Guide discussion: Caravan insurance

Former_MSE_Sam_M

Caravan insurance guide.

Click reply below to discuss. If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply. If you aren’t sure how it all works, read our New to Forum? Intro Guide.

duoszle

Just renewed caravan insurance, surprised to find no one could beat my renewal quote from Peacock Insurance (broker), not even any of the comparison sites. Also, when I haggled they knocked off another £20. Good advice and guide from MSE, don't buy a caravan without insurance.

forgotmyname

No mention of the Caravan and Camping Club?

Kevin_Draper

I would advise check the value of your caravan before renewing eg look for price for similar year & condition. This has a direct relationship to your premium and is pointless insuring for more than the insurer would pay out for total loss. Renewal advisers assume same value as last year which is unlikely. I found AA was much more competitive than online comparison sites or CC/CCC. It's also a very good policy covering accidents too.

wallacehome

just a note to let people know to be careful when taking out a "new for old" policy on a caravan. When the insurer asks you how much the caravan is worth you need to tell them the brand new LIST price of the caravan, not what you actually paid the dealer. So if you buy a caravan with a list price of £20k but the dealer gives you a £5k discount as it's 'the last of last years model' you need to insure it for £20k. If in doubt ring the insurer and tell them you don't know how much the list price is, the onus is then on them to work out the full retail price. I found out the hard way when I only got "market value" for my caravan when we wrote it off, my complaint went all the way to the ombudsman but we lost. Caravan insurance is often very vaguely worded in my opinion and it's very easy to take out an expensive policy which the insurer will never pay out on.

renard_2

Ours isn't a towing caravan but a 'mobile home' caravan on a seaside holiday park. The insurance premium is pretty hefty but I can't find anyone more competitive. Many companies insist that the van is anchored to the ground at all four corners, which we neither have nor need.
Please can anyone recommend a reasonably priced but trustworthy insurance company?

dacouch

renard wrote: »

Ours isn't a towing caravan but a 'mobile home' caravan on a seaside holiday park. The insurance premium is pretty hefty but I can't find anyone more competitive. Many companies insist that the van is anchored to the ground at all four corners, which we neither have nor need.
Please can anyone recommend a reasonably priced but trustworthy insurance company?

Try asking neighbooring owners who they're insured with and also try brokers in your local town.

The not being anchored to the ground can be a deal breaker with most Insurers, is it not possible for you to arrange the anchoring

Kevin_Draper

Most car breakdown polices cover you for breakdown when towing, but size limits vary, for example my caravan at 24 ft is too long for RAC.
AA is still cheapest good quality caravan policy for 3rd year in a row for me. Only negative is they won't give you a valuation for what your van is worth, so check around first. Caravan Guard came close after haggling, and they DID give me a valuation.

forgotmyname

24ft long, not an issue with arrival.

And are you measuring the entire length including the A frame? Measure the body only.

Kevin_Draper

Thanks, this is what I read in the RAC t&c for regular breakdown cover...
“caravan”/”trailer” means any caravan or trailer that is less than (a) 3.5 tonnes; (b) 7.0 metres long including a tow bar; and (c) 2.55 metres wide; 24ft is 7.3 metres.

I wanted a good "comprehensive" policy for my caravan, and regular breakdown cover for my car, which would cover me if I break down while towing.

Arrival looks to be something different, more like a specialist caravan breakdown, as you say there is no length limit, BUT you have to be a member of the C&C club which I don't have a use for.

vallumlj

Hi My car gross weight is 1932kg and the kerb weight is 1465kg and the max tow weight is 1600kg

The caravan I like is 1483kg so this puts my kerb weight at 101% will this be legal for insurance?

Thanks