Archive for the ‘CamperVan Insurance’ Category

Campervan insurance – what to consider when looking for insurance

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.

Benefits to look for in campervan cover

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.

Motorhome cover – Ways to save on the cost

When looking for motorhome cover there are several things you could take into account to help you keep the cost of your insurance down. Insurance can be very costly so it is essential that you do compare for the best deal possible for your needs and make sure that you get the correct cover in your policy.

One of the main ways that you can save on the cost of your motorhome cover is to pay more for the excess than insurance companies will ask you to pay on your policy in the event of having to make a claim on the insurance. All will set a minimum amount that you need to pay from your own money should you be unfortunate enough to have to make a claim but you could offer to pay more and this can help you save on the cost of your premiums. Do bear in mind that when making savings this way you could lose out if you were to have to put more than one claim in on your policy in the same year. You would also need to find money in a cash lump sum and then the provider would pay the rest of the claim.

Another way to save on your insurance is to ensure that your motorhome is safe from thieves. You could buy a good quality car alarm, an immobiliser or a tracking device and any of these would go towards you saving as your motorhome would be harder to steal. If you park your motorhome under cover then it will be safer than if you left it on the roadside where it could be damaged or vandalised.

You could join a specialist club and this could help save on the cost of the insurance premiums along with you being able to get help and advice from likeminded individuals.

When you take out insurance for your motorhome you will have cover for your belongings. Some providers will give you new for old if you have to replace items or belongings while others take depreciation into account. If the provider does take wear and tear into account and you take this policy it could work out cheaper.

If you do not plan on taking your motorhome out of the UK then you could check any motorhome insurance that you were considering taking out to make sure that European cover was not included in your policy. European cover could boost the cost of the premiums up and is only needed if you plan on travelling around Europe in your vehicle.

Always go over the terms and conditions of any motorhome cover you were considering taking out as this is where you can find exactly what you would and would not be covered for. There will always be some limitations and limits on such as if you were claiming to replace steps and awnings in your motorhome. Checking over your insurance policy will ensure there are no nasty surprises in it that could leave you uncovered.

Check out the contents of campervan cover you are considering

As with any form of insurance you would need to check out the contents of campervan cover you are considering taking out. The benefits you could get from your insurance can vary considerably as can the limitations and exclusions so going over the small print from back to front is essential. Therefore along with comparing the cost of the cover you are considering you should always look into the small print to ensure you are getting good value for money.

When taking out campervan cover you would have your belongings covered and so you would have to take an inventory of all the belongings and possessions in your campervan. You should not underestimate this value nor would you have to overestimate this because how much you choose to insure would go towards setting how much you would pay for your insurance. It would also be the sum of money that you would get back in the event that you were to lose everything through fire or theft.

When considering your contents you would have to bear in mind that some insurance providers will offer you new for old on your insurance while others would take depreciation into account. If the provider offers new for old then you would get brand new replacements for your belongings. If the provider takes depreciation into account then usually the premiums would work out less.

Also check to find out if any steps or awnings were covered in the policy. They would usually be but there is generally a limit as to how much the policy would payout to replace them. At the same time check to find out if the contents of your freezer would be covered under the insurance policy as some policies would payout up to so much for you to replace your contents if say the electric was to fail and everything was destroyed.

If you do not use your campervan for many months out of the year then you could look into taking out limited mileage insurance. For example you could take this insurance if you just use your campervan for a couple of months out of the year for holidays. This means that you would state a certain amount of mileage that you would not go over in any one year and then providing you stick under this amount you can make savings on your insurance.

If you are touring around in your caravan and you plan on going outside of the UK and into Europe then you would have to ensure that you had European protection in your campervan cover. You would then be able to make a claim, if needed, should you be involved in an accident. The policy would pay towards your campervan being towed and repaired. It would also pay towards you being able to stay in alternative accommodation if you could not live in the campervan due to repairs or damage. You do have to check how much you would get towards a stay in alternative accommodation as this would be so much per day for so many days.

Low cost campervan insurance – Benefits to check in your policy

There are many benefits that could be included in your insurance policy and while you want to ensure that you have low cost campervan insurance it is essential that you ensure you have the features you need in your policy. Policies can differ with providers with some providing more benefits that others so you would need to check in the terms when comparing the cost of the insurance.

One of the first things that you have you would have to decide is if you want European cover in your policy. European cover would pay out in the event that you had an accident in your motorhome and it had to be towed for repairs. It would also pay for repairs to your motorhome and for you to stay in alternative accommodation. There would usually be limits in the policy as to how many days you would be able to claim and how much per day. This would therefore need to be checked in the terms before taking out the policy.

As you could be travelling around a great deal of time in your motorhome you will have your personal belongings with you. These could add up to a tidy sum as you would also include such as bedding, linen and basically anything in your caravan that would make it feel like home away from home. You would have to go around and take an inventory of all items even those hidden in cupboards and drawers. The amount you get to would be the sum of money that you would take out insurance for, for contents and is the sum of money that you get back should the worst happen and you lose everything.

The insurance company would either pay out to replace your belongings new for old or they could take depreciation into account. There could be more chance of getting low cost campervan insurance if your provider paid out with wear and tear into account.

There are ways that you can help yourself to make savings on your insurance. For example there would be a certain amount of excess that you would have to pay out of your own pocket in a lump sum before the insurance provider would take over your claim and pay the rest. There will be a minimum amount as to the amount you would have to pay but you can offer to pay more and this would help to keep down the cost of the premiums. You could also add security features to your campervan to help you to make savings on your insurance policy. Installing an immobiliser or a tracking device could go a long way towards you being able to save on your policy.

Before taking out low cost campervan insurance you would have to go over the terms and conditions to ensure that you had the cover you needed in your policy. There will always be limits and there will be some exclusions in the policy. For example there could be a limit on the amount the policy would payout for awnings.

Compare campervan cover to find the cheapest policy

While it is essential to save as much as you can when you look for insurance it is just as important that when you compare campervan cover you ensure that you have the right policy for your needs. It is no good taking out the cheapest possible policy only to find that if you try to make a claim you do not have the correct cover to do so.

Checking over the terms and the features is essential as this is the only way that you would find out what was and was not included in your policy. For instance while you would be able to insure your personal belongings and items that you take with you there could be limitations as to what was and was not included in it. Generally any items of particular expense would not be covered in the policy. This could include such items as expensive jewellery and mobile phones or computer equipment. Steps and awnings could also have limitations so go over the small print with a fine tooth comb.

When considering your cover check to find out what the insurance provider would pay out for. You could be able to claim brand new items if yours were damaged or stolen. However some providers would take depreciation into account and this is generally the cheapest way of covering your belongings.

If you only use your campervan for a few weeks out of the year then you could consider taking out a policy that came with limited mileage. With this policy you would be able to set the amount of miles that you would not drive over each year and providing you stick under this amount you could get cheaper premiums.

To make savings on the cost of your insurance when you compare campervan cover you might want to consider paying out more in excess. The excess is what you would need to pay out in the event that a claim was to be made on the policy. All providers will set a minimum limit to this amount but by paying our more you can keep down the cost of your monthly premiums. However you do have to take into account that you would need to pay this amount out of your own pocket.

The safer your campervan is then the cheaper you will get your insurance. You could install such as a steering wheel lock, an immobiliser or a tracking device. All of these would go towards ensuring that your camper van was harder to steal.

If you travel around Europe then you need to check to the benefits to find out if European cover is included in the policy. It is essential to compare campervan cover to find out how much European cover you would have as all providers will offer different terms. Some could offer many more days protection than others out of the year for example. European protection would mean that if you were to break down while travelling around Europe the policy would payout to have your campervan towed and would pay out for repairs to your campervan. It would also pay out for you to stay in alternative accommodation.

Choose your campervan insurance cover with care

While we all want to make savings on our insurance it is also essential that we also ensure we have got the right policy for our needs. It is no good saving a great deal on the cost of the insurance only to find that you cannot make a claim as your policy does not include what you need to claim against. With this in mind you need to choose your campervan insurance cover with care.

Checking the small print for exclusions and limitations when choosing campervan insurance cover is essential. All insurance providers will add these in and some could include more than others. For example there could be a limit as to how much the insurance company would pay out for such items as steps and awnings. You could also have to pay out extra excess to make a claim against windscreen and window damage. It is only by going over the small print of the policy you were considering that you would know about these.

The features provided can vary between insurance providers and what you need in a policy would depend on your circumstances. Therefore when looking into insurance for your campervan you first have to decide what it is you want out of your policy.

For instance you would have to decide how many months or weeks out of the year you used your campervan. If you do not use it often they you could consider taking out insurance that came with limited mileage. This would provide you with full insurance providing you did not drive over a certain amount of miles per year.

You would also need to take into account whether or not you wanted European cover included in the policy.

If you planned on touring around Europe then you would need to look for the best deal that provided adequate cover when travelling around Europe. European cover would for example payout to have your campervan towed and repaired. It could also payout for you to stay in alternative accommodation if your campervan was inhabitable. Again all providers will state a maximum amount of days that you would be covered while travelling around Europe.

Campervan insurance will allow you to take out protection for your personal belongings. You would have to take an inventory to reach a figure to insure. This is the amount that you would get back in the worst case scenario that you lost everything. When insuring your belongings you could be offered new for old protection. In this case your belongings would be replaced brand new. This is usually the dearest type of protection. If your policy pays out taking depreciation into account then you could lose out.

All providers will add in a certain amount of excess that you would have to payout before you could make a claim on your campervan insurance cover. This amount would come out of your own pocket as a lump sum and is deducted from the amount of your claim with the insurance company paying the rest of the claim. You can offer to pay more excess to help keep down the cost of the insurance. However should you need to make more than one claim in any one year it is possible that you would lose out?

Features of campervan insurance you could look for

Your new campervan will be your pride and joy. Whether you have chosen to buy a second hand campervan or have taken on a top of the range brand new home away from home campervan that comes complete with all the mod cons of home, you need campervan insurance.
You do have choices when it comes to taking out insurance and this would depend on the type of camper van you have chosen. If you chose to buy a cheaper second hand model just to take out and about in the UK a couple of times per year then you could be better off taking out third party fire and theft insurance. A new van off the forecourt would mean you had not got much choice over the protection as you would have to take out fully comprehensive insurance. This is the dearest type of insurance but it would provide you with the most complete form of protection for your campervan.
Campervan insurance differs between each insurance provider with some offering more features than others for your money. However the majority of comprehensive insurance will include protection against fire and theft. In some cases the insurance company would payout to replace your campervan with a brand new model if it should be damaged beyond repair or if stolen. However this would generally only apply if the campervan was under a certain age or if it had done under so many miles.

This would need to be checked before taking on the policy. Usually providers offer storm damage and flood damage in with the insurance which of course could be considered essential if you are taking your campervan out on the road for a great deal of time throughout the year. Some providers will also include accidental damage in with their policy while others could ask that you pay extra for this, so again checking the small print is essential.

There are also many extras that could be included in your campervan insurance or which you can add onto the cover for a little extra. One of which might be European cover, this should be considered essential if you intend travelling outside of the UK in your campervan.

If your policy does have European cover included then you would have to check how many days coverage the policy would provide as usually there will be a limit. European cover would payout for such as a stay in alternative accommodation if you were to break down or have an accident while in Europe. It should also payout to have your campervan towed to a garage and pay for repairs.

The majority of campervan insurance policies would payout for items such as clothing, linen, bedding and personal items. However you would have to check the limits on these as all insurance providers will only pay out up to so much and certain items such as those of particular value might not be covered.

There would also be a minimum amount of excess on the policy which would need checking as this is the amount you would have to pay out of your own pocket before the insurance provider would take over the rest of the claim.

Campervan insurance – Your choices

You have the same chances when looking for campervan insurance as you do when looking for car insurance. Your choices of insurance would include a fully comprehensive policy or third party policy. The type of campervan you choose to buy would depend on the insurance which would be the most suitable. If you have paid out many thousands of pounds for your van then of course a fully comprehensive policy would be the most suitable option. If a second hand model was your choice then third party fire and theft might be the most suitable form.

However while the same types of policy can be considered this is where the similarity ends. There are many more aspects of campervan insurance that have to be taken into account that are specifically tailored to a campervan. One of the main reasons for owning a campervan is of course to travel around in it and spend your holidays in it. Therefore you will be treating your campervan as a home away from home and have your personal belongings in it. With this in mind you want to ensure that you have suitable cover for your belongings.

All campervan insurance should come with personal belongings cover but they would usually limit this to a certain amount. It is essential to check this amount and also if there are any exclusions as to the type of belongings that are protected in the policy. Expensive items such as sat nav equipment, TVs and jewellery might be exempt for the cover and you would have to take out extra insurance for these.

Also check any insurance you are considering to ensure that you would be protected if travelling around Europe. This would give you protection in case you should breakdown and if the worst comes to the worst if you were to have your campervan taken for repair you would be taken to your destination. Some insurance policies would also include hotel accommodation if your campervan was off the road for repair so again this would need comparing as there could be limits. There could also be a limit on the amount of days of European cover the policy would provide and again this has to be checked before taking on the policy.

A policy that does include European cover would generally cost more than one without. With this in mind if you do not plan on travelling outside of the UK then search for a policy that comes without cover for Europe. Another way you can cut down on the cost for the premiums for campervan insurance is if you choose to pay out more in excess. The excess is what you are asked to pay towards the cost of the policy before the insurance company would kick in and pay the rest of the claim. However you would have to bear in mind that the amount of excess you choose to pay would have to come out of your own pocket as a lump sum payment. Installing extra security devices such as a tracking device and good quality alarm could also help to keep down the cost of your insurance premiums.

Camper insurance needs checking carefully

Before you go rushing into taking out camper insurance ensure that you read the key facts of the policy. Policies will vary between insurance providers in what they offer and as to the limitations that can be imposed in the policy.

The first decision you will have to make before looking for quotes for your insurance is the type of camper insurance you need. Just as there are different types for car insurance there are also different types for camper vans. Which one would be the most suitable will depend in how much you use your camper van. If you only take it out on the road a few times a year then you might not benefit from taking out a fully comprehensive insurance policy.

The other option for insuring your camper van is third party fire and theft. This however gives only very limited insurance for your vehicle but it does provide insurance for any third party that should be involved in an accident with you. In respect of your camper van it would provide cover in case your vehicle should be stolen and also if it was to be destroyed in a fire. There can be other inclusions so always check the key facts before taking on the cover.

When taking out camper insurance you need to check the key facts as different insurance providers will include different things and will also give limitations on cover. One thing you do need to check that may already be included in fully comprehensive is your personal belongings. If you travel frequently then the camper van will hold many of your possession. If they are stolen or destroyed then you would have to replace them and some policies offer new for old cover while others will only give you the value of what they would be today. If new for old is listed in your policy then you will get your belongings replaced at what it would cost today to replace them.

Fully comprehensive insurance may also include breakdown and recovery. If you are travelling and were to breakdown then your vehicle would be recovered and you would be taken to your destination. Some policies would also pay for you to stay in alternative accommodation if your vehicle could not be repaired and you had to be without it.

Also check to see if camper insurance would cover such items as camping equipment. Camping equipment is very costly and the majority of policies will cover up to a certain amount. Your awning is also expensive to replace if it should become damaged, again your policy should cover awnings for up to a certain amount. Windscreen and sunroof repairs along with window cover should also come as standard in your policy. However you have to check to see if claiming for these would have an affect on your no claims bonus.