Specialist Campervan Insurers UK — Who to Use and What to Look For
Why You Need Specialist Insurance
Standard van insurance does not cover campervans. If you insure your converted van as a standard panel van, your policy is likely void if you have a claim — the insurer will argue that you did not disclose the material fact that the vehicle was converted. This can leave you with no payout and potentially a prosecution for driving without insurance.
Specialist campervan insurers understand the market. They cover DIY conversions, they offer agreed value policies, they allow limited business use for remote work, and they typically include European cover as standard.
What to Look For
Agreed Value vs Market Value
Agreed value means you and the insurer agree on the van's worth at policy inception. If it is written off, you get that amount. Market value means they pay what they think it is worth at the time of the claim — typically much less than you have invested.
For a DIY conversion, agreed value is essential. You have spent thousands on the build and the standard market value for a 10-year-old Transit does not reflect that. Most specialist insurers offer agreed value if you provide photos and a valuation.
DIY Conversion Cover
Not all specialist insurers cover DIY conversions. Some require a professional build certificate (NB: there is no legal requirement for this in the UK). Others will cover DIY builds provided they meet minimum safety standards — gas safe installation, electrical compliance, seatbelt anchorage.
When applying, be honest about who did the work. "Self-build" is not a problem for the right insurer. "Self-build + gas work by a Gas Safe registered engineer" is even better.
Business Use for Remote Work
If you work from your van, you may need "business use" on your policy. Most insurers distinguish between:
- Social, domestic and pleasure (SDP) — personal use only
- Business use — commuting and business mileage
- Remote working — using the van as a workspace without carrying goods or clients
If you take Zoom calls from your van, tell your insurer. Some specialist insurers include remote working in their standard policy. Others charge a small premium.
European Cover
Most specialist campervan insurers include European cover for up to 90 or 180 days per year. Check the minimum level of cover (third party only is common — upgrade to fully comp for peace of mind) and whether you need a green card.
The Main Players
Adrian Flux
The best-known specialist. They have been insuring modified and converted vehicles for decades. They cover DIY conversions, offer agreed value, and their standard policy includes European cover, glass cover, and a courtesy vehicle.
Pros: Long-established, competitive on DIY builds, good for older vans Cons: Customer service can be slow at renewal time, quotes vary significantly year to year Typical premium: £400-800 for a self-build Transit
Brentacre
A smaller broker that specialises in modified and imported vehicles. They are popular in the van life community for their flexible approach to DIY builds and modifications.
Pros: Excellent for modified vans, good agreed value process, knowledgeable staff Cons: Online quote system is basic — you need to call Typical premium: £450-900
Comfort Insurance
One of the few insurers that specifically targets the campervan and motorhome market. They offer agreed value, EU cover, and cover for self-builds.
Pros: Campervan specialists, clear policy wording, multi-vehicle discounts Cons: Slightly more expensive than Flux for basic builds Typical premium: £500-1,000
A-Plan
A broker with a dedicated campervan team. They are known for their thorough approach and will often find cover for builds that other insurers decline.
Pros: Will work to find cover for unusual builds, good customer service Cons: Not the cheapest, requires phone call for quote Typical premium: £500-950
LV= Britannia Rescue
Not a specialist but often competitive for standard campervans. They offer a campervan policy that covers basic conversions. They do not usually cover complex DIY builds or offer agreed value.
Pros: Big brand, easy online quotes Cons: Less flexible on DIY builds, no agreed value Typical premium: £350-700
How to Get the Best Quote
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Call, do not use the online form — specialist insurers often give better quotes over the phone because they can ask the right questions. Online forms flag you as "complex" and give a higher price.
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Have your build details ready — the insurer will ask about the van's age, mileage, value, conversion type, insulation, electrical system, gas system, and security features. Have photos of the build ready to email.
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Get multiple quotes — premium variation between specialist insurers can be 50% for the same van. Get quotes from at least three.
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Add a named driver — adding a second driver (even if they never drive) can reduce premiums by 10-20%. Female drivers statistically have fewer claims.
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Increase voluntary excess — raising your excess from £250 to £500 can reduce the premium by 15-25%. Just make sure you can afford the excess if you need to claim.
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Check the small print on modifications — some policies limit modifications to £X. If you have spent £15k on a conversion and the policy caps modifications at £5k, you are underinsured.
What to Avoid
- Standard van insurance — as discussed, it is invalid for a converted campervan
- Comparison sites — they rarely show specialist insurers. Go direct.
- Minimum cover (third party only) — for a campervan, the difference between third party and comprehensive is usually under £100. Comprehensive covers your conversion if you crash into something.
The Bottom Line
Specialist campervan insurance is not significantly more expensive than standard van insurance — often it is the same price or cheaper because the specialists understand the risk better. The key is finding a policy that offers agreed value, covers your DIY build, and includes European travel.
Adrian Flux is the best starting point for most people. If they are expensive, try Brentacre or A-Plan. Avoid the comparison sites and standard insurers.
My recommendation: Call Adrian Flux and Brentacre, get quotes for agreed value with European cover, and pick the cheaper one. Do the same every year at renewal — loyalty is rarely rewarded in insurance.
