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!

We live in an age where convenience is desirable as a way of saving that precious commodity – time. There may be little that’s more convenient than sourcing your caravan insurance online.

The old ways

There was a time when finding caravan cover insurance involved a fair degree of legwork around the high streets. That may have been fine if you needed the exercise but typically only a few people found it a worthwhile way to spend time.

The position was improved somewhat by the arrival of telephone based insurance services but even here there were some issues.

Making multiple phone calls may be time-consuming – and then there are the occasional frustrations of the engaged signal or listing to music while waiting for an operator.

The arrival of the internet has changed all this forever.

Ease and information

Today from the comfort of your own chair, it’s now possible to access a vast range of insurance information through the internet.

Not only is it easy to access but the use of specialist caravan cover comparison sites means that it is typically possible to see several alternative options for caravan insurance online all at the one site.

This may save a considerable amount of time and possibly cost. This may be due in part to the fact that insurance sold over the internet is often less costly for insurance companies to administer.

How it works

Typically you’ll need to enter a few details relating to your caravan into the site and some information about how you plan to use it.

The site will then highlight options that you may find suitable – and, of course, their prices!

In fact, you may be able to significantly influence the costs of your caravan insurance online by taking a few basic steps including:

• thinking about taking a higher excess on the policy;
• joining a recognised owners’ association;
• fitting security locks, immobilisers, wheel clamps and alarms (depending upon caravan type);
• restricting driving / towing of the caravan to experienced older drivers.

There may be a range of other options that result in premium discounts (some may be mandatory on some caravan cover policies). These are typically outlined on the website.

It’s probably a safe bet that comparatively few of us actually enjoy searching for insurance for caravans.

Using the internet to find caravan insurance online may be easy, cost-effective and end up saving you lots of time over alternative methods. It may mean you spend more of your time doing things you actually want to do! Of course, we know that some people still like to discuss their insurance needs with an expert, or they may have a question that needs answering, and we are always at the end of the telephone, happy to help.

If you are looking for caravan insurance online, you can typically get access to specialist providers in a short amount of time. However, it may be worth taking a moment to go through the aspects of the cover that each provider offers, to ensure that you come across the most suitable product for your individual needs.
Whether your caravan is of the touring or static variety, you may be concerned about finding cheap caravan insurance. So how could you go about your search for caravan online, and what questions might you ask?

The price

When you are considering the price of a policy, ask whether any discounts are available to account for the fact that you are a member of a caravanning club. Some providers may offer this. Additionally, you may find that insurers offer no claims discounts in the same way that motor insurers reward careful driving.

Other factors which may affect the price include the location of your caravan. For instance, if your static caravan is on a site which has low claims history, you may find that the price is lower than for a van on a site with more of a troubled past (eg one that floods quite regularly).

Likewise, if you have a touring caravan, where you keep it will be regarded as important. In the same way that motor insurers take your postcode into account to determine your premium, you will typically find that the location of the place where you keep your caravan affects the price of your insurance.

The service

It can be difficult to judge the level of service that a provider offers when you are looking for caravan insurance online, but do bear in mind how efficiently the insurer deals with your queries. Having to make a claim on your caravan cover is stressful but can be less so with professional insurance staff.

The cover

Last but by no means least, it may be prudent to compare the actual cover when looking for caravan insurance online. You may wish to compare lists of the risks that providers’ cover, and read through the details of exclusions and limitations before you commit yourself.

If you’re looking for caravan insurance online, it’s probably because you like the convenience and also hope to find competitively-priced caravan cover.

There’s little doubt that the internet had revolutionised the way many caravan owners find their caravan insurance in the UK. Now from the comfort of your own home you can shop around with a few clicks.

Yet the technology itself can’t necessarily deliver the benefits you’re after – with those benefits being lower costs and better cover.

Your role and the insurance provider

Of course, having access to caravan insurance online typically provides you with the opportunity of finding lots of prices – and quickly.

If you’re an experienced caravanner, you probably know already that caravans and their insurance vary by categories such as tourers, statics, park homes, motorhomes and in the case of some providers, trailer tents.

Caravan insurance cover for these types may vary considerably because the risks associated with each type also vary. They are typically not interchangeable.

Finding caravan insurance on the internet in one sense can often be easy – you only have to look for your particular type of vehicle and voila, your price appears. This is particularly so for those sites offering online quotation systems.

Unfortunately, finding suitable caravan cover online isn’t always quite that simple – you may have a little bit more to do!

Looking at the detail

Sites that offer caravan insurance typically contain information in three forms:

• an introductory description that provides an overview of the policy and the cover provided plus, in due course, a quotation;
• some informative articles and notes on aspects of caravan insurance UK cover;
• policy details that may outline the exclusions and conditions applicable to the insurance.

To really be able to compare caravan insurance online, it is typically necessary to examine closely the policy detail including the conditions etc.

Although some cynics may state otherwise, in fact the reality is that these exclusions and conditions are outlined to try and help you the caravan owner rather than the insurance company. They state, in essence, the protection that is being provided for the premium you’re paying and they are part of your contract.

They also outline what responsibilities you have as the policyholder to ensure that your insurance remains valid and providing you with protection.

To give an example, you may find that your caravan insurance typically covers awnings but only if they are stowed away when you’re away from the vehicle. Policies also typically don’t cover contents that are stored under awnings.

Knowing these things is important and purchasing caravan insurance online without reading the policy details may be risky. If anything in them is unclear, the provider will typically be very happy to clarify things for you.

Whether you are looking for touring caravan cover or static holiday home cover, searching for caravan insurance online can typically be easy and convenient. You can compare quotes for caravan cover, find useful hints and tips about caravan security and research the procedures for reporting a claim at the touch of a button.
However, sometimes it is easy to get carried away because there is so much information available. In a market where many insurers are competing for your business, you can feel a little overwhelmed. Follow this checklist to help you consider the options for finding some of the most suitable caravan insurance online.

What does the policy cover?
Most caravan cover typically includes protection for damage from fire, theft, storm and flood. In some cases, cover for vandalism and accidental damage can be arranged too. Regarding the extent of the cover, the structure itself may be covered, but check with each provider about their policies on contents and awnings.

Does the policy suit my needs?
A touring caravan offers you the chance to bring your own creature comforts wherever you want in the world. But for true peace of mind, you need to make sure that your insurance cover follows. If you usually travel around the United Kingdom, you may be content with domestic cover. If however you want to take your caravan into Europe and beyond, check that the policy will accommodate this within your continental cover.

Is my caravan as safe as it could be?
Do you have a hitchlock and wheel clamps for use with your caravan? If you do not, consider investing in them straightaway as many insurers insist on this as a minimum security measure. If this is a requirement of your cover and you have failed to comply with it, it could render your policy invalid.
After that, consider what other measures you could take to minimise the risk of theft. After all, not only will further security measures help you to get competitively-priced caravan insurance, they will also give you peace of mind.

How much will the policy cost?
When you are looking for caravan insurance online, it is easy to compare prices. But do not forget to take into account any discounts that may be available, including ones for additional security measures that you have taken, discounts for membership of caravanning clubs and for keeping your caravan on an approved site.