insurance.

[Burgerman]

Just insured my lowered floor 3.8 Dodge Caravan SXT with agreed 45k value, left hand drive, imported (Canada), and modified (Sat nav and 19 inch wheels/runflat tyres etc) with Fish insurance.

This is fully comprehensive inc protected 9 years no claims, legal cover, breakdown /windscreen etc.

They wanted £550 and I called and after a long discussion its now £425.

Can this be beaten?

Remembering its modified, imported, has extras, etc. Don't think it can. They are pretty good at Fish insurance with disability vehicles.

[Irving]

beg to differ.... maybe they are good in low risk areas

Fish quoted me £5500 (yes 2 zeros) for my Kia Sedona upfront Brotherwood conversion for any driver over 25, N1 postcode, on street parking, Adrian Flux/Chartwell was £1200. When I eventually go back to my house in Harrow, post-adaptation, they were £1800 and £825 respectively

[Burgerman]

That's odd. But I wouldn't want to insure one for any driver, or parking on the street at any price... From an insurance perspective its just trouble.

You need to find ways to have one driver with a good record and off road parking if its humanly possible.

And there are advantages to living away from the smoke.

post-adaptation, they were £1800 and £825 respectively

Both crazy prices. I pay 1/3rd that, with a bad driving record, and 5 historic disqualifications, and several written off big bikes etc. Currently also have speeding convictions. (yes hooligan I know!!! Don't bother telling me). What exactly did you do???

[segreen]

I've always insured with Fish, well at least for the last 10 years or so and paid around the £500 mark. Previously I was with Cardwells in the 90's and one year they wanted to charge me £1,000. I changed to Fish and they charged £520 for the same policy. This years premium came in at £781.55 for 2005 3.8 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT. I've put the value at £20k. (When I imported it and put the hand controls on and the 'toys' in it, it had set me back £40k.) Off street parking, any driver over 25 years, full roadside recovery, protected 'no claims bonuses', protected excess (£250 eccess) and 8k miles a year. I don't know what Bolton is like for crime or whether there's any premium or discount for the area but its just like any other English city a far as I can see. When I questioned the hike in price I dropped the any driver over 25 and just put named drivers on and the price dropped to £320.68 for the same policy. You can't complain at a deal like that and that's why I recommend Fish.

They are specialist in insurance for people with disabilities whether its car insurance, travel insurance or independent living insurance (employers liability insurance).

So, can anyone beat mine £326.68?

Steve

[Irving]

That's odd. But I wouldn't want to insure one for any driver, or parking on the street at any price... From an insurance perspective its just trouble.

You need to find ways to have one driver with a good record and off road parking if its humanly possible.

And there are advantages to living away from the smoke.

post-adaptation, they were £1800 and £825 respectively

Both crazy prices. I pay 1/3rd that, with a bad driving record, and 5 historic disqualifications, and several written off big bikes etc. Currently also have speeding convictions. (yes hooligan I know!!! Don't bother telling me). What exactly did you do???

I need any driver - 2 carers, wife, daughter, 2 sons, daughter-in-law, etc. (they normally limit named drivers to 3 or 4) and at the N1 address on-street parking is the only option. When I eventually go home it will be off-road parking. Sadly London is expensive - my mk1 TT was £485, blueprinted, chipped, lowered, uprated suspension, brakes, exhaust. And I've had my fair share of incidents, but I kept my hooligan tendencies mainly for the track LOL and currently (amazingly some might say) have 5y+ NCB

[Burgerman]

Are you sure you cant drive from a wheelchair? Apart from being much cheaper to insure with only you as driver, its far more useful and less likely to result in bent cars...

There are many adaptation now, driving isn't difficult really if you have any sort of hand movement.

[Irving]

Are you sure you cant drive from a wheelchair? Apart from being much cheaper to insure with only you as driver, its far more useful and less likely to result in bent cars...

There are many adaptation now, driving isn't difficult really if you have any sort of hand movement.

I had the QEF assessment and can drive with a reduced weight steering rack, smaller steering wheel with a tetra-grip, and electronic brake/accelerator. I did look at some 'drive from wheelchair' vehicles, but I'm only 7mo post accident and my concentration levels, stamina and spasms are not good right now so hazard perception, danger of falling asleep at wheel or just loss of control make me feel unsafe to drive right now. I will get there one day, of that I have no doubt & would prefer to be the driver.

Right now I have & need 24 x 7 care so always have a driver and both my carers are good drivers (and I'm a bad passenger!)

[Burgerman]

What frustrates me is that the system does not allow for things like this. The extra expense you incur due to not being able to drive yourself, and the extra damage, depreciation on vehicles, houses, etc. that you suffer due to not being able to take advantage of your superior safety, care, maintenance, cleaning etc. compared to the average useless pudding...

By which I mean my cars used to last indefinitely, with my OCD care and valeting, no driving on salty roads. My plants and trees, used to get brought into the house/garage over winter. Now the cold kills them off because other people don't have your interest and think you are mad. It leaves you in the same situation as "normal" retards... Your (my?) huge advantage over the normal human is now lost. I have to live like they do.



Also wear and tear of everything. I used to take care. I literally didn't have any! Now I have no choice but to watch death and destruction as carers and people helping wreck everything... How does the benefits system allow for this? Eg extra insurance, or extra for fuel on a big heavy van, or extra for the damage caused by wheelchairs to carpets, decorations, etc.

[stevelawiw]

Motability bugs me, if you qualify and can use a completely bog standard car the system is great! It costs you your mobility component of the DLA for three years but you get a brand new car, insurance, servicing and tyres paid for!

But if you need a DFW vehicle or other heavily adapted car etc you have to pay ay least £15000 up front which you completely loose when you have to give the car back at the end of the agreement, and there is nothing in place for you to buy outright the vehicle

[Burgerman]

Motobility is just a leasing company. If you want a stock car, treat it average/badly and don't mind shelling out continually for the privilege on a 0 to 3 year old car its ok.

If you LOOK AFTER your car, its cheaper to buy the same car for cash, outright, long term.
You can do a good deal online, and save up to pay for it FIRST.
No credit, only the rich or stupid can afford a new car on credit...

E.g. Extreme case, of my own Lowered floor Rollx van. It was 30k delivered from the US. Brand new, all shipping, import costs, including hand controls etc fitted and an electronic tie down. And better spec than a UK van with sat nav, climate etc. A similar van outright in the UK was 57k PLUS tie down/hand controls. That's almost DOUBLE!

And via Motability the same uk van was around 25k deposit, and a further 5 years of your mobility allowance, at about 200 per month! That's another 12k. So you end up paying 25 + 12 = 37k total and then after 5 years you hand it back, to start again.

My 7K CHEAPER, 30k van still looks and smells new.
Has fancy wheels, better trim and equipment, and is gleaming and blemish free. And importantly its 6 years old now and its MINE and paid for. So after these 6 years I have almost saved enough to do it over again.

Those on loans or Motability are STILL paying double and have nothing saved. Its about life choices. You can make poor ones or good ones. I spent (invested) the money I saved on my house instead. Some for e.g. on solar panels, that are again saving me more cash. So it gets even easier to afford a new van...

[Irving]

The KIA Sedona I got was originally a Motability supplied vehicle (for an MS sufferer that sadly passed away).

It's 2y old, immaculate, only 2300 miles on clock, top of range spec. Original cost £36k + Brotherwood 'up front' conversion @ £15k (got all receipts etc). I got it well depreciated off list with FSH and 5y of KIA warranty remaining, bought outright. Drives well and is really comfortable unlike the 'van' conversions I tested which shove you out the back (out of sight, out of mind?) over a bouncy live axle. Also because the ramp is an 'in floor' one you don't need massive space out the back to get in - if you can open the tailgate I can get in!

[Burgerman]

I tested a lowered floor side entry drive from wheelchair one of those. It was a bit "tight" for floor space to manoeuvre about, but usable.

Thing is I need space. I am always loading in more than one chair (by Radio Control) and / or RC flying models/helis/quad/gliders etc.