Caravan Insurance

There are actually two types of caravan you can get insured, they are the touring type and the static type. The touring caravan is the type that is towed behind a vehicle, while the static caravan is usually a permanent fixture on a campsite. Both of these caravans, though, have different risks when it comes to insurance. The touring caravan is wide open to many risks on the road, these include collisions with other vehicles, accidents caused by side winds and improper loading. On the other hand, a static caravan is subject to more geographical risks in and around the campsite it's situated. This can include things like flooding and falling trees. There is, however, one insurance risk common to both and that is the risk of caravan theft.

Although there is no legal requirement to have caravan insurance it is required if you want to tow one on public roads, then you must have third party liability insurance. But, considering a caravan can cost anywhere between £5,000 and £20,000, it does seem wise to treat it as a valuable item and have full insurance to protect this asset. Good quality caravan insurance is relatively easy to find, yet understanding the ins and outs of the insurance isn't always that simple. Here we will give you an insight into the world of caravan insurance, then hopefully any choices you make when buying your policy will be more informed ones.

How to value a Caravan for Insurance

With any caravan there are two values of importance when it comes to insuring them. There is the value of the caravan itself plus any equipment and accessories, and then the value of the entire contents of that caravan.

For a caravan under 3 years of age insurance valuation is quite simple, it's normally the retail cost of a new replacement of the same model. Obviously in the time you have owned the caravan you might have purchased accessories such as awnings, security devices and generators etc, so this must be added to the caravan value to get the overall figure for insurance.

For a caravan over 3 years of age, then the insurance value is considered as the second hand market price of that particular model. But, once again, you need to take into account any accessories and include those into the insurance valuation as well.

How to Value the Contents of the Caravan for Insurance

To get the value of the caravan contents you have to assess the total cost of the household items and any personal effects within the van. (expensive items such as camera equipment and jewelry are more likely excluded). Any future claims against your caravan contents insurance will then be settled on the market value of these items at the time of loss.

House contents insurance works differently to this, it is usually settled on the brand new replacement value of the items at the time of loss.

Caravan Insurance Tip

How Caravan Insurance Benefits You

As we mentioned before, a caravan is a valuable asset and probably gives you and your family endless weeks of pleasure throughout the year, so insuring it against the threat from disasters such as floods, winds, accidents, storms and theft will give you peace of mind and leave you feeling a lot more confident. The correct caravan insurance will give you cover for considerable damage, and perhaps even a new replacement if that damage is beyond economic repair.

If you have a static caravan which is left unoccupied for any length of time then the contents will be vulnerable to the opportunist thief. You might have expensive TV's, DVD players, microwaves and kitchen equipment stored inside, so just like your home contents they would need to be replaced if they were stolen. Most caravan insurance providers will give you the opportunity to insure for the replacement of the exterior as well as the interior of the van, and you might even get a good deal if you take out both with the same insurance provider.

Touring caravan insurance often includes extras like cover for storage costs and hotel accommodation, for example. Say your caravan is disabled by accidental damage, then the cover will financially support you to secure your caravan in safe storage until it's repaired and back on the road. Or, if your caravan was rendered unusable and you had to find alternative accommodation for your family, then the insurance would see you compensated for any hotel bills. These are just two prime examples, but if they are a worry to you then it's worth finding caravan insurance that does include them.

Things to look out for with Caravan Insurance Policies

If you're planning on using your caravan for trips abroad then do check the insurance small print for any continental travel exclusions. Policies do differ and the quota of continental travel you are allowed can vary significantly from policy to policy.

If you plan on letting your friends and family use your caravan then some caravan insurance policies have certain conditions attached to this. Some will disallow it altogether, while others will cover it as long as there are no rental fees involved. So, if you do intend letting friends use it, do make sure the insurance policy covers you for it. If not, make sure you get a caravan insurance that does.

Check the insurance small print for the new for old replacement rule. In the event of irreparable damage, this rule stipulates the maximum age a caravan can be before it ceases to warrant a brand new replacement. The figure on most caravan insurance policies is typically set at 5 years.

If you're siting a static caravan for the very first time then choose your site carefully. For instance, Is the site prone to flooding from rains or high water? If the caravan site you choose is sheltered and virtually risk free then you could stand to get a cheaper quote for your insurance.

Some caravan insurance will insist that you use extra anti-theft procedures. This can mean buying a hitchlock, wheelclamp, alarm, or in the case of a motorhome, an immobiliser. You might find policy conditions require you to use these extra security measures even for short periods of time, sometimes even as little as 8 hours of unattendance. So do check the small print as you would be liable to render your caravan insurance null and void.

If you fit an alarm or an electronic tracking device to your caravan then you might find most insurance companies will reward your efforts with a discount. This is normally in the region of 5 - 15% on your insurance premium.

Caravan Statistics

Statistics show that around 5,000 touring caravans are stolen each year, and many of these are taken from right outside the family home. This figure only reflects stolen caravans though, and not caravan crime in general. The reality is that caravans are vulnerable to more risks besides just being stolen. These risks can clearly be seen in the top five caravan insurance claims.

1.Theft of caravan.
2. Accidental damage to caravan.
3. Storm damage to caravan.
4. Theft of accessories from caravan.
5. Recovery of caravan, due to a road traffic accident.

Tips on Caravan Security

Write the VIN number of your caravan in hard to find places, this might be the underside of a drawer or inside a cupboard. If the caravan is ever stolen it will be a lot easier to identify if the VIN number is still intact. An ultra-violet pen is best but equally good, and almost impossible to remove, is a spirit based felt tip pen on wood.

There are plenty of caravan security devices on the market that help reduce the risk of theft. If you buy any of these for added peace of mind or for insurance purposes, then opt for the ones labeled " Sold Secure". All " Sold Secure" devices have been put through the most stringent and rigorous of independent tests and are highly respected by insurance companies and crime prevention authorities.

When buying a used caravan have a check done against the CRiS database. The Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme is a National listing of all Caravans manufactured since 1992 and operates in a similar way to the DVLA. Running a check against the CRiS database will verify the caravan has not been reported stolen, written off by insurance companies or is subject to any outstanding finance.

When storing your caravan throughout the off-season look out for the Caravan Storage Site Owners Association (CaSSOA). It's a sad fact that caravans do get stolen from right outside peoples homes, so the CaSSOA will ensure your caravan is securely stored throughout the winter months.

Take some photographs of your caravan and any distinguishing features it may have. It's just one more tool in your toolbox for the eventual recovery of your caravan.

Mark the roof of the caravan with a symbol or part of your chassis number. This will make identifying and tracking the caravan easier from a police helicopter. There are Commercial kits available at caravan accessory stores specifically for this purpose.

Tracking systems can be very effective and good for stolen recovery rates. A small transmitter triggered when the caravan is stolen sends a location signal from your caravan. These are best used for cars and motorhomes as the transmitter does rely on battery power, so a caravan in long periods of storage will need regular checks to ensure sufficient power is maintained.