Owning a classic campervan is about far more than transport, it’s about history, craftsmanship and lifestyle. For owners of VW air-cooled campervans such as Split Screens, Bay Windows and early T25s, ensuring the vehicle is correctly appraised for insurance is essential. Values can vary dramatically depending on condition, originality and restoration quality, and relying on a standard insurance valuation can leave you exposed. In this detailed guide, we explain how camper appraisals work, why they matter, and how they link directly to specialist insurance options such as Agreed Value polices.
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Why Do Classic Campervans Need a Professional Appraisal?
What Is a Classic Camper Appraisal?
Who Can Carry Out a Campervan Appraisal?
Preparing Your Campervan for an Appraisal
Agreed Value Insurance – Why It’s Essential for Classics
Keeping Your Appraisal Up to Date
Additional Insurance Options to Support Your Appraisal
Summary – Protecting the True Worth of Your Classic Camper
Why Do Classic Campervans Need a Professional Appraisal?
Classic campervans do not depreciate in the same way as modern vehicles. In many cases, particularly with air-cooled VW campers, values have steadily increased due to limited supply and strong demand. A professionally restored T2 Bay Window camper, for example, can be worth many times more than a project van of the same year.
Standard market-value insurance usually calculates payouts based on average prices at the time of a claim, without considering restoration costs, rarity or upgrades. This can result in a settlement that falls well short of what your campervan is actually worth.
A professional appraisal provides documented proof of value, ensuring your insurer understands the true replacement cost of your camper and allows you to insure it accurately from day one.
What Is a Classic Camper Appraisal?
A classic camper appraisal is a structured assessment of your vehicle’s value at a specific point in time. It is far more detailed than a basic valuation estimate and looks at the campervan as a whole, rather than just its registration year.
The appraisal will typically assess bodywork condition, paint quality, rust repairs, chassis integrity and mechanical health. For VW air-cooled campers, the appraiser will often consider whether the engine is period-correct, the quality of any rebuilds and how sympathetically upgrades have been carried out. The camper conversion itself is also important, including interior condition, pop-top roof, electrics and fittings. All of this information is combined to produce a realistic, evidence-based valuation that insurers can rely on.
Why compromise on insuring your precious vehicle when we’ll give you £50* if we are not the cheapest.
Who Can Carry Out a Campervan Appraisal?
Not all valuations carry the same weight. For insurance purposes, an appraisal should be completed by someone with proven experience in classic vehicles or VW campervans specifically. This could be a recognised classic vehicle assessor, a specialist VW camper workshop, or an independent valuer who regularly works with classic campers.
Insurers look for credibility and supporting evidence. A valuation from a knowledgeable specialist who understands the classic VW market is far more likely to be accepted than an informal estimate. Over-inflated or poorly supported valuations may be challenged, which can delay cover being put in place. Choosing the right appraiser helps ensure your campervan is valued fairly and efficiently.
Preparing Your Campervan for an Appraisal
Preparation plays a big role in achieving an accurate appraisal. Before the assessment, make sure your campervan is clean, presentable and fully accessible. Small details matter, as they reflect overall care and maintenance.
You should also gather as much supporting documentation as possible. This includes the V5C logbook, MOT history (even if the camper is now MOT-exempt), restoration invoices, engine rebuild receipts and photographs showing work carried out. Clear, recent photos are especially important, as many insurers will request them alongside the valuation. Well-organised paperwork helps demonstrate the quality of the campervan and supports the appraised value.
Agreed Value Insurance – Why It’s Essential for Classics
Once your campervan has been appraised, the valuation is used to set up agreed value insurance. This is one of the most important types of cover for classic campervans. With agreed value insurance, you and the insurer confirm the campervan’s value at the start of the policy, and this amount is recorded in writing.
If your campervan is stolen or written off, the payout is the agreed figure, not a depreciated market value. This removes uncertainty at claim time and ensures you are properly protected. Agreed value cover is particularly important for restored or modified campervans, where standard pricing guides do not reflect true worth.
The whole process of applying for an Agreed Valuation is really simple and straightforward, and can all be completed via the Just Kampers Insurance Portal. Several clear, crisp photos are required, and a simple form is provided to record all your modifications and any work carried out.
Examples of the photos required are below :
Campervan Side, Nearside (Left) (1 Photo)
Campervan Side, Offside (Right) (1 Photo)
Campervan Front (1 Photo)
Campervan Rear (1 Photo)
Campervan Engine Bay (1 Photo)
Campervan Odometer (1 Photo)
Campervan Interior (1 Photo)
More details can be found in the Agreed Value Insurance section of the Just Kampers Insurance website.
Examples of the photos required for appraisal
Keeping Your Appraisal Up to Date
Classic campervan values are not static. Market demand, rising restoration costs and additional work carried out on your vehicle can all increase its value over time. If you improve your campervan, for example, with new paintwork, a rebuilt engine or a refurbished interior, your original appraisal may no longer reflect its true worth. It’s good practice to review your appraisal every few years or after any significant upgrades.
Updating your agreed value policy usually involves submitting new photographs and documentation rather than starting the process from scratch. Keeping your valuation current helps avoid underinsurance and ensures your policy continues to offer the right level of protection.
Additional Insurance Options to Support Your Appraisal
Alongside agreed value cover, there are several other insurance features that work particularly well for classic campervans. Limited mileage policies are ideal if your camper is used mainly for holidays, shows and weekends away, often resulting in lower premiums. Contents Cover for camper interiors, accessories and awnings is also important, as these items are rarely included under standard motor insurance.
Breakdown cover can provide reassurance on longer trips, while legal protection can help if you’re involved in a dispute following an accident. These options allow you to tailor your insurance to how you actually use your campervan
Summary – Protecting the True Worth of Your Classic Camper
Getting your classic camper appraised for insurance is one of the smartest decisions you can make as an owner. A professional appraisal ensures your campervan’s value is recognised, documented and protected, rather than left to guesswork at the point of a claim.
By combining a credible appraisal with specialist insurance options from Just Kampers Insurance, you can enjoy your VW air-cooled campervan with confidence, knowing that its history, condition and true value are fully taken into account.
