How to protect your touring caravan with a comprehensive insurance policy.
Owning your own caravan provides you with the opportunity to enjoy spur of the moment, affordable holidays with the flexibility to travel wherever you please. So while covering your touring caravan with an insurance policy is not a legal requirement, protecting such a valuable asset against unforeseen events does make sense.
Insurance policies tailored to meet the unique needs of touring caravan owners are available. Most policies cover your caravan for loss and damage due to theft, vandalism, fire or flood as well as provide liability protection and cover for caravan equipment (i.e. awnings and security devices). Many providers offer the option to cover your personal belongings whilst stored in the caravan (i.e. clothes, bedding etc) however this is often at an additional cost so it is advisable to check whether this is already covered by your home insurance policy before committing.
Many insurance providers offer new for old cover for towing caravans under five years old. This protection applies if your caravan is stolen or damaged beyond repair and means that as long as you are adequately insured, the insurance company will replace your caravan with a new one. If your caravan is over five years old you will usually be reimbursed with its current market value in this instance.
When taking out a touring caravan insurance policy it is important to choose a level of cover that is sufficient to replace all of your caravan equipment as well as the caravan itself should the worst happen. This is because insurance companies will only pay out the maximum amount you are insured for even if the actual cost of replacement is much greater.
It is important to compare the benefits of the cover provided with the way in which you use your caravan. For insurance if you plan to travel abroad during the insurance period you should check whether European cover is provided, whether there are any restrictions placed on the length or number of trips you take, whether overseas crossings are covered and whether there are any restrictions on the countries that you can visit.
Whether you travel in the UK or abroad, if you plan to venture far from home you should check that transportation to and from an appropriate repair centre is covered should your caravan become damaged. Additionally, many policies also pay out for alternative accommodation if your caravan cannot be used; this can be a useful backup.
Most caravan policies include third party liability cover which is designed to protect you financially if damage is sustained to either persons or property as a direct result of your caravan. It is important to be aware that this cover is not likely to be applicable if your caravan is being towed or becomes detached at speed so you should check that these eventualities are covered by your car insurance.
You will need to check the 'assumptions' that your insurance provider makes with regards to where and how your caravan should be kept in order for the insurance to be valid. Many require you to keep your caravan in an 'approved location' while not in use. This is often within a certain distance of your home, on a private, secured caravan park or in a protected caravan storage compound. Additionally, when in use basic security measures such as hitchlocks and wheelclamps are often required as a minimum.
It is important to comply with the 'assumptions' specified by your insurance company as your policy may otherwise be deemed invalid. However, on the plus side many companies offer discounts for additional security measures such as alarms or tracking devices as these significantly reduce the risk of theft and/or recovery from theft. Many also offer the opportunity to build a no claims discount on your caravan cover.
By matching the level and details of an insurance policy with the way in which you use your touring caravan, you can be confident that you and your caravan will be protected against the unforeseen.
