Trying to compare caravan insurance?

It’s not always easy is it? Trying to compare caravan insurance can sometimes be tricky and it’s possible to find yourself floundering in a sea of confusing terminology, conditions and exclusions etc.

Here are a few thoughts that may help.

Comparing apples with apples

You can’t compare an apple to a pear.

So the first thing that may be useful is to avoid getting hypnotised by the headline price in advertisements.

That’s because caravans come in many different types, shapes and sizes.

Caravan insurance providers typically divide up their products to cater for different types of caravan and situations. To really compare caravan insurance you need to be clear what type of caravan you have and what the insurance provider offers for that particular market.

Generally, your caravan will come under one of several categories from an insurance viewpoint:

• a static – typically permanently located on a site and occupied by you for a few weeks or months per year during the holiday seasons;
• a mobile or tourer – usually moved around frequently when attached to your motor vehicle and sometimes unhitched in caravan parks;
• a motorhome – an all-in-one vehicle that contains your accommodation;
• a park home – a dwelling that is permanently located on a site and occupied by you as your home for most or all of the year;
• trailer tents – a tent that is stored within a towed trailer.

So if you’re trying to compare caravan insurance, when looking at a headline price in an advertisement, it’s advisable to make sure that it applies to your sort of caravan.

Why the differences?

Each of the above types will have a certain risk profile that is different to the others.

Perhaps the most obvious example is the tourer – clearly you are far more likely to be at risk of a road traffic accident in the case of a tourer than if you have a static caravan.

The differences within these categories will, of course, influence the premium you pay for your insurance.

To compare caravan insurance – exclusions and conditions

Any caravan cover insurance will inevitably contain a list of things it will not cover as well as stating conditions that you’ll need to comply with to avoid invalidating your insurance.

These will vary by insurance provider and a close comparison may help you decide which insurance is possibly suitable for you.

Potential things to look for include:

• is contents cover provided on a new-for-old or market value basis?
• what discounts are offered for things such as membership of caravan clubs, parking on approved and secure sites, fitting security devices etc ? (Note that some of these may be obligatory and a condition of cover in some cases);
• does the cover include awnings and other external fitments – even if conditions apply?

All these things are as important as those big-headline prices in the advertisements.

Specialisation

It may also be worth trying to take into account whether or not a generalist provider or a specialist in caravan insurance UK is supplying the insurance.

A specialist may have the experience that allows them to identify your requirements and provide the most appropriate recommendation for your particular situation.

So, it is possible to compare caravan insurance if you take it systematically. You may save yourself some money as a result!