How to Find the Best Campervan Insurance

From family trips and weekends away, campervans are ideal for adventures — helping you create happy memories that will last a lifetime and whether you live for spontaneity or like to plan meticulously, keeping your camper protected should be a top priority. But finding the right kind of cover can be time consuming and confusing, so to help keep things simple, here’s what to consider when it comes to getting the best campervan insurance for you.

 

What does the best campervan insurance include?

 

When it comes to campervan cover, there’s no such thing as one size fits all, so whether your camper has a high-top, raised or fixed roof, what’s best for you will depend on your specific needs.  For example, third party, fire and theft policies compensate other people for damage or injury you’ve caused and pay out if your campervan is stolen or damaged by fire. Crucially, third party, fire and theft won’t compensate you if your campervan needs to be repaired or replaced following an accident.

 

Comprehensive policies on the other hand, include third party, fire and theft and will also cover costs if your own campervan is damaged or destroyed — even if an accident is your fault.

With these differences in mind, it’s vital to think of the long-term requirements of the policy you choose.

 

Whichever policy you do choose, you’ll also be able to add on extra features to give yourself even greater protection. Popular additions include:

 

• Breakdown cover to get you back up and running while you’re on your travels. Some insurers offer European cover as standard or you can extend the service to include European cover, which can be invaluable if you break down outside of the UK.
• Legal expenses cover which helps you recover your excess or take someone to court following an accident where you’re not at fault. It is also designed to help you should you need to defend yourself against a motoring prosecution.

 

It’s also important to remember all the little things that make your camper a home from home so don’t forget to make sure your gadgets, personal possessions, and other essential accessories like awnings and generators are covered too.

 

What exclusions or conditions do I need to know about?

 

Almost all insurance policies come with exclusions which are reasons why your insurer can refuse to pay out, for example:

 

• Loss caused by you — you won’t be compensated if your motorhome is stolen because you left your keys in the ignition.
• Unreported theft — your insurer can’t proceed with a claim for theft unless you have a crime reference number from the police.
• Tyre damage — most policies exclude damage to tyres such as punctures, cuts or damage because of hard or sudden braking.
• Damage caused by animals — this includes pets as well as vermin.
• General wear and tear — policies are unlikely to cover you for any damage that occurs over time.

 

How much do I need to insure my campervan for?

 

The amount that you insure your campervan for, is called the sum insured and it should be enough to cover the cost of replacing your campervan as well as any fixtures and fittings.

 

If you can, it’s a good idea to check the market value of your campervan by comparing it to others of the same make, model and age. Overestimating the value can mean increasing the sum insured unnecessarily — pushing up your premium. Underestimating will simply mean you won’t receive enough compensation to replace it in the event of a claim.

Some insurers offer ‘new for old’ cover which means that in the event of a total loss claim you’ll get a brand-new equivalent model. Where this is the case, the sum insured needs to be the brand new replacement cost of an equivalent model.

 

How easy is it to insure a self-build campervan?

 

If you’re worried that it’ll be hard to find insurance for your self-build — you can put your mind at rest. Although your insurer is likely to need more details about your camper including photos, you should be able to find self-build campervan insurance with a specialist provider.

 

If you do have a self-build and would like a chat to see how we can help, simply fill in your details here and we’ll call you back to discuss your needs.

 

How to insure a campervan conversion

 

Similar to self-builds, so long as you have all the relevant and appropriate paperwork confirming your vehicle is classed as a ‘motor caravan’ you should be able to find suitable campervan conversion insurance.

 

Just bear in mind, that if you’re converting a standard van into a campervan, it will need to conform to four specific categories set out by the DVLA. For example, it should have integrated seats, a tabletop, an area for sleeping, cooking facilities, as well as storage space. It’s worth checking with DVLA before you start your conversion project that your vehicle will comply with the requirements and can be legally classified as a ‘motor caravan’. For more information about the conditions your conversion will need to meet, head to GOV.UK, Internal features for motor caravans.

 

Can I insure my classic campervan?

 

Yes, there shouldn’t be any problem finding cover for your classic campervan but check what the definition of ‘classic’ is, as this can vary depending on the insurer. For instance, at Comfort Insurance, we consider anything built before 1992 to be a classic.

 

What is a campervan insurance excess?

 

An excess is an amount you have to pay towards a claim before it can go ahead, there are two types and you have to pay both (when and where they apply):

 

• Compulsory excess which is set by the insurer and varies depending on the policy you purchase
• Voluntary excess which is an amount you agree with your insurer in the event of a claim in return for a reduction in your premium. Not all insurers offer voluntary excesses under their policies.

 

Typically, all policies come with a compulsory excess, but the amounts vary depending on the insurer so always check you can afford it.

 

A multiple excess could also apply depending on your circumstances, for example, if there is a young or inexperienced driver covered under the policy, your insurer might only provide cover on the basis that you also pay a ‘young driver’ excess too.

 

Is my campervan insured for commuting?

 

Campervans are versatile and as well as family holidays and weekend breaks, you might also use yours to commute to work. If you do, you’ll need to let your insurer know as they’ll need to consider that you could be covering more miles, travelling at peak times and carrying equipment like a laptop. All of these factors can increase the risk of an accident or theft – which can increase your premium.

 

It’s essential that however you use your campervan, you tell your insurer – not telling them can invalidate your policy which means you won’t receive any compensation if you need to make a claim.

 

Can I drive a campervan on my car insurance?

 

Standard car insurance is unlikely to give you the protection your campervan needs, and policies might not cover essentials like awnings and generators whereas policies from a specialist campervan provider usually do. With that in mind, opting for specific campervan cover can make more financial sense in the long run.

 

How much does it cost to insure a campervan?

 

Campervan cover can start from as little as £200* but it really depends on you and your own unique circumstances. Some of the factors that insurers will think about, include:

 

• The sum insured — this probably has the biggest impact on your premium so the higher the amount, the higher your insurance is likely to be.
• The type of policy you choose — the more comprehensive the policy and the more features you choose, the more you can expect your premium to cost.
• Your age and experience — insurance is more expensive for younger drivers because statistically they’re involved in more accidents compared to older drivers. That said, experience does count for something so if you’ve got plenty of experience behind the wheel of a camper, your insurer may reflect this in your premium.
• Your driving record — drivers with clean records will get a more favourable premium compared to those with recent driving convictions and endorsements (points).
• Your claims history — previous claims can increase what you pay.
• Where you park your camper — some insurers might not be able to offer you insurance if your campervan is parked on the road. The more secure your camper, the more likely you are to be rewarded with a lower premium. A locked garage or secure facility is ideal but a private driveway is another good option. It’s also worth investing in a security alarm or immobiliser and depending upon the value of your camper, a tracking device.
• The job you do — when it comes to insurance, some careers attract higher premiums, such as actors or professional musicians.

 

Can I use my existing no claims discount?

 

Generally speaking, you can only use your no claims discount (NCD) for one vehicle at any time. So, if you wanted to transfer your NCD from your car insurance, then yes — you can use your existing no claims discount for your campervan. But, you wouldn’t be able to use your NCD for both your car and your campervan at the same time.

 

However, some insurers offer something called a ‘mirrored NCD’ which is where they apply your NCD to more than one vehicle at a time. Mirrored no claims are relatively new so not all insurers offer it and there are often strict conditions that need to be met, for example, drivers may need to be over a certain age or need a minimum number of years of NCD. It’s also only available if you’re insuring all your vehicles with the same provider.

 

How do I get cheap campervan insurance?

 

Price undoubtedly plays an important part when it comes to cover but it’s really important not to let your decision be swayed by cost alone.

 

Cheaper policies might tick the box for affordability but they may not give you the comprehensive level of protection you need, which could leave you financially worse off in the long run. On the flip side, policies that might seem expensive at first glance, may actually include a variety of features as standard giving you better protection for a wider range of events.

 

There are, of course, lots of ways to lower premiums without compromising on cover, for example:

 

• If possible, avoid paying by instalments as this will save you from any interest fees.
• Be as accurate as possible when it comes to working out the number of miles you do each year — remember, the more miles you do, the greater the chance of an accident and a claim being made so rounding up can increase your premium.
• Some insurers will give discounts if you’re a member of an official camping or campervanning club.
• The more secure your camper, the better the premium. Consider installing an alarm, immobiliser or tracking device.
• Build up your no claims discount and think carefully before claiming frequently for incidents that could be easily resolved yourself (such as small scratches or light dents). The more years you go without claiming, the greater the discount you’re likely to get

 

What information do I need to find the best campervan insurance?

 

To find the best quote for your camper, you’ll need a few details to hand, such as:

 

• The type of campervan you have, including its age, and an estimated market value.
• Whether or not your campervan has been modified in any way.
• Whether there are any security devices or alarm systems on board.
• Your estimated annual mileage.
• How you use your campervan.
• Whether you or any other named drivers have any recent driving convictions or points on their licence.

 

Start your campervan quote now

 

At Comfort Insurance, we’ve teamed up with the UK’s largest insurer, Aviva to bring you an unrivalled choice when it comes to tailored campervan cover. Plus, with our friendly and knowledgeable team at our UK call centre, you can rest assured we’re here to help when it comes to any campervan insurance advice you need.

 

You can also find help and advice in our online insurance hub — whether you own a motorhome, camper or want to find out more about buying and towing a caravan, we’ve got all sorts of useful guides.

 

As keen motorhome and campervanners ourselves we understand exactly what’s important to you and we’re proud to provide award-winning cover and service. To see why our customers rate our service as ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot you can start a quote online or request a call back on 0208 9840 666.

 

 

*Over 10% of our Aviva Motorhome policyholders paid this amount or less for their annual premium between 1st Jan 19 and 31st Jul 19.