Jack Mitchell – Page 16 – Folding Camper World

Although caravan insurance exists, you don't legally need it. That raises the question of whether car insurance protects you when towing a caravan. Does car insurance cover towing a caravan? Most car insurance will cover your car while towing a caravan. However, car insurance policies rarely cover collision damage to your caravan. So you can tow a caravan with just car insurance, but it doesn't really protect you. Should you pay for caravan insurance? What does caravan insurance cover? Should You Get Caravan Insurance? You don't legally need caravan insurance, so is it worthwhile getting it? When deciding whether you need caravan insurance or not, consider the risks of not having insurance: Where is your caravan stored?How often do you use your caravan?How old is your caravan?What does your car insurance policy cover?How much is your caravan worth? The answers to these questions should tell you whether or not you need caravan insurance. Caravan insurance doesn't cost a fortune, so it's a worthwhile investment for most tourer owners. Caravan insurance will normally cover you against damage and theft. Policies can also include cover for the belongings in your caravan too. However, if you rely on your car insurance, it's a different story altogether. If you rely on your car insurance, your caravan isn't protected at all. If you are towing a touring caravan behind your car, your third-party liability may be covered by your car insurance policy. But if someone crashes into the back of your caravan, your car insurance will not cover the damage. Furthermore, your car insurance may not cover your caravan at all - even your third-party liability may not be covered. You must let your insurer know that you will be towing your touring caravan before you do. If your insurer doesn't know that you are towing a caravan, your policy may be invalid if you try to make a claim. So should you get caravan insurance? Yes, if you want to keep your investment safe and make sure you aren't left out of pocket. As I said, car insurance won't cover you for anything other than third-party liability at best. If someone damages your caravan, you stand to lose hundreds if not thousands of pounds. What Does Caravan Insurance Cover? Caravan insurance covers your caravan: If it is damaged/destroyed as a result of accidental damageIf it is damaged/destroyed as a result of criminal activityIf it is damaged/destroyed as a result of fireIf it is damaged/destroyed as a result of severe weatherIf it is stolenOn trips abroad within Europe (optional)And the contents within (optional) This list isn't comprehensive, as there are so many policies available covering different things. However, it does give you a rough idea of what you should expect caravan insurance to cover your caravan for. As with car insurance, some policies are more comprehensive than others. You can usually pay more to have a greater level of cover. For example, some policies will cover you if you are towing your caravan abroad in Europe too. When choosing policies, be really careful and make sure you choose a policy that meets your requirements. Using a comparison site is often a good idea as they tend to be explicit about which policies protect you best. Is There Anything That Caravan Insurance Doesn't Cover? The things that caravan insurance cover will depend from policy to policy. However, there are exclusions on every policy. Here are some of the exclusions that you will typically find when shopping around for caravan insurance. It's important to check your policy, because there could be exclusions that I haven't mentioned here. As I said, it will differ from policy to policy. Typical Caravan Insurance Exclusions Electronic devices: In most cases, electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptops are not covered by your caravan insurance. The vast majority of the time, these devices should be covered by your home insurance. Before travelling with these devices, ensure that they are covered by your home insurance. It's also worth noting that electronic items such as TVs can be covered by your insurance if the item is permanently left in the caravan. Non-leisure use: This probably goes without saying, but your car insurance policy won't cover your caravan for anything other than leisure use. For example, if you hire out your caravan, it's unlikely that it will be covered. Furthermore, if you use your caravan for any business venture, it won't be covered by a standard insurance policy. Wear and tear: Wear and tear will not be covered by your car insurance policy. It is your responsibility to ensure your caravan is roadworthy so you should establish a suitable maintenance regime to keep your caravan in tip-top condition. There are difference policies that can cover your caravan for wear and tear. For instance, some insurers offer maintenance cover. Funnily enough, this covers your caravan for any maintenance that is needed. Awning: Awning damage is unfortunate but not unrealistic. You might be shocked to find out that your awning may not be covered by your caravan insurance policy. Awning cover is normally an optional extra when picking insurance cover, so double check your policy to find out whether your awning is covered or not. How Much Does Caravan Insurance Cost? There are several variables that determine your insurance premium. For instance: Make and model of the caravan: The make and model of the caravan that you choose will affect your premium significantly. Typically, the newer the caravan, the more you will pay. Or rather the greater the value of the caravan, the more you will pay. If you have a brand new, top of the range caravan, you're going to pay more than someone who has a 5-year-old, mid-range caravan. Security features: The security features that your caravan has will affect how much your premium is. For example, if your caravan is fitted with a tracker, you will pay a lower premium than someone with a caravan that doesn't have a tracker fitted. Make your caravan as secure as possible and your premium will come down. Storage: Where you store your caravan when you're not using it will also have a big effect on your security premium. If you're storing your caravan on the side of the road somewhere, you'll pay more than someone storing their caravan in a secure facility. Your location: As with car insurance and home insurance, where you live will affect your premium. If you live in an area with a high crime rate, for instance, it's statistically more likely that your caravan could be stolen or damaged. Therefore, you end up paying a larger premium than someone living in an area with a low crime rate. Your driving history: Your driving history when not towing a trailer will impact your premium. If you've had a lot of crashes, you'll pay more for insurance than someone with a good driving history! Conclusion It is advisable to get caravan insurance, because the third-party cover you get with your car insurance simply won't suffice for most people. To protect your investment, the expense of caravan insurance is a worthwhile expenditure. If you'd like to find out more about how caravan insurance will cost, I wrote a post you might find helpful. How Much Does Caravan Insurance Cost explains all the variables that affect caravan insurance price. I also got some example quotes to give you a rough idea of how much you should expect to spend.