Why visit glorious Glasgow? There are reasons aplenty. It’s Scotland’s largest city and it offers an attractive and appealing tapestry of culture, history, and a vibrant nightlife. Whether you’re in search of art, relaxation, musical festivals, and events or simply a raring good time, Glasgow has something for everyone.

What are the top attractions in Glasgow?

For a city that’s so busy and vibrant, it’s difficult to choose from a whole array of attractions but the following are all worth more than a passing visit:

• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum – one of Scotland’s most popular visitor attractions set in the peaceful surroundings of Kelvingrove Park in the city’s West End. Opened in 1901, entry to its extensive 22 galleries is free to this day;

• Glasgow Cathedral – work on this Gothic cathedral started in 1136 and took 350 years to complete. It is now the official home of the Church of Scotland and the oldest in the country;

• Riverside Museum – if you thought the city’s main attractions were from ancient history, the Riverside Museum’s stunning glass and concrete profile will soon put you straight. Glasgow’s award-winning technology and transport museum, the Riverside was designed by architect Dame Zaha Hadid and opened in 2011.

What free activities can you do in Glasgow?

Though it’s the largest urban environment in Scotland, Glasgow has retained many acres of open spaces, gardens, and parks – all of which you can stroll through at your leisure and free of charge. The biggest of these is Pollok Country Park, which you’ll find on the southside of the city. Inner-city havens of peace and quiet can be found at Glasgow Green, Rouken Glen Park, and Linn Park.

It’s also free, of course, to organise your own walking tour – especially popular is the City Centre Mural Trail.

In addition to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, free entry is also offered to the Burrell Collection, Riverside Museum, Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), Glasgow City Chambers, and Glasgow Botanic Gardens – to name but a few.

What are the best cultural experiences in Glasgow?

Glasgow was named the UK’s first (and only the world’s third) UNESCO City of Music in August 2008. Many would say that music remains the city’s beating heart.

As a result, you’ll find some of the biggest contemporary and Celtic music festivals in Scotland and home to every shade of ensemble including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Ensemble, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, and Scottish Opera.

What outdoor activities can you do in Glasgow?

We’ve mentioned the acres of open green space within the city and for further active adventures you might want to take to two wheels along any number of the 1,489 cycle routes in and around Glasgow (and helpfully plotted by Bike Map).

The Clyde Walkway will take you on a trail of more than 40 miles (65km) right through the heart of the city 65 km. Other trails worth exploring include the River Kelvin Walkway and the Forth and Clyde Canal.

Where are the best shopping spots in Glasgow?

Put all the culture and history to one side for a moment and just indulge in the shopping paradise that is Glasgow. In the centre of the city, you’ll find just about every high street brand and designer outlet – head for Prices Square, the Buchanan Galleries or St Enoch Centre – or track down the independent traders represented by the Scottish Design Exchange, The Hidden Lane, or the Clydeside Collective.

Scattered throughout the city’s many and diverse neighbourhoods, you’ll also find a mix of vintage, pre-loved, and second-hand shops and markets.

What family-friendly activities are there in Glasgow?

But what if you have kids in tow? Are there family-friendly activities in Glasgow? The answer is yes – in abundance.

Flipout Glasgow, for instance, is an all-encompassing indoor trampoline and adventure park, the Hollywood Bowl, at Springfield Quay, offers ten-pin bowling for all ages, while Reidvale Adventure Playground is where they’re able to let off as much steam as anxious parents can imagine.

What hidden gems can you discover in Glasgow?

It’s a city that appears to wear its heart on its sleeve, yet Glasgow also has more than its fair share of hidden gems:

• explore the unique charms of Ashton Lane and its welter of bars and restaurants;

• the Hidden Gardens in the very centre of the city will offer an immediate haven of peace and tranquility;

• Glasgow’s Necropolis is a sombre yet fascinating Victorian monument to countless sons of the city.

What day trips can you take from Glasgow?

Glasgow is also a gateway to practically the rest of Scotland – starting with no less an iconic location than Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park which is just 33 miles (53km) to the north of the city.

If you’re committed to a search for Scotland’s most historic monuments, however, Stirling Castle is one of the largest and most historically and architecturally important castles in the country and only 30 miles (48km) to the northeast of the city.

Do you wonder what UK caravan news is currently hitting the headlines? In the depths of winter, with snow and ice still on the ground, you might have thought that the caravanning world has all but gone to sleep. Far from it!

In answer to your questions, here are some of the latest headlines featuring some caravan news …

Innovative expandable ‘Flexi-Pod’ caravan unveiled

Want a glimpse of the future shape of caravans? In its edition of the 31^st of December, the Sun newspaper gave you just that.

Measuring more than 26ft (7.2m) long by 8½ft (2.6m) tall, the ForFreedom concept caravan looks all the world for a compact trailer that will be manoeuvrable and easy to tow. At rest, though, its pivoted centre and sliding chassis converts the whole into a thoroughly comfortable and spacious living area.

It sets new standards – fit for a caravan of the future – thanks to an ingenious, expandable design that creates a flexible and roomy living pod with windows affording spectacular views.

There’s a fully-fitted kitchen – surpassing any conventional galley – and a spacious bathroom that you’d be hard-pressed to find in any other caravan of its size.

Dorset’s largest caravan retailer closes just before Christmas

If you’ve heard of Lady Bailey Caravans, you’ll be disappointed to discover that Dorset’s biggest retail outlet of caravans closed down just before the Christmas holidays, reported Practical Caravan recently.

Ill health has forced the owners’ retirement from the dealership that has been run for the past 30 years or so from its premises in Winterborne Whitchurch, near Blandford Forum.

Just as the name suggests, Lady Bailey Caravans held the franchise for new and used Bailey caravans – one of the biggest UK manufacturers of caravans, including models such as the Discovery D4-2 and the Alicanto Grande Evora.

Although Lady Bailey Caravans has now closed, six other local companies have been accredited to carry out repairs and servicing of Bailey caravans, including work done under warranty or an existing service plan. Only a “very few” owners will be unable to find workshops competent in doing used warranty work, says Lay Bailey’s website.

Gaslow issues safety warning: refilling gas cylinders without genuine systems poses serious risks 

What shouldn’t you attempt without access to the proper equipment? Your gas cylinders should only be refilled by recognised professionals working at purpose-built filling stations, says cylinder manufacturer Gaslow International in a story published by Out and About Live.

The company warns of the dangers of trying to refill exchange cylinders on your own. It seems that some caravan owners and campers have bought adaptors online that come with nozzles designed for refilling gas cylinders on petrol station forecourts and the like. By attempting to cut corners and costs in this fashion, customers are compromising their safety with potentially lethal results.

Exchange cylinders need to be filled by weight. That requires specialist weighing equipment to measure things accurately. It’s an important safety measure because an overfilled cylinder is highly dangerous – it can catch fire or even explode. For that reason, a cylinder must always be refilled using an 80% automatic protection valve to prevent overfilling.

Swift celebrates awards

2024 was a good year for Swift – 2025 is shaping up to be even better to judge by the awards the caravan manufacturer.

Swift was voted the winner in the separate categories for best 6-berth caravan (the Sprite Exclusive Major 6 TD), best 4-berth motorhome (Voyager 510) and best campervan (Swift Trekker X) by Practical Caravan Awards and Practical Motorhome Awards.

The Swift Sprite Quattro MB was the winner not only of Caravan of the Year but also Best Family Caravan while the Basecamp 2 won the award for the coolest caravan in the Out & About Live Caravan Awards and the Swift Trekker as the coolest campervan in the Out & About Live Campervan Awards.

The manufacturer also won six awards in various Highly Commended categories.

If you are thinking of buying your first touring caravan, you want to know your options for protecting that investment with suitable caravan insurance. If you already own one, you want to be certain that when the renewal date comes around, the tourer caravan insurance you have continues to deliver the cover you need and still represents good value for money.

Either way, that leaves you with the knotty problem of which caravan insurance to choose – there are certainly many possibilities to choose from. But first, what does touring caravan insurance cover?

What does tourer insurance cover?

Touring caravan insurance policies may differ in their details from one to another but there are several elements most likely to be shared by any such policy:

The caravan

• at the heart of the cover, of course, is the caravan itself and its insurance against those risks and perils resulting in loss, theft, or damage;
• although your regular motor insurance may provide the legally-required third party cover when the caravan is being towed, that is as far as it is likely to go;
• what that basic third-party cover lacks, of course, is the comprehensive protection against accidental damage, loss, or theft;
• you must arrange specialist insurance for your touring caravan – against such major risks as fire, impacts (from other vehicles, falling trees or branches and even aeroplanes), flooding, storm damage, vandalism, and theft.

Where to find the most suitable caravan insurance

Establishing your individual insurance needs may be more complicated than it first appears – especially if you are relatively new to caravanning. It might be easy to overlook some potentially critical element to which attention needs to be given – and overlooking those details now might prove to be an expensive oversight in the future if something goes wrong.

Even when your specific insurance needs have been identified, there is still the next step of finding the insurer most likely to meet those needs and requirements – since it is a niche market, touring caravan insurance nevertheless comes in all shapes, sizes, and prices.

Ask a broker

Because the choice is so overwhelming and because it is important to get it right, you might want to consult an established and experienced broker in this sector of the insurance market such as ourselves here at Cover4Caravans.

You can use our online caravan insurance quotation service or simply pick up the ‘phone to give us a call. We will give you a quote carefully matched to your needs (and at what we believe is a cost-effective price) and answer any queries or concerns you may have about suitable caravan insurance

If you ever need to make a claim, then we are here to help you fill in the forms and do whatever it takes to secure a fair settlement of that claim.

Touring caravans and insurance considerations

With touring caravans and insurance, it is important to bear in mind the following:

Valuations

• the valuation of your caravan is one of the most critical steps involved in choosing the appropriate insurance;
• it is by no means always such a straightforward process and you might want to draw on our own many years’ of expertise and experience in arriving at accurate and realistic evaluations for insurance purposes – to ensure that you are not underinsured;

Value for money

• getting value for money on your caravan insurance is not a simple question of the cheapest price – it all depends on the cover offered, what you need, and the competitiveness of the premiums;
• do you need fully comprehensive cover, for example, or something rather more basic? Are you prepared to take on a greater proportion of the risk – and lower premiums in return – by accepting a higher excess? And are you hoping to use your caravan for holidays abroad from time to time?
• these are all questions that need consideration when choosing which caravan insurance to buy;
• remember, cheap caravan insurance is not necessarily the most suitable tourer insurance for you;

Mobility and security

• the distinctive feature of a touring caravan, of course, is its mobility;
• while you count it a blessing, that very mobility makes your ‘van a particular target for thieves;
• intruder alarms and anti-theft devices, therefore, are important considerations – and some insurers may credit you with a discount on premiums the greater the security efforts you have made (in addition to those required under your policy);
• in any event, there is one security consideration that the majority of caravan insurers are likely to include as a condition of cover whilst you are out and about in your tourer;
• you are likely to be required to fit both a hitchlock and wheel clamps if you leave the caravan unattended but still attached to the towing vehicle, or wheel clamps alone, when it is unhitched and pitched at your campsite or sitting on your driveway at home;

Storage

• with security considerations in mind once again, your insurer is also likely to express concern about the conditions under which the caravan is stored when it is not in use – over the winter period, for example;
• at Cover4Caravans we share that concern and for that reason offer attractive discounts on premiums (up to 20%) for those customers who store their touring caravan at a site designated and authorised by the Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSOA);
• these sites – of which there are currently more than 400 across the country – provide heightened security for your caravan whilst it is temporarily out of use;

Contents

• don’t forget that touring caravan insurance can be extended to cover the contents of your caravan – and the amount and value of kit and personal possessions you take with you on holiday outings may be appreciable;
• when insuring the contents of your tourer, therefore, make sure that you are using an up to date, accurate and comprehensive valuation of every item;
• do note that special conditions may apply to your awnings – awnings are not often considered part of your caravan’s contents, so it’s important to check whether your policy includes this cover and if any specific exclusions apply. For example, insurers may require that awnings are securely stored or taken down in adverse weather conditions to remain covered;

Public liability

• one area which might be easy to overlook is the possibility of some accident involving your caravan which results in injury to or damage to the property of a third party or member of the public;
• although those who have suffered such loss or damage in a road traffic accident may typically be covered by your motor insurance, there are other instances – when your caravan is on the campsite, at your home, or in storage – when such accidents may occur;
• that is why you might also want to carefully consider the need for public liability insurance – which typically provides an indemnity against such claims when incorporated into your touring caravan insurance.

These are likely to be the principal considerations relating to your touring caravan insurance. But it is insurance particular to your individual needs and circumstance – so you are certain to want to tailor the cover to suit those needs.

Further reading: Guide to Caravan Insurance and Awning insurance: need to know.

Whenever you are arranging touring caravan insurance, your principal goals are likely to include securing the cover and protection you need but at as competitive a price as possible. You are unlikely to be looking for the cheapest cover, but the caravan insurance cover that offers what you consider is the best value for money.

With that objective in mind, let’s take a closer look at:

• under-insurance and caravan insurance;
• some of the ways you might reduce your caravan premiums;
• whether cheap always means the best; and
• how an independent insurance broker can not only help you find suitable caravan insurance cover but insurance that also represents good value for money.

What do I need to think about when getting caravan insurance cover?

While this blog is around reducing the cost of your caravan insurance premiums, it is important that you do get the correct sum insured for your ‘van. It is likely to be your pride and joy, of course, and you have been lavishing on it the love and care that your caravan deserves. You might even have made some improvements to your ‘van, such as installing a new kitchen area, for example.

That increase in value needs to be reflected in the total sum for which your caravan is insured – failure to update the sum insured could mean that in the event of a claim, any settlement is insufficient to make the necessary repairs or to replace your losses.

Additionally, the market value of caravans can rise due to demand or inflation, meaning replacement costs may be higher than anticipated. If your policy is based on outdated valuations, it might not fully cover repairs or replacements in the event of damage, theft, or total loss.

To avoid underinsurance, regularly review your policy and update it to reflect any upgrades or changes in value. Now, on to the main event …

Reducing your caravan insurance premiums

The following are some of the ways you might want to consider for reducing the cost of your caravan insurance premiums:

Excess

• an excess is the first part of any successful claim that you are liable for. Your insurance provider will set a compulsory excess;
• but you may be able to save money on the cost of insurance premiums – by accepting a higher, voluntary excess in addition to the compulsory amount;
• remember, though, that in the event of any claim, you will typically need to pay not only the cost of any compulsory excess but any voluntary excess you have also agreed to accept;

Caravan storage discounts

Where do you intend to store your caravan when the days grow shorter, and the next winter closes in? It’s worth giving it some thought now:

• you could potentially save money on the cost of your insurance premiums if you exchange the relative insecurity of parking up in your driveway for one of the purpose-designed, secure storage sites registered with the Caravan Storage Site Owners Association (CaSSOA);
• there are some 450 or so registered sites around the country, and each one has been independently assessed and ranked according to the level of security offered to your caravan whilst it is in storage;
• this enhanced degree of security may be recognised by insurers – including ourselves here at Cover4Caravans – who offer discounts from 5%-20% on the cost of your tourer cover if you store your ‘van at a CaSSOA-approved site;
• watch our Caravan and Storage video here for more information;

Security

• storage is not the only time when your caravan needs to be kept safe and secure;
• as with any general insurance contract, you have a responsibility for taking every reasonable precaution for mitigating the risk of loss or damage – a principle founded on the concept of your caring for the insured property as though there was no insurance protecting it;
• nevertheless, you may decide to go over and above these basic standards to enhance the security measures you have taken – fitting intruder alarms and deadbolts on doors and windows, for instance;
• you may find that the closer attention you pay to security measures such as these, the more likely is your insurer prepared to offer a competitive rate for your premiums.

Many things may change from one year to the next. It is important when arranging or renewing your caravan insurance, therefore, that you take these changes on board in order to make sure you still have the most appropriate cover.

When cheap caravan insurance is not always the best caravan insurance

A cheap caravan insurance policy may not always be the best.

If you are looking to reduce your caravan insurance premiums, there might seem a compelling argument for making the simplest and most straight forward move – by choosing the policy offering the cheapest premiums.

Before going into the ins and outs of cheap touring caravan insurance, though, it’s important to remember one golden rule – whatever you consider to be the best and cheapest caravan insurance may not be so for someone else – it is a personal thing, and no one size fits all. What might suit you the best may not meet the needs and requirements of another caravan owner.

The caravan insurance you need is almost always the cover that is particular to your individual requirements and circumstances. So, it may be quite different to the cover needed by your neighbour, for example – irrespective of the price you pay.

Finding insurance that is suitable for your own needs and circumstances, therefore, is more likely to be a question of what you consider is good value for money, offering the protection your caravan needs, rather than its absolute price.

Keep that in mind while you search for touring caravan insurance that is both competitively priced and represents good value for money – so, shop around.

Shopping around for caravan insurance

Whenever you are looking for good value for money for any kind of product or service, you are likely to start shopping around – starting by comparing prices between one supplier and another. Once again, however, when shopping around like this, it is important to keep in mind exactly what cover you need and take this firmly into account when comparing caravan insurance prices.

One of the most common difficulties may be that some touring caravan insurance policies include as standard elements of cover which you do not really need and exclude others that you do – there may be a gap between what you want and what seems to be available on the insurance market.

Consult an expert

Working out the cover you need and then matching your individual requirements to the products available might prove considerably more difficult than it seems. Even deciding on the appropriate level, scope and nature of the touring caravan insurance which might be suitable for you may be difficult. Subsequently trawling through the many insurers which seem to offer something approaching your needs becomes more difficult still.

There is a simple solution to this conundrum – and that is to consult an expert caravan insurance broker, like ourselves here at Cover4Caravans.

Why using a caravan insurance broker may save you money

Here are just some of the advantages and benefits you may enjoy by consulting a caravan insurance broker – you might want to read them against the declared aims of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) on the ways brokers help consumers and businesses:

Get a wider choice of policies

• a broker typically will be able to provide more choice when you are looking for a policy – a broker usually has a range of different options, and he or she could help you to choose between them;
• having more choice means some policies are likely to be less expensive than others, so this is a possible way to reduce your costs;
• while at first glance a comparison website may seem to be a good idea, the downsides are that not all caravan insurers are listed on these sites (so you may not get the full picture of what is available);
• plus, when you initially enter your product requirements, the results may show a ballpark figure and if you then decide to go with one provider, you may need to re-key in the details in order to get a “proper” quote and also find that the price differs;

Specialist cover may be available

• because brokers tend to specialise in certain types of insurance cover, typically they have long-established relationships with the various insurers, meaning they can match you to the most appropriate policy;
• they can also access deals that may not be available on comparison websites;
• a broker can often find cover that is more suitable according to your specific needs, and this may help you to get the protection your caravan needs for a lower price;

Go beyond the premium

• a broker may be able to alert you to other ways you could save money – for example, if a policy is tempting because it is less expensive, a broker may point out how it could end up costing you more in the event of a claim, perhaps because it does not cover something essential to your needs;
• alternatively, a broker may be able to recommend a policy that provides discounts for certain circumstances – if you store your caravan at a previously mentioned CaSSOA-approved site, for example;

Simplify the process

• buying from a broker is typically made easy;
• at Cover4Caravans, for example, we aim to make it as simple as possible, whether you buy online or over the phone – and if you don’t know what you want or need, simply give us a call and we will talk you through your options;

Get expert advice

• brokers are experts in the insurance products they arrange, and they are there to provide advice and answer questions;
• if you have any questions about any aspect of insurance, they will be able to help you so that you can make a more informed decision;

Enjoy peace of mind

• by going through a specialist rather than buying insurance alone, you may be able to enjoy more peace of mind because you know that you have cover that protects you in precisely the way you expected to be protected;
• a broker can ensure that the policy covers all your needs so you are less likely to find any nasty surprises should you need to make a claim.

Find your insurance today

A broker may be a suitable option for all of the above reasons. However, you should go with what seems the most appropriate option for you.

Whichever way you buy your insurance, make sure you are properly covered – you can then enjoy spending time in your caravan knowing you are fully protected.

Further reading:

Top tips to save on your insurance renewal

Tips on carrying out a tourer caravan insurance review

One caravan insurance policy might seem pretty much like any other, so you may wonder why you need to bother comparing static caravan insurance. After all, given the amount of money that you probably spent on your static caravan, you’re likely to simply buy the best static caravan insurance policy.

But that, of course, begs the question of just what is the best static caravan insurance policy? And the uncomfortable realisation that there may be no such thing as the one best policy.

What represents the best static caravan insurance for you may be totally different from what someone else may consider to be the best for them. While you may consider yourself to be a fairly typical caravan owner, just a quick look round any site may confirm very quickly just how different people, and their caravans, can be.

The long and the short of it is that some static home insurance policies may be more suitable for you than others.

What do you need to know when comparing static caravan insurance quotes?

Sorting out the suitable from the unsuitable involves comparing static caravan insurance quotes. So, what do you need to know?

First, keep firmly in the back of your mind that having a static caravan is, for many people, a dream as well as a substantial investment. That investment and dream could both be at risk unless you have appropriate static caravan insurance.

In one sense, buying this type of cover is easy. Buying cover that’s also suitable, however, may involve several considerations.

So, here are some top tips on making your choice of suitable static home insurance:

• don’t get confused about insurance types! Static and touring caravan insurance are two quite different genres of policy and they’re not interchangeable;
• the same applies to static and park home cover. A static caravan is one you occupy for typically several weeks each year when on holiday or for other recreational purposes. It is not a caravan-type dwelling where you live permanently, which would typically be called and insured as a ‘park home’;
• if you plan to let others use your caravan for holiday purposes and are charging for that, your use of your static is no longer defined as ‘personal recreation’. There is a significant legal and insurance difference between letting someone use your caravan as a favour (to a family member, for example) and letting it out for holiday purposes and income generation. In order to keep continuity of cover and protect your interests, please discuss any such plans with your insurance provider before you begin to let your static caravan;
• some policies may require you to empty your static of major furnishing items during the closed season. Be clear if that’s the case with a policy you’re considering and whether or not you could comply;
• you may find more extensive advice and options if you discuss your overall position with an experienced and specialist provider of static caravan insurance – such as ourselves – rather than a generalist insurance provider;
• look carefully at the ‘new for old’ replacement provisions. Some policies might offer that irrespective of whether or not you purchased the caravan from new, but some may not do so if there have been previous owners before you;
• it’s always a good idea to have an adequate sum insured for liability insurance cover. If somebody’s injured by your static and they believe it to be due to your negligence, then they may sue. If they win, the award of compensation against you could be substantial;
• read any exclusions carefully as well as associated conditions. For example, some policies may require that your site is supervised 24x7x365. That’s fine if your site is so supervised but if that supervision ends when the site shuts in winter, you may find you’re in breach of your policy’s conditions and that might put your static caravan cover at risk;
• it’s worth checking for discounts for the use of security equipment too. Some policies may stipulate certain mandatory security requirements such as the use of alarms, while others, but not all, may offer discounts if you use additional security upgrades.

Aspects of static caravan insurance to which you might want to pay particular attention

Some aspects of static caravan insurance warrant closer and more careful attention:

Valuation

• whenever you are arranging insurance, the value of the insured item is an important consideration – and static caravan insurance is no different;
• the total sum insured represents the maximum amount the insurer pays out in the event of a total loss (if the caravan is consumed by fire, for example);
• when deciding that total sum, therefore, you might want to consider the cost of replacing your caravan;
• depending on the policy you choose, this might be its current market value or replacement as new – the latter is available from Cover4Caravans for static homes up to 10 years old (regardless of the number of previous owners);

Risk of flooding

• during many British winters, flooding – from swollen rivers or rising tides – may cause widespread damage and caravan parks are likely to be especially vulnerable;
• for that reason, our static caravan insurance policies here at Cover4Caravans reflect the postcode of the park on which it is pitched, so that discounts may be made if yours is in a flood-free area;
• you can check on the vulnerability of your particular caravan park by searching the Environment Agency’s map of threats of flooding from rivers and the sea;

Public liability insurance

• we have already mentioned the importance of public liability insurance – and the owners and managers of the park or resort accommodating your caravan are almost certain to have asked for proof that you have suitable insurance cover;
• that cover is designed to ensure that fair and adequate compensation is received by visitors to the park, your neighbours there, or other members of the public who have suffered an injury or had their property damaged through some negligence on your part as the owner of the static caravan;
• public liability claims such as this may assume substantial proportions and it is usual, therefore, for cover to be provided against claims up to £5million;

Out of season precautions

• many parks for static caravans close down for at least part of the winter season – and this might be a time when yours is especially vulnerable to break-ins, theft or damage caused by electrical or gas faults or the escape of water;
• when arranging your static caravan insurance cover, therefore, you might want to establish what additional security measures your insurer demands during this closed season – and whether, for example, your premiums are discounted at all if the site has taken particular security measures, such as CCTV or manned patrols of the site;
• you may also be expected to take certain common-sense precautions when leaving your caravan empty and unoccupied for any length of time – including the disconnection of all electrical and gas services and draining down the water from heating, kitchen, and bathroom systems. Your obligations under your cover will be explained within your policy documents – or you can always call us for help and clarification.

Beware the policies offered by your static caravan park

When the management of the park on which your static caravan is berthed invites you to sign the lease agreement on your plot, they are almost certain to offer you static caravan insurance. Indeed, you might need to resist any pressure against a hard-sell of such a policy.

Remember that, in most cases, you are not obliged to take your site owner’s own insurance. You are free to shop around for your static caravan cover. The site owner may ask for proof that you have arranged your own static home insurance and may charge a nominal fee to see the paperwork. Even with that fee included in your calculations, however, shopping around for the cover could still save you money.

If you compare static caravan insurance and select a policy that you feel offers you the most suitable static caravan insurance, then you may still end up with a more cost-attractive solution than buying from the site owner – even taking their fee into account.

Why is it important to compare static caravan insurance?

Instead of going for the easy option of accepting the site management’s offer of static caravan insurance, you decide to shop around and make your own comparisons to select suitable cover:

Is a comparison going to require a lot of my time?

• that all depends on how you tackle the exercise, of course;
• if you intend to look up lots of individual insurers and obtain many individual quotes, then you are likely to need a substantial amount of time if you are going to do justice to reviewing them in detail;
• an alternative might be to get an online comparison from a specialist provider of static caravan insurance cover, like us at Cover4Caravans. It’s quick, easy and free to use our service. Or give us a call and we can do this on your behalf;

Cheap vs. value for money

• if you are asking yourself where you can find the cheapest static caravan insurance, you might want to think again and ask whether you are asking the right question;
• whenever you are buying insurance – or any other product for that matter – the most important question that should be asked is whether the product offers good value for money while delivering everything you want from it at a competitive price;
• always bear in mind that the cheapest option is not always going to offer the most appropriate protection;
• cheap static caravan insurance may be your goal, but value for money – in terms of the cover you need, at a competitive rate – is more likely to secure the more appropriate deal;
• and remember, what your site neighbour or friend thinks is cheap static home insurance does not necessarily mean it will be the cheapest – or most suitable – caravan insurance for you;

Can I reduce the cost of my existing static caravan insurance policy?

• if the price of the premiums is an issue, you might want to consider ways of reducing the cost of your insurance;
• just how you do that may depend upon what your policy allows you to do and how flexible your provider is – it is something perhaps best progressed by looking at the detail of the policy or having a discussion with whoever you purchased it from;
• you may, for example, be able to obtain a discount in return for taking a higher voluntary excess on the policy;

Can my postcode make a difference to the price I pay?

• it may do – in the sense of the postcode of your chosen site;
• you’ll typically find that there are some static caravan sites which are considered to be more or less risky than others;
• for example, a well-known risk for static caravans from an insurance point of view is flooding. If you position your caravan on a site with a history of flooding, then you might typically see higher static caravan insurance quotes than if your location has no history of flooding problems.

What does static caravan insurance cover?

As with any insurance, the protection for your static holiday caravan is only as good as the risks and perils covered by your insurance policy. Although the details, of course, are likely to vary from one insurer to another, the following are typical headings for the cover offered:

The caravan

• the single most important element of cover is likely to be the protection of the caravan itself against such potentially catastrophic risks as fire, flooding, storm damage, impacts and vandalism;
• a cause for particular concern – given the damage such incidents may cause – is the risk of flooding and whether your policy extends cover in such an eventuality;
• has we have already noted, holiday caravan parks in some parts of the country may be more vulnerable to flooding than others, so it may pay to check whether your caravan is in such an area – if it is, you may find it more difficult to secure insurance or find that you need to pay more for it;

The contents

• just as you might want to protect the contents of your main place of residence, static caravan insurance may also extend to the contents – which may have mounted steadily in value as you make use of your holiday home;
• the total sum insured for the contents is an important aspect in ensuring that you are not underinsured (when the settlement of a claim may be insufficient to cover the costs of replacement);

Public liability

• we have already commented upon the importance of public liability insurance – and noted that the policies arranged by us here at Cover4Caravans offer £5million of indemnity as standard;

Playing your part

• a key part of any insurance contract is the insured’s responsibility for ensuring that all reasonable steps are taken to mitigate the risk of damage or loss – and static caravan insurance is no exception;
• in this case, it is likely to involve specific precautions to be taken during those months of the year when the holiday park is closed, and your caravan stands empty;
• such precautions may include the removal of items of particular value, confirmation of the holiday park’s security arrangements during the closed season, disconnection of gas and electricity supplies, and the draining down of all the water systems.

Finally

In the final analysis, your caravan insurance cover may one day be the only thing that stands between you and some very severe costs if your static home is damaged. It, therefore, makes sense to be as certain as you can be that you have insurance that is a good match for your circumstances.

Unless you have a particular inside knowledge of the intricacies of the insurance market, you might find that expertise and experience of a specialist broker in static caravan insurance, such as ourselves at Cover4Caravans, may help to find the appropriate match you are looking for.

Indeed, the government-sponsored Money Advice Service suggests that a broker may help you to find better cover at the most favourable price. The advantages of using an independent insurance broker are also described by the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA), which lists good reasons for doing so.

These include the free advice you may be given, the identification of those risks you might not have spotted yourself, the help you may need in making a claim, and the access to competitively priced policies which are often available exclusively through a broker – satisfying your search for cheap static caravan insurance which also represents excellent value for money.

Finding static caravan insurance is typically just a click or two away when you visit us here at Cover4Caravans and ask for your online quote. You can also contact us here on 01702 606301 – we’d be delighted to help!