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There are three main categories of caravan, each of which has its own special needs as far as caravan insurance cover is concerned.
Touring caravans
Tourer caravans are probably what most people think of when you say caravan, one of the main areas of risk for tourers is from theft either of the contents or of the caravan itself. Fitting secure locks and bolts on doors and windows can help improve security and prevent burglary, as can the installation of a burglar alarm.
There are a number of steps you can take to help prevent the theft of the caravan itself and that is through the use of a wheel clamp to immobilise the tourer and a hitchlock to stop your caravan being unhitched from your car or hitched onto someone else’s.
The touring caravan insurance cover from some insurers may insist, as a condition of cover, on the use of a hitchlock if the caravan is attached to the car and a wheel clamp with a hitchlock if the caravan is unattached.
Static caravans
Flooding is one of the major events that static caravan insurance cover has to deal with. Some insurers will offer premium discounts if your static caravan is sited at a location at least a certain distance from water (sea, lake or river).
While static caravan insurance typically comes as an annual policy, there may be special stipulations about draining down water and heating systems over the winter months when you caravan is empty.
Motorhomes
For some people having a motorhome is holiday heaven. The freedom to come and go as you choose without having to think too much about being in a certain place for a certain time can be the perfect holiday.
If your motorhome breaks down though, you run the risk of losing both your transport and your accommodation. This is why having motorhome breakdown insurance, which can provide alternative transport and accommodation, can make the difference to continuing your holiday or having to go home.
Awning issues
While an awning does provide additional living space for any type of caravan, contents cover for awnings is unlikely to include anything apart from outdoor furniture. Leaving personal belongings under the awning and assuming that they would be covered in the same way as items in the caravan itself, may not be a good idea.
Awnings are particularly susceptible to weather damage and some insurers attach special insurance conditions to them. Making sure that your awning is securely stowed away when you are not in your caravan may seem like a chore at times but given the unpredictability of the UK weather, may actually not be a bad idea.
Finding what you need
It may be worth using a caravan specialist to make sure you get suitable caravan insurance cover. Their expertise may help you get a suitable deal and at a suitable price.
If you do not have insurance for static caravans in the UK, then like any other high value item, if the caravan is damaged or stolen it would be you who would be facing potentially large repair or replacement bills.
You may therefore be keen to find suitable insurance for your static caravan and at a suitable price.
The price you pay for insurance for static caravans in the UK will depend on a number of factors. Some of these factors relate to where you keep your caravan and the measures you take to protect it and its contents from theft or damage.
Flood damage
If your caravan is sited near to the water for example and this could be the sea, a lake or a river, then you may find that your insurance premiums will be higher. This is because one of the main risk areas for static caravans is from flooding.
Some insurers keep lists of postcodes where there are sites vulnerable to flooding to help them calculate levels of risk. So while that picturesque sea view may be magnificent, it comes at a price!
Theft and vandalism
Even if your static caravan is not your permanent home, it is likely to contain more in the way of fittings and fixtures than a touring model. You may spend more time in it and may have made more of an effort to turn it into a home-from-home. This may make it more of a target for thieves and making sure that you have adequate contents insurance for static caravans may make sense,
That’s not all you can do to help improve the security of your static caravan.
Fitting secure locks on doors and windows and installing a burglar alarm are steps some insurers view positively and they may offer discounts. Choosing a site with 24-hour supervision may also help reduce premiums.
Security for your static caravan over winter when it may be left unattended for potentially longer periods of time is a particular issue. There are special storage sites known as CaSSOA sites where your caravan may be safer. Some insurers offer discounts if you over winter your caravan at one of these secure locations.
Responsible owners
As with your own house, keeping your static caravan well maintained is typically a good idea. Apart for the obvious steps to make sure that it is weather tight, it may also be a good idea to:
- drain down heating and water systems when you are not there can help reduce risks of damage from leaking pipes etc;
- check regularly to ensure that your caravan anchor points are solid and have not deteriorated over time.
You may find that some insurance for static caravans will specifically include these as conditions of cover.
Club membership
If you are a member of one of the approved caravan clubs then you may be able to benefit from sharing hints, tips and the experiences of other caravan owners. This in turn may result in discounts in premiums for insurance for static caravans, as some insurers believe that this knowledge sharing may help reduce claims.
Whether you have a touring caravan, a static model or a motor home, if you are looking for insurance, you may typically be looking for the cheapest caravan insurance you can find.
Shopping around
To get the cheapest caravan insurance may mean that you have do some shopping around. There are a number of specialist caravan insurance providers online and it may make sense to visit a number of these websites to get a few comparative quotes.
That part may be easy enough however just looking at the price and selecting the product with the lowest annual premium may not actually give you what you need.
Compare apples with apples
This is because price alone is typically not a good indicator of what you are actually getting for your money. It is unlikely that comparative quotes will give you identical levels of cover. Features will be included in one quote and excluded from others. The lowest price may just give you the lowest level of cover and there’s nothing wrong with that – if that is what you want!
Know what you want
One way to go about getting the cheapest caravan insurance you can is to make a list of all the features that are important to you.
This list will vary depending on the type of caravan you have but could typically include things like:
- new for old cover;
- continental driving;
- contents cover;
- personal liability insurance;
- awnings;
- breakdown and vehicle replacement cover;
- etc.
Once you have this list you may then check each of your quotes for each of the features you feel that you need.
Pick up some discounts
The specialist websites may typically be a good source of information and advice on how to save money on premiums. For example, fitting secure locks on door and windows and installing a burglar alarm not only helps to protect the contents of your caravan from theft but can also earn you a discount on your premium.
The same may be true if you agree to over-winter your caravan in a secure CaSSOA site.
Check for special conditions
Your quotes may contain special terms and conditions relating to aspects of insurance cover often concerning the security of your caravan.
You may find, for example, that you may be required to:
- stow away your awning when you are absent from your caravan;
- fit a hitchlock to secure your touring caravan to your car;
- fit a wheel clamp and a hitchlock if your caravan is unattached;
- drain down water and heating systems if the caravan is to be empty for extended periods of time.
Getting the cheapest caravan insurance online may not just mean picking the lowest price option. You may need to do a little research to ensure that you have caravan insurance that is right for you.
Ireland is a beautiful country and exploring it through caravanning can be a great holiday. Of course, any caravan may be vulnerable to a range of accidents and other troubles so caravan insurance in Ireland is an important subject.
Your caravan in Ireland – UK mainland owners
If you’re a mainland UK owner planning to take your caravan over the water to Ireland, then it may be sensible to check your policy first in terms of caravan insurance Ireland cover.
Some policies will cover you for use of your vehicle anywhere in the UK or Eire (the Republic of Ireland) for an unlimited number of days.
Some other UK policies may automatically include cover for trips to EU countries up to a certain number of days per annum. In those cases, your insurance may treat Eire as an EU country and you will be covered for up to a specific number of days per year for use there.
Some policies may only cover trips outside of the UK if your insurance company is notified in advance. If so, taking your caravan to the Republic of Ireland may constitute a trip overseas and your insurance company may need to be notified for cover to continue – though this is now becoming rare.
The position with regard to Northern Ireland / The North of Ireland may also be slightly complicated and worth checking. Some policies only cover as standard a caravan for use on the UK mainland and trips to Northern Ireland or the Scottish islands may need special cover although once again, this is becoming relatively unusual.
The bottom line is that before taking your caravan on a ferry of any sort, it may be sensible to check your policy.
Your caravan in Ireland – Northern Ireland / North of Ireland Owners
Your caravan insurance Ireland will typically provide cover for use in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and very likely most EU countries as well. In general, you may find that your policy issues are identical to those of UK mainland owners as above although some companies may have special policies and options for Northern Ireland customers.
Some policies may offer only a specified number of days cover in an EU country and it may be worth checking to see if cover for the Irish Republic is unlimited and unrestricted or if it is treated as an EU country under different provisions.
Once again, although it is now uncommon for it to be an issue, it may pay to double-check that your policy covers your caravan if it is crossing water to the UK mainland.
Some policies may offer variable cover limits depending upon the legal jurisdiction of the provider (south or north) and whether they’re using Euros or Sterling as their base and covered currencies.
General points
Wherever you are, caravan insurance Ireland cover is rarely a problem. A brief check of your policy on a provider’s website will typically answer all of your questions.
The nature of your caravan will be one of the things that will influence the cost of your insurance. Inevitably, the larger more prestigious and expensive models may prove more expensive to ensure than others. The best caravan insurance considerations will arise from this basic fact.
Insurance considerations
Yet not all such considerations arise from the caravan itself. Many other factors will play a part in deciding both how much you pay and how suitable is the cover that you eventually get for your money:
- the driver. If you have a mobile caravan / motor home, a poor driving history or numerous previous claims may affect your costs.
- the caravan. Different caravans of different types may attract different premiums. Some manufacturers are also considered to be more ‘vulnerable’ to claims than others.
- the cover required. Not all policies provide the same types of cover. Some may provide excellent personal possessions cover while others may not.
- security. Insurance companies usually welcome a responsible attitude towards protecting your own property. If you can demonstrate this by showing that you have fitted approved security devices, immobilisers and tracking transmitters, you may find that the insurance company will respond with lower prices.
- usage. The risks associated with a static caravan in a secure UK site may not be seen as being identical to those of a tourer that will be used extensively overseas.
- responsibility. If you show a degree of maturity and responsibility that is typically demonstrated by a membership of an approved owner’s organisation, this may again be reflected in lower policy prices.
Understanding the relevance
No two people are likely to have exactly the same circumstances or requirements or indeed the same caravan. Similarly, no two insurance companies are likely to place exactly the same importance on the above factors (and others not covered here).
As a result, it can be difficult to understand what are the best caravan insurance considerations for your specific circumstances.
The role of specialist providers
Using the online quotation systems of a specialist provider may mean that you can simply input your specific details and look at the policy or policies available as a result.
Understanding the best caravan insurance considerations can be complex but these systems may be able to help you see more clearly what options are open to you.
Unless you’re fortunate enough to be wealthy, tourer caravan insurance savings are likely to be of some interest to you.
Of course being interested in saving money is not of much use unless you have a way of turning it from a vague hope into reality. That is where a little pre-thought and the use of specialist caravan insurance systems may be of benefit.
Tourer caravan insurance costs
With any form of insurance, the insurance provider will need to understand the risks posed by the insurance required. There is no difference in principle for the insurance required to cover tourer caravans.
Depending upon the policy selected, to find the best possible prices you will need to provide information such as:
- the model, type, age and value of the caravan
- your usage patterns (e.g. how many times per year will you take it out of the country and for how long)
- who will be driving it (ages etc)
- any claims history
- whether or not you have fitted approved security devices, immobilisers and tracking devices etc
- whether you are renting it out or plan to do so.
The list is by no means exhaustive and individual insurance companies may ask different questions.
Tourer caravan insurance savings
Savings can often be achieved and there are a few things that may be worth thinking about:
- accepting a voluntary excess may reduce your premiums by a considerable margin
- having a claims-free recent history (usually 3 years+) may also help
- insurance companies may reduce their premiums if they see you have installed security and tracking devices from an approved list
- it may also be possible to achieve reductions by showing that you are a responsible owner through membership of an approved caravan touring association.
Getting the right product for you
Finding the best option isn’t always easy. Using a specialist provider’s quotation system may be beneficial. Through that you may be able to see exactly what are your options and costs for tourer caravan insurance savings
.
Insuring your caravan is something that may be highly advisable or in the case of things such as tourers, very possibly a legal requirement. Finding good caravan insurers UK is therefore a priority for many.
Who sells caravan insurance?
As with almost all forms of insurance, you may have several basic categories of choice.
- standard insurance companies
- the dealer or supplier of the caravan (their insurance providers)
- specialist broker providers of caravan insurance.
Standard insurance companies
Many insurance companies will offer caravan insurance but they may not be specialists. As a result, they may not be fully aware of your needs as an owner. It may be unlikely that they will be able to offer unbiased advice and guidance.
The caravan suppliers
Some dealers may be able to help by arranging insurance through an insurance company with whom they may have an association. Although that may be perfectly workable, once again there may be little choice or the possibility to check the quotation against other offers.
It may prove difficult to ascertain whether or not you’re getting the deal that’s most suitable for you.
The specialist broker
There are companies that are specialist expert brokers in caravan insurance. They will have market knowledge and systems that together will allow them to search through a number of caravan insurers UK to look for suitable options.
The advantage of this approach is that all you have to do is to enter certain key types of information about your caravan into their online systems, at which point you will then be offered options relating to prices and insurance suppliers.
The broker and their systems will be able to apply their specialist knowledge of the caravan insurance market place to ensure that you find suitable cover.
The sites
The sites of the specialist brokers are often a mine of information and if you are looking for caravan insurers UK, these sites may be a good first stop!
Insuring caravans is not difficult but it may not be quite so easy to find the most suitable deal possible – unless you have some understanding of how things work.
Why may a little preparation be necessary?
Insurance for caravans may at times be a little complicated in terms of understanding the various condition and options. That’s where having a good online system can help smooth things through.
It may be very important though to think ahead in terms of the finer points of your requirement detail because in doing so it may be possible to identify opportunities for saving money – and most of us find that idea attractive!
So deciding (e.g.) whether you want ‘new-for-old’ or ‘market value’ insurance for your possessions may be useful.
Can I just get a quotation?
Yes, of course. There are online quotation facilities that will offer you a range of options and prices for insuring caravans.
There is a large selection of insurance policies and products available, one of which is very likely to be suitable for your needs. There are products for all ranges and types of caravan and caravan contents insurance.
Are there other things I can do to reduce the price of insurance?
Yes. Although this is not a complete list a few ideas may include:
- accepting a higher voluntary excess on the policy
- avoiding low-level claims as some policies may be cheaper if you can show that you have not claimed in the past 3 years
- fitting approved security and other immobilisation devices to your caravan – this may significantly reduce your premiums payable.
There may be other options available and these will typically be shown on the quotation system or its related information.
If you’d like to take the first step towards checking out prices and options for insuring caravans, why not try an online quotation for your particular caravan type?
In the ‘old days’ one had to make a lot of telephone calls and sometimes walk and drive for miles to get a few insurance quotations. Those days are now long gone and direct caravan insurance through the Internet has changed the way things are done.
Caravan insurance over the Internet
Today, whether you are using a smart phone, PDA or a conventional PC, the Internet has brought the world quite literally to your doorstep. Just a couple of clicks through the appropriate web site facilities and you may often find the information and prices you need.
Some insurance companies now actively sell their products over the Internet. This means that it is now easier to obtain fast quotations and information. It also may be the case that it is cheaper for these companies to sell over the Internet than through a conventional shop and as a result, these savings may be passed onto you through lower cost premiums.
Insurance products and their prices
However you’re using direct caravan insurance, it may well have the cover you may need and at a price you can afford.
Whether you’re looking for cover for a tourer, a static caravan or a trailer tent, there will be a product that will be suitable for your needs.
You may be able to reduce the amount you pay in premiums by adopting a few strategies that show you are working hard to reduce risk. A sample of these may include things such as:
- fitting security devices, trackers and immobilisers
- joining a recognised motoring or owners’ association
- accepting a higher amount of voluntary excess.
A combination of these actions may allow you to keep more of your money in your pocket where it belongs!
Direct caravan insurance in the 21st century is both easy to use and potentially beneficial to you the policyholder.
Trying to find suitable tourer insurance quotes is not always easy. It may be necessary to take a slightly more thought-through approach and structure your requirements so as to find and obtain some of the best and lowest-cost deals available.
• Elements of cover and risk for tourer caravans
Different types of caravan may be subject to different risks and therefore be in need of insurance that is appropriately tailored. For example, when touring you may be at far higher risk of vehicular related accidents and damage than if the caravan is static. On the other hand tourers may be less of a ‘home from home’ than static caravans holding less in the way of expensive items and fittings that could be a target for thieves particularly when the caravan is empty.
Some insurance policies also cover both driving in the UK and a specified number of days within EU Europe.
Given the complexity of some of the issues and how these may affect the quotes you receive, it may be a good idea to clarify in your own mind exactly how you are using (or plan to use) your tourer so as to avoid asking and paying for cover that you may not need.
• Reducing your costs
The online quotation systems may be able to help you adopt strategies to reduce your costs by offering advice on things such as voluntary excesses, membership of recognised owners and professional associations and the fitting of security and immobiliser type devices. These are all things that may help to reduce your premium.
• Cover and economy
In summary, getting hold of appropriate tourer insurance quotes isn’t always quick and easy. Taking some time to think about exactly what you need and using an online quote system may help you achieve a level of cover that’s suitable for you and your vehicle – and at a price that makes sense in terms of your budget.