Touring caravan insurance
Policies for touring caravans, folding campers and trailer tents
Cover for contents and awnings
Static caravan insurance
Compare policies for static caravans
Cover for fixtures & fittings
Caravan insurance explained
Do you need caravan insurance?
It is a legal requirement that all vehicles on the roads must be insured and caravans are no exception. Policies can vary widely depending on the level of cover you take out, and you should examine the terms and conditions carefully for exclusions – circumstances in which you will not be covered.
Types of caravan insurance
There are three main types of caravan insurance:
Touring caravan insurance – Typical features include new for old cover, so that if your caravan is under an age limit and fulfils certain requirements it may be replaced with a brand new model if it is stolen or written off; and European cover for trips overseas. Your touring caravan will not normally be covered if it is used as a place of trade.
Static caravan insurance – For caravans fixed in one location, such as those usually located at holiday parks. Theft of contents will not normally be covered unless there is forced entry.
Trailer tent and folding camper insurance – This will typically include new for old cover, European cover, cover for year-round touring and storage and cover for weather damage to awnings. Exclusions may include mildew and vermin damage and cover for personal effects.Choosing the right caravan insurance company
When determining which caravan insurance deal is right for you, look beyond price alone and consider what cover is offered. – for example, are you protected against the caravan being stolen, storm damage and accidental damage? Consider whether you want personal effects to be covered as part of the policy, as well as awnings, and whether you need cover for travelling overseas. Once you have decided on the features that are important to you, compare quotes online to find the right deal to suit your needs.
For more information, read our caravan insurance guide.
Lowering caravan insurance premiums
Some caravan insurance companies will lower their premiums if you take steps to improve the security of your caravan. For example you could fit a Thatcham-approved alarm, immobiliser or tracker device, use mechanical devices such as wheel clamps and hitch locks, fit security tags and use corner steady locks to lock down the rear corner of touring caravans. Consult your insurer about which security devices earn the largest discounts before you buy.
Caravan insurance explained
Buying a caravan is a big investment. A good insurance policy is essential not only to protect your investment, but to satisfy the legal requirement that all vehicles on the roads or highways must be insured. For this reason, we've compiled a short guide to help you make a more informed choice when buying caravan insurance.
So what is caravan insurance?
There are three main types of caravan insurance:
Touring caravan insurance – for caravans that are towed behind another vehicle
Static caravan insurance – for caravans that are fixed in one place, for example at a holiday park
Trailer tent and folding camper insurance
Touring caravan insurance
The main features are:
New for old cover - if your caravan is under a certain age limit (every insurer has its own age limits, typically between 5 and 10 years) and fulfils certain criteria, you can insure it so that if anything happens to it, for example it is stolen and not recovered, you will get a new caravan as a replacement
European cover - usually 90 days free cover in Europe, and you will need to take evidence of your insurance with you on your trip. Some countries will fine you or confiscate your vehicle if you don’t have the correct documentation
Cover when your caravan is being used by family and friends in the UK
Third party or public liability cover - usually up to £2,000,000
Contents and personal effects cover
Fatal injury cover
There are some common exclusions (things your policy doesn't cover and so your insurer won't pay out for) on both touring and static caravan insurance policies, such as:
Your caravan being used as a permanent residence or for any trade, business or profession
Wear and tear, deterioration and gradually operating causes including insect and vermin damage
Mechanical or electrical breakdown
Theft of contents unless there is forced entry or exit from the caravan
Trailer tent and folding camper insurance
Typically covers:
New for old cover - if your trailer tent or folding camper is under a certain age limit (every insurer has its own age limits, typically between 5 and 10 years) and fulfils certain criteria, you can insure it so that if anything happens to it, for example it is stolen and not recovered, you will get a new trailer tent or folding camper as a replacement
European cover - usually 90 days free cover in Europe
Year round touring and storage
Third party or public liability cover – usually up to £2,000,000
Fatal accident benefit
Weather damage to awnings
Cover when your caravan is being used by family and friends in the UK
Exclusions:
Mildew and vermin damage
Personal effects, audio and visual cover
For more information on motorhome insurance, please read our motorhome insurance guide.
What should I look for in a caravan insurance policy?
It's important that you protect your investment against certain risks, such as being stolen, storm damage and accidental damage.
Most insurers provide new for old cover for caravans under five years old. This means that if your caravan is stolen and not recovered, or damaged beyond repair, your insurer will replace it with a new van. Make sure you include the cost of replacing kit such as awnings, security systems and gas bottles when you take out new for old cover.
Security is an important factor to an insurer and most give a discount for security features like alarms and immobilisers, axle locks, wheel clamps and trackers.
If you have an awning, you will need storm damage cover. Check before you buy as some policies exclude storm damage to awnings.
If you plan on travelling in Europe your insurance policy should include European cover. This gives you the same level of insurance cover that you have in the UK when you travel in Europe. Most insurers will give you 90 days free cover as standard, you may then have to pay for further cover.
You may want to include personal effects cover on your policy. This will cover you if you take anything with you from home on your holiday.
If your caravan is stolen and not recovered or it gets so damaged it can’t be used, it would be handy to have emergency accommodation expenses cover. You would get a set amount of money for a defined number of days (for example £50 for 10 days) to cover some of the cost of alternative accommodation.
Caravan security and your insurance
As good security can mean a big discount on your caravan insurance, we've put together some info on caravan security to help you decide what would be best for your caravan.
Mechanical devices such as wheel clamps and hitch locks (covers your tow bar to stop thieves hitching your caravan to their vehicle) are a visible deterrent which make thieves think twice about stealing a caravan, and are a must for most insurers. Make sure your security device has 'Sold Secure' approval, this is the industry standard for mechanical security devices
Corner steady locks lock down the rear corner of touring caravans so the front can't be raised and hitched to a thief's vehicle
Thatcham approved alarms and immobilisers fitted by a professional installer offer good protection for your caravan. Thatcham provide the industry standard for safety and quality for alarms and immobilisers
A tracker is a device fitted to your caravan to show where it is if it is stolen. It helps to recover your caravan quickly and minimise the damage that may otherwise be done to it. The tracker is linked to a control centre who will notify the police of your caravan's location if it is stolen
Tagging your caravan can help it be recovered more quickly if it is stolen. Tags are placed in a caravan and can be scanned by the police if they suspect it has been stolen. A well known tagging scheme is the CRIS (Caravan Registration and identification Scheme)
You might want to consider investing in a locking drive or hitch post or locked gates to improve security when your caravan is stored at home; insurers will often give a discount for additional security
If you leave anything of any value in your caravan, make sure you security mark each item with your postcode. Remember, the more you have on show in your caravan, the more appealing it will look to the opportunist thief
Take pictures of both the inside and outside of your caravan so if it is stolen you can show the police to make identification of your caravan easier
