You are probably aware that the best way to safeguard your tourer is with caravan insurance – but what exactly does touring caravan insurance cover?
You might be surprised by quite how many owners who are new to the joys of caravanning – as well as a few seasoned old hands – are more than a little hazy about what risks tourer insurance does and does not cover.
Buying any form of insurance, including tourer caravan insurance, can sometimes be fraught with more than a little uncertainty. The terminology may be confusing and, in the way of some insurers, sometimes things are described in unnecessarily complex terms.
On top of that, insurance products change, along with the type of caravan you are using over the years, the nature of the outings you make in it, and the risks that need the protection of appropriate insurance.
That is why it is important not only to regularly review your cover to make sure you have the most appropriate touring caravan insurance available but also to notify your insurer of any changes to your caravan (such as where it is stored) as soon as possible.
Do I have to have touring caravan insurance?
When you are towing a caravan, the law does not require that you have separate touring caravan insurance.
The vehicle you are driving, of course, is subject to the legal requirement for a minimum of third-party insurance – and that cover typically extends to the caravan you are towing too. (Note that we say “typically” – it is imperative that you check with your motor insurance provider as to what cover your caravan has, if any, under your car insurance policy).
But even if you have top of the range, fully comprehensive motor insurance, you are likely to find that it provides protection against third-party risks only for your caravan – leaving the trailer completely vulnerable to fire, theft, or accidental damage.
That is why separate, specialist touring caravan insurance is such a prudent safeguard.
What touring caravan insurance covers
Getting a quote for and buying caravan insurance can be easy. Furthermore, the basic principles of tourer caravan insurance are typically very straightforward:
- cover is typically provided against fire, theft, and accidental damage to your caravan whether it is parked on your driveway at home, stored elsewhere, being towed, or pitched anywhere along the route of any holiday or outing;
- financial protection may also be extended to the contents of your caravan (some policies may impose exclusions for items such as high-value jewellery, electrical gadgets and equipment, or the like);
- cover extends to those times when your caravan is still hitched to the towing vehicle and when it is unhitched – but your insurer is likely to insist that you use a hitch-lock if the caravan and wheel clamps when it is unattended and still connected to the towing vehicle and wheel-clamps alone when it is unhitched;
- your tourer insurance cover reflects the make, model, age, and value of the caravan and some policies may offer replacement as new settlements in the event of a total loss of a ‘van that is less than two years old – at Cover4Caravans, we provide new for old cover for both statics and tourers up to 5 years old, regardless of the number of owners;
- some policies may also provide third-party liability cover – that exists in case you are sued by someone, who believes they have suffered a personal injury (or property damage) through some kind of contact with your caravan.
But remember that cover varies from one insurer to another
Along with common elements of cover, things may vary depending upon the offer that the touring insurance provider is making. It’s therefore important to take the time to read carefully your initial quotation and the policy documentation before you decide to buy the cover.
That is to ensure that you understand the caravan cover being offered, plus any conditions, exclusions, and obligations so as to be clear it is a good match for your needs and circumstances.
It’s also typically advisable to compare the cover provided by different touring caravan insurance policies because some may offer protection that is more suitable for your particular caravan and how you use it.
Reassurance from your specialist broker
If you end up with inappropriate or inadequate cover the resulting costs may prove to be steep indeed. So, you might be reassured by the expertise and experience offered by an independent broker such as ourselves here at Cover4Caravans.
Citizens’ Advice recommends the use of a broker if you are looking for advice about insurance or want a specialist policy – such as touring caravan insurance.
As independent brokers, we put your interests first and foremost by offering a choice of tourer insurance. To make sure that your insurance provides appropriate safeguards against those risks that it needs to cover, it must be tailored to meet your particular needs, requirements, and circumstances.
Renewing your touring caravan insurance
If you already have caravan insurance, you are almost certain to receive a renewal notice each year.
Indeed, some people see buying insurance as such a hassle that they simply renew it every year with the same provider and don’t even bother to see if they could get a more attractive deal elsewhere! That shouldn’t be the case!
As we mentioned previously, policies, prices, and the cover offered change all the time – what is an appropriate policy for you now may not be the most suitable policy for you this time next year.
Working entirely on your behalf, we can get you quotes from any number of specialist tourer insurance providers so that you have them all in one place, where you can also buy your caravan insurance online or over the telephone. If you prefer or need any further help or advice, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01702 606301.
How do policies differ?
There are often significant differences in the levels of protection offered by different insurers and their respective policies. That is why it is important you understand what your cover does and doesn’t entail. We will be happy to help clarify if you have any questions.
Are any discounts offered on touring caravan insurance?
Responsible and careful caravan owners are more than likely to be members of a recognised caravan club – such as the Caravan and Motorhome Club or the Camping and Caravanning Club to name but two – receiving regular tips and suggestions on enhancing security and maintaining your caravan in tiptop condition, for example.
Here at Cover4Caravans, we recognise the potential value and benefits of your belonging to a recognised touring club and grant an attractive discount on the premiums you pay for your insurance.
More specifically, our policies also recognise that caravans are at perhaps their most vulnerable when they are not in regular use and effectively put into storage for, say, the winter months. A further discount on your premiums, therefore, is also available if you agree to store your caravan at one of the high-security sites recognised and registered with the Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSOA).
How much does tourer insurance cost?
Inevitably, price is a subject for serious consideration, but it may be advisable to pause a little before presuming that advertisements for cheap caravan cover will necessarily offer a suitable or appropriate solution for you.
Cheap caravan cover may not offer the same match to your requirements as another, perhaps marginally more expensive policy. If it does then fine but if it doesn’t, keep in mind that if you need to claim, you won’t be bothered at all about how cheap or expensive your policy was – you’ll only want to know the cover provided and the settlement reached with your insurer.
The bottom line may be that what proves to be cheap caravan insurance for someone else may not be suitable for you or prove to be cheap in the event you need to make a claim – so keeping the price in perspective may be advisable.
In summary
Tourer caravan insurance need not be complicated, but you may have to allocate a few minutes to sitting and reading the detail if you want to avoid missing out on a cost-effective and suitable solution.
Alternatively, please get in touch, either on the telephone or via email, and one of our professional (and friendly!) team will be able to help you find suitable, cost-effective cover for your touring caravan.