There’s no doubt that the insurance industry may appear a little guilty of using some confusing terminology. Although not perhaps quite in that category, the term ‘park home caravan insurance’ can sometimes lead to misunderstandings.

Here’s the explanation – though keep in mind that exact definitions may vary between policies and insurance providers. It would be sensible to check your own policy and situation.

A static caravan

A static caravan is typically a specifically designed caravan. It’s used for holidays, weekend treats, short breaks and so on.

They will typically have wheels and may be notionally mobile, for example for short-distance moves on a site, but they’re not typically regarded as a vehicle to be towed around on touring type holidays.

They are often permanently or semi-permanently located on a designated static home site.

Some policies may define it a little further and state conditions relating to the jacking of their wheels and securing techniques and fittings to be used.

A static caravan, in insurance terms, is typically not regarded as being suitable for permanent occupation and static caravan insurance will typically be needed in order to protect it.

The park home

As a complete alternative, the park home is typically a building that has been designed and built to be located on a registered and approved park home site.

It is typically occupied permanently and will be your permanent place of residence. In this case, specialist park home insurance will be required.

Park home cover

As a general rule, insurance providers typically won’t see static caravans and park homes as being the same thing in terms of insurance. The risk profiles are quite different and specific policies (park home insurance and static caravan insurance) exist to deal with each of them.

What are risk profiles?

That really relates to the way the insurers may see the risks associated with a given caravan or property etc.

For example, in the case of park home insurance, it may mean that (e.g.) statistically the insurance provider will assume that a typical park home may have higher levels of fixtures, fittings, contents and personal possessions, than a static caravan.

That comes about because it is somebody’s residence rather than occasionally used leisure accommodation.

Also, if you are a static home owner who lets out their static caravan during the Summer season, special public liability insurance will typically need to be in place to protect you from possible third party claims from your tenants.

So, as you can see, the risk profiles, while being the same in relation to some things, may be different in other respects and that is why specific caravan insurance will be needed depending on whether you have a static caravan or a park home.

In summary

So, to sum it up, you typically won’t have to worry about the finer points of definition between a park home and static caravan – and you’ll have to worry even less about the exact science and statistics behind risk profiles!

What is important is to understand that park homes and static caravans require specific forms of insurance and that such cover exists.

So, the next time you see park home caravan insurance advertised, you’ll know what it is!

Dear All

I do hate Halloween. I see no point in sending kids out in the pitch black to knock on strangers doors begging and I don’t agree with “celebrating” the day.

My family will be getting on with things as normal and having a great weekend, I am taking my partner out tonight as she has been ill the last few days and could use a break.

We will also be going to football on Saturday as Dagenham take on Hartlepool, regrettably my partner is an away fan in the day as her mother is from Hartlepool.

End of the month now so lots of reports due, you can see the season has ended but we have still done well.

Have a great weekend

Mike

Motorhome caravan insurance may be a legal requirement – and it certainly might be necessary if you’re to sleep a little more easily at night!

The legalities

Any vehicle you drive on a public road must by law have, as a minimum, insurance covering third party liability.  Basically, if you injure someone or damage their property with a vehicle, they must be able to claim against your insurance.

That applies to motorhomes just as much as any other road vehicle.

The advisable

However small and humble your motorhome is, it’s unlikely to be a very low-value item.

Therefore, it might well be sensible to have caravan insurance that provides for comprehensive cover to include things such as damage to the vehicle, theft, natural disasters and so on.

If you don’t and your luck doesn’t hold, well, be prepared to start spending some serious money.

The nature

Caravan insurance for motorhomes may come with a few things worth keeping in mind.

Depending upon the provider and the policy concerned, typically:

• you may find that younger drivers (or those with limited experience) are not permitted under the policy;
• you may be able to obtain discount for things such as fitting tracking devices and additional security features;
• you may be able to reduce the cost of the premium if you reduce your annual mileage and/or reduce the amount of time you plan to spend driving your motorhome overseas.

If you’d like to keep even more of your money in your pocket, try and keep in mind also that insurers don’t really react well to people with lots of driving convictions and penalty points so try and drive conservatively and within the law.

Out of season

If you store your motorhome during the winter months, you may find that also could save you money on motorhome caravan insurance.

What may push your premiums up is if you park your motorhome when not being used, just on the public road. That screams ‘possible accident’ to insurers and they may react much more favourably if it is garaged or maybe even just parked on your driveway.

Oh yes, don’t forget either that most insurers won’t cover the use of your motorhome for commuting purposes.

The final analysis

Many motorhomes represent a big financial investment and an associated big financial risk.

Taking the time to think about your motorhome caravan insurance and find a policy that’s suitable may yield dividends one day.

Just a reminder that we are now able to offer what we consider to be competitively-priced Hobby caravan insurance – and that may be hugely good news for some Hobby owners.

Why?

If you don’t know, Hobby caravans are German.  Some caravanners regard them very highly, due to their excellent reputation for design, build quality and superb fittings/fixtures.

They’re a highly attractive marque and typically receive some good press.

So what’s the problem?

Unfortunately, Hobby caravans had another reputation – typically for:

• being very appealing to thieves;
• being expensive to repair and re-equip following accidents as their parts were shipped in from Germany (and were often expensive).

As a result of this, some insurers weren’t exactly confident in terms of insuring these great caravans and this meant that for some owners, finding Hobby caravan insurance was something of an endeavour.

Some caravan insurers wouldn’t cover them at all and others may have done so but perhaps typically under special terms.

Sometimes it was necessary to seek special niche insurers or take specialist cover from caravan dealers and suppliers.

That may have meant that choice was slightly restricted and whenever that happens, it’s typically not exactly good news for consumers and the prices being paid.

Hobby owners in the past may have become accustomed to needing to sign some fairly big cheques in order to obtain insurance cover.

In fact, it wasn’t unusual to see some sources suggesting that potential buyers may wish to carefully consider the insurance implications before they purchased their Hobby caravan.

We can help insure your Hobby caravan!

However, we have now reviewed the position and are pleased to offer what we believe is good, cost-effective cover for Hobby caravans.

You may no longer have to trawl around extensively to find that protection or hold your breath waiting for the quotation to tell you the worst.

Of course, it is prudent to take into account, in advance of purchase, the insurance implications of any make of caravan you’re considering. We do ask that you comply with some additional, commonsense security protection for Hobby caravans – these are outlined in the relevant documentation.

Yet our insurance for Hobby caravans now means that the choices available to you have increased.  That has to be good news for those that love Hobby caravans and don’t want difficulties with Hobby caravan insurance to hold them back!

Many apologies for the lack of posts.

I was away for 3 days last week on a School Trip in York with the Junior School. Had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Saying goodbye is always hard and I found that out the hard way last week.

Thursday and Friday saw a flying visit to Nerja near Malaga to see CWA our Google Adword Compaign Company and as always we had a great time – we caught up and having frozen myself in York it was good to be warm in the October Spanish Sun.

This week sees my only day in the office today before the following trips: -

Tuesday – Nottingham / Wednesday – Cambs and Thursday / Friday we are hosting a race day at Lingfield – it will be great to catch up with some old broker friends.

Saturday sees me off to see Watford play at Derby and then office first thing Monday followed by a trip to Birmingham before coming back late in the day on Tuesday.

It promises to be a long week, a very long week.

Atleast the roads will be quiet as it is half term so there are some small blessings.

Have a great week whatever you are doing.

Rich