Archive for the ‘General Caravan’ Category

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Caravan Insurance Claim Statistics

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

Caravan Insurance providers Shield have published some interesting figures regarding caravan insurance claims made last year. Some 18% of claims made were the result of road traffic accidents, with the breakdown being as follows:

  • 33% resulted from collisions with other road users
  • 33% occurred due to tyres blowing out
  • 14% were cause by wheel loss
  • 9% were as a result of snaking incidents
  • The remainder were the result of unidentified causes

Stuart Craig of Shield has created a handy 10-point guide for caravanners in the event of an accident:

  1. Keep your wits about you: Be aware of where you are driving, so help can get to you quickly.
  2. Be prepared: Always carry a coat, some sturdy shoes and a charged mobile phone.
  3. Stop in the event of an accident: Even if you think no damage has been caused.
  4. Alert other road users: Switch on your hazard warning lights and use your warning triangle if you have one.
  5. Assess injuries: Be sure to check if anyone is injured.
  6. Be courteous: Regardless of who is at fault, keep calm.
  7. Record the moment: Write notes or take photos of the accident, for later use.
  8. Exchange details: Note names, addresses, registration numbers, colour/make of cars involved or witness to the accident.
  9. Report animal collisions to the police: Dogs and farm animals must legally be reported.
  10. Report all collisions to your insurer: This will help any claim get processed more quickly.

Interesting figures and some sensible advice. But of course however sensible you are, you must of course make sure you have a good caravan insurance policy to back it all up.

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Static Caravan Owners Insurance

Monday, January 31st, 2011

With the ‘staycation’ becoming de rigeur over the past couple of years, it is not a surprise to learn that there are more static caravans being bought then ever. Due to the financial challenges we have been facing this past couple of years, many people are skipping the expensive foreign holidays and staying in the UK instead. If you are one of these people, or thinking of becoming one then static caravan insurance is more important than ever.

Skipping the foreign holidays means caravans are getting more use, as people tend to take several trips away, rather than just the one big foreign holiday. And having made the investment in a caravan, the subsequent outlays are greatly reduced. So you can pop off at very short notice, what a great thing to be able to do.

There is also the option of renting out your static caravan when you are not using it. Given the number of people looking for accommodation, filling the caravan in the holiday season should not be too difficult, and will be a great source of additional income. This will also mean that the caravan in not left unattended as much, which is good news, but it is still very important that suitable caravan insurance is in place.

Of course if the caravan is occupied a lot more then there is a lot more chance of damage occurring, so you will need to ensure that the insurance is comprehensive enough to cover this. This will obviously mean added cost to your premiums, but the returns more than outweigh this. And you also get the benefit of lots of cheap holidays. All in all investing in a static caravan can be an excellent experience, and a fruitful one, but you need to make sure you have the right caravan insurance if you want real peace of mind.

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Caravan Crime Initiative

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Various organisations have come together to form the Caravan Safety and Security Group (CSSG), a working group set up to combat caravan related crime. The Camping and Caravanning Club, The Caravan Club, the National Caravan Council (NCC) and the Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS) have created this cross industry project. Funded by The Camping and Caravanning Club and the Caravan Club, the aim of the group is to work on improving safety and security in the caravan industry, and has the support of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

The initiative was launched at the International Caravan and Motorhome Show at the NEC on October 12th. One of its projects is to launch a website at www.cssginfo.co.uk to help caravanners and the caravan industry to help reduce caravan-related crime. The CSSG will provide opportunities for the caravan trade to work cooperatively to develop measures to help cut theft from, and of, caravans, caravan holiday homes, and motor caravans. To achieve this it will be working with caravanners, enforcement agencies, government, and commercial, trade, and member organisations. And for consumers, it will  look to promote good practice in safety and security-related issues, providing up to date information on new products and technology, and the latest thinking regarding crime, safety and security.

Lesley Coell, Head of Insurance and Financial Services, from The Caravan Club said: “We’re confident that the co-operative approach of the ‘Caravan Safety and Security Group’ is the very best way to tackle these concerns for our members and for caravanners as a whole.

“We look forward to working with our industry colleagues to benefit the members of our respective organisations, and support the work of police forces around the country in tackling caravan crime.”

Director General of the NCC, John Lally, added: “We are on the offensive tackling caravan crime from all angles. CSSG can pool knowledge, share resources and really make things happen.”

Committee Chairman and Director General of The Camping and Caravanning Club, Robert Louden, said: “The Club is delighted to be a part of the CSSG and we are looking forward to collaborating with other leading industry organisations to help support this safety and security initiative in the caravan leisure business.

“It has become increasingly important to find an effective solution to help consumers feel informed on all security issues. The new working group aims to provide support by answering any safety and security questions.

“It is essential that further development work is put into place to help continue to maintain and heighten current safety and security standards.”

AVCIS consultant, Tim Booth, added: “We have seen a substantial reduction in the thefts of caravans from around 5,000 per year in the late 1990′s to 1,400 last year, while the industry was working together informally.

“CSSG establishes a more formal partnership that will not only look at theft and security issues but also at safety for the consumer. Leisure time is crucially important for all of us, and the safer it is, the more we will be able to enjoy it.”

We at www.caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk applaud this initiative and hope it can have a powerful effect in reducing caravan crime.

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Caravan Insurance For 2010

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

Having just experienced the coldest winter for about a quarter of a century thoughts are not surprisingly turning to thoughts of holidays in the summer. There are many caravanners out there who are not aware of the savings they could make on when searching for their caravan insurance, as they just don’t realise the best way to go about it.

There are many companies out there offering a vast range of caravan insurances, and it is very useful to be able to compare what each has to offer. This is where online companies like www.caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk come in extremely useful, providing access to a variety of different insurers as well as a wealth of information to help you come to informed decisions when purchasing your insurance.

There is vast exposure for insurance companies that offer insurance comparisons and it may be useful  to know that Insure My Caravan are an online company that also provide this service. Regardless of what insurance cover you are looking for there are caravan users that want to feel comfortable with the cover they have received.

Just like any home, there are many different ways a caravan can be damaged, but owners can overlook this and go without insurance, exposing themselves to the risk of ending up heavily out of pocket.

Of course, there are many disasters that can cause damage to a caravan just like within the home yet many people have ignored the need for insurance which can cause relieve the financial difficulty if problems do arise.

Whether it’s fire, vandalism, theft or other natural disasters, then insurance is the single most important step you can take to help you deal with such problems.With the New Year comes a new start and if you don’t yet do it, hopefully a new resolution to ensure you are adequately covered for all eventualities. Here at www.caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk our aim is to help you find the right insurance at the right price, whether you are renewing your insurance, or have just bought yourself a new caravan.

Like most things in life, preparation is key. And if you do one thing in 2010 make sure you are aware of the risks your caravan, you and your family are exposed, and make sure you are properly protected against them by getting the right caravan insurance.

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The Perils of Snaking

Monday, September 20th, 2010

Caravan insurance specialists Safeguard have issued a warning to touring caravan owners to take great care when on the road. This comes as a result of a number of accidents apparently caused by what is known as ‘snaking’.

Snaking is when in essence the caravan is trying to steer the car, resulting in the whole rig weaving from side to side, and is particularly dangerous. There are several different causes of snaking:

  • Side winds: The caravan is blown to one side by a gust, and subsequently tries to return to its natural tendency to follow the car. Another gust will push it sideways again, and so on.
  • Too much speed. This is not surprisingly a common cause of snaking. Let’s face it, a caravan on its side halfway down a long hill is not an uncommon sight. To protect against this you should aim to descend the hill at around 10mph slower than you would normally. Indeed on French roads they impose a reduced speed limit on lorries and caravans for precisely this reason.
  • Being overtaken by large vehicles such as lorries or coaches. As an HGV or coach pulls alongside a caravan while overtaking, the airflow around the lorry/coach initially pushes the caravan away from it (called the bow-wave), but then the air pressure drops and the caravan is sucked towards the lorry/coach.

To reduce the chances of snaking occurring there are several things you will need to ensure:

  • That your vehicle has a professionally fitted tow bar that is specifically designed for your type of caravan
  • That the tow bar weight capacity of your towing vehicle is adequate for the weight your caravan needs for stability (the optimum weight is about 7% of the caravans laden weight)
  • The the caravan is correctly loaded, with the heavier things over the axle and towards the front, and the lighter things in overhead compartments and to the rear
  • That the towing vehicle and the caravan are a well matched rig

Safeguard report that the have seen “an increase in reported incidents of snaking,” they identify some of the causes of this as “excessive speed when travelling downhill, incorrect tyre pressures, side winds and being overtaken by large vehicles.” They are keen “to urge all caravanners to be safe on the roads this summer to avoid serious accidents and costly insurance claims.”

This is of course a sentiment we echo at caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk. Getting the best from your caravan, and your caravan insurance is not only about getting the best insurance, but doing your best to have to avoid claiming on it.

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Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

Here at caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk we keep bleating on about the importance of caravan insurance, as a means to protect yourself and your caravan. There are other things you can do though to help cover yourself. A very useful addition to the security toolkit is CRiS.

What is CRiS?

Cris is a scheme established in 1992 with the aim to improve security for caravan owners. Owned by the National Caravan Council (NCC), the acronym stands for the Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme, and provides a registration document, and a record identifying you as the current owner of your touring caravan. This can be very important in the event that your caravan is stolen.

Caravans are assigned a unique 17 digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which is stored on the CRiS database. This has been done automatically for all caravans manufactured by NCC members since 1992, but is a service available to owners who fall outside of this.

The registration makes it straightforward for private buyers and dealers to help recognise stolen caravans, and those that have outstanding finance remaining on them.

So if you are buying a new caravan, the dealer will sort out the CRiS membership for you, and the registration documents for your touring caravan will arrive in the post a few weeks later. However, if you are in the market for a second-hand caravan the CRiS number is a great help in stopping you buying a dodgy caravan, as you will be able to identify if it is stolen, or has outstanding finance.

To be sure of the validity of the sale, you should look for the CRiS number etched into the windows of the caravan, and it should also be stamped somewhere onto the chassis of the vehicle. Also ask the seller to show you the registration document. If you are unable to see any of these then you should not buy the caravan.

Once you have found the number, you need to either phone HPI on 0845 300 8905, or visit their website at /www.hpicheck.com/hpi_check.html. They will charge you a small fee to check that the make and model match those on their records, and also whether there is any outstanding credit owed, or the caravan is stolen.

So, if you are not yet on the CRiS scheme, then you should be. And next time you are in the market for a caravan, remember to make use of the scheme.

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A New Caravan Generation

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

Caravan Insurance providers Safeguard have produced figures that show that caravanners are getting younger. Although the average age of a caravan owner was 53 in 2009, Safeguard report that they made 62% more insurance quotes to 20 – 30 year old’s in 2009 than in 2008.

This appears to be a result of an increasing number of the young generation turning their backs on expensive overseas holidays in favour of staying in good old Blighty. This is further evidence of the staycation taking a grip in light of the ongoing economic backdrop. According to the National Caravan Council there are now one and a half million caravan fans in the UK, with over 500,000 caravans in regular use.

Showrooms have reported a rise in sales of around 15% over the past year, driven by the younger caravanners. As the younger generation look increasing for value for money from their holidays, the caravanning option becomes increasingly appealling. It looks like the staycation is here to stay, at least for the time being, and in the meantime a whole new generation has been introduced to the joys of caravanning.

If you’re a young caravan owner (or perhaps a more mature one), then caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk is here to try to help you find the best caravan insurance online you can. have a look around the site. We have links to the best caravan insurance companies on the web, and plenty of information to get you on the right track. As we say here ‘the right caravan insurance, at the right price’.

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Spingtime For Caravans

Monday, April 19th, 2010

It’s that time of year again. The clocks have gone forwards, the sun has started to shine (at least a bit), the tulips are smiling at us. Life feels good, the world is reborn. The nomadic urge begins to flow through your veins at the thought of getting the van out on the road. Where to this year… has a friend recommended a real gem they found last year… is there a new site you’ve read about and fancy trying.

I love spring, dusting off the caravan, giving it a proper clean through ready for the coming adventures. And each year as I clean the caravan, I also think about spring-cleaning my caravan insurance policy. You see I know that by using the internet I can make sure I get myself a great deal on insurance for my touring caravan.

But it is not only about price. There’s no point buying a bucket if it’s got a hole in it (unless you want to use it as a helmet of course), and similarly there’s no use buying a caravan insurance policy that doesn’t cover you for the continent if you’re planning going to Europe this year. Obvious I know, but this applies to a number of elements of your policy.

Do you know how much the contents of the caravan are worth… honestly… you may be a little surprised if you were to actually add it up. And I would encourage that you do, so in the unfortunate event you do have to make a claim, you can rest assured that you are adequately covered.

Also, are you aware of what your policy excludes? This is important, as you may find there are valuable items you take away with you that are not actually covered. This could prove to be a very costly lesson. The message is to make sure you are clear of what is and isn’t covered in your policy, and make sure the things you need coverage for are (even if you have to take out some additional insurance for specific items).

The internet makes it easy to gather this kind of information when researching the competing caravan insurance providers available online. Sites like caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk offer a gateway to a number of the best insurers, to help ease your search, and to help you find the insurance you need.

Most of all though, having a choice of easily accessible insurers means you can make sure you get the best available price to meet your needs, by comparing the quotes they each give. So you can make sure you have the right caravan insurance, and ensure you are getting it at the right price.

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Spring Clean Your Caravan Insurance

Monday, February 15th, 2010

With spring (hopefully) just around the corner, thoughts turn to dusting off the caravan (indeed it could probably do with a good spring clean), and hitting the road. I know I can’t wait for the cold winter to become a memory, and start looking ahead to getting out and seeing some more of our beautiful country.

Spring is also a popular time for renewing of caravan insurance. Maybe it’s time for a bit of a spring clean here too. Have you had the same insurance for a number of years now? Do you just get one of those reminders through the post a few weeks prior to renewal that tell you ‘you don’t need to do anything!’ and the insurance will just carry on? Well that tells me you probably do need to do something… you need to check that you’re not paying too much for your caravan insurance.

Do you actually know how much you pay for your insurance? If not you should do. Check if you don’t. It is very likely you can save yourself some, if not a good deal of, your hard-earned money if you go about it the right way. And by the right way I mean making the most of the internet, and shopping around to check you are getting the best deal. Shopping around to ensure you are getting cheap caravan insurance.

However don’t confuse cheap with good. Buying caravan insurance just because it is the cheapest can be a false economy, because come the day when you actually need to use it, you may find that it doesn’t adequately cover you. This could well cost you a lot more than spending the extra few quid in the first place to get the right cover.

What you are after is the best caravan insurance, which is where cost meets cover to give you the right caravan insurance at the right price. This is where www.caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk can help, by providing you with relevant information so you can understand what you need from your insurance, so you ensure that you get it. It also enables you to access online caravan insurers for quotes, so you can find out who is offering the right deal.

So pay us a visit and have a look around, there is useful information not only about saving money, but also about improving security, aimed to help you make informed choices when getting your next a static or touring caravan insurance policy.

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The Importance of Static Caravan Insurance and Security

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

static caravan insurance

Static Caravan Insurance and Security were highlighted in the press recently with a report about a series of thefts from 28 static caravans at Porthkerry Leisure Park near to Barry in South Wales. The thieves were targetting flat screen TV’s and managed to make off with a number of them in a van they had parked near. Officers have been appealing to locals to report anyone trying to offload any tellies.

An inherent risk of static caravans is that they can be left unattended for periods of time, making them an easy target for burglars. To protect themselves owners need to be thinking primarily of two different things:

  • Insurance: When purchasing static caravan insurance it is important to ensure that you have adequate coverage. For instance, in the case of the owners of the Barry caravans, they should have made sure that their flat screen TV’s were covered, as they were valuable items, and a particular favourite of burglars. If any of these owners didn’t have such coverage, and the TV’s are not recovered then they stand to be out of pocket, as they will either have to not replace their TV, or fork out themselves for it.
  • Security: This is the first line of defence for owners. Put simply, make your static caravan as hard to break into as you can. To achieve this there are a number of different measures you can take. Invest in some good window and door locks to help prevent the intruders gaining access in the first place. Also install an alarm, so if they do get in the noise of the alarm will cause them to flee. Even the option of a dummy alarm acting as a deterrent is better than nothing.

Static Caravan Insurance and Security do go together hand-in-hand. Indeed good security is an excellent way to help keep your insurance premiums down to a minimum, as you are reducing the risk to the insurance company.

It is advisable for owners to do some investigation to ways they can improve their static caravan security. These needn’t be expensive to be effective. Even things as simple as ensuring any items that may catch the eye of a burglar are stored elsewhere when not in use. Such things as soft furnishings, and of course electrical items are the kinds of things that thieves can easily remove and sell on later.

The key is to put some thought and investigation into it, as a little effort upfront can go a long way to saving a lot of hassle and money, and hopefully having to claim on your static caravan insurance policy.

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