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[Nickbat]

I've been lurking in the background and giving some thought to an LPG conversion. One thing worries me though, and that ius insurance.

I found this link, and although the info refers to 2005, it raises some concerns in my mind concerning a "DIY" conversion:

http://www.boostlpg.co.uk/driver_industry/Insurance.htm

[Taxi_Driver]

TBH......i wouldnt go shouting it out to your ins comp that you did it yourself.

Its honest enough to say its been converted to LPG and I have an LPGA certificate  
(obviously as long as you get the instal certified)

[Taxi_Driver]

Should off added......If your insurance tries to hike the premium.....tell them nicely where to go in jerky movements  

It should make no difference to the premium.

I informed mine when i got it converted......they just wanted a photocopy of the certificate.....so it was on file  

[Golfbuddy]

Good point though Nick. The only time that you'd find out if they had a problem with the install would be if you had a claim.

I was/am very interested in doing this myself. I even have my works engineer (sorry, technician) fired up to help me do it.

Don't want to leave it too long as the fuel bills continue to rise.  :-?

[Kevin Wood]

What appears on an LPGA certificate? I've never seen one...

Does a DIY one look any different to one from a LPGA installer?

TBH, there must be enough LPG cars on the 2nd hand market where the owner has no clue about the history that it's probably acceptable to just have a certificate.

Kevin

[Jay w]

my insurance company only want to know when it has been done, not by whom and they do not want a certificate.

that said i will still get it certified, if nothing else just to give me peace of mind that it was done to a set standard, if i sell the car then it makes it easier to move on as well

[Tony H]

I wonder why lpg converted cars should be considered a higher risk than petrol? in event of a collision a tank designed to contain gas  at high pressure is going to stand a lot higher chance of not rupturing than a plastic tank full of petrol :-/

[Kevin Wood]

Even if an LPG tank ruptures I reckon it'd disperse quickly enough that it's less of a hazard than petrol.

Kevin

[Jay w]

most likely because to a lot of people LPG is an unknown, and there are a few companies who will increase or refuse to insure LPG/dual fuel cars

[Taxi_Driver]

What appears on an LPGA certificate? I've never seen one...
Does a DIY one look any different to one from a LPGA installer?

TBH, there must be enough LPG cars on the 2nd hand market where the owner has no clue about the history that it's probably acceptable to just have a certificate.

Kevin
 

I would post mine up......if i could remember where it was  

But from memory its just.....

Chassis No.
Reg No.
Type of system installed (tank and front end) with serial numbers
Emissions on petrol
Emissions on LPG
Stamped and signed saying its been installed to LPGA standards  

[JamesV6CDX]

Valid points

Last year I called Directline, to ask them if they would cover my car, if I DIY converted. I tried a couple of other companies. The answer, was catagorically No - it had to be converted by an approved installer, end of story, before they would cover it.

However - I said to them, OK, what if I go buy a car that's already converted but not certified, and then get it inspected. Will you insure that? Of course Sir, was the answer...

To be honest, if you're doing a DIY conversion, I wouldn't tell them at any cost, that you've done it DIY. If they say "who converted it" My reply will be "It's all been sorted out by blah...(whoever certified it).... and send them the certificate. Chances are, some monkey administrator will put the certificate on file without looking at it, and tick a box to say it's been recieved - job done!

[Kevin Wood]

To be honest, if you're doing a DIY conversion, I wouldn't tell them at any cost, that you've done it DIY. If they say "who converted it" My reply will be "It's all been sorted out by blah...(whoever certified it).... and send them the certificate. Chances are, some monkey administrator will put the certificate on file without looking at it, and tick a box to say it's been recieved - job done!

This is my plan. They can stipulate what they like but if it's got a certificate and it doesn't specifically say it was a DIY conversion I can't see how they can get arsey about it.

Whilst lying to insurance companies is a very bad idea, so is volunteering more of the truth than they specifically extract from you, IME.

Kevin

[Ken T]

Interesting piece here about LPG systems, it would appear that an LPG system is safer than petrol http://www.go-lpg.co.uk/Emergency_services.html I think a lot of the problems have been caused by the LPGA who are basically trying to tie things up for their members. I supose as long as you have a friend helping you install, and he is an engineer (sorry Mark!) then you can truthfully say "it was installed by an engineer, and here's the installation certificate". Ancient saying "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Well 2 out of 3 'aint bad".  

Ken

I nearly forgot, here's an LPG jag that caught fire. http://www.go-lpg.co.uk/Fire.html