Caravan travel insurance
Whether you’re touring around Europe or pitching up in Tenby, having caravan travel insurance lets you enjoy your holiday knowing you’ll be protected if something goes wrong.
Whether you’re touring around Europe or pitching up in Tenby, having caravan travel insurance lets you enjoy your holiday knowing you’ll be protected if something goes wrong.
How does insurance work for caravan holidays?
If you own a caravan, campervan or motorhome, you’ll need to make sure you have the right insurance in place ahead of your getaway.
Essentially, there are two types of insurance you’ll need to think about:
- Cover for the vehicle
- Cover for your holiday
You can either take these out separately or get them together from a specialist caravan and motorhome insurance provider.
The type of cover you need will also depend on the type of caravan you have.
Cover for your caravan holiday
Travel insurance policies can pay out if you need to cancel your trip or find alternative caravan hire. It could also cover your costs if you fall ill abroad or lose your possessions. Your travel insurance may also cover pre-booked caravan pitches. That means you can recoup some of your losses if you have to cancel your accommodation or leave the site early.
You can take out travel insurance alongside your caravan insurance.
Some specialist policies will strip out unnecessary travel protection, like flight delays and loss of luggage at airports, to create a bespoke product for caravanners. Some will even provide cover for your pets so they can enjoy a holiday too.
Customers with more serious pre-existing medical conditions
Our panel includes insurance providers who quote cover for all medical conditions declared on our website, with no exclusions.
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPs) has launched a directory of insurance providers on its Money Advice Service website that may be able to provide quotes over the phone, if you have more serious medical conditions. Find more information at the Money Advice Service or by calling the British Insurance Brokers’ Association on 0370 950 1790.
Caravan holiday home insurance
The holiday insurance you need for your caravan will depend on what type of vehicle it is.
Touring caravan insurance
If you tow your caravan behind your car, touring caravan insurance offers cover if your caravan is involved in an accident.
If you go abroad, make sure you have European towing and European breakdown cover in place. Without it, getting your caravan back to the UK is likely to be expensive.
Static caravan insurance
Some parks won’t let you keep a static caravan on site unless you have mobile home insurance in place. This typically covers storm damage, fire and theft, as well as your contents.
Campervan travel insurance
Campervans and motorhomes aren’t classed as caravans because they’re vehicles, as well as accommodation. If you own a campervan or motorhome, or are hiring one for your holiday, you’re legally required to have motorhome insurance. This will cover you against injury or damage to others, as well as accidents, theft and your camper’s contents.
Specialist policies may combine campervan holiday insurance with your motor insurance, or you can buy them separately.
If you’re planning a long tour of Europe in your campervan, make sure your travel insurance covers you for your whole trip.
Types of travel insurance for caravan holidays
Before taking out caravan and motorhome travel insurance, consider who you need to include in the policy and what you want it to cover. The most common types of policy are:
Single trip – if you’re renting a static caravan or a tourer, single-trip insurance provides the cover you need if you’re only travelling once in a year.
Annual multi-trip – if you’ve planned several trips away in your caravan or motorhome, this type of policy gives you the freedom to holiday more than once a year. Annual policies usually have a limit of 31 days for trips abroad. If any of your holidays are longer than this, you’ll need to pay for extra cover or take out long-stay travel insurance.
Family – if you’re going camping with the kids, a family travel insurance policy can be better value than buying individual policies.
What does a caravan holiday insurance policy cover?
A caravan travel insurance policy can cover you for a wide range of things that could go wrong while travelling, including:
- Illness and medical emergencies – if you, or someone named on your policy needs medical treatment abroad or needs to be repatriated to the UK, you can recover the cost of your medical expenses.
- Theft and loss of belongings – you’ll be covered if your personal possessions are lost, stolen or damaged while you’re away. If you’re taking valuables like a phone or laptop, you may need to insure these separately.
- Cancelling or cutting short a trip – this can compensate you if you’re forced to cancel or cut short your holiday because of a bereavement or illness.
- Travel delays – you’ll be financially protected if your ferry or Eurotunnel shuttle is significantly delayed or cancelled due to strikes or bad weather.
- Personal liability – this can cover your legal expenses if you’re found to have caused damage or injury to another person while on holiday.
Do I need extra travel cover?
If you’re planning some active adventures on your caravan holiday, check your policy wording to make sure it includes your chosen activity. If you’re hitting the slopes or planning adventurous sports during your trip, you may need to pay a bit extra to add winter sports or extreme sports cover to your policy.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you may need specialist travel insurance with medical conditions. You must tell your insurance provider about your health condition – if you don’t, your policy could be invalidated.
Some providers put an age limit on their travel cover, but this doesn’t have to stop you enjoying a caravan break. You may need specialist over 65s travel insurance instead of a standard policy.
Whichever policy you choose, always carefully read the terms and conditions so you know what’s covered and if there are any exclusions.
Frequently asked questions
What else should I think about with caravan travel insurance?
To get the right level of cover for your trip, here are a few things to bear in mind.
- Avoid doubling up – some specialist caravan insurance policies offer the same cover you might already have in your home or another travel insurance policy. You could end up paying for cover you already have.
- Know the value of your belongings – add up how much it would cost to replace everything you’re taking away with you. Make sure you have enough cover, especially if you’re holidaying with expensive gadgets or equipment.
- Check your excess – how much you agree to pay towards any insurance claim will affect the price of your policy. The higher your excess, the cheaper your cover.
Does travel insurance cover campervan hire?
If you hire a campervan, motor insurance is normally included in your rental agreement. But many policies won’t include your personal possessions – only the camper itself. A travel insurance policy can cover your belongings if they’re lost, stolen or damaged.
Do I need travel insurance for a caravan holiday in the UK?
It’s a good idea to have it. You won’t need insurance to cover the cost of emergency medical treatment because we have the NHS. But travel insurance can help if your holiday is cancelled or your belongings are stolen. And if you get sick and are too ill to go home, your travel insurance can cover extra travel or accommodation costs.
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