Oh boy, don't even get me started on insurance companies and cargo vans.
When I switched from a window van to a cargo van, about 10 days later they sent me a notice that I needed to take it into them for an inspection. As soon as they saw it was a cargo van my insurance went from $60/mo to $270/mo and they called it a commercial vehicle period. They complained about the solar panels, and said they could not insure me with them, but I told them they were there when I bought it, but I was going to remove them, so the agent didn't report them.
Not quite a year later, I got a notice that my insurance carrier had changed, and I needed to go in for another inspection. This time they not only complained about the solar panels, they also demanded to look inside, which they did not do on the previous inspection. Upon seeing it was a camper van, they immediately cancelled my coverage all together. The interior had come out of a wrecked factory camper van, so it looked like a factory job too, it didn't matter. The title said cargo van, and that wasn't what it was being used for. Game Over.
That was the last straw before I got rid of that miserable PITA. Went back to window vans and $60/mo insurance. They know they're camper vans and all they ask is whether I want it insured as a passenger van or an RV. I choose passenger van because that is what it's registered as which is much cheaper. Since my interior is totally portable and removable I have my choice, and the insurance companies could care less. I guess maybe the built in stuff has to be insured as an RV, and since I could truthfully say no propane, or holding tanks, I was good to go.
I only carry the required liability insurance, not full coverage, and my belongings aren't covered. My real insurance policy is having an emergency fund large enough to replace everything, van and all contents included. That way I have guaranteed full coverage with no insurance company hassles.
