Cover your caravan

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Updated:

 

The fair-weather touring caravanners brushing the cobwebs off their vehicle and testing brakes, lights and tyres should also check their insurance policies.

Caravanning is an expensive hobby. A top-of-the-range model with mod cons such as central heating and a shower can cost £25,000. A high-quality secondhand caravan can cost £4,000.

Owners need to be sure they will be recompensed if the caravan is damaged in an accident, storm or flood.

They should also insure against goods being stolen from the caravan or the vehicle itself being stolen.

More than 3,000 caravans are stolen each year. Many disappear from lonely unguarded sites, but at this time of year many caravans, loaded ready for trips, disappear from driveway.

Caravanners also need to make sure they are insured for third-party liability should their caravan hurt someone or damage property.

If a caravan causes damage while attached to a car, or if it has come loose from a car, the driver's motor insurance comes into play. But damage caused while on a site - for example, if it rolls away - comes under caravan insurance.

Lewis Johnston, director of Coyle Hamilton Insurance Brokers - whose caravan policies are endorsed by the caravan trade body the National Caravan Council - says policyholders should think hard about their contents cover.

'Caravan policies may not pay out for stolen contents that are unconnected with caravanning. Jewellery, fishing rods and golf clubs should be insured under household policies. Caravanners without an adequate home insurance policy can buy add-on cover.'

The Caravan Club offers a scheme to members. Spokeswoman Lesley Coell warns that some insurers may impose onerous security conditions for laid-up caravans. Policyholders not complying may well invalidate their policy.

'Some insurers demand that the caravan is parked on a guarded site. Others insist it is immobilised with a wheel clamp or hitch lock whenever it is left unattended and also unattached.

'Our policies are not cheap, but we offer wide protection. If policyholders are sure they can make do with less protection, we can then offer trimmed-down cover.'

It has a standard policy, paying the market value of a caravan, and a super policy, paying replacement value.

Super cover on a £10,000 caravan with £2,300 of contents specifically used for caravanning costs £387 a year, coming down to £309 with a three-year noclaims bonus.

Insurance for static caravans can be one-third of the cost of a tourer.

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