Owing your own campervan is one way of taking a break whenever you feel like it and it is relatively inexpensive. You have a way of getting from A to B and you have a place to sleep, eat and hangout. You do not have to search for expensive hotels and you have the freedom to be able to explore and move about and take in many sights, as and when you want. The only downside to owning a campervan is of course that you have to take out campervan insurance. However it does not have to cost a fortune and there are many benefits to having insurance.

One thing you may want to consider when buying a campervan is that you may have problems when it comes to insuring the van if it is not a UK make or model. For instance if you buy and import an American or Japanese model, you may have trouble finding someone to insure it. If you do find an insurance company willing to insure your campervan then the premiums may come with high cost.

When considering buying a campervan and you are a new driver you may have trouble finding insurance companies who are willing to take you on. Usually you have to be at least 21 and some providers may ask you are even older. Generally, you have also need to have held a driving licence in the UK for a certain amount of time before being able to get insurance for a motorhome.

So what might your fully comprehensive campervan insurance cover?

Personal effects cover – Your personal effects may be insured in your policy but there is a limit as to how much the insurance pays out if you claim. Your clothing and camping equipment may come under the policy and such things as an MP3 player or personal DVD player may also be covered. However if they are, they are usually only protected under the insurance whilst they are in your campervan and not if stolen or lost outside.

Gas bottles and awnings – Gas bottles and awnings are often included in your insurance policy but again there may be a limit to how much you are able to claim, if needed. You may also want to find out if awnings are covered in the event of them becoming damaged due to a storm. Some providers may include this in the exclusions.

Loss and damage – Your campervan and belongings are covered in the event it is stolen, damaged or destroyed by fire. However, you may want to check to find out if the policy also covers damage, which is accidental. Some insurance providers include this but not all.

Key and lock replacement – In the event that your campervan is broken into and the locks damaged or the keys are stolen, your campervan insurance policy usually pays to have your lock replaced. Again, there is a limit to how much you are able to claim for locks and key replacements.

The old VW type of campervan brings to mind the hippy days. Campervans were often used to travel to festivals and of course were lived in parked in muddy fields for a weekend of music. Today campervans are still very popular and there are many different models to choose, from the basic to the luxury. Whichever model of campervan you choose you do need to look for insurance. Here are some of the benefits you may want to check are included in your campervan cover.

How are you going to use your campervan?
If you do not plan to use your campervan many times during the year then you may want to look for an insurance provider that allows you to take out limited mileage insurance. Usually insurance providers allow you to choose mileage from as little as 3,000 and up to 15,000 miles per year. Of course, the least amount of mileage you do in the year, often the cheaper the insurance may work out. Those who only use their campervan for a few weeks out of the year and who do not travel far from home may sometimes be able to benefit and make savings on insurance this way.

Check limitations on your awnings and gas bottles
All forms of campervan cover may often include insurance for things such as gas bottles and awnings. However not all insurance companies may payout for storm damage to awnings. Therefore, you may want to check if the policy you are considering taking out covers awnings for damage caused in a storm. You may also want to check the limits that are imposed on gas bottles and awnings as all providers limit the amount that is paid out. Some providers may give you more than others so always compare.

Personal belongings insurance
Insurance providers know that when holidaying in your campervan you are going to take personal belongings with you. These may include such things as mobile phone, DVD or MP3 player, among others. Personal belongings insurance is included and usually protects your personal belongings against theft, damage or destruction whilst they are in the campervan. However again there are limits as to the amount you are able to claim for your personal belongings, so always check with the provider.

Are you planning a European trip?
If you are planning a trip around Europe, it is essential that you be covered. In this case, you need to have European cover in with your campervan cover. Insurance providers generally include this as standard in your policy and give you so many days of insurance. You might want to compare how many days coverage is included in your policy as it can vary between providers, with some possibly giving more than others for the same monthly premiums.