Using a van as a personal vehicle?

[palindromicbob]

In the market for a new car. Come across a bit of a bargain on a 2007 Fiesta Van. Have no real need for back seats. Van would be ideal for golf, taking the dog out etc and I'd assume be better on fuel thanks to reduced weight from having no rear seats.

Only thing is I don't know anything about what would be required. I'd assume tax would be pretty much the same but having trouble getting insurance quotes from any of the online places.

 

[palindromicbob]

Also wondering if there is anything else I'd need to look out for. Is MOT the same etc etc.

 

[Smiffy]

Everything is the same re. MOT and tax etc. But you would be better speaking to an insurance company on the phone rather than trying to sort it online. A lot of companies are just not set up for dealing with commercial vehicle insurance (as that's what it is in effect, despite the fact that you are not using the van for commercial purposes).

 

[gripitripit]

Road Tax will be different £215 for the year as it a commercial. Insurance will be around the same once you tell them you not using the van for work purposes.
I had a Fiesta van until recently and loved it. So easy for the clubs and trolley etc.

 

[chris661]

Does it come with a decent sat nav and anti idiot coating?

 

[Rooter]

IIRC, if you install back windows, it then doesnt become a van. I only remember this when we had a transit van for racing motorbikes, we stuck a window in the side and changed the class to a campervan. this made it cheaper to cross the severn bridge! the cost of the glass got covered on the first trip, and we used to go to Pembrey a lot! not sure if it has other "benefits" like tax and insurance.. worth checking out though, would not cos you much to install back windows... but that probably defeats the object of it being cheap!

 

[dufferman]

I considered this once... never even thought about the cost of tax etc changing...!

Surely it's just easier to buy an estate? I have an 03' Skoda Fabia... cheap as chips to run and insure. Clubs fit in the boot without dropping any seats etc!

 

[smange]

In the market for a new car. Come across a bit of a bargain on a 2007 Fiesta Van. Have no real need for back seats. Van would be ideal for golf, taking the dog out etc and I'd assume be better on fuel thanks to reduced weight from having no rear seats.

Only thing is I don't know anything about what would be required. I'd assume tax would be pretty much the same but having trouble getting insurance quotes from any of the online places.

As its a bargain why not employ a driver with your savings, that way you will get to the right destination and more than likely on time

Idiot!!

 

[6inchcup]

a chap at the club has gone down the van route,he has a small buggy due to a hip problem and was looking at an estate car but was interested in the price of a brand new renault trafic van,£12,650 +vat this comes with sat nav a good sound system top notch security and a good economical diesel engine,the dealer has also included free services for 3 years,don't know about the insurance costs but would think that it would be low as he is over 55 and classed as retired due to ill health.

 

[gripitripit]

~A traffic is a bit excessive is it not as a runaround?

 

[Fish]

No difference, it is not commercial if you are not using it commercially and its description will possibly be a car derived van anyway. Its solely down to when you declare your use of the vehicle in that its for personal/domestic use and travelling to & from work only that its classification is processed.

I have had many vans in my fleet and kept a car derived van for personal use for years, its down to how you declare its use, not what it is.

The only variable would be a plated commercial vehicle.

 

[Shaunmg]

I use an Astra van and love it, great for golf stuff, I’ve had 3 set of clubs and 2 trolleys in it. I leave the car for the wife.

If you have golf insurance. Then check your policy out, some of main golf insurers won’t cover for clubs left in a Van. I found this out when I had my clubs nicked from the van. My present policy does cover me

 

[palindromicbob]

It's all very interesting. The reason I'm considering this so much is it has 49000 miles and is a 2007. All cars in a similar price bracket are either 2004 or older. Must phone the insurance company tomorrow and check the tax out. It's only a 1.5 diesel.

 

[chris661]

I picked up a freelander commercial on Monday and am thinking about punting my pimp mobile if I can (not too fussed). We got it mainly for towing the horses although I will tend to use it mostly for golf as it is a doddle getting the kit in and out Tax and insurance is WAY cheaper down here but don't know how different they will be for you.

 

[Phil2511]

Try Crumlin Insurance Partnership Bob, they are who i use for my van.

Though i know a young guy who has a van but not using it for business, just car replacement and he got his lowest quote from Hughes

 

[palindromicbob]

Try Crumlin Insurance Partnership Bob, they are who i use for my van.

Though i know a young guy who has a van but not using it for business, just car replacement and he got his lowest quote from Hughes

Thanks Phil. The whole northern Ireland thing throws a whole different insurance complication in the mix so nice to know of a few companies worth checking out.

 

[Fish]

Thanks Phil. The whole northern Ireland thing throws a whole different insurance complication in the mix so nice to know of a few companies worth checking out.

We've just done our vehicles through echoice which is actually RSA (Royal & Sun Alliance). Cheapest we found by far.

Tip: Always place an spouse on even though they might not drive the vehicle, for some reason its always cheaper with an added driver!

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Mrs H drives a Mercedes Vito van (one of the drawbacks of having mountain dogs). The only thing that caught us out was when we went for insurance (with direct line) we chose van insurance which assumed it was a business vehicle and the premium was huge. If you just do it as car insurance it is fine. This may or may not apply to other providers but thought I'd mention it.

Oh, and some of the speed limits are different for vans...check https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits for details