Motorhome insurance: our complete guide to getting the right cover

Do I need motorhome insurance?

Yes, finding the right motorhome-specific insurance policy is important. While a generic insurance provider may be able to offer a quote for your motorhome, there will be parts of it not suitable for the way we use a motorhome. This is primarily around contents as motorhomes are more likely to be full of all gadgets and gear – the average motorhomer travels with around £2k to £3k-worth of possessions, while the average car policy only insures up to around £500 for items in the vehicle. With a driveaway awning costing more than that, it’s fair to say that’s just not enough.

Companies focusing on car insurance may also not ask the right questions about security and safety systems or storage locations. By asking these questions, motorhome insurance brokers may even be able to provide lower premiums.

The same goes for many comparison websites – the questions asked are just too generic to provide a meaningful quote for the right policy. Do you want to travel to Europe, are you planning a longer tour? Will the motorhome be kept at an approved storage location when not in use?

What's the best motorhome insurance?

The best motorhome insurance policy is the one that is right for you. That’s why it is vital to shop around. Plan to spend a day on the phone before renewal time and you are likely to reap dividends, not only in terms of premium but also having the peace of mind that you are fully covered for any eventuality.

Breakdown cover is essential, especially if you're going to Europe but, if you've got an unusually large motorhome, make sure that it's not so long or heavy that it breaches the limits of what's allowed.

Not all insurers include European cover as standard. 

Some companies separate equipment from personal belongings but it's a grey area as to what sits in each category. This might not matter but it depends on what the limits are, because for some insurers you get a much more generous limit for equipment rather than personal possessions.

Caravan Guard managed to take the title of Motorhome Insurer of the Year 2023 in our annual survey, because of its keen pricing and feature-laden policy, which is one of the cheapest around, despite the fact that it comes with European breakdown cover as standard; most rivals are more costly, even though they generally don't include vehicle recovery.

Can I transfer my no claims discount to my motorhome insurance?

You can transfer your car’s no claims bonus (NCB) to your motorhome, but this must replace your car as your primary vehicle. Some insurers may insist on a multi-vehicle policy to allow this. This works when you plan to use a motorhome or campervan in place of your car, but if the motorhome is an additional vehicle, you will have to start building up the NCB separately.

How much is full-time motorhome insurance?

The cost of a full-time policy could be significant. Living in a motorhome and using it as a daily driver significantly increases the risks of accidents, etc, so the policy cost will be greater. Also, the choice of full-time policies are fewer.

Even if you are not full-timing, but planning to spend significant portions of the year travelling, you need to check your policy terms, as some can have restrictions on how much of the year you can be away. Full-timing or long-term touring can both incur higher insurances.

We hear reports of many just risking a normal policy, but what would the cost of a replacement motorhome be if the company found out and decided to void the policy? What if there were legal expenses associated with a claim? It’s just not worth the risk.

Is it worth buying gap insurance for new motorhomes?

Guaranteed asset protection (GAP) insurance can cover the difference in value between a settlement amount and the cost of a new car, but is primarily aimed at those buying cars on finance.

Motorhome insurers tackle this slightly differently, offering ‘new for old’ cover, which will replace your vehicle with a new equivalent in the event of a total loss (theft, fire, major crash damage). Some companies offer this cover for up to two years and some for three – and some don't offer it at all. Where it is offered, the chances are that you must have bought the motorhome new and there will be mileage limits, too.

Is motorhome insurance cheaper than regular insurance?

In today’s marketplace, that’s likely to be a negative.

With rising prices of new motorhomes as well as demand outstripping supply, this has a knock-on effect for the secondhand values, too. Some used motorhome values have gone up by as much as 45%, according to Comfort, which also says that, on average, premiums went up by 10-12% across the motoring sector between January and May of this year.

Parts availability has been an issue, which has led to an increase in prices and repair costs; many parts are – or were – made in Ukraine, or relied on neon gas. Engine parts and glass are especially affected, along with microchips for ECUs.

Another worrying trend is thefts continuing to rise; Caravan Guard saw a 12% increase in 2022 compared with 2021, and things had already started to deteriorate in 2021 after a relatively quiet 2020, thanks to Covid.

That does all point to increasing premiums for motorhomes; however, we get quotes every month for the vehicles reviewed in MMM, our monthly motorhome magazine, and these do fluctuate regularly for similar models, so it really is worth shopping around.

Also, investing in an approved tracker and other security measures really will help keep premiums lower, as will making sure your policy is tailored to your needs and you are not paying for features you don’t need, like breakdown cover (because you have a separate policy) or higher-than-average mileage, or even European travel if you never go abroad.