Top motorhome insurance tips

Motorhome and campervan insurance is a specialised area and many mainstream companies may not have the expertise to quote accurately and may not understand the specific needs of a motorhomer

So, to help you, the experts from MMM, Britain's best-selling motorhome magazine, and What Motorhome have prepared this easy guide to get you started in your hunt for the right motorhome insurance policy for you.

Comfort Insurance has regularly won What Motorhome magazine’s survey of specialist insurers, so we spoke to the company’s Charlotte Davies to pick her brains on everything you need to know on the subject.

Her advice? “The very cheapest isn’t always the best option but there is no need to pay over the odds for a good specialist policy.”

Choosing the right motorhome insurance

Here are our top tips to consider

• Don’t just accept the first quote you get – if you shop around and are prepared to haggle, you could save several hundred pounds.
• Use the internet to compare motorhome insurance quotes before picking up the phone and then be prepared to ask the right questions about your cover – if you don’t, you could end up missing out on benefits and paying too much.
• You’ll want to consider breakdown cover in case your motorhome can’t be fixed immediately – and a good policy will also compensate you for any extra accommodation costs while you can’t live in your ’van.
• Think about whether you’ll be going abroad, too, as not all policies cover this, although most offer 90 days’ foreign cover and the Caravan Club policy is valid for up to 270 days.
• And are you taking pets with you? What happens if your ’van can’t be fixed and you’re in the south of Spain – your policy may only repatriate you and your motorhome back to the UK, but not Fido!
• Don’t forget the contents of your motorhome – policies generally cover the items inside your ’van, but it’s worth checking what the maximum value per item is if you’re taking valuable belongings with you (or make sure they’re separately covered on your household policy).
• Check that bikes on your cycle rack and any car or trailer you’re towing is covered, too.

Charlotte stresses the importance of gas and explosion cover, “Carrying enough gas with you for your travelling needs makes this a real risk to be considered.”

Then there’s new-for-old cover, as Charlotte explains, “When you have had a motorhome for less than a year, you do not want to be in a position of having to replace it  with a used one.”

Keeping costs down

“Significant discounts are given for low mileage, so be sure you are only paying for the mileage you are doing. Most companies will let you increase mileage but not decrease it, so try to be accurate, as you don’t want to overpay,” advises Charlotte.

Motorhome security is another factor to consider, as immobilisers, alarms and tracking devices make theft less likely, and you’ll get discounted premiums accordingly. Look for devices that are ‘Thatcham approved’.

Then there’s motorhome storage – parking your vehicle on the street, compared with keeping it in a secure storage facility, will make a huge difference to your premium. Look for sites which are members of the Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSOA). Remember your no-claims bonus, too – if you have this on your car, some insurers will offer an introductory discount on your motorhome policy.

Another thing you can do is join a club – being a member of a major club, like the Caravan Club or the Camping and Caravanning Club, often attracts a discount, as most insurers recognise club members for being experienced. In addition, the two larger clubs have their own insurance services.

And finally, a word of caution from Charlotte, “Remember, any saving will soon be forgotten if your claim is refused for failing to disclose information, so always be truthful!”

MMM magazine, Britain's best-selling motorhome magazine for the past 51 years, has produced a perfect guide for anyone thinking of buying a motorhome in 2017. You can get a copy of Buying Your First Motorhome 2017 here