Archive for the ‘General Caravan’ Category

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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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Cheaper Caravan Insurance?

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

The caravan insurance industry will be breathing a collective sigh of relief today as a four Irish travellers have been found guilty of conspiracy to steal, following a three-month trial at Winchester Crown Court.

In the twelve months following their arrests in March 2007 there was a nationwide drop in caravan thefts to the tune of 47%! Good news not only for caravanners, but for the people who insure the caravans.

Detective Inspector Matt Davey, from Wiltshire Police described the investigation as ‘long and complex.’ Close to £1 million worth of caravans and personal possessions were recovered as part of the investigation. This haul included vehicles, cash, jewellery, china and crystal.

Overall, nineteen police became involved in the operation to catch them, which culminated in a raid in March 2007 on their site in Gloucester. And a second raid involving 120 officers from Wiltshire Police was carried out on another site near Swindon in October 2007.

In total they discovered £970,000 of stolen goods, including £700,000 worth of vehicles, £70,000 cash,  £80,000 of china and £20,000 of crystal, and £100,000 of jewellery.

So caravan owners and insurers will be able to rest easier as these scum bags have been taken out of circulation, hopefully for a long while. Now, given that there are fewer thefts of caravans, this means there are fewer insurance payouts, which in turn should mean that it should lead to cheaper caravan insurance… that makes sense doesn’t it. I wonder if this will be the case?

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Record Year for the Caravan Club

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

What a year it has been for the so-called ”Staycation’. The credit crunch inflicted trend continues to have a tremendous effect on the caravanning industry. The Caravan Club are reporting bed nights up almost 500,000 from 15.6 million last year.

There was also a rise in the number of first-time caravanners, with a record number of new members joining at the International Caravan and Motorhome Show in October. This is a significant increase of 23% on the 2009.

Even the colder autumn months failed to dampen enthusiasm for the Great Outdoors, with large numbers taking weekend breaks in their caravan well past the summer. This is borne out by the fact that 80 Caravan Club sites will stay open until the New Year and 50 are open all-year round.

The Caravan Club’s Director of Marketing, Nick Lomas said ‘Our season has been terrific with many hundreds of thousands of happy caravanners. Looking to the future, bookings for 2010 look set to be buoyant, which is great news for the domestic tourism industry.’

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Life Is Sweet At Swift

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

What a year 2009 has been for the Swift Group, the UK’s largest caravan and motorhome manufacturer. Against the backdrop of recession their fortunes have been on the up and up.

At the recent International Caravan and Motorhome Show, held at the NEC in Birmingham, they achieved record sales of £28 million, up almost £10 million last years show. An astounding result, and one that Commercial Director Nick Page stated had “exceeded our wildest expectations.”

Not only did they achieve this, but they have also received awards galore at the three most prestigious awards ceremonies in the industry:

  • 2010 Caravan Industry Awards – Tourer of the Year Award – Winner Swift Conqueror 630
  • 2010 Caravan Industry Awards – Best Tourer over £16,000 – Winner Swift Conqueror 630
  • 2010 Caravan Industry Awards – Best Tourer under £12,500 – Winner Swift Charisma 220
  • Which Caravan Awards 2010 – Best Lightweight Caravan – Winner Sprite Musketeer TD
  • Which Caravan Awards 2010 – Best Luxury Caravan – Winner Sterling Elite Searcher
  • Which Caravan Awards 2010 – Best Family Caravan under £13,500 – Winner Sprite Musketeer TD
  • Which Caravan Awards 2010 – Best Couples Caravan under £13,500 – Runner up Sterling Europa 390
  • Practical Caravan Awards 2010 – Best Caravan for Small Families - Winner Sprite Musketeer TD
  • Practical Caravan Awards 2010 – Best Caravan for Small Families – Runner up Swift Charisma 545
  • Practical Caravan Awards 2010 – Best Caravan for Couples – Runner up Sterling Europa 390
  • Practical Caravan Awards 2010 – Best Caravan for Couples – Runner up Swift Challenger 580
  • Practical Caravan Awards 2010 – Best Caravan for Large Families – Runner up Sprite Major 6
  • Practical Caravan Awards 2010 – Best Caravan for Ralliers – Runner up Swift Charisma 565
  • Practical Caravan Awards 2010 – Best Caravan for Ralliers – Runner up Sterling Eccles Amethys

But even this is not the extent of their achievements. They have this year jumped 40 places in the Sunday Times Top Track 250 covering Britain’s biggest mid-market private companies.

Powered on by the comeback of the staycation, the company is really bucking the current economic gloom engulfing the world. We at caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk wish them all the very best of luck.

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New Caravan Manufacturer

Monday, October 19th, 2009

The first new manufacturer of caravans in a number of years has launched in the UK. Stealth Caravans from Dunster House have launched the X53, X58, and X63. The 53 is a 2 berth, the 58 a 4 birth, and the 63 a 6 birth. With prices ranging from £17,845 for the X53 S, to £24,349 for the X63 SE-L, the range is out there to take on the big boys.

Established in 1994, Dunster House Ltd is a family run Company.  They are already the UK’s leading Log Cabin Company, one of the largest UK Timber Climbing Frame Companies, and also produce many other successful and diverse product lines as well. But now they have moved into caravanning, driven by the enthusiasm of Co Managing Director Alex Murphy, himself a keen caravanner.

Here’s what he has to say about it: “Stealth was derived from my own experiences of caravans. I’d often found traditional caravan designs to be compromised, especially on use of space. As a regular caravan user I thought about what aspects were important to me and what I wanted from a caravan - I wanted somewhere comfortable and practical, with a large kitchen worksurface, a large end washroom with a shower cubicle, and a fixed island bed with no corner cut offs. These key features are the focus of the new unique layouts.”

We wish you all the best in your endeavours.

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Welcome to the Caravan Insurance Blog

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Hi, Welcome to the www.caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk blog.

This blog is intended to keep you up to date with news and information around the caravan insurance industry. If anything is happening that we think you may want to know, or if there are any little funnies we can bring your way then this is the place we want to bring them to you.

Working together with the main site we want to help people find out the things they need to know about insuring their touring or static caravan:

  • What is covered?
  • What isn’t covered?
  • What do I need to cover?
  • How much should I spend?
  • Where can I go to get this?

We hope this blog can be a valuable resource to help people find the right static caravan insurance or touring caravan insurance policy, at the right price.

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