One of the first questions you’ll hear from a caravanning newbie is “is caravan insurance a legal requirement?” Before purchasing my first caravan, it’s a question I had too.
Is caravan insurance a legal requirement? No, you’re not legally required to have caravan insurance. Regardless, it’s advised that you insure your caravan to protect your investment.
I got the opportunity to speak to Liz Harrison, PR & Communications Manager at Caravan Guard, to discuss why you should have caravan insurance and also answer a few other questions our readers are asking.
Specialist cover for folding campers and trailer tents. Caravan Guard gives you cover for storm, theft, accidental damage or vandalism under their touring caravan insurance policy. Get a quote today.
Q&A With Caravan Guard
When writing this blog post, I thought it was essential to get some industry insider knowledge. I reached out to Caravan Guard and Liz very kindly agreed to contribute to the blog.
First things first, I asked the main question of this blog post: Is caravan insurance a legal requirement?
Q: Is caravan insurance a legal requirement?
While you aren’t legally required to have caravan insurance, it’s still something that most caravan owners have.
Why pay for caravan insurance is you aren’t legally required to have it?
LH:
“Caravan insurance isn’t a legal requirement but a specialist policy will provide cover for repairs or replacement after damage or theft, so you’re not left out of pocket. If you’ve paid thousands of pounds for your caravan it makes sense to protect it.
A common misconception is that you only need caravan insurance when you’re touring but a lot of claims are for when a caravan is not in use. When laid up it’s still at risk of damage from bad weather, or worst still, theft.”
Q: What’s the difference between ‘new for old’ and ‘market value’ cover?
If you’re getting quotes for caravan insurance, there are usually two primary types: new for old and market value.
What is the difference between new for old and market value?
LH:
“New for old cover means that if your caravan was stolen or damaged beyond economic repair, also known as written off, you will be able to get a brand new caravan of the same or equivalent specification. A Caravan Guard caravan insurance policy offers new for old cover for caravans up to 15 years old. You must insure your caravan at the value it would cost to replace it with a new equivalent model, not its current value.
Market value cover means that if your caravan was completely damaged or stolen you will be given the current market value of the caravan at the time the loss happened.”
Specialist cover for folding campers and trailer tents. Caravan Guard gives you cover for storm, theft, accidental damage or vandalism under their touring caravan insurance policy. Get a quote today.
Q: How do you choose the right insurer?
There are a lot of caravan insurers out there. How do you choose the right insurer?
LH:
“Firstly, look for a provider that specialises in caravan insurance and check the level of cover their policy provides. Make sure it meets all your needs right down to specific things such as will it cover friends and family to use your caravan if needs be, or will it permit you to travel abroad for as long as you need?
See what their customers say about their service and claims handling by looking at review websites or forums and also look for a well-known and reputable underwriter who is experienced in handling claims efficiently.
Whilst it’s tempting to go for the cheapest provider, be sure to check the policy wording for exclusions. Check the policy covers storm damage to awnings as this is a very common claim.”
Q: What is typically covered with caravan insurance?
What does caravan insurance actually cover? Does it cover possessions such as TVs? Does it cover damage to the caravan?
LH:
“A specialist caravan insurance policy like ours will cover your caravanning equipment, such as expensive awnings, a motor mover and also TVs, barbecues, chairs etc, that you use with the caravan.
Caravan insurance gives you protection whilst touring or in storage, for things like fire, theft, storm, flood and accidental damage.
Caravan insurance will also cover you for damage caused to the caravan whether that’s whilst towing, when pitched up, or in storage. Plus, it covers fixed fixtures and fittings in your caravan such as seats, beds, worktops, cookers, and shower trays if damaged, as well as ‘Caravan Equipment’, which includes things such as Aquarolls and security devices, and any items which are used solely in the caravan, such as televisions or radios.”
Q: How much is caravan insurance roughly?
How much is caravan insurance likely to cost, and what variables affect the premium?
LH:
“There are many factors involved in the costs of caravan insurance, such as the value of your caravan and your caravanning equipment, as well as the location of your storage site, the safety and security features on your caravan, your towing experience and claims history, for example.
Premiums can be as low as £90 but can go up to over £500 for the super high end tourers worth £35,000 or more.
There are ways you can reduce your caravan insurance premium of course and many providers will offer discounts if you fit extra security, have super secure storage or fit safety features, such as tyre pressure monitors. Also checking the level of cover can sometimes reduce a premium or doing things like increasing your excess. It’s also worth speaking to a specialist provider to see how they can help reduce your premium.
For more information on Caravan Guard’s insurance policies please visit www.caravanguard.co.uk. As well as cover for caravans we also provide folding camper insurance, folding caravan insurance and motorhome insurance.”
What Is Covered In Caravan Insurance?
How does caravan insurance actually protect your caravan? As with any type of insurance, it’s important to know what the insurance actually covers!
No two policies are exactly the same, but these things are normally covered by every caravan insurance policy.
- Accidental damage: If your caravan is accidentally damaged by either you or a third-party, most insurance policies will cover this. For example, if you damage one of your tyres while towing your tourer.
- Malicious damage: Most caravan insurance policies will cover your caravan if someone maliciously damages it. Intentional damage such as arson will be covered by most policies, to give an example. But let’s hope you never need to use this part of your cover!
- Third-party liability: If someone makes a claim against you, caravan insurance policies will typically cover you if the claim is caravan-related. For instance, if you accidentally damaged a third party’s property with your caravan.
- Theft: In the very unfortunate position of your caravan being stolen or stolen from, your policy should cover you. However, I must point out here that you may not be covered depending on particular circumstances such as how your caravan was secured. If someone breaks into your caravan because the door was unlocked, you wouldn’t be covered by the vast majority of policies, or if you’ve changed the storage location of your caravan and not told your insurance company.
- Internal contents: Most policies will cover contents that you declare and store in your caravan permanently. For example, a TV or microwave that stays in the caravan. Note that belongings such as laptops and mobile phones may not be covered. Only contents that permanently stay in the caravan are covered usually; other items, such as phones and so on, are likely to be covered by your home insurance instead, or a specialist gadget policy.
- Weather damage: If your caravan is damaged because of extreme weather, it’s likely this will be covered by your policy too. Awnings are particularly susceptible to damage, so ensure you choose an insurance policy that covers your awning as well as the main caravan unit.
Most caravan insurance policies are comprehensive, to say the least. However, there are some notable exclusions that you need to be aware of. Let’s take a look at those exclusions now.
Specialist cover for folding campers and trailer tents. Caravan Guard gives you cover for storm, theft, accidental damage or vandalism under their touring caravan insurance policy. Get a quote today.
Are There Any Caravan Insurance Exclusions?
There are several caravan insurance policy exclusions to keep in mind.
- Using your caravan for business purposes: If you use your caravan for business purposes, most policies will not protect you if something happens. You can buy cover that allows you to use your tourer for business purposes, but it costs more. It negates the risk of something happening and not having the right cover in place though.
- Using your caravan as a permanent residence: If you are using your caravan as a permanent residence, many insurance companies will not provide cover.
- Wear and tear: Wear and tear won’t be covered by your caravan insurance policy. For example, if you fix signs of age in your caravan, you won’t be able to make an insurance claim. And if you need to replace your caravan simply because it’s old, your caravan insurance won’t be much help either.
- Theft if your caravan isn’t secured: If you left your caravan unlocked or left all the windows open and someone steals from it, your insurance policy won’t protect you. Similarly, if your caravan is stolen and you didn’t secure it appropriately, the fault is yours and your insurance won’t let you make a claim.
- Contents not permanently stored in the caravan: Some contents are not covered by the contents cover element of your caravan insurance. For example, smartphones and laptops. Basically, devices that are in your caravan but aren’t actually stored in your caravan long-term. This shouldn’t be too much of an issue, as these contents should be covered by your home insurance. Still, it’s something to be aware of.
These are the typical caravan insurance exclusions to be aware of. However, exclusions will differ from policy to policy. Just make sure you read your policy thoroughly before signing up so you know what’s covered and what isn’t.
How Much Does Caravan Insurance Cost?
Before getting quotes for my caravan insurance, I had no idea how much it was going to cost me. Would it be similar in cost to my car insurance, more, or less?
I figured that a lot of people would wonder how much caravan insurance is going to cost, so I wrote a blog post all about it: How Much Does Caravan Insurance Cost?
For the full picture of how much caravan insurance will cost you, please have a read of that blog post. The insurance premium will differ according to several factors, such as:
- The age of the caravan: The age of the caravan will definitely have an effect on your caravan insurance premium. In general, the newer the caravan, the more the insurance is going to cost you. Older models of the same caravan will usually be cheaper because their value has dropped.
- The value of the caravan: The value of the caravan will have perhaps the biggest effect on the cost of your insurance. If you have a caravan valued at £30,000, it will cost more to insure than a caravan valued at £10,000. Obviously this comes as no surprise, as it applies to everything you can insure.
- Where you’re storing your caravan: The location that you are storing your caravan will affect your premium. If you’re storing your caravan on your un-gated drive that anyone can access, you’ll have a higher premium than someone storing it in a secure facility or their garage. That’s certainly something to consider. This links into how the security features of your caravan affect your premium too.
In my blog post about the cost of caravan insurance, I go into a lot more detail about the premiums. I also got quotes for three caravans of different values and ages to get a good idea of how much several factors affect the price of the insurance. To find out more, you can read that blog post by clicking here.
Specialist cover for folding campers and trailer tents. Caravan Guard gives you cover for storm, theft, accidental damage or vandalism under their touring caravan insurance policy. Get a quote today.
Caravan Insurance Isn’t Legally Required, But It’s Necessary
You don’t legally need caravan insurance, but I’d argue that you definitely need it regardless of that fact. Without caravan insurance, your investment is left unprotected and at risk. And insurance will only cost you £100 – £270 per year, so it isn’t a lot to protect your tourer.
Do you think that caravan insurance is a must? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
