Insurance is the least exciting part of van life and, by a reasonable margin, the one most likely to cost you seriously if you get it wrong. The problem is specific to van lifers: a converted panel van sits in a gap between standard motor insurance (which doesn't cover habitation) and motorhome insurance (which most people assume is for big Fiat Ducato A-class units). Getting the right policy takes one phone call if you know what to ask. Getting the wrong policy means a denied claim.
Regular car insurance won't cover you
This is the most important thing to understand. Standard motor insurance covers you for driving. The moment your van is being used as a place to sleep — even occasionally — the insurers' standard exclusions around habitation apply. If you sleep in your van and then have a fire caused by your gas hob, a standard motor policy will likely not pay out. If your van is broken into and camping gear, a laptop, and a camera are stolen, standard motor insurance won't cover those contents at all.
The fix is declaring the vehicle's actual use to your insurer and either getting an endorsement on your existing policy (some insurers will do this) or switching to a specialist campervan or motorhome policy. It's not dramatically more expensive. The gap between standard van insurance and campervan insurance is often €100–€250 per year. That's not the reason to avoid declaring it honestly.
Types of cover
There are four layers to consider:
- Motor insurance (mandatory): Third-party minimum required by Irish law. Third-party, fire and theft is the sensible minimum for most vans worth over €8,000. Fully comprehensive if the van and conversion are worth €20,000+.
- Contents insurance (optional but recommended): Covers your gear inside the van — laptop, camera, tools, bike. This is NOT included in motor insurance. You need to add it specifically, either as an extension to your motor policy or as a separate home/renters-style contents policy.
- Breakdown cover: Essential in Ireland, and especially essential if you're in rural areas. A breakdown in Connemara without cover is a very expensive and very slow experience.
- European extension: If you plan to travel to the UK, France, or anywhere off the island, you need to confirm your policy includes European cover. Most Irish policies include some EU cover as standard, but check the terms — some have mileage restrictions or time limits outside Ireland.
Full-time liveaboard considerations
If you live in your van full-time — no fixed home, the van is your primary residence — you need to declare this to your insurer. Some insurers simply won't cover full-time liveaboard use; they'll refuse the policy or write an exclusion into the small print. Look specifically for policies that describe themselves as “motorhome” or “leisure vehicle” insurance rather than commercial van insurance.
The practical test: ask your insurer directly “Does this policy cover me if I sleep in the van six or more nights a week?” If they say yes, get it in writing (email confirmation is fine). If they say no, you need a different product.
Full-time liveaboard policies also handle the registered address question differently. You'll need a postal address for correspondence — a family member's address is commonly used. Your insurer needs to know this is the case; most motorhome policies are designed for this reality.
Irish providers to check
The Irish insurance market for campervans is reasonably competitive but concentrated. Brokers tend to be more useful than direct comparisons because the product nuances (liveaboard cover, conversion value, contents) aren't well captured by comparison sites.
- AXA Ireland: covers campervans and motorhomes; worth getting a direct quote and specifying habitation use.
- Allianz Ireland: motorhome cover available; good for comprehensive policies on higher-value conversions.
- Liberty Insurance: available through brokers; check for campervan-specific cover options.
- 123.ie and Chill Insurance: comparison brokers who can access multiple underwriters; useful starting point, but make sure whoever you end up with understands what a campervan conversion is.
- Specialist brokers: if you have a high-value conversion (€30,000+), a full-time liveaboard situation, or a vintage vehicle, a specialist motorhome broker (often UK-based, operating in Ireland) will find better terms. Caravan Guard and other UK specialists can insure Irish-registered campervans in some circumstances — worth asking.
What affects your premium
- Age and value of the van: older vans with limited market value get lower premiums; high-value conversions need agreed-value cover.
- Declared overnight use: declaring habitation use increases premiums slightly but is non-negotiable for valid cover.
- Storage location: a van stored in a locked unit or off-street drive gets a better rate than one on a public road.
- No-claims bonus: your existing motor no-claims bonus transfers to a campervan policy at most Irish insurers.
- Conversion value: the cost of your fitout (beds, solar, kitchen, heating) should be declared separately as an “agreed value” item. Market value policies will not pay what you spent on a custom conversion.
Breakdown cover — don't skip it in Ireland
The AA Ireland, the RAC, and Allianz Assistance are the main options. For van life specifically, check:
- Recovery distance: does the policy recover you to your home, or just to the nearest garage? In rural Mayo or Donegal, the nearest garage may not be able to work on your vehicle. You want home recovery or recovery to a garage of your choice.
- Accommodation cover: if you break down far from any service and the repair takes 24+ hours, some breakdown policies cover overnight accommodation. Useful even for van lifers who have their own accommodation on wheels.
- European cover: if there's any chance of crossing to the UK or the continent, make sure your breakdown cover extends. The ferry crossing itself is covered by ferry operator assistance, but you need cover from the moment you disembark.
The questions to ask your broker
Before you sign anything, ask these specifically and get written answers:
- "Does this policy cover me sleeping in the van regularly, including as my primary residence?"
- "What is the basis of valuation — market value or agreed value — and does agreed value include my conversion fitout?"
- "Is European cover included, and are there mileage or time restrictions on it?"
- "What contents are covered inside the van, and what is the single-item limit?"
- "If I have an incident while parked overnight at a wild camping spot, does the policy respond?"
Most Irish brokers who specialise in motorhomes will have heard all of these. If the person you're speaking to sounds uncertain, ask to speak to someone who handles motorhome policies specifically.
Contents insurance — specify your high-value items
A standard contents extension covers your general van contents up to a limit (often €1,500–3,000). The items that blow that limit quickly are: laptop (€1,200+), camera kit (€800–3,000+), tools if you're a tradesperson using the van for work, bikes on a rear rack. Specify these as named high-value items on the policy schedule. The premium increase is small; the payout difference in a theft claim is significant.
Also note: bikes mounted on the outside of the van (rear rack) are excluded from most standard contents policies. They need to be specifically noted, sometimes with a lock requirement, to be covered.
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