Caravan Insurance
Do you own a caravan? Being out and about touring your caravan is a great way of getting away from it all and making amazing memories of travel with family and friends. The big question is, do you buy a separate caravan insurance policy?
It’s not legally required to get specific insurance coverage for your caravan but it is advisable. Some caravan owners often ponder about whether it would be worth it to invest effort in finding a policy or not. The fact is that whilst towing, the caravans are often covered by the owner’s motor policy however, you should check this with your car insurance provider. However, when the vehicle is uncoupled, it is often left uninsured.
Reasons to purchase Caravan Insurance
Caravan theft
It’s becoming a widespread affair these days and according to some reports, more than 3,000 touring caravans are targeted annually. Most policies have provisions for “new-for-old” caravan replacement which will support you in case the vehicle gets stolen. As you report about your stolen vehicle to your insurer, they will bear the cost of getting a new vehicle for you.
Cover for personal items
You carry a lot of personal items in your caravan and most of them are really useful. When you are carrying this equipment or even appliances on your vacation in the caravan, these items won’t be covered under your home insurance policy. A caravan insurance policy may offer coverage for different functional items within the vehicle like gas cylinders, camping gears etc.
Cover for damages from natural disasters
In recent years in the UK we have witnessed some very unusual weather patterns and terrible flooding at many campsites. Caravans are obviously exposed to natural disasters which could mean serious damage to your vehicle. Insurance policies may offer your vehicle coverage on damages from these natural disasters.
Emergency accommodation
Your caravan is your hotel on wheels but what if it gets damaged somehow on the way and you are forced to stay somewhere else all of a sudden? Caravan insurance policies may save you with its coverage for emergency lodging expenses.
Different types of caravan cover:
There are primarily 3 forms of caravan coverage:
| Type | Coverage |
| Static insurance | As the name suggests, this form of caravan insurance is for vehicles fixed in a location, such as holiday parks |
| Touring insurance | It can include coverage like “New-for-old” caravan replacement as well as European cover. |
| Trailer rent & folding camper coverage | Again, this can include a lot of things such as “New-for-old” caravan replacement, European cover, coverage for weather-borne damage to the awnings as well as coverage for all-year touring & storage. |
What policy features you should ideally have in your caravan coverage policy?
You might want to look for insurance cover that includes the following policy features:
- Coverage for valuables inside the vehicle & awning
- Family & friends cover
- European cover
- Coverage for accidental damage
- Coverage for storm damage
Do I need to sit a specific driving test?
A lot of caravan owners ask whether they have to pass a separate driving test to tow their caravans. Well, in case you had your car driving test after or on January 1, 1997 & you wish to tow your caravan- then you must take another test which is officially termed as B+E test.
Exclusions on your caravan insurance
Caravan insurance policies might come with some exclusions. Before you take out your insurance deal, make sure to check out certain exclusions that are often found in the small print:
- Restriction on age of the caravan
- Mechanical & electrical breakdown
- Contents cover in case there isn’t any forced entry
- Mildew damage
- Vermin damage
- Wear & tear
- In case the caravan is used to trade
How to lower your caravan insurance
There are various ways by which you can achieve lower premium on caravan policies
Ensure a safe caravan
The level of security you have on your caravan plays a huge role in determining the insurance premium. A caravan equipped with a good number of security features would usually achieve lower rates than a regular one with just basic or standard safety features. There are different ways by which you can make your vehicle more secure
- Clamping the wheels while the van is static
- Install the latest safety features like alarms & tracking systems
- Use a hitch lock for the tow bar while the van is stationary
- Install security tags & steady locks for the rear part of the touring caravan
Secured storage
This is another important point when it comes to assuring lower premium on your caravan insurance. You might not know but storage location of the van affects the insurance premium as well. Look for the sites that are affiliated to CaSSOA (Caravan Storage Site Owners' Association). They assess every site & award gold, silver or bronze accreditations based on measures devised to prevent theft & fire.
Club memberships
If you hold memberships with a national caravan club, you could be able to earn some level of discount on your caravan coverage.
Higher excess
If you are ready to pay a higher excess, your premiums will usually be lower. However, it’s important to make sure that your set excess amount is not beyond your affordability.
Age of the driver
The age of the driver is also considered while determining the insurance premium. Younger drivers are often viewed as prone to rash driving leading to accidents and claims. However older drivers are sometimes considered generally more mature and sensible on-road which reduces chances of accidents and claims. Often, the insurance companies are often ready to offer lower premiums if the primary driver is around 40 or more.