7 Mistakes to avoid when buying caravan insurance

With over 500,000 touring caravans on the road in the UK, it’s clear that our love of caravanning and road trips are here to stay. It’s popular with all ages, as it’s affordable, comfortable, and gives you the independence and freedom to hit the motorways and country trails of the UK and Europe. However, do you have a plan to protect your caravan in case of accident, theft, or damage? It’s not something many of us think about, but if you don’t have caravan insurance, then you shouldn’t head out travelling just yet. You’ll need to find the right insurance for your caravan, but take care to purchase the right product. Keep reading to find the most common mistakes when purchasing insurance— ask yourself the questions below to ensure you’re protecting your caravan as best you can.

1. Did You Get the Best Deal on Your Caravan Insurance?

If you’re buying a caravan, you know that you’ll need insurance, as you would for any vehicle. But how can you be sure that you’re paying the right price? Caravan insurance doesn’t need to cost the earth. But, it can be confusing with so many companies offering different plans and prices. You don’t want to overpay for your insurance, so take the time to shop around before signing up. Paying too much for your insurance is a common mistake, so do your research and make sure you’re not overpaying. However, before you’re tempted by low prices, always read the fine print to ensure you know exactly what is and isn’t covered. Cheap prices don’t have to mean cheap services. But, you do want to know what you’re signing up for.

2. Are You Insured Overseas?

One of the best things about caravanning is the freedom to travel to beautiful and remote destinations throughout the UK and Europe. You might be heading to glorious caravan spots like Devon, Scotland, or Hampshire— but what happens if want to go on an adventure further afield? With Europe at our doorstep, many caravaners love going for extended trips to explore the beauty of France, Spain, Portugal, or Germany. However, before you board the ferry, make sure you know if your caravan insurance provides you coverage outside of the UK. A collision overseas can be a scary thing, especially if you're not fluent in the local language. Our coverage includes Europe, so you can travel with the peace of mind that you'll be protected in the case of an accident.

3. What Exactly Does Your Insurance Cover?

Do you know what is covered under your insurance policy? With so many types of coverage, make sure you understand everything that is and isn’t included. Caravan insurance can cover everything from accidents, theft, or damages, either on the road or at home. Make sure you know if the insurance is comprehensive (giving you the most complete protection), or whether it only covers at-fault accidents. You’ll also need to know the start and end date of your policy, ensuring you know when you’re covered. It’s helpful to keep a copy in your glovebox, for reference or in case of an accident. Another little-known tip is that some policies won’t cover your caravan if it goes over a certain weight. Be cautious with your storage and towing to make sure you don’t inadvertently invalidate your policy. Your policy may change slightly each year as you renew, due to changes in company policies. Never assume that your policy is the same— always review the fine print and ask your customer service representative if there have been any changes to your policy.

4. Are Your Adult Children Covered?

Part of the fun of caravanning is travelling with family. However, don’t make the mistake of assuming that your insurance policy covers drivers of all ages. You may wish to travel with your adult children or senior parents, but double-check that you know about age requirements for your policy. Sometimes, insurance policies don’t cover drivers under the age of 25, which can be a problem if you want to share some of the driving with one of your children. If you do want to add a younger driver to a policy, it can usually be done, but may result in slightly higher premiums. Towing a caravan can take some getting used to, for both new and experienced drivers. Always start by practising in car parks or quiet roads. Remember to make wide turns, indicate well in advance, and take care when parking or switching lanes.

5. Do You Know the Difference Between Caravan and Personal Insurance?

It’s a common source of confusion, but do you know you should have both caravan and personal insurance? Generally, caravan insurance covers just the caravan and its interior contents, like the furnishings. However, as our caravan is our home on the road, it’s often full of many valuables. These include laptops, phones, TVs, jewellery, clothing, GPS systems, and camera equipment, to name a few. If these items were damaged or stolen from your caravan, they likely wouldn’t be covered under your caravan insurance policy. However, they will be protected by your personal or home insurance. Before hitting the road, contact your personal insurance company and let them know you’ll be living from your caravan. You may also need to list your high-value items, like electronics, onto your policy. Although having two policies may seem like double the cost and effort, it’s worth it as you need to protect your expensive items while you travel.

6. What Is Your Excess?

Do you know what your excess? This is the amount you’ll have to pay out of pocket for any insurance claims. If your deductible is £500, then your insurance will kick in for after you’ve paid up to that amount. There may also be an opportunity to pay a voluntary excess, which means pay a higher amount of the claim in exchange for lower premiums. Often, cheaper insurance policies have higher excess. This is fine, as long as you’re comfortable paying that amount in case you need to file a claim. Excess and premiums can be tricky, so take the time to understand what you’ll be out of pocket in case of a claim.

7. Do You Have Touring or Static Insurance?

What is the difference between touring and static caravan insurance? You’re likely to hear these terms frequently when shopping for insurance, but make sure you know what they mean so that you can purchase correctly.

Touring Caravan Insurance

Are you towing your caravan from your car or truck? If so, you need touring insurance. If you’re frequently travelling and road-tripping, this is the insurance for you. It is separate from your car insurance. Our touring caravan insurance covers many benefits, including European travel, no claims bonuses, illness and injury, and zero excess in case of caravan theft. You can also add on key protection, and legal expenses cover. If you’re taking your caravan on the road, don’t leave home without touring insurance.

Static Caravan Insurance

As an alternative, many of us keep our caravan parked in one spot, such as in a holiday park or backyard. If this applies to you, you’ll probably need static caravan insurance. Static insurance will cover your caravan while it’s not moving, but if you do take it on the road, you’ll need to contact your insurer to update your policy. What’s covered by static caravan insurance? Our coverage includes damage from flooding, tree branches, and storms. Plus, we cover theft, vandalism, damage from another vehicle, outbuildings, balconies, and even landslips. Although you may think that if you aren’t travelling with your caravan, it doesn’t need insurance, but don’t make this mistake! Think of your caravan as your home— you wouldn’t live in your home without insurance, so protect your caravan in the same way. If you’re ever unsure about which type of insurance you require, give your insurance company a call.

Contact Us for all of Your Caravan Insurance Needs

Are you ready to get started with caravan insurance for your new or secondhand vehicle? If so, contact us today. We are one of the first specialised caravan insurance companies in the UK, and our friendly team is happy to answer any of your questions or sign you up as a new policyholder. Although insurance is serious, we believe it should be easy to understand, making insurance terminology something simpler. We love caravanning as much as you do and understand the importance of keeping your beloved caravan safe and secure. The small yearly insurance cost lets you hit the road and travel with confidence, knowing you’re looked after should anything go wrong. Our team looks forward to hearing from you and assisting with all of your caravan insurance needs.