Today there are providers of online caravan insurance that can typically provide a fast static caravan insurance quote.

Here are a few tips relating to that process:

• think through your position in advance – you’ll need to be clear about whether or not for example the site you plan to use is approved and secure, as things such as that may reduce your premium;
• be clear about your security – insurance providers like to see evidence of enhanced locks, bolts and alarms and they may result in some discounts;
• keep in mind that if your site has a documented history of flooding, then that may push the price of your static caravan insurance quote up;
• some providers may demand that you confirm that your caravan is firmly anchored in place and raised off its wheels;
• decide whether you want your contents insured on a new-for-old or market value basis and try to avoid under-estimating the replacement costs of your items;
• if you have an external awning, you may have to declare it separately and it may only be covered when you’re away from the caravan if it has been fully stowed away;
• some providers may favourably view membership of a professional owners’ club and reward that through discounts.

Once you have your quotation, remember that there may be some additional factors to consider:

• you may find that it is obligatory to drain down all your water systems when the caravan is not in use;
• some policies may demand that your caravan is connected to mains services;
• your policy may cover your caravan if you’ve rented it out for holiday purposes and your own use for the same reasons – but typically not if you are living in it regularly or have rented it out very long term;
• policies typically carry an excess, which is the first part towards a claim that you have to pay.

Starting to live permanently in your static caravan or renting it out long-term may not be advisable. You may invalidate your existing insurance and also encounter local byelaw issues!

If you are at all uncertain, we offer an excellent telephone service and would welcome your call. We’ll be only too pleased to help.

Your static caravan insurance quote is the first stage in a process designed to ultimately result in your financial protection. Getting it right is worth spending a little time over.

If you have a park home, you may think that you can get away with insuring it with a traditional home insurance policy or maybe static caravan insurance. However, specialist park home insurance is typically needed if you want to ensure that your residential caravan is adequately protected.

While your park home may be your permanent home, traditional home buildings and contents insurance is typically not an option. This is because while a bricks and mortar home and a park home face do similar risks (such as theft), they also face different ones too.

Similarly, some people think that insurance for static caravans will cover their park home – typically, it will not.

Is a park home a static caravan?

People often think that a park home is a caravan – maybe because it resembles a static caravan – and may believe that static home insurance can cover their park home. Generally, this will not be the case as there are key differences between the two.

A caravan that is parked permanently or semi-permanently on one site, typically secured in place and perhaps anchored off its wheels is normally referred to as a static caravan.

Although they may rarely be moved between sites, they are normally regarded as not being mobile.

Static caravans are also typically:

• occupied for a few weeks or months during holiday periods;
• relatively well equipped;
• connected to mains services such as drains, water and electricity;
• sited on a holiday home park.

There are specialist caravan insurance products that provide static caravan insurance. They may also provide cover for the caravan while it’s being used for rental purposes.

Park homes on the other hand are typically sited on residential parks and are used as a permanent home. They tend be more highly equipped than a static caravan, as they are designed for year round use.

What does park home insurance cover?

That depends very much upon the park home policy you purchase and your insurance provider.

Typically, you may wish to think about covering:

• theft of contents;
• theft of, or damage to, the your home;
• natural disasters such as storms, fire, floods etc.

Don’t take chances

In the event of a claim, having the most suitable form of park home insurance in place may be critically important – so don’t hesitate to ask us for specialist caravan insurance advice if required.

Dear All

Well we have a busy Bank Holiday weekend upon us, although as it is our month end I may end up coming into the office on Saturday to catch up on all of the stats and reports. A popular man at home I most certainly am not! Still needs must…

To the brighter side I am going to football on Saturday as Dagenham play Tranmere in our first ever League One game and I am one of the sponsors. I am very excited and looking forward to seeing my first live game this season, although I have a somewhat cautious approach to it all.

The rest of this week sees meetings and a review of our Communications Strategy tomorrow and then a night out at a local Chinese restaurant. I am certainly looking forward to the Bank Holiday although I will try and have a cheeky check of the stats without the other half seeing me!!

Have a relaxed, enjoyable weekend whatever you may be up to!

Mike

Whether you have a touring caravan, a static, a motorhome or a trailer tent, getting holiday caravan insurance has never been easier.

Either online or by phone, you can now get a holiday caravan insurance quote from a number of providers.

This can give you the benefit of being able to easily identify those suppliers whose policies meet your needs for caravan insurance cover most closely or who may be able to offer discounts relevant to you and how you use your holiday caravan.

Static risk

If it is static caravan insurance that you’re looking for, then you may find that some suppliers may rate damage from flooding as one of the higher risk factors.

Choosing a site with no previous flooding history may therefore reduce this risk and the premiums for cover should reduce accordingly when compared to a site where there has been trouble from flooding in the past.

So while those sea or riverside views may be very relaxing as you sit and watch the sun go down of an evening, they may come at a price!

Tourer security

With a touring caravan, on the other hand, its very mobility is the main risk factor.

Non-caravan owners may not realise just how attractive touring caravans are to thieves.

So you may find that there will be policies, which expect you as a responsible owner, to take some common sense security measures to try and prevent your caravan from falling into the wrong hands.

These could include things like:

• fitting a wheel clamp when your caravan is left unattended while attached to the towing vehicle;
• adding a hitchlock when the caravan is left unattached;
• possibly installing a tracking device.

Also note that with some providers, hitchlocks and wheel clamps are obligatory requirements as part of your cover.

Awning space

All caravan owners may enjoy the additional space that an awning can bring to a holiday living area.

Your caravan insurance may require you to state specifically whether or not you want awning cover included. You may also be expected to take a bit of the responsibility for the safety or your awning yourself. This could include making sure that it is safely stowed away if you are absent from the caravan.

Holidays only

You may need to bear in mind that typically static caravan insurance won’t be valid for any form of dwelling used as a permanent residence. In some circumstances and depending on a number of factors, park home insurance may be required. If you are unsure where you stand on this, then please do get in touch.

In summary, getting the most from your holiday caravan insurance may not necessarily mean paying the earth. You just need to know where to look.

Dear All

I have to say I am a very proud man as my son is now walking a number of steps and he is so excited about it! It is one of the proudest parts of being a parent, seeing the joy and pride in his face when he does this.

It does of course tire him out and he has been (touch wood) sleeping a lot better due to his constant activity. These are the fun days of parenthood so I imagine we will be at the park with him running around very soon.

I am out with the other half on Friday, we have booked a table at a very popular Chinese restaurant and am very much looking forward to this.

Well workwise I am doing lots of planning ahead and myself and Sophie are sitting down to get our thoughts in place and there may be some difficult conversations but all for the good of the Team. We are very focused on what we need to do and where we want to be so it’s now a case of getting on with it.

Have a great day

Mike