Caravan owners need to be sensible when considering touring caravan insurance, to avoid the risk of costing themselves money. It is very wise to cover the caravan, regardless of the fact that insurance is not a legal requirement. 3,000 caravans are stolen annually in the UK, a fact to make you stop and think. This article will point you in the right direction to make sure you are adequately protected should you have cause to claim.
There are two primary elements to finding the right insurance for your touring caravan, coverage and price. Buying the cheapest available could prove to be false economy, as you may not be covered to adequate levels and/or some important elements may not be included. Once you know what you need covered, you should make sure you search around for the cheapest suitable policy.
The key to finding the cheapest touring caravan insurance is to do your research online. The internet provides a wealth of easily accessible information that makes life a whole lot easier when looking for your next insurance policy. Many of the specialist caravan insurance companies have a web presence, so there is a wealth of choice available.
Shopping around is the way to make sure you get the best price, as with any shopping. You may well find that you end up paying over the odds if you don’t ask for quotes from several providers. Another great thing about buying a policy online is that there is almost always a discount provided. As mentioned earlier you should be aware of you require from a touring caravan insurance policy, as there are several elements to consider.
One of the primary decisions you need to make is whether to opt for ‘New for Old’ or ‘Market Value’ cover. New for Old means, as you would expect, that you will be provided with a new model of your existing caravan. This is normally only applicable for caravans up to five years old. Older caravans will only be covered for Market Value which, as you would expect, is the amount you would need to buy a like for like replacement for your caravan.
Continental insurance is another element that needs to be considered before plumping for a policy. If you don’t take your caravan abroad then you don’t need it, but if you do, you should make sure you are covered for a long enough period. The amount of continental coverage can vary quite widely between policies, so this should be checked.
Be careful when considering insurance for your personal effects, as a variety of items are often excluded from touring caravan insurance. Jewellery will not be covered, but you may find it is covered on your household insurance. You need to check what a policy will exclude, check if it will be covered on your other insurances, and if not consider whether you require some alternative insurance.
An eventuality that should be considered is the question of alternative accommodation in the event that your caravan was to become uninhabitable whilst you were away in it. Many policies do include such protection, but you need to make sure that you are adequately protected should it become necessary.
When buying touring caravan insurance there are a number of ways of reducing the premiums. If you join a caravan club you will find that the insurers will reduce the amount they charge to insure the caravan. Things like axle locking devices, alarms and tracking devices, which provide added security are the other main way of reducing the cost.
Clearly there is some effort up front required to make sure you get the cheapest and best caravan insurance for your needs. The alternative of going for the first insurance you find is that you may end up with a wholly inadequate and overpriced policy. What the time and effort will bring you however is a touring caravan insurance policy that gives you peace of mind.
As a founder of touring caravan insurance website Caravan Insurance Cover, Carl Way regularly provides valuable information about touring caravan insurance online.