The difference between static caravans and touring caravans is that touring caravans can be towed to different places, whereas static caravans – also known as mobile homes – stay on one site for many years as semi-permanent structures.
So when it comes to insurance, each type of caravan has its own requirements. Touring caravan insurance acts more like motor insurance, while a static caravan insurance policy has more similarities with home insurance cover.
If you own a static caravan, it’s recommended that you take out insurance to protect you in case the worst happens. This is especially important if you keep it in a holiday park because static caravans in holiday parks are designed to be holiday homes, meaning you can’t live in them all year round. Leaving your caravan empty for months on end puts it more at risk of break-ins or other unexpected events, such as water damage caused by a leak that hasn’t been dealt with straight away.
Static caravan insurance covers you for various other circumstances too, which we’ll go into in more detail in this article.
What does static caravan insurance cover?
Static caravan insurance varies depending on each policy, however, it’s likely to include cover for theft, public liability – which holiday parks often require – and damage caused by unexpected events, such as fire, severe weather, vandalism or accidents.
Depending on your circumstances, you can also choose to add extra protection for letting out your property, homecare emergencies or key, excess or legal protection.
It’s wise to read the terms and conditions of your static caravan insurance policy to see what’s covered, but this article gives a good indication of what you can expect to be included as standard and what you may wish to add on as an optional extra.
What’s usually included as standard on a static caravan insurance policy?
There are a number of things that you should make sure you’re covered for when purchasing static caravan insurance. Some of the most important are as follows:
Theft of your static caravan or its contents
As already mentioned, your static caravan is likely to be left empty for a significant amount of time, leaving it vulnerable to theft. That’s even more reason why you should make sure your static caravan insurance policy includes theft and attempted theft via violent or forcible entry, as standard.
Damage to your static caravan or its contents
You need to make sure you’re covered for damage to your static caravan and your possessions inside it (even including the food in your freezer). Damage can be caused by a number of things, such as:
- Extreme weather – Holiday parks are often located on the coast, making them particularly susceptible to extreme weather conditions. Storms and floods can cause excessive water damage, the weight of snow can cause roofs to cave in, hailstones can break windows, and frost could be detrimental to your boiler and plumbing.
- Other natural reasons – Damage caused by a falling tree, for example.
- Vandalism – Again, when you leave your static caravan unattended, it’s at a higher risk from damage caused by vandals.
- Accidents – Whether it’s a football through the window or damage done to mains services, accidental damage is a fact of life and can happen anywhere.
- Fire or smoke – Static caravans are usually made of and contain flammable materials, from wood to upholstery.
- Structural weaknesses – These could be brought on by anything from a leaking shower or toilet to a lamp post or telegraph pole falling over.
Public liability
Without public liability cover, you wouldn’t be covered for a claim someone might make against you for slipping over on the decking surrounding your static caravan or a section of your roof blowing off in a storm and damaging their property. It’s especially important to have public liability cover if you rent out your static caravan, as there’s the chance someone could injure themselves while staying there. You’ll want peace of mind that your legal costs would be covered, if they decided to make a claim.
As well as making sure your static caravan’s contents are covered, you might want to check with your insurer that your built-in equipment and fixtures and fittings are protected too. These could include your refrigerator, cooker, microwave, steps, balcony, decking, awning, boiler, water heater, shower, generator and battery.
What additional cover can you get on a static caravan insurance policy?
Many insurance providers will allow you to tailor your static caravan insurance to suit your specific requirements. So, if anything is missing from your policy, you may be able to add it on. Some of the most common optional extras are as follows:
Rental cover
If you let your static caravan out, you run the risk of holidaymakers damaging your caravan or its contents, either accidentally or on purpose. There’s also a chance you could be left out of pocket due to your guests not paying you what they owe. Rental cover will ensure that you’re protected if either of these things should happen.
Homecare emergency
You can pay more to add on home emergency cover, which gives you rapid assistance for gas, electricity or water supply problems.
Key cover
You’ll be protected if your keys are lost, stolen or damaged, and as well as replacement keys, locksmith fees and the cost of replacement locks will usually be covered too.
Legal protection
Legal protection covers the cost of legal fees if legal action is taken over your static caravan.
European cover
If your static caravan is kept in the European Union, you can add European cover.
What’s not included on a static caravan insurance policy?
When shopping around for a quote, it’s essential to make sure you clarify exactly what your requirements are, as your policy might not cover you for:
- Wear and tear – Many insurance policies exclude damage that occurs naturally over a long period of time.
- Damage caused by pests – Consider using pesticides to deter insects and vermin.
- Damage or theft without signs of forced entry – So it’s wise to ensure you have a good level of security.
- Flood damage – If your static caravan is kept in an area that’s prone to flooding.
- Valuable contents – Such as jewellery and electronics that are worth a lot of money.
- Trading – If you use your static caravan in a business or professional capacity.
However, you may be able to add some of these on as optional extras – just speak to your insurance company or broker to find out.
Do I need static caravan insurance cover?
Unlike motor insurance, static caravan insurance isn’t a legal requirement. However, some holiday parks insist that you have it to keep your caravan on their sites.
Static caravan insurance covers you if your property or its contents are damaged by unexpected events. So, considering your static caravan is likely to be worth thousands of pounds, it’s advisable to make sure you have the correct level of insurance. The last thing you want is to be left out of pocket – especially because of something that wasn’t your fault.
What are the different types of static caravan insurance cover?
Static caravan insurance comes in different forms, and which type suits you best will depend on the age of your static caravan, where you keep it and how you use it.
If you live in your caravan, it will be classed as your permanent residence, so your cover will need to be similar to a home insurance policy. When reading your policy documents, you’ll need to make sure you have things like home emergency cover and that you’ve got a higher limit for contents if required.
Some people keep a static caravan in the garden for use as an extra bedroom or a home office. If this is the case for you, you should make sure your insurance provider is aware of this so that your insurance is correct and valid and that you’re covered for things like trading.
When shopping around for static caravan insurance quotes, you’ll likely come across the terms “New for Old” and “Market Value”. New For Old insurance means you’ll receive a brand-new equivalent model if your static caravan is damaged beyond repair but usually only covers caravans up to 35 years old. If your static caravan is older than 35 years, your insurance company may decide to offer cover based on its current market value instead.
How much does static caravan insurance cost?
As with every other type of insurance policy, the price varies depending on several factors, such as the type of cover you choose, the age, value and size of your caravan, how much its contents are worth and your claims history.
When deciding on a policy, it’s important to weigh up the price of the premium against what you’re covered for. It’s essential that you’re covered for everything you need to ensure you’re not left out of pocket in the event you need to make a claim.
How can I reduce the price of my premium?
Having the correct level of insurance should take priority. However, there are some measures you can take to ensure you’re getting the most competitive quote for your static caravan insurance:
- Increase security by installing window locks, CCTV and burglar alarms.
- Make sure your caravan is anchored down securely at all four corners underneath the chassis so that it won’t be blown off its plot in a storm.
- Minimise the risk of fire by keeping a fire extinguisher and fire blanket in your caravan.
- Pay for your premium in one lump sum instead of monthly instalments to avoid interest charges.
- Read the policy wording carefully to ensure you’re not paying for any additional extras you don’t need.
- Shop around for quotes. The best way of doing this is to go through a broker like A-Plan, as we have access to specialist insurers and can make sure you have the right level of cover.
Be sure to tell your insurance provider or broker about any of the above measures that you’ve already taken so that they can find you the best quote possible.