Since the COVID-19 pandemic, staycations have become increasingly popular. Confusing travel restrictions have made UK holidays much more attractive to Brits, with 28 per cent of travellers saying they’d rather holiday at home than abroad and dealerships selling more caravans and motorhomes to first-time buyers in 2020 than ever before.
If you’re considering buying a motorhome, touring caravan or static caravan to go on holiday in the UK, one of the things to think about is what insurance you’ll need. Insurance may not be the most exciting consideration when planning your holiday, but it’s wise to think about how you’d be protected if something went wrong.
In this article, we’re going to focus on static caravan insurance. However, there are a wide range of other policies available, depending on the type of holiday home you have.
What do I need to get a static caravan insurance quote?
When shopping around for a static caravan insurance quote, you’ll usually need to provide your personal details, the make and model of your caravan, its year of manufacture, how you use it, where it’s kept and what security measures are in place.
You may also need to disclose the length and width of your static caravan, how many bedrooms it has, the value of your caravan and its contents and details about the caravan park or site.
Continue reading to find out more about static caravan insurance.
What is the price of static caravan insurance?
How much you pay for your static caravan insurance depends on several factors, such as:
- The type of cover you choose
- The age of your caravan
- The size of your caravan
- How much your caravan and its contents are worth
- Your claims history
How can I reduce my static caravan premium?
While it’s important to remember that the cheapest quote isn’t always the best (as you may not be adequately covered), there are some measures you can take to try to reduce the cost of your static caravan insurance. Some of these are as follows:
- Opt for a smaller, cheaper caravan — If you haven’t yet bought your static caravan, consider going for something smaller and cheaper, as, in most cases, the bigger the caravan, the more you’ll have to pay to insure it.
- Keep your caravan on a secure site — You may be able to reduce your premium by keeping your caravan on a secure site. Sites that are Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSOA) approved could get you a further discount.
- Make sure it’s anchored down securely — Check that your static caravan is anchored down securely at all four corners underneath the chassis to prevent a storm from blowing it off its plot.
- Install additional security — Installing window locks, CCTV, burglar alarms, wheel clamps and hitch locks is another way to pay less for your static caravan insurance.
- Minimise the risk of fire — Keep a fire extinguisher and fire blanket in your van to reduce the risk of fire damage.
- Change the way you pay — You might be able to keep costs down by paying your premium in one lump sum, instead of monthly instalments.
- Don’t pay for added extras — Read the policy wording carefully so you can be sure you’re not paying for extras you don’t need.
- Use your no-claims discount — If you’ve built up a no-claims bonus, you’ll usually get a better quote if you mention it to your insurer or broker.
- Join a club — Some providers give discounts to members of clubs like the Camping and Caravanning Club and the Caravan and Motorhome Club.
- Shop around for quotes — The best way to do this is to go through a broker like A-Plan, as they have access to a wide range of specialist insurers.
Do I need static caravan insurance?
You’re not legally required to insure your static caravan, but it’s still a good idea to buy specialist static caravan insurance.
Not only do some holiday parks insist you have insurance, but static caravans can be worth a lot of money, so you’ll want peace of mind that you’ll have financial protection against storm damage, theft, fire, accidental cosmetic damage and contents replacement.
While some people live in static caravans on a permanent basis, they’re often used as holiday homes. This means they’re left for long periods of time, so the risk of something going wrong is much greater.
What does static caravan insurance cover as standard?
Static caravan insurance policies vary between providers, but most policies will include the following features:
Theft
As mentioned above, your static caravan may be left empty for months at a time, meaning both your caravan and its contents are more exposed to theft.
This is why it’s particularly important to ensure your static caravan insurance policy includes theft and attempted theft via violent or forcible entry, as standard.
Damage
Damage can be done in a variety of different ways, so it makes sense to cover your static caravan, its fixtures and fittings and its contents against things like:
- Accidents — Accidents are a fact of life, whether it’s a football through the window or damage done to mains services
- Extreme weather — Holiday parks that are located on the coast are more likely to suffer damage caused by storms and floods
- Fire — Static caravans are often made using extremely flammable materials
- Nature — Damage can be caused by things like falling trees
- Vandalism — Static caravans that are left unattended are more at risk from damage caused by vandals
Public liability
This covers your legal fees in the event that someone makes a claim against you for injury or damage to their property as a result of your static caravan.
If you rent your caravan out, public liability cover is especially important, as there’s more risk of someone injuring themselves.
What extras can be added onto a static caravan insurance policy?
Because everyone’s insurance needs are different, insurers will usually allow you to tailor your policy to suit your individual requirements. Some of the most common optional extras include:
- European cover — If your static caravan is kept in Europe, you can add European cover
- Homecare emergency — This gives you fast assistance for problems with your water, gas or electricity supply
- Key cover — Lost, stolen or damaged keys will be replaced and the cost of replacement locks is usually covered too
- Legal protection — If legal action is taken over your static caravan, your legal fees will be covered
- Rental cover — As well as protecting you from damage to your static caravan caused by renters, you’ll be financially reimbursed for any rent not paid too
What’s not covered on a static caravan insurance policy?
It’s recommended that you always read the terms and conditions of your static caravan insurance policy, as there are certain things that aren’t always included as standard.
Some typical exclusions are:
- Damage caused by vermin and insects
- Damage or theft without signs of forced entry
- Flood damage if your static caravan is kept in a flood-prone area
- Using your static caravan for trading
- Valuable contents, such as jewellery and electronics
- Wear and tear
What types of static caravan insurance are there?
There are two main types of static caravan cover: Market Value and New For Old.
What is Market Value caravan insurance?
With Market Value insurance, the payout you’ll receive if your caravan is stolen or damaged beyond repair will be the value of your caravan as it is at the time of the claim. Insurers will look at the market to find the going rate for a similar model of that age and condition.
What is New For Old caravan insurance?
New For Old cover means that if your static caravan is stolen or damaged beyond repair, you’ll receive the value of a brand-new equivalent model. This, however, usually only covers caravans up to 35 years old, so if yours is older than this, your insurer might offer cover based on its current market value instead.
Some of the other types of insurance available are related to how you use your static caravan. You can get different policies depending on whether your caravan is your permanent residence or whether you keep your static caravan in your garden to use as an extra bedroom or office.
What’s the difference between a static caravan and a touring caravan?
Static caravans
Also known as ‘mobile homes’, static caravans are semi-permanent structures that are usually transported to caravan parks where they stay put for a number of years. Typically they will be connected to an external power and water supply.
Static caravan insurance policies are similar to home insurance policies, as you can get cover for the food in the freezer and metered water and fuel, as well as protection against damage and theft.
Touring caravans
Touring caravans are designed to be towed by cars to multiple places and are narrower than static caravans because they’re driven around on public roads.
Touring caravan insurance policies are similar to car insurance policies, as you’re covered for damage that occurs while you are on the move.
Summary
If you’re considering buying a motorhome, touring caravan or static caravan to go on holiday in the UK, one of the things to think about is what insurance you’ll need.
When shopping around for a static caravan insurance quote, you’ll usually need to provide your personal details, the make and model of your caravan, its year of manufacture, how you use it, where it’s kept and what security measures are in place.
You may also need to disclose the length and width of your static caravan, how many bedrooms it has, the value of your caravan and its contents and details about the caravan park or site.
The price of static caravan insurance depends on several factors, such as the type of cover you choose, the age and size of your caravan, how much your caravan and its contents are worth and your claims history, but there are some things you can do which might help reduce your premium. Some of these include opting for a smaller, cheaper caravan, keeping your caravan on a secure site, making sure it’s anchored down securely, installing additional security, minimising the risk of fire, changing the way you pay, not paying for unnecessary extras, using discounts and shopping around for quotes.
You’re not legally required to insure your static caravan, but it’s still a good idea to buy specialist static caravan insurance so you’re protected against storm damage, theft, fire, accidental cosmetic damage and contents replacement.
Most static caravan insurance policies will include theft, damage and public liability, but you might also be able to add on things like European cover, homecare emergency, key cover, legal protection and rental cover. Some typical exclusions are damage caused by vermin and insects, damage or theft without signs of forced entry, flood damage if your static caravan is kept in a flood-prone area, using your static caravan for trading, valuable contents, such as jewellery and electronics and wear and tear. It’s a good idea to read the terms and conditions of your static caravan insurance policy to check that you’re covered for everything you require.
The two main types of static caravan cover are Market Value and New For Old, but there are other types of insurance available that relate to how you use your caravan.
Static caravans are semi-permanent structures that are usually transported to caravan parks where they stay put for a number of years, whereas touring caravans are designed to be towed by cars to multiple places. Static caravan insurance is more like home insurance while touring caravan insurance is similar to car insurance.