Buying caravan insurance online

Buying caravan insurance online can be very straightforward – if you know what you are looking for. In fact, it may be difficult to remember what buying insurance was like before the internet came along!

So if you are thinking of getting your caravan cover online, where can you start?

Looking at prices
In a price conscious environment, anyone who is looking for any kind of insurance may be eager to keep an eye on the bottom line. One of the advantages of looking for caravan insurance online may be that it is easy to keep records of the quotes you have received, and compare them.

Getting cover that is appropriate for your caravan
Are you looking for touring caravan insurance or cover for a static caravan? Filtering out the inappropriate policies at this stage may save you a lot of time when you are looking for caravan insurance online.

Likewise by checking the list of risks that are covered, you may compare the protection that insurers offer in an informed way. Typical risks that may be covered for static caravan insurance, touring caravan cover and motorhome insurance may include:

• flood;
• storm;
• fire;
• damage caused by items falling from aeroplanes;
• theft;
• earthquake; and
• malicious damage (though note that not all insurer offer this element of protection – though we do!)

Checking the small print
Just because you are buying your caravan cover online, it does not exempt you from having to check the small print! Exclusions and limitations may be typical features of insurance documents, and draft policies may be available for your inspection before you commit yourself to parting with the premium.

In particular, you may wish to check exclusions and limitations that apply to:

• contents, where you have valuable items in the caravan. Some providers have a maximum value for items they pay out for in the event of theft or damage. Other provider may specifically exclude particular electronic items, jewellery, works of art or items made from precious metal. If in doubt, leave it somewhere where you know that it is insured;
• geographical limits. This applies to touring caravan insurance. Continental cover may be standard, but you may wish to check if there is a limit to how many days you can spend outside of the United Kingdom. If you intend to stray beyond the European Union member states, check with your provider before you set off, rather than before you need to claim;
• security. Whether you have a static or touring caravan, no doubt you want to keep it safe and secure. However, you may wish to check that you are at least meeting your insurer’s bare minimum requirements on safety precautions. Has your touring caravan got a hitchlock and wheel clamp, for example?

An advantage of looking for caravan insurance online is that you may compare all of these details from a number of providers without getting buried in paperwork!