There are some things that your insurer must know – and if those circumstances change, you are obliged to inform your insurance provider.

These are called “material facts” and they are at the heart of any insurance contract. As the Association of British Insurers (ABI) explains the material facts determine whether or not your insurer will provide the cover you request and the terms on which any policy is issued.

If you fail to inform your insurance provider of any material facts – or changes to them – a claim might be dismissed, or you could even have the insurance cancelled.

Here are some commonplace examples of changes to material facts that might impact your caravan insurance.

You have made substantial changes to the caravan

Many owners like to customise or enhance their vehicles. However successful those changes, it’s imperative that you discuss them with your tourer insurance provider – paying particular attention to certain material facts such as:

• the vehicle’s value – if you have installed new equipment, for instance, this might have increased the caravan’s overall value and you will need to make sure that any new valuation is reflected in the cover provided by your insurer;
• structural changes – it is especially important to notify your insurer of any changes that might have altered the caravan manufacturer’s original specification or those that will have changed your insurer’s assessment of the risks involved in providing cover for your caravan.

When deciding what changes amount to changes in material facts, you need to consider their extent and significance. Only significant changes need to be considered and reported. Simply changing the curtains in your caravan, for example, wouldn’t count!

On balance, though, it’s always best to consult your insurance provider if you are in any doubt as to whether changes you’re making to your caravan are likely to be seen as “significant” in insurance terms.

You are changing the way you use your caravan

A simple – and fairly frequent example – of such a change arises when your policy does not provide automatic continental holiday driving cover and yet you are planning to go abroad in your caravan. Clearly, in such situations, you would need additional cover and an amendment to the policy’s current terms and conditions to provide the cover you now need.

The need to inform your insurance provider might also arise in circumstances where you were close to or had already exceeded the maximum number of permissible days outside of the UK as specified in your policy.

It is also imperative that you discuss with your insurance provider in advance, any situation where you are planning to let someone use your caravan to generate rental income.

Where you store your caravan

When you took out your initial policy, you may have declared to your insurance provider just where you store the caravan when it is not in use. Should that change, for whatever reason, you must notify your insurer. The location is a material fact that may change the nature and level of risks to which your caravan is exposed when it is in temporary storage.

An example might be where you had originally stored your caravan in your garage but have now decided to move it to your driveway as its normal place of parking, due to the fact you wish to use your garage for other purposes.

If you need to make a claim

It’s no doubt stating the obvious to say that you’ll need to contact your insurance provider to make a claim. But it’s worth stressing the merits of checking the wording of your policy documents now, since some insurers require you to notify them within a maximum period of time after the event that gave rise to your claim took place. If you fail to do so and lodge your claim after the prescribed period has elapsed, you might find that your claim is unsuccessful.

Where you are changing anything relating to your personal circumstances

This is typically a routine matter and includes such changes as a new job or profession, change of address, or change of name (if you have married, for example).

Changes to qualifications for driving a vehicle used to tow your caravan

This may or may not be an issue but it will be worth checking with your insurer if, for example, you or another insured driver were diagnosed with a medical condition that might affect your driving, parking or use of your caravan.

You pitch up and intend to leave your ‘van unattended overnight

Our touring caravan insurance policyholders to be aware of the “not in use” clause that is within the majority of touring caravan insurance policies.

Most tourer owners are unaware of this clause, which, in some cases, could see an insurance claim rejected if the caravan was “abandoned” at the time of the claim. For example, if you take your tourer on holiday and then leave it unattended where it is pitched for a few days – perhaps, due to violent illness meaning you go into hospital or, when simply pitching up then going off somewhere else – you could find in the event of a claim that you are not covered.

This is because your insurance premiums are calculated on the caravan being stored at a storage site / at home or, being lived in while pitched up somewhere. Touring caravan sites are less secure and more easily accessed – so are at more risk of being stolen, damaged or broken in to.

If you leave your caravan at a pitch even for a few days and go off elsewhere, it is essential to speak to your insurer and let them know. At least that way, they are aware of the circumstances and can advise if there is an additional premium to pay – giving you peace of mind that you are covered.

So, if your holiday or break is cut short due to an unforeseen or unplanned circumstance that requires you to leave your caravan at a pitch, at least you will know if your tourer is covered or not. It is as simple as giving your insurer a call.

Summary

The obligation to inform your insurance provider about changes to material facts is not an especially onerous responsibility and is largely a matter of common sense.

But it is important to take the requirement seriously because failing to disclose material changes and then subsequently making a claim might jeopardise your chances of any such claim succeeding.

Do you have more questions? Please call us on 01702 606301 – we’d love to help!

For many owners, their touring caravan is almost like part of the family. It’s indispensable in helping to get out and about and making the

The touring caravan is practically a part of the family for many an owner. Your ‘van provides a practical and vital lifeline by offering you ever-ready means of escaping the humdrum routine of everyday life and getting out and about in the great outdoors.

That’s why most owners look to protect their caravan with appropriate touring caravan insurance. However, we recognise that insurance isn’t a subject everybody naturally takes to. As a result, sometimes it’s nice to have a little assistance in finding a suitable solution to your touring caravan insurance needs.

This is an area where we at Cover4Caravans can help you.

Just what is touring caravan insurance?

When you own a caravan, you’ll typically get several potential risks into the bargain. They will fall into one of the following categories:

• an encounter with someone with criminal intent – that might include an unwelcome intrusion as a burglar makes off with precious items from your caravan or even the theft of the entire trailer itself;
• damage caused by forces of nature beyond your control – the so-called acts of God, such as storms, floods and so on;
• damage or loss arising from an accident of your own making; or
• compensation-seeking claims from third parties who have suffered injury or property damage due to some kind of contact with your caravan.

A consequence of any one of these types of events or circumstances can often leave you facing exceptionally substantial and unwelcome bills. Touring caravan insurance offers you financial protection and indemnity against such losses.

Choosing the appropriate policy

When choosing your touring caravan insurance company, you could well be overwhelmed – there are lots of them, and there are considerable differences in the products each has to offer. For some idea of the wide range of insurers in the market, take a look at the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) website.

Some caravan owners might choose between competing insurance products on price alone – opting for the cheapest on offer. But that could be short-sighted.

It’s a simple fact of life that if you have to call upon your insurance cover for help, the last thing you will be thinking about under those circumstances is how much it originally cost. Instead, you’ll be 100% focused on just what your policy covers and whether or not you will be able to get your claim approved.

Therefore, it seems logical that you are better off concentrating on just what the insurance policy has to offer – and the cover it provides – rather than the headline price.

Interpreting caravan insurance policies

It isn’t so much a question of one policy being good and another bad. It’s more about matching your exact circumstances and requirements to a suitable policy.

To illustrate, consider what might happen should your caravan be stolen.

Policies might differ significantly in how they will respond – whether that is:

• new-for-old caravan replacement for vehicles that are no more than two years old and which have had a single owner since new;
• new-for-old replacement for caravans up to five years old, but again, only if you have been the sole owner since new;
• offering only market valuation compensation; or
• the gold standard solution that we offer by way of new-for-old replacement of caravans up to five years old, irrespective of how many previous owners there might have been.

That is just one example of many such considerations that might apply when reviewing the policies offered by touring caravan insurance companies.

Do you feel comfortable reviewing different insurance policies?

In our experience, not everyone has the time or inclination to conduct an in-depth review of several competing policies. As a result, selections can sometimes be rushed, and that might be something that you’ll regret at your leisure in the event of a claim.

There is an alternative – and that is to allow us to do that job entirely on your behalf by assisting you in selecting suitable cover for your particular needs and circumstances and balancing pricing against the appropriateness of the cover provided.

Why not contact us to find out more?

most of that precious leisure time.

That’s why many wish to protect their caravan through appropriate touring caravan insurance. However, insurance isn’t a subject that everybody naturally takes to and as a result, sometimes it’s nice to have a little assistance in finding a suitable solution to your touring caravan insurance needs.

This is an area where we at Cover4Caravans can assist.

Just what is touring caravan insurance?

When you own a caravan, you’ll typically face a number of potential risks. Broadly speaking, they will fall into one of the following categories:

• someone doing something illegal to it – that might include unpleasant things such as burglary or the theft of the entire caravan;
• damage caused by forces of nature beyond your control, such as storms, floods and so on;
• being involved in an accident of your own making;
• compensation-seeking claims from third parties that have suffered injury as a result of your caravan or experienced damage to their property for similar reasons.

The upshot of all these types of circumstances might be that you will be left facing some very substantial bills. There are touring caravan insurance companies who offer special policies providing cover for these sorts of eventualities.

Choosing an appropriate policy

Although there are large numbers of touring caravan insurance companies, their products may be very different.

Some caravan owners might be inclined to simply choose between them based on the advertised cheapest price. In our opinion, that’s typically a mistake.

It’s a simple fact of life that in the event you have to call upon your insurance cover for help, the last thing you will be thinking about under those circumstances is how much it originally cost. Instead, you’ll be 100% focused on just what your policy covers and whether or not you will be able to get your claim approved.

Therefore it seems logical that’s what you should concentrate on when initially selecting your policy rather than the headline price.

Interpreting caravan insurance policies

It isn’t a question of one policy being good and another one bad. It’s more about matching your exact circumstances and requirements to a suitable policy.

To give an illustration, consider what might happen should your caravan be stolen.

Policies might differ significantly in how they will respond, including:

• new-for-old caravan replacement for vehicles that are no more than two years old and which have had a single owner since new;
• new-for-old replacement for caravans up to five years old but again, only if you have been the sole owner since new;
• offering only market valuation compensation;
• as we provide, new-for-old replacement for caravans up to five years old, irrespective of how many previous owners they may have had.

That is just one example of many such considerations that might apply when you are reviewing the policies offered by touring caravan insurance companies.

Do you feel comfortable reviewing different insurance policies?

In our experience, not everyone has the time or inclination to conduct an in-depth review of a number of competing policies. As a result, selections can sometimes be rushed and that might be something that you’ll regret at your leisure in the event of a claim.

There is an alternative – and that is to allow us to assist you in selecting cover that is suitable for your situation and which balances pricing against the appropriateness of the cover provided.

Why not contact us to find out more?

Some events are more or less bound to appear on any caravanner’s calendar year after year. These are the various caravan shows that are staged throughout the country, at different grounds, according to the changing seasons.

Topping the bill, there is one show, in particular, that few caravan owners – and prospective owners – will want to miss. This is the annual jamboree that is the Motorhome and Caravan Show usually held each Autumn in the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) near Birmingham.

Schedules for the annual show were repeatedly frustrated during the past two years of Covid lockdowns and the restrictions these entailed on large indoor gatherings. It is with a heartfelt sigh of relief, therefore, that the Motorhome and Caravan Show for 2022 will go ahead as planned between the 18^th and 23^rd of October.

It is sponsored by the Motorhome and Caravan Club, the Camping and Caravanning Club, and Find My Leisure Vehicle – anyone who’s anyone, in other words, in the caravanning fraternity.

Are you going?

Are you going – and, if you are, how will you make the most of the experience? Here are some tips for making a memorable day of it and for enjoying a great show:

New caravans and campers …

• probably the biggest reason for visiting the show is the chance to see new caravans and motorhomes – and that’s not just new, but those coming completely fresh to the market for 2023;
• it is a chance to see for yourself the very latest in design, technology and comfort that will make every outing in your new caravan a joy to indulge – impressing friends, neighbours and fellow caravanners by staying ahead of all the latest trends;
• even if you are not in a position to buy a brand new 2023 model, those on show will give you a taste of all you might aspire to and help set your sights on what to look for even in buying a second hand, pre-loved caravan;
• with such a heady mix of new launches on display, it might help to narrow down your search by doing a little research in advance;
• in a special edition, Practical Caravan picked the best new caravans to appear on the market during 2022;
• if you are new to the game – and maybe if you have been around for a while – the British market has an amazing range of assorted brands to choose from;
• with makes such as Adria, Bailey, and Coachman, some might say that it’s as easy as ABC, but don’t be fooled and be sure to head off to others’ stands, such as those manned by Elddis, Lunar, and Swift;
• the caravan show has literally hundreds of makes and models on display and every one of them has a different layout, shows off the latest innovations, and is presented with a different finish;
• if you have your heart set on a particular model – and who wouldn’t – you can place your order then and there, with home delivery guaranteed for the start of the new caravanning season in 2023;

… and more

• it’s not only the latest motorhomes and caravans that are unveiled at the show, but variations on the theme, such as static holiday homes, folding caravans, and trailer tents;
• in short, anyone with a passion for the freedom of the open road, a life in the great outdoors and the luxury of a home to call your own when you retire at night;

Accessories

• with any outing in your caravan, you are almost certain to discover how essential some gadget or accessory might be – from awnings to porches and satellite systems to caravan movers;
• thinking ahead to those moments, you might want to drop in on the many stands and stores selling the latest accessories at what are likely to be the keenest prices;

Talk to those in the know

• of course, there are plenty of opportunities for you to discuss directly with the experts all the ins and outs of any caravan that catches your eye or to describe what you are after and be pointed in the right direction;
• but there are also those at the caravan show who are knowledgeable in the wider aspects of caravanning, such as insurance, security for your caravan, the finance to pay for it and the type of car you might choose to tow it;

Where next?

• with all that viewing of caravans, stocking up on accessories, seeking advice on insurance and related matters, you are probably itching to just hitch up and go – but where to;
• at the show, you can explore the possibilities of taking your caravan to the UK or Europe – or just about anywhere in the world – get the advice of travel experts, book your holiday, and even pay for it.

The Motorhome and Caravan Show offers a golden opportunity to keep fully abreast of all the latest news and developments – whether you are interested in buying or just window shopping. So why not make the most of that opportunity and seize the day.

Late May conventionally sees a welcome bank holiday and a time when you can hitch up your caravan and get away for a day or two.

Thanks to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – celebrating 70 years on the throne – 2022 sees a switch from the usual 30^th of May to a special four-day bank holiday from Thursday the 2^nd until Sunday the 5^th of June.

Here are just a few broad suggestions for making the most of the upcoming extended holiday.

1. Southwest England

If anywhere is likely to benefit from early sunshine and warmer weather, it’s probably going to be the southwest of England – a favourite of caravanners everywhere. You may be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing just where to pitch up.

May or June is an excellent time of year to visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan and see the collection of some of the country’s rarest plant species in full bloom.

The obvious place to stay may be Heligan Caravan and Camping, where you will find 29 hard-standing and 25 grass pitches, many of them with electric hook-ups on spacious plots set in well-manicured lawns and established shrubs – all part of the original Heligan estate, which it adjoins.

2. Southeast England

Talking of gardens, the very Garden of England is the county of Kent, of course – and it is only a short hop from London and the whole of the Home Counties. Kent also includes the Weald, the Downs, and a stunning coastline, so there are plenty of places to visit.

One of the paths perhaps least trodden – but even closer to London – are the Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, near Sevenoaks. It’s stunning colours, and fascinating connections with Darwin and the great plant hunters make it a particular attraction any time in May or June.

Gate House Wood Touring Park is not only close to Riverhill but also to scores of other local attractions, including Iron Age forts, medieval manor houses, and Chartwell, the home of Sir Winston Churchill.

3. Wales

May and the beginning of June are times of the year for welcoming in the summer – and Wales has its very own festival, called Calan Mai. Traditionally, the celebrations might have left you in a haze from over-indulged drinking of mead – these days, you might do better to take in some of the stunning scenery of South Wales.

Here, it is the Gower Peninsula – a miniature Cornwall, as Visit Wales calls it – and is most likely to attract, and there are campsites aplenty to choose from.

One of the most photographed places on the Gower is Three Cliffs Bay – and there is even your own Three Cliffs Bay caravanning and camping site from which to enjoy the views 24-hours a day during your Queen’s Platinum break.

4. Northern England

Whilst many caravanners are likely to be heading for the wild and rugged attractions of the Lake District, why not take a break from some of the crowds and take in the Northeast’s gem of a wildlife haven by visiting the Farne Islands?

Seabird colonies comprise 23 different species, but the stars of the show are invariably the 37,000 breeding pairs of puffins. You’ll have a chance to see the 1,000 or so grey seal pups that were born in the Autumn.

Elford Caravan Park is just two miles from the sea, giving easy access to the Farne Islands at Seahouses. Spread over two acres, it offers 25 pitches – all with electric hook-up – for touring caravans.

5. Scotland

The extended bank holiday provides the perfect opportunity for exploring the great outdoors amidst Scotland’s majestic Highland scenery.

Visit the Club’s Loch Ness Shores site, and you may choose from one of 99 loch-side pitches on the quieter banks of the south shore, near the village of Foyers – and from there choose whether to tackle an entire challenging walking tour around the whole of the loch – or just parts of it.

Gadgets and accessories for your caravan – can you ever have enough of them?

Building up your collection of the really useful and the practically whimsical is part of the fun of caravanning. Whether you absolutely, desperately need them or not, there seems to be something endlessly fascinating about gadgets. They might be clever, imaginative, resourceful – or a complete waste of time – but the gadget stall always seems to grab its fair share of attention at any caravan show or rally.

As the Spring turns into Summer, you’ll be keener than ever to hitch up your ‘van and take to the road. You might usefully compare caravan insurance – it needs to be done if you want to make sure you are still getting a competitive deal – but there’s also time to put aside the serious business and browse through this year’s catalogue of gadgets and accessories.

So, what are some of the gadgets currently on offer as the caravanning season gets into full swing?

Sturdy camping chairs

Have you ever faced the embarrassment of a camping chair collapsing when taking the weight of a fellow camper – or worse still, you? It’s hardly surprising, given how flimsy some of them are (the camping chairs, that is).

In that case, you might welcome the Clever Hiker’s guide to the 10 best camping chairs in 2022 – including its selection of heavy-duty chairs, which all pass a 120kg weight test.

Portable chargers

It might not be you who needs one, but if there are children or teenagers in your caravanning party, your life is likely to be hell unless you come up with a charging solution for their smartphone, tablet, or Kindle.

Most are relatively affordable and new to the market in 2022 is the selection of portable chargers and power banks recommended by TechRadar – whether you’re looking for slim-line or lightweight versions, high capacity models, or even those that charge wirelessly or use solar power.

Portable freezers

The fridge in your caravan is likely to be a three-way type of device. There’s a 12-volt battery-driven phase, which keeps everything cool when you are on the move; a mains mode, when you have an onsite electric hook-up; and gas operation from your main cylinders when the battery is down, or you are off-grid.

It might have a freezer compartment, but this is likely to be tiny.

A fourth option is a portable freezer, or so-called compressor box – based on the same compressor technology used by your fridge/freezer at home and connected either to your 12 or 24v battery supply or the mains.

The Waeco CoolFreeze says it offers sterling performance at a competitive price – for what is a technologically sophisticated product.

Camping cookers

Your caravan already has one fitted, of course, but there are times when you might want to step away from a quite cramped galley inside and do your cooking in the fresh air – it’s what camping’s all about after all.

There is a huge range available and, on the 22^nd of March 2022, the Independent newspaper reviewed a number of different models, including larger stoves which do a lot more than just boil a kettle of water. The Campingaz camping chef folding stove CV – launched early in 2022, for example – has a gas ring, grill and wind-shielding side panels for all your alfresco cooking needs.

Underfloor heating

Are you keeping your caravan locked up and unused during the cold winter months? Might an underfloor central heating system help to change your mind and encourage trips away even when there’s snow on the ground?

The lap of luxury it might sound, but some caravan manufacturers are developing the idea – including systems developed by Alde for both caravans and motorhomes.

Motor movers

One of the last things you might want after a long drive, the family waiting impatiently to get settled into the caravan, and the sun blazing down on your back, is the heavy labour of manoeuvring your caravan – just so – into a tight space.

The motor or powered mover is designed to take away the back-breaking work out of that fine positioning and the latest breed – from Rhyno Movers, say – of this perennial favourite features a remote control, so that you can stand in the very best position to get everything just right, without so much as breaking into a sweat.

Safety first

Some gadgets need to be treated with far more respect than any passing gimmick, of course, and these include the many familiar devices which make your caravan outings altogether safer experiences.

Putting safety first might be a question of installing smoke and CO2 detectors, for example, or fire extinguishers, fire blankets and even intruder alarms.

Hanging larders

Beloved of boy scouts, caravanners and anyone with a yen for the outdoor life, hanging larders have been around for such a long time they might hardly qualify as a gadget.

Yet every season reveals new variations on the old theme. And 2022 proved no exception – as a trip to CaravanStuff4U handily illustrated.

Scrubba Wash Bag

So much for the potentially useful and onto the gadgets that may be no more than gimmicks.

The Scrubba Wash Bag probably qualifies because it is no more than a plastic bag which you fill with water, put in some dirty clothes, and pummel in the hope of getting them clean.

Of course, a sink in your caravan site’s wash block is likely to serve just as well – and if it houses coin-operated washing machines, so much the better.

Solar panel

Of similarly dubious use – given the overcast skies that often accompany any caravan holiday in the British Isles – is your own, portable 100W solar panel, made by Sun Seeker and sold by Next Day Solar.

No-spill dog bowl

You’d need to have your own boisterous dog, of course, to even begin to appreciate the value of this portable water bowl, which claims to be impervious to spills.

Even more enticingly, distributors Road Refresher, also claim that it “reduces slobber by up to 90%” – how’s that for an advertising tag line?

The gadget round-up

Love them or loathe them, it’s difficult to avoid a sneaking interest in the latest gadgets to come onto the market and you may be sure that at least some of the novelties may be appearing in a caravan next to yours sooner or later.