It’s sometimes frustrating that we seem to spend a large part of our lives waiting to reach a certain minimum age where we no longer have to pay extra for our insurance and then shortly after, we start finding that we must pay more because we have passed a certain age! It is a fact of life that age is sometimes an issue in some forms of insurance.

Of course, there are understandable reasons behind insurance providers needing to take into account, in some circumstances, the age of a policyholder.

For example, few people would really dispute that a typical 60-year-old is unlikely to have the same reaction times when driving a car or caravan as those of a 25 year old.

Even though this might be counterbalanced, to some extent, by the greater experience of the older driver, the reality of life is that insurance providers may feel that older drivers constitute a slightly higher risk than those of the younger age groups.

Unfortunately, sometimes it is difficult to follow the logic when it is ruthlessly applied to caravan insurance. Some insurance providers may, for example, decline to offer an insurance policy to over 60 towing drivers at all.

This appears to be a gross overreaction and disproportionate.

Older drivers

Some insurance policy providers will not take drivers over 60 under cover for the towing of touring caravans.

The logic behind this isn’t always entirely clear but presumably reflects some views that older drivers may be less able to manage a caravan behind the car than younger drivers.

Fortunately, this view is not universal and there are other insurance providers who are more than willing to offer over 60’s touring caravan insurance. At Cover4Caravans we are proud to be able to offer help in such areas and to confirm that we can offer over 60 driver insurance cover.

It is perhaps worth mentioning that towing a caravan is only one aspect of an insurance policy risk profile. In other respects, such as experience in terms of hitching and siting a touring caravan, age may be a positive advantage.

So, in terms of discounts, you may find that cover and discounts are available and over 60’s caravan insurance is perhaps far more cost-attractive than you might anticipate.

Older drivers with convictions

Of course, as you might imagine, driving convictions are an issue for insurance providers irrespective of the age of the driver concerned.

If you have penalty points on your licence, these may adversely affect your insurance premium or any discounts that might be available to other drivers without such convictions.

Other factors that may influence the cost of your caravan insurance

Apart from your age, the cost of caravan insurance can vary significantly based on several factors. Understanding these influences can help you make informed decisions and potentially save money. Let’s explore the key factors that may influence the cost of your caravan insurance.

Type and value of caravan

The type and value of your caravan play a pivotal role in determining insurance premiums. Caravans come in various shapes and sizes, from compact models to luxurious, high-value ones. Insurance providers consider the replacement cost when calculating premiums. It’s essential to accurately assess the value of your caravan to ensure adequate cover without overpaying.

Security measures

Caravan security features significantly influence insurance costs. Installing security systems such as alarms, immobilisers, and tracking devices can not only enhance the safety of your caravan but may, in some cases, lead to lower insurance premiums. Investing in these measures is a proactive approach to both safety and cost savings.

Usage patterns

How often you use your caravan can impact insurance premiums. Frequent use may lead to higher premiums due to increased exposure to potential risks. Reviewing and optimising your usage patterns can help strike a balance between enjoying your caravan and managing insurance costs effectively.

Storage location

The location where you store your caravan when not in use is another crucial factor. Caravans stored in secure locations, such as a CaSSOA-approved site – may attract a discount. We offer up to a 20% discount on the cost of cover if your caravan is stored at one of these sites.  Choosing a safe storage option is a practical step towards reducing insurance costs.

Claims history

Insurance providers assess the claims history of a caravan when determining premiums. A caravan with a history of frequent claims may be perceived as higher risk, leading to increased insurance costs. Maintaining a favourable claims record by prioritising safety measures is key to keeping premiums in check.

Policy cover

Understanding the different cover options available is essential. While comprehensive coverage offers extensive protection, it comes at a higher cost. Tailoring your coverage to align with your specific needs ensures you pay for what matters most to you, avoiding unnecessary expenses.

Driver’s profile

Your personal driving profile also influences caravan insurance costs. Factors such as age, driving experience, and claims history contribute to the assessment. While some factors may be beyond your control, adopting safe driving practices can help mitigate their impact on premiums.

The excess

The excess is a crucial aspect of insurance policies. While opting for paying a higher can lower premiums, it’s essential to find the right balance. Consider your financial capability to cover the excess in the event of a claim, ensuring affordability without compromising cover.

Summary

There is absolutely no need to think that your caravanning expeditions may need to come to an end simply because you are approaching 60 or 65 years of age and you cannot get insurance!

We are pleased to say that here at Cover4Caravans we don’t believe in pulling down the shutters in terms of being over 60 and wanting touring caravan insurance. We are happy to take older drivers and indeed younger drivers under cover on this type of policy. We can even help you if you are looking for over 70’s tourer insurance!

We believe that there may be significant advantages to being a more mature owner and driver, running from a reduced risk of over-reaction to road situations, to increased levels of patience, right up to a greater familiarity with the vehicle and things such as reversing in tight spots etc.

So, if your 60th – or even your 70th – birthday is approaching there is no need to start thinking about giving up on caravanning or that you are going to need to start writing some substantially bigger cheques for it.

We’re here to help!

Are you up to your eyes yet in Christmas shopping lists? Then it’s probably time to give yourself a break and find out some of the latest caravan, camping, and motorhome news.

To ease you into that more relaxed and agreeable frame of mind, we’ve put together some of the latest news headlines.

Caravan and Motorhome Club receives Gold accreditation from Green Tourism

The Caravan and Motorhome Club is into its second year of partnership with the internationally recognised organisation Green Tourism.

The Club was proud to announce on the 17^th of October that three of its campsites and the headquarters at East Grinstead had won a Gold accreditation from Green Tourism, while all its remaining 155 Club sites have achieved a Silver award.

Green Tourism supports businesses across the travel and leisure industry by improving the social and environmental impacts of their activities. Three levels of accreditation – Gold, Silver, and Bronze – are milestones along the businesses’ “green journey”.

Assessments are made of three key “pillars” of participating organisations with marks awarded under the headings of People. Places, and the Planet to arrive at a total score that represents the sustainability of the business.

Latest leisure vehicle insights revealed

Auto Trader magazine has published its report on the leisure vehicle market for the second quarter of 2023.

Overall, says Auto Trader, the leisure vehicle industry continues to flourish, with expressions of interest from customers who view the relevant advertisements up by 11% on the corresponding period last year. Despite a less than positive economic outlook, an estimated 72% of potential customers are looking to buy a motorhome or campervan within the next three months.

In the market for preloved motorhomes, buyers are currently spoilt for choice with the supply of used vehicles up by 43% from one year to the next.

It is a very similar picture with respect to preloved caravans – a market that proved remarkably resilient during the pandemic and that has surged back in its aftermath. The supply of used caravans has increased at the rate of 49% a year and is already 19% higher than before the pandemic.

New leisure centre could be built at caravan park near Mablethorpe

On the 31^st of October, Lincolnshire Live revealed plans for the development of a new leisure centre at the Willows Caravan Park on the coast at Maltby le Marsh, close to Mablethorpe.

The proposed leisure centre – featuring a gym and swimming pool (12 metres by 6 metres and 1.2 metres deep) – would be built on part of the golf course that currently occupies the caravan park. It would be adjacent to the area presently used for the standing exhibition of static holiday homes and caravans for sale.

Large windows opening onto the leisure centre’s reception area would afford permanent observation of both the main swimming area and a children’s pool.

Motorhome owners could be forced to pay heavy fees

A story in the Express newspaper recently warned the owners of motorhomes and campervans about the penalties for driving vehicles that do not meet the necessary emissions standards in the Low Emissions Zones (LEZ) throughout parts of London.

The newspaper distinguished between the new Ultra Low Emissions Zones (ULEZ) and the existing rules concerning LEZ. While drivers of motorhomes and campervans are typically not liable for charges applied entering ULEZ, they must nevertheless comply with the emissions standards of all LEZ or pay the necessary fee.

LEZ standards are those set by Euro 6 criteria for Nitrous Oxide (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM) – and if your vehicle does not achieve those standards or you have failed to pay the appropriate fee for driving in the LEZ, you face a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of up to a maximum of £2,000.

To really get to know a place there’s probably nothing to beat time spent in the very heart of the country. Can you really call this your home, therefore, until you have hitched up your caravan and spent at least a few days – or even a week or two – exploring the heart of the region that is Central England and the Midlands?

To help you along the way, here are seven places of interest to visit in an area that is full to the brim of natural and historical attractions.

1. Stratford-upon-Avon

It’s where William Shakespeare was born and this charming town still hosts a large collection of buildings built during Tudor times.

You can visit the bard’s very birthplace and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Venture into the green and pleasant countryside roundabout and you can also take in the quintessential villages that make the heart of England, including Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.

2. Stratford-upon-Avon Canal

This waterway – built at the turn of the 18^th and 19^th centuries – is a fairly short spur of the Grand Union Canal but wends its way through some of the most beautiful countryside and villages of Warwickshire.

Take a different and truly memorable perspective of the Midlands from the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal.

3. Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle is very much a historic jewel in the Midlands’ crown – it is majestic, imposing, and incredibly well-preserved.

Throughout the year, its grounds are host to all manner of activities – from 100 days of action-packed jousting to events mounted to show off some of Britain’s largest birds of prey. Special events are held at specific times in the calendar such as Halloween and Christmas.

4. Birmingham

Central England and the Midlands have much more to offer than lush countryside, quaint villages, and historic castles. The City of Birmingham is second only to London in terms of its size and importance – a Victorian powerhouse that continues to play a vital role in the country’s economy today.

Birmingham offers such a rich and varied urban experience that you’ll be glad you paid a visit during the several days you’re likely to need to take in at least some of its sights.

5. Peak District

North of Birmingham and the large conurbations of the Midlands is the Peak District National Park.

This wild and rugged terrain covers a mighty 555 square miles (1,438 square kilometres) and occupies large parts of Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire. Simply turn up at one of the four visitor centres – at Bakewell, Castleton, Derwent, and Edale – to get your bearings before heading off into the wild blue yonder of Central England’s most stunning landscape.

6. Kenilworth Castle

Another castle just goes to prove how central was the role of this part of England throughout much of history.

Kenilworth Castle may not be as well preserved as its neighbour in Warwick, but these ruins continue to echo the great romance that is said to have grown between its builder, Robert Dudley, and Queen Elizabeth I.

7. Ironbridge

If there is one site that encapsulates the early economic powerhouse of England it is the Ironbridge Gorge, in Shropshire, that is widely regarded as the birthplace of the world’s first Industrial Revolution.

Now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site the Ironbridge valley and its iconic Iron Bridge was the site of the famous Coalbrookdale iron foundry, established in 1709, where Abraham Darby perfected new ways of smelting iron for faster and better quality results – from his innovations, England’s Industrial Revolution was born.

Some rainy days in autumn don’t herald the depths of winter – breaks in the weather still give you plenty of chances to tow away the caravan for a weekend or two.

For some light reading matter as you relax at your chosen campsite, here are some of the current headlines for existing and prospective caravan owners.

North Devon holiday park seeks year-round caravan use

The owners of the Cleavewood Leisure Park near the North Devon resort of Woolacombe have made a bid to turn the seasonal caravan site into a park for year round use.

Remarking on the planning application in a story on the 25^th of October, the BBC noted that the park’s current licence allowed the occupation of its caravans between the 15^th of March and the 31^st of October only. The owners now consider these restrictions to be unduly dated and want to allow year-round occupation by owners.

North Devon County Council will consider the planning application in due course.

Caravan Award winners announced for 2024

The hotly anticipated annual Caravan Awards for the coming 2024 season have been announced by Caravan magazine, according to Out and About Live on the 19^th of October.

Among the many categories of winners, the following stand out:

• Caravan of the year for 2024 – Swift Elegance Grande 835;

• Best Luxury Caravan – Swift Elegance Grande 835;

• Best Lightweight and Compact Caravan – Xplore 304;

• Best Caravan costing less than £30,000 – Sprite Grande Major 4 SB;

• Coolest Caravan – La Mancelle Liberty 440 PC;

• Best 4-Berth Caravan – Coachman VIP 575;

• Best Caravan for Couples – Bailey Phoenix GT75 420; and

• Dealer of the Year 2024 – Red Lion Caravans.

Work to start next year on expanding Whitstable holiday park

Controversial plans to significantly expand the capacity of the Alberta Holiday Park at Seasalter near Whitstable have been given the go-ahead by a planning inspector who overturned the rejection of the proposals by Canterbury City Council, reported Kent Online on the 22^nd of October.

The expansion plans feature pitches for a further 91 static caravans on the site – a number that objectors complain will have a harmful impact on the landscape, be visually intrusive, and compound traffic problems in the area. Concerned residents feared that the proposals would result in the seaside village of Seasalter becoming a further version of Sheppey – which, they say, is overwhelmed by the number of caravan sites.

The Alberta Holiday Park currently already has an operating licence for up to 400 holiday homes.

World’s most advanced caravan makes towing with an electric car easy

If you’ve ever doubted that an electric vehicle (EV) is quite up to towing a caravan, a story in Auto Express on the 20^th of October might help to convince you of the possibilities.

The article unveils the Pebble Flow – itself an all-electric trailer that packs so much by way of innovation that it is branded the most high-tech caravan in the world.

The secret to the Pebble Flow’s contribution to EV automation is its so-called Active Propulsion Assist System – an arrangement of two electric motors that power the trailer and take the strain out of towing whether by an electric vehicle or one that is conventionally fuelled.

As a fully electric caravan, the Pebble Flow also has detectors that position the trailer and automatically hitch it to the towing vehicle – controlled by a simple app on a smartphone. Once you’ve arrived at your chosen campsite, the unhitched Pebble Flow can then manoeuvre itself into the tightest of pitches.

Where on earth did this last year go? Already we’re in the runup to Christmas – and the round of seasonal markets that open around this time of the year. Some will be firmly established old favourites, and some might be new on the scene but, whatever your preference, why not hitch up your caravan and enjoy a weekend or longer browsing a Christmas market or two?

Difficult choices aside, here is our list of the top ten.

1. Bath

For the early birds, one of the first to be staged is the Christmas Market in the historic city of Bath. It opens on Thursday the 23^rd of November and runs through to Sunday the 10^th of December.

Iconic monuments might take on a quite different hue after a glass of festive mulled wine before you repair to one of the several well-appointed campsites dotted around the city.

2. Frankfurt Christmas Market Birmingham

Opening even earlier – from Thursday the 2^nd of November right through to Sunday the 24^th of December – is the “Frankfurt” Christmas Market in the centre of Birmingham.

It claims to be the biggest authentic festive German market outside Germany or Austria – so, be sure to sample the traditional fayre of roast almonds, bratwurst, schnitzels, and pretzels, washed down with gluhwein, hot chocolate, or Weissbier.

3. Cardiff

If you are planning to take your caravan to South Wales, you’ll not want to miss out on the Christmas Market held in the centre of Cardiff.

This is one of the longest-established Christmas markets – now into its 30^th year – and this time around opens from the 9^th of November until the 23^rd of December.

4. York Christmas Market

You’ll be stepping back in time whenever you wander the narrow, Medieval streets in the heart of York – as Christmas approaches, the atmosphere takes on even more magic.

The city’s St Nicholas Fair – as those in the know are more likely to call it – runs from the 16^th of November until the 22^nd of December with a host of different stalls set against the magnificently historic backdrop and a variety of Christmas-themed events to enthral the whole family.

Even if you miss out on the market itself, you may be sure to catch the Christmas Tree Festival – held in the stunning York Minster – from the 2^nd of December until the 5^th of January.

5. Chester Christmas Market

From the 17^th of November until the 21^st of December, the much-loved city of Chester holds its popular Christmas Market in the very centre of town – right outside the Town Hall on Northgate Street.

Simply stand in wonder at the festively-lit Christmas tree that is the centrepiece of the city’s celebrations.

6. Southampton Christmas Market

The Christmas Market in Southampton’s city centre enjoys an especially extended run from the 16^th of November into the New Year until the 2^nd of January.

It’s another of the German-themed festivals – offering waffles and Bratwurst, with mulled wine or German beer.

7. Winchester Christmas Market

Just a short way up the road, you can discover an effective contrast in the approach to the Christmas festivities.

The Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market claims to be one of the best in Europe and one where you can step inside from the cold and surround yourself with the 1,000 years or so of history on which the iconic Winchester Cathedral is built.

8. Edinburgh Christmas Markets and Winter Festivals

North of the border and they do things slightly differently, of course, – but no less enjoyably.

Rather than a single Christmas market, therefore, the Scottish capital has several markets and festivals dotted all over the city – from the run-up to Christmas until the wilder New Year celebrations that will make a memorable Hogmanay.

9. Belfast Christmas Market

The Christmas Market in Northern Ireland’s capital of Belfast runs from the 18^th of November until the 23^rd of December.

Although the backdrop to the market is the impressive Belfast City Hall, a distinctly international flavour imbues proceedings in everything from freshly-cooked cuisine to hand-crafted goods.

10. London’s Winter Wonderland

If you were looking to save the biggest of them all until the last, then it’s the English capital where you’ll want to look. London’s enthralling Winter Wonderland – from the 17^th of November until the 1^st of January – covers almost the whole of Hyde Park and offers everything from an outside ice-skating rink to a big Ferris wheel and circus performances.

But London is nothing if not a collection of distinctive, individual villages and communities so you can also take your pick from more than 10 additional Christmas markets dotted about the metropolis.