Insurance Checker

Do I need touring caravan insurance?

Insuring your touring caravan under a specific policy is not a legal requirement in the UK, as most car insurance policies will cover you to tow a trailer on your policy on a third party basis. However, this cover will not extend to repairing any damage caused to your caravan in an accident. Nor will it replace your caravan should it be stolen or damaged by fire. If youve invested your savings in the caravan of your dreams, its a good idea to take out specialist cover should the worst happen.A specialist touring caravan insurance policy provides peace of mind for caravan owners. You should expect benefits such as all risks cover all year round for touring and storage, public liability cover, European cover and emergency accommodation expenses. A lot of policies will also give the option to insure your caravan on a new for old basis where by you will receive a brand new replacement for your caravan should it be stolen or damaged beyond economic repair.There are many insurance companies offering caravan insurance, but their policy benefits vary. It is therefore, important to contact several companies and check with each individual insurer what is included in the cover before taking out a policy. Often, if the premium seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Top Tips For Securing Your Caravan – Part 2

Approved Security Devices

When shopping for security devices, you may be more likely to make a saving on your caravan insurance if you opt for those that have been put through rigorous testing for their effectiveness and durability.

You will be able to identify quality mechanical products, as they will be marked as Sold Secure approved. Electronic devices, such as alarms, immobilisers and tracking devices, are often Thatcham approved.

Storage

If youre lucky enough to have space at home for your caravan, this can often be the safest place to store it when its not in use. Remember to invest in additional security such as a locking gate, drive post or even a heavy-duty chain to help prevent the caravan from being stolen.

If you opt for a caravan storage site, look for one through the Caravan Storage Site Owners Association (CaSSOA) as they regulate storage site standards and can give you a better idea of the security and service you will be getting for your money.

Documents

Its often tempting to leave the caravan registration documents in a safe place, such as inside the caravan itself. However, this is not advisable, as any thief would then have the owners documents making it easier to sell the caravan to unsuspecting buyers.

Records

If your caravan is stolen, it may look like any other caravan to the police. Therefore, you can make identification easier by keeping a photographic record of the caravan from all angles and all its distinctive features or personal touches.

Valuables

This is probably the most common sense top tip remove all valuables from the caravan when not in use, especially if leaving your caravan in storage. Any valuables left in the caravan could tempt the would-be thief to break in to steel your property, damaging your caravan in the process.

Visit our caravan insurance website for more information.

Caravan Safety Tips

Caravans are safe. Statistics prove it. Caravan accidents are extremely rare and the number of accidents has gone down every year for the last ten years at least. Caravans provide enjoyment for thousands of families on millions of holidays and breaks every year. Campers and caravanners provide jobs and bring money to holiday destinations. Yet every year caravans come under attack from those who think they should be banned from the roads totally and those who believe that caravanners cannot be trusted to maintain their units properly. It is no accident that caravans are so safe. Whether you camp in a caravan, trailer tent, or tent, if you tow any sort of trailer you must ensure that your combination is correctly matched.
Before you think about taking to the road you should ensure that your car and trailer combination are correctly matched and equipped. In order to continue safely, regular servicing is important. Some checks need carrying out every trip and a caravan certainly needs a main service once a year. Some simple checks you can do yourself but we believe unless you are sure you know what you are doing, most jobs are best left to a professional engineer. Below, we take you through some of the important things you should consider.
TOW BAR
A well fitted and maintained tow bar is vital for safety. It is the only connection between car and motor home. Make sure that bolts are tightened to the recommended torque figure and that there is no cracking or rusting around the mounting points.
TYRES
The only contact your car and caravan or motor home has with the road is through the tyres. Look after them and you will improve the safety and behaviour of your unit. Never mix cross ply with radials on the same axle. Check the pressures and condition of tyres every trip. You will find correct pressures detailed in your handbook. Before setting out check that the caravan wheel nuts are tight. Ensure wheel trims are replaced securely.
BRAKES
Brakes are life and death components. Maintenance is best left to properly trained engineers. Its worth keeping an eye on your brake mechanism and cables, if you have any doubts have them checked. Always connect the breakaway cable or secondary coupling to a separate mounting point and not the tow ball. The purpose of this cable is not as you may think to keep the car and caravan
together in the event of a tow bar failure. The cable pulls on the caravan brakes, snaps and allows the car to run free of the stopped caravan.
ELECTRICS
The road lights on your trailer are operated from the tow car through the 12N socket and plug. Check indicators and lights are working in unison with the car each time you set off. A dashboard display or warning bleeper must be fitted inside the tow vehicle to show that the trailer traffic indicators are working.
SUSPENSION
Check the condition of both car and trailer suspension. Its important for safety as well as comfort. When your motor home is attached to your vehicle it should tow level or slightly nose down but never nose up. If you find that the far rear sags you may need some form of suspension aid. Get specialist advice on the type required for your car from your car dealer.
MIRRORS
When towing you must have an adequate view of the road behind and along both sides of your caravan. Generally this will mean you will need additional towing mirrors. In either case, make sure your mirrors are adjusted appropriately.
COUPLING
Before starting off ensure that the jockey wheel and all steadies are raised and secured. Make sure that the coupling head on the trailer has engaged properly on to the tow ball. Now you have ensured your outfit is properly maintained and equipped ready for the road, here is some advice on matching your car to your Caravan.
TRAILER WEIGHT
Most information sources recommend that the loaded weight of your caravan should not exceed 85 per cent of the kerbweight of your car. Experienced towers sometimes go a little higher but they should never exceed the kerbweight given in the car handbook.
NOSEWEIGHT
This is the weight that you put on the tow ball of your vehicle and is typically between 50 and 100kgs. For stability the noseweight should be as heavy as possible, which is generally around seven per cent of the actual laden weight of the caravan. Adjust the loading around the axle to ensure that the caravans noseweight does not exceed the caravans coupling or the cars noseweight limit.
PAYLOAD
Payload is the weight of the items that you are allowed to carry in your caravan for personal use. You will find the figure in the handbook. Check the loading of your caravan periodically on a public weighbridge to make sure you arent exceeding the total weight allowed. Manufacturers call this the gross weight or the maximum technically permissible mass. Your car and caravan, when weighed together must not exceed the towing vehicles trainweight.
VEHICLE LENGTH
Towing a caravan or motor home is no more difficult than driving solo providing that you are aware of the length of your unit. There is no reason why your trailer should not dutifully follow your car but you will need to allow more time and space to stop safely, overtake and corner under control.
SPEED
Watch your speed. With a load on the back, acceleration will be slower. You will need more time and space for overtaking. Your combination is longer and wider than your car alone so you will need to take this into consideration before pulling out. Stopping distances will be longer so allow more space between the car in front as your speed increases.
HILL STARTS
Hill starts need more throttle than normal to get going and you will need delicate clutch control to avoid stalling.
BRAKING
When towing it will take you an average of 20 per cent more distance to stop. Antilock braking systems may improve on this a little. Always avoid violent braking.
INSTABILITY
Snaking is the most common form of instability and is often due to bad loading or excessive speed or incorrect tyre pressures. However, even with well matched units snaking can occur when air from passing lorries or coaches affects your unit. Vertical instability is called pitching and can occur if you hit a pothole.
In either case dont apply your brakes hard. Slow down gradually by easing off the accelerator. A stabiliser may help to avoid instability but must not be a replacement for good car and caravan matching or weight distribution.

Insurance
Theft continues to plague our caravan industry so it is important to get good Caravan Insurance. Several insurers will not provide theft cover on caravans unless certain security measures or other conditions are met Club Care will provide cover with merely a higher excess which is known at the outset of the policy. It is no wonder more people are looking to Club Care for their caravan insurance

How to Choose Your Caravan Insurance

caravan insurance is an essential part of protecting your valuable asset. A caravan gives you the open road to explore, provides you with a way to get away from the hectic life you live and, it helps you create a unique way of life for your family. It also needs insurance protection to keep it providing this to you. When you insure your caravan, look for an insurance provider that offers the highest level of coverage to you and is well known for being able to provide quality, reliable service.

Having the right type of caravan insurance is essential. You may require two key types. One type of insurance is Touring Caravan or Trailer insurance. This type of insurance is the most commonly used as it is used for all types of caravans that are mobile or moved. The second is for onsite caravan protection. On site caravan insurance is designed for those caravans that do not move and are permanently at your site.

Coverage Under Caravan Insurance:

In Touring Caravan or Trailer Insurance, the premiums you pay will be based on a moving vehicle. This type of insurance is right for folding trailers, campers, demountable camper units, and slide on campers as well as horse floats. This type of insurance provides for coverage based on the agreed value of the caravan. It usually provides protection of all types when you are on the road or off, but is limited to use within Australia. Your basic policy will include a small amount of cover for the contents of your caravan, but you may want to consider adding additional value onto the policy here to cover your contents based on what you have in it. Most policies also provide you with temporary accommodations when you cannot stay in your caravan.

With on location caravan coverage, instead of motor vehicle insurance, you possess more of a home kind of insurance protection. This kind of protection gives many similar advantages, though. For example, the caravan insurance will be based on an agreed value that is fixed upfront. A majority will give you standard caravan content insurance however this could be a minimal number especially for static locations.

Questions for Your Provider:

When getting caravan insurance, it is essential to consider the costs of the plan but also the amount of covered provided to you. Not all things are inclusive in many of these policies. Be clear with your insurance provider on what is included and what is not.

* What is covered under the comprehensive motor coverage? Areas like accidental damage, fire, flood, keys, liability, storms, theft, vandalism and glass damage are usually included.

* What is not covered? In most situations, the cost of hiring a motor vehicle will not be covered, accidents outside of Australia will not be covered, and accidents that happen because of road cuts, punctures, bursts or braking will not be covered. Most policies provide do not cover mechanical failures either.

* How do you file a claim?

* What method is used to calculate the value of the caravan to determine the amount of cover needed?

Get a good overview of what is available from the company and choose the best policy for you from there.

Ways to Save on Caravan Insurance:

The best way to save on caravan insurance is to shop around and get quotes from several insurance companies to compare. This process only takes a few extra minutes, but will provide you with a clear picture on the real needs you have and the costs out there.

Most insurance providers offer discounts for no claims for an extended amount of time. Also, premiums are often reduced for those who are over the age of 55, which can help you to get a much lower payment.

Beware Before Signing:

With all insurance policies, know what the policy covers and what it does not. Spend some time talking to several insurance companies to find the best rates available.

Additional Coverage to Consider:

With caravan insurance, there are various types of protection available to you to add to the policy. One of the most important areas to consider is not just getting additional types of cover but getting more of it. Contents are generally covered by the basic policy at about $1,000, but this may not be high enough. Also, think over what types of events are covered by your contents insurance.

In addition to this, you may want to consider Hire Car Cover, which will provide you with protection to pay hire car costs. This policy is generally an add-on to the original and basic policy.

Windscreen Option is an additional option which can be added on to your caravan insurance. If you have a windscreen or window glass incident, and that is the only area that has been damaged, the insurance policy will provide you with replacement costs or repairing costs.

Static Caravan Insurance Factors

Purchasing static caravan insurance can be complex. Most often, insurance providers have a slew of questions to ask of you to determine what the best rate for the insurance will be. If you look at it from the point of view of the insurance provider, they need to assess the risks associated with your vehicle. Anything you can do to reduce those risks will help to decrease your costs. Before you actually request a quote for static caravan insurance coverage, know how to answer the typical questions that insurers have.
Often, the first question and the primary factor in determining the cost of the insurance is the value of the caravan. The amount of coverage you obtain should be equal to, and not less, than the amount you owe to a lender or at least the value of the caravan itself. In this situation, if you were to lose the caravan completely, what would be the cost of replacing the vehicle? More so, if you need content coverage for the interior of the static caravan, insurance providers need to know the worth of the contents. The coverage amount is the largest factor in the cost of the insurance.
In addition to this, the risk of something happening to the vehicle is also important. Here, you want to do everything you can to reduce risk.
Are there any security features on the static caravan? Security alarms, for example, would help to protect the caravan and therefore reduce the risk to the insurance provider.
Where is the caravan? If you have the caravan in an area that has a particularly high crime rate, the risk is higher that something will happen to it. This raises the costs substantially. In addition, if the caravan is in an area where it is gated and monitored, this reduces the risks to the insurance provider.
Has the static caravan been covered or modified in any way? Depending on the changes made, this may reduce or increase the costs.
As you can imagine, there are many thingsfor astatic caravan insurance check. It is an understanding that you need to be honest and upfront with your caravan provider to ensure that the caravan will have proper coverage in case there is a problem. The better protected it is, the better protected you are financially should something unplanned occur to the caravan.