openinverter forum

Thought it might be useful to share my experience looking into insuring my converted car in the UK. Insurance is a particular challenge for me because although I have full no claims, and a clean driving licence, I live in the middle of a big city (Manchester) which has off-the-charts risk ratings for car insurance.

I started with four names of possible insurers and brokers from the adverts in various car magazines, and went from there (my initial list ended up with 15 insurers and brokers). This is what they said:

[Recommended options in bold)

Peter James (brokers): Don’t currently have rates from their underwriters for converted cars. It is something they are looking into, but they can’t offer anything at the moment.

Graham Sykes (brokers): Took my details, albeit without much understanding (“Is it turbo-charged, super-charged, or does it have nitrous?”). Clearly have some standard questions from their underwriters for conversions, including the source of the motor and batteries, the power rating of the motor, whether the conversion has been done professionally, and if not whether it will be inspected. They called me back after an hour and told me their underwriters had declined to offer insurance because of the area in which the vehicle will be kept (I live in Manchester), and the modifications.

A-Plan: Put through to their Thatcham branch where they handle modified vehicles. Long hold time here but very helpful when I got through. They asked all the usual questions but not much about the source of the hardware. They called me back the next day to say that their panel of insurers don’t have any policies for cars that have been modified for electric power.

Adrian Flux: I was nervous about phoning Adrian Flux because they were the one name everyone recommended but they had previously refused to quote on insuring my old Alfa GTV at my current address. In the end they did give me a quote but OUCH. £1575.

Greenlight Insurance: “I’m sorry we don’t insure BMWs” WTAF?

Brentacre Insurance: Don’t cover EVs. Tried it with their underwriters but no go.

Performance Direct: "Not something we specialise in. We could refer you to our underwriting team but we wouldn’t be able to agree a value on it."

Keith Michaels: Have covered conversions before. Very knowledgeable, excited about the project and very keen to do it. I was ruled out by my postcode but highly recommended. EDIT: Others have since called KM and been told they don't cover conversions [insert shrug emoji]

Run out of time for today but will keep trying the rest of my list and update here. For information the rest of the list is:
- Swinton
- Sky Insurance
- Footman James
- RH Specialist
- Arkwright Insurance Brokers
- CG Insurance
- Classicline Insurance

I have been a little worried about insurance so that's a pretty helpful write up. Adrian Flux was going to be my first call as they cover my Defender which is not exactly stock as per most 30 year old Defenders.

Thanks for the info, haven't really looked that far ahead.

Adrian flux quoted £579 from memory for my Beetle conservation. TPFT was cheaper an TPO. I had hoped it would be less

Bigpie wrote: ↑Thu Jul 15, 2021 8:00 pm Adrian flux quoted £579 from memory for my Beetle conservation. TPFT was cheaper an TPO. I had hoped it would be less

Thats still high, I was quoted about 150 ( in stock ICE ) for my classic insurance, this is just anther factor that could put people off converting

Indeed it is high, I've got a car and motorbike insured for less than £400.

The silly No Claims Bonus can only be used on one vehicle rule doesn't help.

Bigpie wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 6:49 am Indeed it is high, I've got a car and motorbike insured for less than £400.

The silly No Claims Bonus can only be used on one vehicle rule doesn't help.

I've seen that a couple times. But I just send the same certificate of no claims whenever I insurance a car. That same no claims is on three insurances this year.

My Zero motorcycle policy is about £250, but that comes with a whopping £1800 excess

I’m insured with Adrian flux, policy conversion all parts used in the conversion and unlimited other modifications, was about £650 but the RX8 insurance was always high, I figured the money saved on fuel makes it worth it

I’m with Adrian Flux. I have an agreed value of £15k and 12,000 miles per year for social and commuting. The premium is £449 PA.

Goodness knows how they’d manage things in the event of a claim though.

LV have an EV-specific policy, but may be too mainstream a company to deal with conversions

After the comments made I was starting to get concerned so I made a couple of calls, my car is a 1973 BMW 2002, so bear in mind this falls under classic car insurance.

I was pleasantly surprised from the premiums I had been quoted;

Footman James £121
Adrian Flux £117

( these are approx the same price as a standard classic car. )

Both did state that a receipt was required for the conversion work. will have to find a friendly garage when I eventually finish.

I get the impression that the price quoted wont be far off what it would have been under standard ICE car.

mikeselectricstuff wrote: ↑Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:03 pm LV have an EV-specific policy, but may be too mainstream a company to deal with conversions

I asked them about conversions at the last fully charged live show. At that point they didn't cover them.

Keith Michaels told me they don't cover converted electric cars when I called yesterday, despite their website having an article about it https://www.keithmichaels.co.uk/news/ca ... in-the-uk/

Keith Michaels have given me cover for a pretty good price, £400. Speak to Matthew Moody.

Footman James updated the mini to Electric over the phone with no questions or extra cost.
Hopefully the DVLA will be as easy.

That's great. DVLA have had my V5 over a month now. Not heard a sausage.

That's great. DVLA have had my V5 over a month now. Not heard a sausage.

From what I've heard, working conditions at the DVLA were never that great and COVID safety failings didn't help (over 650 positive tests). They've been on strike a couple of times recently and there are long delays for many things, especially actions that require actual human intervention.

They really don't help matters by continually making mistakes, like sending me a red reminder for not declaring SORN on a vehicle that was off-road before the introduction of SORN and so CANNOT be declared SORN. I was luckily able to resolve that will a phone call that was answered in less than 30 minutes! I now have a much more serious problem to sort out...

Well I'm feeling very lucky today..
Just checked on the .gov website and the mini is now showing as 0cc and ELECTRICTY as fuel type.
Hopefully get the V5 in the post soon.
Keen to see if it's still classed as historic on the V5.

When When you send your v5 in? Checked mine and it still says petrol

I sent off beginning of September so they have had it just under a month.

Damn, I sent mine beginning of August and still nothing. What info did you include?

aot93 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 6:53 pm I sent off beginning of September so they have had it just under a month.

Can I ask what you sent in with your v5? Now that I have my MOT, I'm about to start this process.

Thanks.

I am insured with Adrian Flux (Smart 450 with SDU) £560 TPFT. Easy to change spec with just a phone call.
Phoned A Plan, Thatcham, sorry nope.... However my colleague who is insured with them for Roadster ICE was quoted for an SDU conversion ??? !!

Any videos of the Smart with SDU? Sounds lively