Defender - commercial/sw

I'm looking at getting a defender and after finding one I liked (1994 defender 90) I compared insurance quotes before making an offer on it, and I'm glad I did... Because it is a three seater with no rear windows, I understand it is classed as a commercial vehicle. This means that due to my age (20) most companies refuse to insure me and the quotes I do get are little below £2000.

However, I have just got a quote on a 110 County Station Wagon for £800. These cars are virtually identical apart from the windows, seats and wheelbase. You could even argue that there is greater risk driving the 110 as it is a larger vehicle. However, the insurance quotes do not reflect this one bit.

Am I missing something or is this simply the way it is? I had my heart set on that first 90 but if that is what I will have to pay to insure it I'm going to have to reconsider.

Thanks, Joe

Hi Joe,

I've just replied to your PM but I'll explain here too.

The problem doesn't lie with how the vehicle looks/drives - It's the fact you can't insure a commercial vehicle as a private car. It's the same as for example if you tried to insure a Transit van as a car - You can't do it.

If the Defender is registered as a commercial vehicle (Will also have commercial tax, too) then you unfortunately can't insure it as a 'Car'.

We don't mind the fact it doesn't have rear seats or windows - That's not the problem at all, it's just a case that our commercial insurers can't insure them as cars, and vice versa.

Thanks

Jordan

They are not classed as commercial vehicles. My first landy was a hard top 90 and I got insured no problem. It should also state PLG on the V5 which, I think, is different from commercial. Either way try a diffrent insurer

Adrian Flux said:

If the Defender is registered as a commercial vehicle (Will also have commercial tax, too) then you unfortunately can't insure it as a 'Car'.

Thanks

Jordan

Click to expand...

it's a 1994, it will have standard PLG tax same as a car of the same age

Not if its been registered as a commercial vehicle it won't, the age is irrelevant

Jordan, all new 2.2 defenders including station wagons after 2012 are classified as N1 light comnercial on the v5 and on the road fund licence all defender vehicles now costing £225 for a full 12 months. This means that a 90 county station wagon which in 2010 was classed as PLG is now LCV N1, making it in the same class as a double cab pick up or a van body. Does this mean that people whom have these station wagons insured as cars have them insured incorrectly? I know of people whom have them insured as cars and if other people who's insurance company's said they had to go down the van/commercial route.

Best regards

Andrew