Caravan Insurance Uncovered - Finding the right cover

Dec. 8, 2011 - PRLog -- For many a caravan is not just a fun way to holiday, it’s their pride and joy – the culmination of a lifetime’s hard graft and thriftiness, and a pastime associated with good times and golden memories.


The recession has helped make caravanning more popular than ever, and not just with holidaymakers.  As caravans become more desirable, and money remains tight, they are increasingly attractive targets for theft.  According to Shield Total Insurance it was reported that 1,200 touring caravans were broken into or stolen last year, 33% of those off home driveways.  

Equally, they are vulnerable to accidental damage with 14% of claims caused by high winds, storms and heavy snowfall at an average cost of £1200 per claim. Eighteen percent of claims were the result of road traffic accidents, including snaking, wheel loss, tyre blowouts or window damage with the latter costing as much as £1,000 to remedy.

Whilst specialist caravan insurance cover is not a legal requirement and most car insurance policies will cover a caravan third party, owners are leaving themselves exposed to hefty repair or replacement costs in the event of theft or accidental damage.  

Taking out specialist caravan insurance need not cost a fortune, however rarely does ‘best caravan cover’ and ‘cheap caravan cover’ mean the same thing.

What suits your co-caravanners may not suit you, so look for policies offered by specialist caravan insurance providers that can be tailored to individual requirements, rather than an off the shelf solution.  Researching your options and shopping around to find the most appropriate cover for your needs will pay dividends, especially should the worst happen.

Stuart Craig of Shield Total Insurance has been caravanning for 30 years, and offers some helpful advice on what to consider when shopping for caravan insurance.

http://www.shieldtotalinsurance.co.uk/caravan-insurance

Be Properly Protected
Caravan insurance consists of three elements – price, cover and terms and conditions. When selecting a policy and a provider, all three things need to be considered.

To those on a budget, cheap caravan insurance may be a priority but in the event of a claim, it’s the level of cover that suddenly becomes a priority.  The terms and conditions associated with the policy will determine what the insurance company will pay for – and what needs to come out of your own pocket.

What Kind of Cover Do You Need?
Whilst separate caravan insurance is not compulsory, the cover offered under your motor policy will be limited to your third party liability whilst towing on a public highway – paying out for damage to another person’s property in the event of an accident. There is no cover if your caravan is stolen or destroyed by fire.  Also with a motor policy you are not protected for damage to your own caravan or its belongings. Last year, one in four claims made by Shield customers resulted from accidental damage, without adequate cover in place the costs for these repairs would have to be met by the customer.

As you will want to protect your caravan and its contents as well as a third party’s, you need to take out comprehensive cover from a specialist insurer. Some policies offer cover on a new for old basis or take into account the depreciation of the vehicle when paying out (market value). Shield also offers a guaranteed value product which ensures that you get back what you paid for your caravan provided you have the original invoice and purchased it from a reputable dealer. In most cases the value of your belongings along with the cost of repair or replacement would be refunded to you, less any excess.

Consider the Total Value
When totting up the value of your caravan don’t forget to factor in the items inside and outside it.  
Caravans are a home from home and that means we pack them full of life’s little essentials. The laptop, mp3 player, mobile phone and kindle are all items we cannot leave our bricks and mortar home without.  Make sure your policy includes cover for personal effects.  In some cases these may be included on your home insurance policy.

Equally caravan accessories such as gas bottles, batteries, wheel clamps and motor movers should also be included in the policy – whilst these are not very expensive items the cost mounts up.

Cut Costs Not Cover
If you need to keep your insurance costs down then consider increasing the excess of the policy rather than cutting back the level of cover.  

This means you pay a lower annual premium but, in the event of a claim, you would have to pay out more towards replacement or repair costs. You may also be very unlucky and need to make more than one claim in a year.

Compare Eggs with Eggs
When comparing quotes from insurance providers don’t just look at the bottom line – the cost.  

An insurance provider demanding a high excess payment and making a number of exclusions is going to charge less for their policy than one offering extensive cover for every eventuality.

Take time to look through the policy and read the small print to identify if the policy has any exclusions which could cause you problems in the event of a claim.  For example, some policies set a minimum age for the towing driver, others do not include damage to windows or windscreens and some restrict the countries you can visit with your caravan or demand that caravans are sited overnight on designated parking sites.

Compare the policies based on the level of cover provided and assess their suitability to your family and the kinds of activities and places you enjoy when you go on holiday.

Make sure the quotes provided have taken your requirements into consideration. Equally, ensure you are not being charged for cover you don’t actually need.

If the policy is not tailored to your needs, go back to the insurance provider and ask them to refine the quote. It’s the same with insurance as with clothes – one size does not fit all!
Until the 3rd June 2011, caravanners could benefit from a 10% reduction on the cost of their insurance premium with Shield Total Insurance when quoting SHO411.

For more information contact Shield Total Insurance on 08448 474 474 or visit www.shieldtotalinsurance.co.uk

Editors Notes
About Shield Total Insurance
Shield Total Insurance (formerly Shield Direct) was established in 1997 as one of the first specialist Caravan and Motorhome insurance intermediaries in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

A series of comprehensive insurance packages are offered, each designed to cater for the specific requirements of the caravanning and motorhoming community. These include policies for homes, pets, folding caravans and campers, tents and trailer tents.

Policies are also available for static caravans, residential park homes, holiday lodges and log cabins making Shield Total Insurance one of the biggest and most experienced providers of outdoor leisure related insurance.