’ve also read that others trying to get DIY camper van conversion insurance coverage with State Farm have been treated the same.
QUESTIONS ASKED FOR CAMPER VAN INSURANCE:
- cost of everything
- make, model, year of the vehicle
- interior pictures
- exterior pictures
- our driving records
QUESTIONS ASKED FOR CAMPER VAN INSURANCE (round two):
- name, date of birth
- married? same info
- drivers license state and number
- home address
- phone number and email
- previous/other insurance policy
- Vin Number and Mileage
- asked about an estimate of costs…when I asked for what, the van build or the contents in the van, she decided to let me speak to an agent about it instead when they call back with a quote.
The first local State Farm agent I called wasn’t that friendly, so I called a different local office and had much better results!! Took about 20 minutes of questions and providing information for the lady to get everything she needed to pass on the info to a licensed insurance agent. However, the licensed agent never called me back. Even after I left a message for a follow-up conversation and to check in with where she was with our quote fours days later! Lame-sauce!!
Again, I’ve read that State Farm will insure van conversions that are not done professionally, but I can’t guarantee this, as we never received an actual quote from them. If you’re not within one of the 19 states Country Financial covers, try your luck with State Farm agents in your area. You can do this by going to Google Maps, then searching for “State Farm”.
Campervan Conversion Insurance For Professional Builds
We really got unlucky trying to get information from the following insurance companies after they heard our van was not professionally done. Most of the companies listed below will need to have some sort of invoice or proof of the work on your campervan build from a licensed business that builds professionally to actually be insured.
Geico
The insurance company we used prior to the build-out of our van was, Geico, with a normal auto policy. Originally when I spoke with Geico, they said they could insure the camper van after the conversion. However, I needed to call back when the conversion was complete.
Well, one year later — we know, it’s been a long time — and they will not insure the van. Specifically, because it’s now considered a self-built RV. So, although originally it was our plan to use Geico, they do not offer camper conversion insurance for self-builds, only those done professionally.
QUESTIONS ASKED FOR CAMPER VAN INSURANCE:
- RV sleeping area
- Bathroom area
- Cooking or kitchen services
Ultimately, two different representatives at Geico explained that they could not insure a camper van that was not built out professionally. If you are not doing a self-build campervan, you will likely have luck insuring a campervan with Geico, as long as it has the three above-mentioned things.
Progressive
QUESTIONS ASKED FOR CAMPER VAN INSURANCE:
- Sleeping quarters
- Cooking
- Drinkable Water
- Refrigerator with Icebox
- Built-in Toilet with plumbing
- Year, Make, and Model to determine the class of RV it would be
Do not insure camper vans unless they were a motorhome or RV first…So likely, no luck with them if you’re converting a cargo van or sprinter van. The Progressive agent on the phone did give me the number for a local agent, so I rang them to follow up. The local agent said they do not provide camper van insurance for self builds and recommended Farmer’s Insurance… which also gave a hard pass to insuring camper vans that are not built out professionally.
Farmer’s Insurance
Hard no. Put on hold to ask the actual insurance people, and they said no, as they need to have an actual company that did the build. Called a separate local office, they said the same thing. The insurance companies that do the underwriting, do not insure self-builds.
QUESTIONS ASKED FOR CAMPER VAN INSURANCE:
- Was the van conversion done by a company that converts vans professionally?
If your van build was done by a professional van conversion company, then you can most likely use Farmer’s Insurance.
Things to Note About Getting Campervan Conversion Insurance
Keep Receipts and Record Van Purchases
Although we did not have to provide the information to our insurance agent, it’s a good idea to keep a record of all the money that you put into your van build. This can look like a spreadsheet (see ours here), or just a straight-up list of expenses. You may also want to save receipts from any purchases for your van, as some companies may require proof of purchase.
Look Into Auto vs. RV Policy
If you don’t have very much money into your build, and don’t want the actual build itself covered, you can always talk with an insurance agent about getting just normal car insurance for your van. Keep in mind, this will not include the actual build-out of your van.
Don’t Forget About Your Personal Belongings
We recommend insuring the contents that are in your van that aren’t part of the actual van build. This includes things like camera gear, electronics, even a blender! More on insuring your contents below.
Tell the Truth, Like Your Grandma Always Told You
Always tell the truth and be very straightforward and open with your insurance agent. Ensure you’re getting covered for the specifics of your van. Do not lie and say it wasn’t a self-build if it wasn’t! You don’t want an insurance claim getting denied!
Ask About Extra Coverages
Check if your camper van insurance policy covers things like a hotel and rental car if your van is in the shop. And towing or roadside assistance if you get stuck somewhere!
Check for Discounts
Ask for discounts! You’d be surprised what kind of discounts you can get! Not just safe driver, but maybe educator discounts, military discounts, or app discounts too.
Bundle and Save
Keep in mind, that bundling insurance policies with one company often makes it cheaper.. so if you have another car or home insurance or renter’s insurance, look to combine it with your camper van insurance for a discount!
Certified Weight Slip
Although none of the people I spoke with asked for a certified weight slip for the camper conversion, I’ve read that some agencies will want a weight slip documenting the weight of the van after the build. This got me interested in weighing our van — something we may have to do in the future!
Online Quotes
Online quotes… don’t even mess with them. When insuring something so unique to your specific van build, it’s best to speak with someone in person or over the phone.
Insuring Your Personal Belongings in a Campervan
Renter’s Insurance (or Home Insurance)
All the agents I’ve spoken with have said that Renter’s insurance covers personal property. Think computers, cameras, bikes, those kinds of things.
However, be aware — limits are placed on some renter’s insurances such as “electronic apparatus while in or upon a motor vehicle or watercraft”. In our case, the limit was $1,500 for damage to electronics while in a motor vehicle — not even close to enough to pay for damage or theft of our electronics. So, we had to look into changing the coverage limits to add in a higher limit for our electronics.
We ended up getting a renter’s insurance policy through Nicol at Country Financial, and are super happy with it! It covers all our belongings at home or on the road. We got coverage up to $60,000 with a $500 deductible, for only $180/year! We feel pretty confident in our insurance coverage for damage, lost, or stolen items!!
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR RENTER’S INSURANCE PROVIDER:
- Are my belongings covered when on the road?
- With that coverage, are there limits to specific items (specifically electronics if you’re packing around gear)
- Are my belongings covered for theft, loss, and damages?
- How do you pay me for my losses? Is it per item, replacement value, or do you just send me new items?
Itemized Coverage of Expensive Belongings
There are a couple of instances when you’ll want itemized coverage of your personal belongings. One, for specific limits on your insurance policy. (i.e. coverage for jewelry only up to $2,000 and you have jewelry that’s more expensive than that.) Two, for items you don’t want to pay a deductible on, but instead would rather pay x amount per year for coverage. And three, if you don’t have renter’s insurance, don’t want to cover everything, but instead, just want insurance on say a mountain bike or something like that.
Itemized insurance coverage is insurance on individual items you wish to insure on their own. Usually, for any of the above reasons. You pay one insurance fee per year per item. Typically insuring items for a small fee without paying a deductible for damage or loss. Talk with your insurance agent about this kind of coverage with looking to insure your campervan!
Let us know what insurance provider you choose for your campervan self-build! If you have experience with other campervan conversion insurance companies, leave them below!