Touring caravans can give you a fantastic degree of freedom to get around and enjoy your leisure time by exploring the open roads and the great outdoors. You may be even better positioned to enjoy that if you know that you have good touring caravan insurance cover in place to protect you against the unforeseen.

Touring caravan insurance cover typically needs to provide you with a range of protection including:

• collision damage and related road accidents;
• theft of contents when unattended;
• damage due to natural causes while parked etc.

There are though, certain things that you may be able to do that will possibly reduce your costs for such cover.

These may include:

• the fitting of approved hitchlocks and wheel clamps (this may be compulsory in the case of some policies);
• parking your caravan only in approved and secure locations;
• fitting alarms and additional security locks;
• the fitting of a tracking device.

It’s worth remembering also that all caravan insurance UK policies will have their own particular policy terms and conditions, so it is worth reading these carefully so that you fully understand what the caravan cover entails.

For example, if you have an awning fitted to your touring caravan your insurer may require that it is folded and stowed away when you are not in the caravan otherwise your cover against things such as storm damage may be invalidated.

You may also find that certain types of personal possessions, such as cash and credit cards, may not be covered if they’re left in the caravan while it is parked and unattended.

Finding good caravan insurance is essential. Contacting a company that specialises in caravans and caravan insurance will allow you to speak to people that understand not just insurance but also the very specific nature of caravans and their risks. This type of insurance may prove to be critically important to you so dealing with people that are specialists in the field rather than insurance generalists may be a very smart idea.

Whether you are already the proud owner of a touring caravan or are considering purchasing one, getting some advice on the insurance options may be time well spent. Further information on touring caravan insurance cover can be found through the websites and telephone contact facilities of the specialist providers, such as ourselves.

All of us want to get as much bang for our buck as we can and will look for the cheapest deal possible. However, if you are looking for cheap caravan insurance, it does make sense to ensure you know exactly what the caravan cover entails before you buy. A good deal on your caravan insurance should not be compromised by unsuitable cover.

So, how do you know that the cheap caravan insurance you are considering is also offering you the most suitable cover? The exact nature of your caravan insurance and the cover it provides will depend upon a number of factors, not the least of which is the type of caravan you have.

Static caravans

Static caravans typically stay put in one location but they may also contain more items of equipment and home comforts than a typical tourer. This fact makes them a little more vulnerable to certain types of risks though perhaps less for others.

Examples of risks that may be more common are burglary, theft and vandalism. This may arise because your caravan may be empty for long periods of time and the additional home comforts and equipment may make it more attractive to thieves.

It is for this reason that you may need specialist static caravan cover and why insurers may insist that your caravan is:

• parked on a supervised and specialised site that has full services connected;
• fitted with a number of security devices including immobilisers, locks and alarms.

Although typically the caravan insurance will cover your static holiday home even if the site has closed for the winter, you may be obliged to ensure that your water and heating systems have all been fully drained down while it is unoccupied during this time.

Motorhomes

This form of caravan may be very prone to mobile theft – ie. being driven off quickly.

As it is used extensively for touring, it is in traffic more frequently and therefore vehicle-to-vehicle collisions may be more likely. This means that classic third party and fully comprehensive cover may also be both advisable and in part, a legal requirement.

Your cheap caravan insurance may typically need to cover such risks. In some cases the motorhome insurance provider may once again either insist upon certain conditions being adopted or offer financial incentives through lower premiums for things including:

• the fitting of tracking devices;
• the use of immobilisers (other than the engine);
• restricting young drivers or the number of insured drivers;
• reducing the number of times you take your caravan out of the country (or asking that you get continental cover for your caravan).

It is also worth noting that caravan insurance for motorhomes typically may not cover the use of the motorhome for commuting purposes.

Touring (towed) caravans

This sort of caravan is also vulnerable to vehicle collisions and road traffic accidents.

Given that many people like parking their caravans in quiet rural locations, they may also be liable to vandalism and theft of contents.

Your cheap caravan insurance policy will need to cope with all these risks plus others.

Some touring insurance policies will insist upon the use of a hitchlock and wheel clamp when the caravan is actually unhitched. The policy may contain restrictions relating to the ages and numbers of approved drivers on the policy.

In the case of all caravan types, it may be worthwhile paying special attention to accessories such as that favoured sun-awning. If you’re away from the caravan and your awning is stolen or damaged, it may not be covered unless it had been taken down or stowed away.

Getting it right

Your caravan is important to you and so should be your caravan insurance. While cheap caravan insurance may seem like a good idea at the time, do make sure that you understand fully what the cover entails. If you don’t and something goes wrong, it could cost you a lot more in the long run.

Dear All

Tomorrow is a day I am not looking forward to, I have a visit to the dreaded dentist and to be honest I am not a fan!

The weekend was excellent, I saw an old colleague of mine whom I haven’t seen for around 2 years and had a good catch up, it’s funny reliving old times and people you have known and had good moments with. I’m not that old but it was nice to go back down memory lane for a couple of hours.

We had a productive meeting with Underwriters last Thursday and we have placed our first risks on cover with them so they are very pleased, we are now seeing volumes coming through and business is picking up, tourers in particular is booming. It is now that the hard work put in during the quiet winter months on our rating and areas really comes into force.

Off to the NEC on Wednesday to have a look round, you will probably be seeing lots of pics from the Show and reviews coming soon.

The countdown is also on to the Spring Fair in Newark, a very exciting time for the Team here at Cover4Caravans.

Happy touring

Mike

There are three main types of caravan – touring, static and camper vans. While there are many elements of holiday caravan insurance that are common to all three types, each also has its own specific features corresponding to the different characteristics and usage patterns.

Touring caravans

Touring caravans may be particularly prone to theft and vandalism. Theft does not just relate to the theft of the caravan contents but of the actual caravan itself. It is not uncommon to find that while some tourer caravan UK insurers recommend the use of hitchlocks and wheel clamps, there are others who go one step further in crime prevention by making the use of these devices mandatory for their holiday caravan insurance cover.

Static caravans

Choose your site carefully. Static caravans are often prone to damage from flooding. You may expect some premiums to be higher if you choose to locate your static holiday home on a site which is close to water or which has had flooding problems in the past.

There may also be special terms and conditions for draining down heating and water systems when your static caravan is not in use over the winter.

Camper vans

If you use a camper van or motor home for your holiday, if it breaks down you have not only lost your means of transport but also your holiday accommodation. Camper van breakdown insurance, which can typically provide alternative transport and accommodation, may mean that your holiday does not have to be cancelled following a breakdown.

Some standard camper van insurance policies may include cover for use of your motor home abroad. This may be limited to a certain number of months or weeks per year. If you feel that you may exceed this limit, remember to let your insurers know so that they can arrange additional continental cover.

Common features

Your caravan is also, on occasion, your holiday home. Fixtures, fittings and the other items that you may add from time-to-time to make it more of a home, may all benefit from being insured with a caravan contents policy.

If you fit a burglar alarm and park your caravan at an approved site, you may be helping to reduce theft and vandalism and may find that premiums are discounted as a result.

Many of the specialist caravan insurers may offer discounts for membership of caravan clubs. They believe that by joining a club, caravanners demonstrate that they are responsible caravan owners.

Some insurers these days provide awning insurance separate from standard holiday caravan insurance cover. Awnings that are not stowed may be particularly liable to damage from windy weather. You may find that cover for some types of storm damage is only valid if you are present in the caravan when it happens or if the awning has been fully stowed.

Whatever type of caravan you have, you may benefit from discussing your needs with a specialist insurance provider to find the holiday caravan insurance which is right for you. We have been providing caravan insurance for over 60 years, so why not take advantage of our knowledge and the special deals we can access? We are always happy to offer advice and guidance on all these issues so that you can feel confident you have suitable cover at a competitive price.