Getting the Right Insurance for Your Caravan

When shopping for insurance, it is essential for you to take a number of factors into consideration. Failure to do so may mean that you do not acquire the right insurance for your caravan.

The primary consideration to make when buying insurance is the cost of the cover. In addition, you will need to understand precisely what you will receive in return for the price that you pay out. If you fail to select adequate insurance cover for your caravan, you could lose the money that you invest in your caravan in the event that it is stolen or accidentally destroyed in some way.

Your chosen caravan insurance policy should include replacement of old for new. It must cover all of the fixtures and fittings, furnishings and contents of the caravan. In the event that these parts of your caravan are stolen or destroyed, you should be presented with replacements at the current market cost of the items. This old for new coverage may only be available on caravans of a certain age. In order to decide whether your chosen caravan insurance policy provides you with adequate coverage, you will need to value the contents of your caravan, in addition to the caravan itself.

In the event that you damage a third party property or injure a person with your caravan, you will require liability insurance coverage. Liability insurance is also required when you rent your caravan to others and an individual is injured during their stay in the caravan.

The cost of caravan insurance policies varies greatly between the different insurance providers. Some caravan dealers offer caravan insurance to those purchasing a caravan from brand new. It is always advisable to compare the cost of caravan insurance online before selecting a caravan policy to purchase. A range of price comparison websites are available to you if you wish to compare the price of caravan insurance. However, you can also compare policy prices by contacting individual insurance companies directly by telephone. Some insurance companies do not advertise on price comparison websites. As such, these companies' policies may need to be investigated separately. Many caravan owners find that they are able to acquire cheap caravan insurance by taking out their insurance policy with an insurance provider that they have used to acquire other types of insurance coverage in the past.

Once you have made comparisons between various insurance quotes, you must pay attention to the small print of the policies. While this may seem like a chore, it is an essential task as this is the section that contains information regarding the exclusions and limitations of the policy. The small print is where the cost of the excess to be paid by yourself when you submit a claim will be detailed. Every caravan insurance provider, including caravan dealers, defines the minimum amount that must be paid out by yourself whenever you file an insurance claim. If you take out an insurance policy associated with a costly excess, you will benefit from reduced cost monthly insurance premiums.

All About Touring Caravan Insurance

"The world is your oyster." That's something that's said a lot when it comes to travelling. And to an extent it's true, but it's even truer when it comes to touring in a caravan. It literally is a case of the open road; it's possible to pitch up literally anywhere, as travellers are not confined by the restrictions of public transport and accommodation.

However, it's still important to have protection. Things can, and do go wrong with caravans, and that's why touring caravan insurance has to be taken out. This is something that's as important as personal travel insurance.

What is touring Caravan Insurance?

This type of insurance is just a type of caravan insurance. The only difference is that touring caravans are caravans that move. They are the caravans commonly seen driving down the motorway whilst attached to the back of another vehicle. Static caravans, the other type of caravan, are the type of vehicle that stays right where it is. It doesn't move anywhere and is usually protected on a designated camp site.

Most of these policies will offer cover for trips around Europe, so when a relaxing tour of Normandy is on the cards, then the caravan owner doesn't have to worry about taking out another policy. They also cover conventional things such as liability and damage cover.

What Does a Normal Policy Cover?

• Touring caravan insurance policies will nearly always provide cover for any damage caused to the caravan, or any of the contents inside of it. This includes any damage caused by fire, floods, storms, theft, or accidental damage.

• Around £2 million to £5 million is provided in indemnity insurance, so if a legal case is brought up by a third party, the insurance company will cover any legal costs.

• European cover, enabling touring caravans to go into Europe whenever they want.

However, it should be noted that other continents usually require a personalised policy as this is not generally provided as standard.

Most policies also offer a range of optional extras, plus the opportunity to specify the level for your claim excess.

Lowering Insurance Premiums

Travelling around the UK or Europe in a caravan is designed to be a relaxing experience, but it's more enjoyable if you know your caravan is fully protected, and that you haven't had to pay an extortionate premium for peace of mind, with your caravan insurance. The good thing is that travellers can reduce their touring caravan insurance costs by doing some of the following:

• There are discounts on most insurance policies if no claims are made; up to 15% could be saved straight away.

• Add security devices on to the caravan. This will protect it against theft, and will make it easier to recover a lost caravan if it is stolen.

• Have a clean driving record. If the driver is safer, then there's going to be a lower chance of having an accident. Although this might not be viable for some people, every little helps. Even if the driver hasn't had an accident in just five years, the discounts will still provide some value.

• Join a caravan club. Some have negotiated preferential rates for members, whilst others offer their own club insurance.

Caravan Insurance - What Is Public Liability And Why Do We Need It?

One of the most important though overlooked aspects of caravan insurance is the need to have public liability cover. This is part of most caravan insurance packages for a limit of up to £2 million for an incident involving your caravan which you are deemed liable for.

This cover is particularly important given the current climate where "suing" is almost second nature with the accident firms that exist with their "no win, no fee" adverts. We have all seen the adverts on television and it is a booming business, so your own protection is always a good idea.

The insurance that you have will cover any amounts you have to legally pay for things such as accidental bodily injury, accidental loss or damage to property that arises from your ownership of the caravan.

As an example, if your caravan was to cause damage on a site to another caravan, this cover is provided for exactly this type of incident. For static caravans the site that you are on will generally request that you hold this cover for at least £2 million and will ask to see a copy of your insurance certificate to prove it and will keep this on file for their records. This information is normally stated on your insurance schedule and a full explanation of the cover is within your policy booklet. It is also very important for you to keep these things with you when you are touring around or whilst you are on site with your static van.

Some insurers will automatically extend to include European cover, which is generally the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands), the European Union, Norway and Switzerland, and the public liability, although this is not always the case. The public liability extends to these geographical limits but it is always best to check your cover in advance to ensure adequate protection.

Another major point to consider is that, despite many assumptions and misconceptions to the contrary, public liability on the road is actually covered by your car insurance and not by your caravan insurer. This is because your car insurance is a legal obligation and will cover you for damage you cause to other vehicles, bodily injury to others etc, again, typical limits of £2 million or £5 million.

Any damage caused to your caravan or contents, however, is covered. For example if your van was damaged or scraped by another vehicle your insurer will provide specific cover for these eventualities. It has to be said that, occasionally sometimes automobile insurance providers may incorrectly advise their customers that the caravan insurer should provide the public liability cover when towing, forgetting that there is no rule in law that makes caravan insurance compulsory.

Caravan Insurance Methods to Save the Most Money

Look around the UK and you will find tons of Britons that own caravans. They utilise them to take holidays any time there is a little free time. It might only be for a day or a weekend, but it's enough to get away from the daily stresses and relax. Unfortunately there are unexpected events that can occur during one of these trips.

If you don't have the proper cover then there is a good chance the holiday will be cut short and there will be additional costs coming out of your own pocket. So it's important to find the right cover, but we understand the need to save money at the same time. Here are a few tips to help you keep your premiums down and enjoy every moment of your trip.

#1 Think about Security: Security devices are a great way to help you save additional money on the overall premium. The amount of savings depends on the type of device that is attached to the caravan. The goal of the insurance agency is to find out what type of risk is involved for this actually happening. The lower the risk the more money you're going to receive.

One thing to keep in mind is that more is not better. They are going to base everything off the best deterrent against potential thieves. So don't spend tons of money on different security devices in hopes of a bigger discount.

#2 Search for a Policy Online: Even though local agencies can provide discounts and policies, the majority of them can't hold a candle to all the online opportunities. In fact, some of your local establishments probably have better prices online. Why? Well, because of the vast amount of competition it brings the overall prices down. When their is an oversupply then the demand won't be as large, which translates into better savings for you. You can find discounts for purchasing something through the Internet, not filing claims, or even being considered a loyal customer.

#3 Use Websites that Compare Prices: Some people believe these are only used to cut down on the research time. While they do save tons of time searching through various websites, the main goal is to find the best deal and actually save you the most money. So you're really killing two birds with one stone here when it comes to finding the best caravan insurance plan.

Don't forget about the second tip after the comparison site offers up different options. Taking a look at each one might allow you to find additional savings along the way.

Do you need a Policy Today?: Well, since you're here looking over all your options we imagine you need caravan insurance in the near future. Taking advantage of comparison sites give you the opportunity to get a quote today, look over the information, and have a policy that is effective right after your purchase. Add in the fact that it can be done within an hour and you can easily have a new plan today.

Caravan Insurance - Some Crucial Information About The General Conditions

We all know the old saying when dealing with financial products that you should "check the fine print" and this can also be extended to caravan insurance, after all these are contracts of law and the potential pitfall of not complying or understanding policy conditions can be very costly.

Caravan insurance, like many others, normally consists of a general policy wording (which applies to all policyholders) and a schedule of insurance which notes the specifics of you as the policyholder, the basis of the contract, your personal and caravan details and any specific endorsements (conditions that you need to comply) applicable to you.

There are basic conditions that would apply to any insurance contract, such as taking all reasonable steps possible to reduce the amount of a loss (effectively if you damage the van you can organise necessary urgent repairs as this will reduce the size of the claim), and if the claim is in any way fraudulent or exaggerated then the cover could be cancelled from the start of the claim declined.

There are also conditions that are applied by different caravan insurers, for example most insurers have security requirements. This can vary from the basic hitch-lock and wheel clamp, to alarms and trackers on higher value vans. Most insurers will insist that if the caravan is left unattended (that being if all of the people in the towing vehicle) and detached then there must be wheel clamp and/or a hitch lock attached to the van. If the van is left unattended whilst attached (say at a service station when you get out to have a coffee) then the general security is to ask for a wheel clamp to be attached.

It is important to check your policy conditions in respect of security, as insurers can decline claims if this is not complied with. Many insurers ask for trackers on certain makes and values of caravans, as an example Hobby Caravans have been difficult to insure in the recent past due to a high theft risk.

Another important note is that if you have an awning you must not leave it up unless the caravan is in use, as in you need to be holidaying with the caravan. The reason behind this is that awnings are not steady and not designed to withstand wintry and stormy conditions.

Almost every insurer exerts an excess into the policies, that being an amount that is deducted from the final claim amount, typically £100. When a claim is settled this figure would automatically be removed from the total.

Insurers would also have, if contents are added onto the policy, a single item limit similar to household insurance. This means that the insurer will not pay more than the agreed amount, typically £250 for the item. Regarding contents, all insurers deduct an amount for wear and tear and to take account of the drop in value.

It must be noted that the above is not an exhaustive list and we will be back with more important points very soon!