The benefits of holiday caravan insurance

Holiday caravan insurance means that you can leave your caravan unattended, safe in the knowledge that you have protected yourself financially from some of the natural and man made risks that might damage or destroy it.

What the policy might typically cover

• The structure of the caravanWhether you have a touring caravan or a static one, you may wish to find holiday caravan insurance that will cover the risk of damage to its structure from fire, storm, flood or malicious damage. If you intend to let your caravan to holidaymakers while you are not using it, speak to your insurer about the possibility of having cover for accidental damage from tenants as well as public liability insurance (in case they injure themselves on your premises and try to sue you for loss or damage).

• The contentsThe beauty of holidaying in a caravan is that it can be a real home-from-home. However, the disadvantage of this is that these sorts of items (such as TV or DVD player) are at risk of being stolen or damaged.

  Your caravan policy may include contents cover. Before you go on holiday, double check what the level of cover is for your belongings. If you have valuable items with you, these may not be included, or there may be a limit on how much you can claim for them.

• Alternative accommodationIf you have booked a long holiday and have the misfortune to suffer a fire or storm at the beginning of it, check your holiday caravan insurance to see whether any alternative accommodation is provided or paid for. If it is not, your holiday could be ruined, unless you can afford to pay for alternative accommodation from your own pocket.

What the policy might cost
The cost of the policy typically depends on the location of the caravan. For a touring caravan, this includes where you keep it when you are not using it, and for a static caravan, this could mean the park where it is kept permanently. To price the premiums, insurers might take into account the crime rate of the area, and the security devices that owners have fitted to their caravans. Basic security devices like hitchlocks and wheelclamps are often compulsory anyway, but if you go over and above these requirements, your insurers may reward you with a discount.

Likewise, members of caravan clubs could find that their association has negotiated a special rate, so make you ask about this.

What service you will receive
Finally, consider the level of customer care that you will receive from your holiday caravan insurance provider. An insurer who has lots of experience will understand your needs and may be most likely to give a good service.