A lot of consumers believe that their car insurance also covers their caravan. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Your caravan is a separate entity, and should be insured accordingly. Invest in touring caravan insurance so that you can safely enjoy years of leisurely holidays in the future.
Just be sure you read your policy carefully. There are some things which are not covered by your insurance company. Picture a scenario in which you arrive back to your parked caravan after hiking in the hills from your parking site.
As you enter it becomes clear that someone has taken your portable DVD player, wallets with credit cards, and the CD player. Anything not nailed to the frame was hoisted out and you are left looking at a shell bereft of every valuable you brought along for the ride.
You think your insurance company is going to pay for your losses, but they will only cough up the cash if you locked your vehicle beforehand. In the event that you locked up, then the thieves will have had to force entry. If you can show this was the case, then compensation will be forthcoming.
Basic insurance coverage looks after you in the event of lightning, fire, an explosion, and things like that which rarely happen but can be devastating.
In this case you will receive compensation for everything within the caravan, the shell of your vehicle, and also to receive any medical treatment required as a result of burns or other injuries. What you might not be covered for are some very unlikely events.
For example, if you are smart enough not to park near a rushing river bed on a flood plain in spring during your vacation, then flooding will probably not happen to you. Likewise, terrorist acts towards holiday makers on the rural back roads of western countries are unlikely to occur.
A policy will grant a certain value for replacing a caravan if it is destroyed, or when damages exceed the cost of replacement value. Until your vehicle reaches a certain age you will receive the money to buy a brand new one.
Beyond that point, compensation refers to the value of your vehicle at the time it was damaged. You should always check these small details, and also find out whether a trailer or awnings will be covered under your yearly fees.
Add other people in your close family to your policy for the sake of safety. This protects everyone in case you need to switch drivers, and is not necessarily going to cost more money.
When you travel by caravan, the open road beckons. Since the borders of Europe are mainly open, it is easy to hop from country to country, but double check the paperwork from your insurance agent.
You might not be covered if you leave the United Kingdom, and wish to take your holidays to Germany or Italy. If there is coverage for European travel, a few countries are usually excluded in Eastern Europe, so take extra caution that you do not cross those boundaries.
There are a few ways to keep the price of insurance to a minimum. One example applies to most types of policies, not just touring caravan insurance. Set your deductible to the highest rate you can live with.
This could be in the hundreds or the thousands of pounds, but the higher you go, the lower your premiums will be. Ideally, you should get an idea of what the likely damages to your property could be in the locations where you tend to take your vacations, and what it will cost to fix them. If that cost exceeds the penalties to your policy if you make a claim, then you need to set the deductible below this point.
Consequences of making a claim could be that your policy goes up in price. You will really feel this if you have been enjoying a no-claims bonus for some time.
Not making a claim for many years is one way to keep the premiums down, so be careful about jumping into the claim process. Furthermore, always make sure you do not expect your caravan to behave like something sportier.
Forcing this machine to go too fast, or take on terrain that is too bumpy, will negate your insurance coverage. The same thing will happen if you drive while impaired and cause an accident. You will be paying for the damages yourself.
Another important factor which adjustors take into consideration is what steps you have taken to prevent theft and damage. There are approved places to park your caravan which are recognized by insurance companies as especially safe.
If you choose one of these places to store your property between trips, this will be to your benefit. Ensure that your locks are all in good order, and not just flimsy items. Install something that works. Go further than that and install security devices such as an alarm and a wheel lock.
For the times when you take active holidays and are leaving your property unattended for several hours, have lights fitted which are programmed to turn on at particular times to make it appear that someone is inside. These timer switches are simple and inexpensive to install. The addition of a tracking device could also influence the cost of your annual policy.
Although you will, ideally, be able to retrieve the vehicle in this case, even if it is in good shape there will be towing – and perhaps inspection costs – to think about.
Finally, invest in proactive maintenance. Have every part of your caravan checked once each year as a way to prevent damage from occurring. Consumers are penalized for being passive.
During an annual service, your mechanic could spot faulty wiring which might have caused a fire, or perhaps a leaking tap which would have led to interior water damage. Although your policy is likely to provide coverage in the event of such damage, your fees could be reduced if you prove that you are a responsible owner.
