There are some significant changes to the rules surrounding motorhome caravan insurance, which may be worth knowing about, particularly if you are not currently using your motorhome and have allowed your insurance to lapse.

• the DLVA has changed the law regarding insurance requirements for licensed motor vehicles and this obviously includes motorhomes;
• these changes mean that under most circumstances, vehicles licensed to be on the road by law will also have to be insured. Even if you are not using your motorhome, it will no longer be legal to have it parked, even in your drive or garage, unless it is coved by valid motorhome caravan insurance;
• the only exception to this is if you have submitted a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) to the DLVA. Part of this process requires you to surrender the tax disc at the same time;
• for many though, a motorhome is something to be used and enjoyed rather than left uninsured and unused on a driveway, so getting the most appropriate motor caravan insurance deal may be high on your priority list;
• there are numerous providers of motor caravan insurance online where you can easily access some insurance quotes that can help point you in the right direction, by allowing you to match your requirements to what is on offer;
• you may also wish to bear in mind, different policies may have different terms and conditions that may influence your choice, so reading these is important – for example, if you use your motorhome for commuting or on a regular daily basis, you may invalidate your policy, which is based on occasional recreational use;
• you may typically also find that there are some providers of motor caravan insurance online, who may offer discounts in certain circumstances – which may allow you to pay less without compromising on the level of cover provided;
• motor caravan insurance discounts may be available in several situations. If, for example, you are a member of an approved caravan club (which equates to caravan club insurance discounts) or have fitted security and tracking devices. Parking your motor caravan off road when you are not using it, or opting for a site where there is round the clock supervision, may also attract premium reductions.

One thing is sure though, leaving your motor home without motorhome caravan insurance or a SORN is now not an option.

Our intention here at Cover4Caravans us to offer you the best service possible. Caravan Insurance is not always about prize but in the real world you are always looking for the most competitive quotation – we believe we offer you this but we couple it with our high levels of customer service.

With Cover4Caravans we believe that when you choose us your Caravan really is in the safest of hands.

Our team know all about looking after your pride and joy, speak with us and you will see the difference between us and od our rivals!

Remember we will offer you a discount for any caravan club you may belong to.

Why? Simple really, by belonging to a Caravan Club you are showing your commitment to your passion.

Personally I belong to the RS Owners Club, my Focus RS is my pride and joy and as an enthusiast I belong to the club for all sorts of reasons and indeed my Insurers recognise that in offering me a discount – the idea is the same for us.

I hope you enjoyed the woderful weather over Easter and that you took advantage and enjoyed what may of been you first 2011 Caravan getaway.

Enjoy your day.

Richard

Happy Easter to all our blog readers on this lovely warm Easter Sunday.

No doubt a huge number of caravanners are taking advantage of these long weekends and the amazing weather we are currently having – please be careful, did you know that the large proportion of our Caravan Insurance Claims are down to accidental damage? Move that Caravan carefully please!

Our Easter Caravan E-Newsletter has been sent and a copy can be found on our website, enjoy the read and dont forget to enter the caption competition for your chance to win a new ipod nano. The children also have an opportunity to enter there own competition and win £15.00 of vouchers!

Today sees a trip to my mums – a pretty relaxing day, we will also be popping out to see other relatives as well.

I have been listening again to some Phil over the last few days, it is good to listen to songs that have travelled so far with you on your own journey one way or the other. I think I got into Phil’s music when I was about 14 / 15 and it was thanks to a very old friend – sadly someone I have not spoken to for a very long time – lessons always to be learnt. Dont make the same mistake twice!

Have a great Easter Sunday.

Richard

If the insurance for your tourer is coming up for renewal, then getting a touring caravan insurance quote (or better still a few quotes) may demonstrate to you that there may have been some significant changes in caravan cover since you last looked.

These changes could help you improve on the level of protection that you currently have – and potentially even the price.

Value – up or down?

When you first bought your caravan, your insurance would have covered the value of the caravan at that time. Over the years though, this value may have changed.

It may have increased, for example, if you have refurbished your caravan or significantly upgraded it. Equally possible though, is that it may have decreased in value and be pretty much just as it was when you bought it – only older.

Either way you may wish to adjust your insurance provision in line with the revised value.

Age and owners

Touring caravan insurance providers may typically offer new for old replacement if your caravan is up to three years old.

Of these, some may impose a condition that you must have been the sole owner of the caravan since new. However, at cover4caravans, we offer new for old replacement for the same age of caravan (ie up to three years old), even if it is just new to you and there have been other owners. We are also able to offer a scheme where you can have new for old replacement for a caravan up to five years old if you have been the sole owner.

Discounts

A touring caravan insurance quote can help highlight providers who may offer premium discounts, which you may be eligible for but which are not on offer from your current provider. These may include things like:

• caravan club insurance discounts – membership of reputable caravan organisations may be taken to be a sign of a mature and responsible caravan owner and which can be an arena for knowledge sharing;
• parking your caravan off road when you are not using it, in your drive or garage for example, can reduce the opportunity for vandalism, damage or theft;
• fitting of approved alarms or tracking devices;
• using a CASSOA site to securely store your touring caravan over the closed season.

Terms and conditions

Each touring caravan insurance quote is likely to have its own terms and conditions.

Awnings, for example, are useful additions to your living space but are fairly susceptible to damage in stormy conditions. Some caravan cover insurance may stipulate that:

• you should stow your awning away when you are absent from your tourer;
• contents kept in your awning are not in a secure place, so may be excluded from cover.

From a security point of view, the use of hitchlocks and wheel clamps can help to deter thieves from stealing your caravan and are mandatory in some policies and in certain circumstances.

Finally, on the terms and conditions side of things, also note that if unlike some caravan cover providers, we will still provide you with a touring caravan insurance quote even if you have made previous claims.

Mr P from Newport:

“Very helpful, fast follow up from my enquiry on line. Infact I had a call while I was on line, and did not bother to look further. I hope the policy is as good as the service.”