from Caravan Star
Research from a leading price comparison website has found that there are around four thousand caravan parks in the UK and that Brits now own almost half a million touring caravans. With the value of your caravan and its contents running into many thousands of pounds it is vital that you have the right touring caravan insurance for your needs. With so many caravans on the road there is now a range of touring caravan insurance policies on the market and each policy has different features and benefits.
There are several factors which you might find helpful whilst trying to minimise the cost of your touring caravan insurance policy without having to compromise the quality of cover.
Firstly, being a club member can earn you a discount on your premium. Caravan Club membership will give you not only a reduced insurance premium but it may also save you money in other ways, such as reduced site fees. Whilst there is an initial membership cost, this investment could well save you money in the long term.
Secondly, you could consider storing your caravan in a CaSSOA (Caravan Storage Site Owners Association) approved site. CaSSOA approved caravan sites can be awarded either a Bronze, Silver or Gold award if they meet certain security and safety criteria. If you store your caravan on a CaSSOA approved site you can reduce your caravan insurance premium as well as benefiting from the peace of mind that your caravan and valuables are being securely stored.
Caravan owners who store their caravans on their driveway or in the garage with very little security will find they pay higher premiums for their cover.
In addition to ensuring your caravan is stored in a secure place, having certain security devices on your caravan can also help reduce your premium. Most insurance companies will offer a discount if you fit a wheel clamp (or two wheel clamps for twin axle caravans) and a hitch lock. Some insurers will also offer you reduced premiums if an approved tracker system is fitted to your caravan.
Another factor to consider when buying touring caravan insurance is whether you want to take the caravan abroad. Some policies restrict usage to the UK and some include European cover and so you can save money by buying a “UK only” policy if you have no intention of taking your caravan overseas.
There are various other issues that you should also take into account when buying touring caravan insurance that are common to many insurance policies. For example, your number of years ‘no claims’ bonus will affect the cost of your cover as will the excess on your policy (the higher the excess, the lower your premiums but remember in the event of a claim you will have to foot more of the bill). Some companies will also offer a discount if you buy your insurance online.
Your caravan is your pride and joy and so you should ensure you take all these factors into account when choosing the most appropriate and most cost effective touring caravan insurance for your needs.