Posts Tagged ‘caravan’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Touring Caravan Insurance Makes Sense

Sunday, April 22nd, 2012

On those lists of ‘things to do’ should be going on a touring caravan holiday. Many people who have tried it once are converted, and will start looking to get a caravan of their own. However, it is important to understand that if you want to get the best from your holiday, you need to make sure you have taken out touring caravan insurance.

Caravans are a substantial investment and insurance is important to ensure you are protecting yourself. You could find yourself deeply out of pocket in the event that your caravan is damaged beyond repair or stolen while you are away. Caravan theft is unfortunately an all too common thing, with over 3000 being stolen each year.

Having a fully comprehensive policy can seem an expensive luxury, that is until the day arrives when you need to claim. In such an unfortunate circumstance you with be thanking your lucky stars that you had the foresight to protect yourself. Fortunately there are ways in which you can reduce your premiums, the easiest being to get decent security devices.

You will find that you have to have a certain amount of security before being accepted for most touring caravan insurance policies,  normally a hitchlock and/or a wheel clamp. This will offer both yourselves and your insurers some peace of mind. And the more security you add, the lower will be your perceived risk to insurers, and the real risk that you are likely to claim. Bear in mind that security will only offer you a certain amount of price reduction on the policy however.

Another option is to install an alarm on the caravan, as this will attract discounts also. There are also satellite tracking devices available, which have an excellent record for retrieval of stolen caravans. This can be costly, but they can offer a substantial discount, and will act as a great deterrent to a great many thieves who realise their effectiveness.

You don’t need to break the bank to get a decent touring caravan insurance policy, but you could break it if you don’t cover yourself. And if you investigate and take necessary precautions, you can save  yourself a decent amount of money.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Caravan Insurance | No Comments »

Timely Caravan Insurance Quotes

Friday, April 20th, 2012

Given the hectic lives we lead in the modern world, the old maxim ‘time is money’ has never been truer. With fewer and fewer hours to call our own we are all looking for short-cuts to make things easier, and this is as true for caravan insurance as for most things. This is where the internet becomes the overburdened caravan owners friend.

Many of the caravan insurance companies have websites, most of them offering customers the opportunity to get a quote online. However this quoting process is not always as straightforward as you may think. Many of the insurers don’t offer a real-time quote facility, instead they have a call back system, which is clearly not the quickest way to get a quote. Let’s face it, the reason you go online is to simplify and speed up your life, not to have to waste time speaking to someone to get your quote.

There is an alternative, to come to a comparison site like caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk, which is the gateway to the main caravan insurance companies. From here you can easily get to the quotes that you need, saving you precious time. This is the easiest option for the discerning caravan owner, which will enable you quickly to find the qoute that is best for you.

More than just access to quotes however, the site offers a wealth of information to help you make the right choices when looking for your touring or static caravan insurance. The mixture of information and easy access to quotes makes the site a great resource for the caravan owner.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Caravan Insurance | No Comments »

More Caravan Security Tips

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

Caravan Insurance is something you definitely should get if you own a caravan. A caravan is a valuable asset, and you could find yourself very out of pocket if you don’t insure it adequately. Caravan insurance provides protection if your caravan is stolen or damaged, however there are a number of ways you can stop this occurring.

It’s a sobering thought that there are in the region of three thousand caravans stolen in the United Kingdom each year, and with the increasing popularity of staying in the UK for a holiday and the resulting increase in caravan ownership and holidays, this figure can only be expected to go higher. Caravan owners should make sure they have the best security they can to deter thieves. Following is a list of 10 of the most effective ways to protect your caravan, taken as a whole they add up to a formidable deterrent.

  1. Security posts are an effective deterrent for people who park their caravan on the front drive of their home. These help stop thieves from taking the caravan from the drive, because they are concreted into the ground. Some posts come equipped with a towball on top that you hitch-lock the caravan to, and others can be either detachable or foldable to allow the caravan to move in and out of your driveway.
  2. Hitch locks are a useful device in providing some degree of protection against the opportunist thief. You should make sure it is manufactured of heavy steel that will cover the tow socket fixing bolts, and also has a very strong lock. Bear in mind that on their own though, they don’t offer an adequate level of protection for when the caravan is in storage.
  3. Wheel clamps are another option. Wheel clamps come in a range of qualities, but a useful rule of thumb is that by and large the easier they are to put on, then the easier they are for a thief to take off. So you need to make sure that you invest in a good clamp and also ensure that it is correct for your caravan. It is worth noting that some wheel clamps that are available on the market will allow a clever thief to take off both the wheel and the clamp in one go, so don’t get one of these.
  4. Another useful security measure is to etch either your caravan’s chassis number or your postal code on all of the caravan windows, and also several covert places inside the van. Instead you could just use a fibre-tipped pen on plywood inside a cupboard and under the beds, as this is almost impossible to remove. Even more ingeniously, you can instead use an ultra violet pen.
  5. Another useful deterrent is wheel stands. However, don’t underestimate the tenacity of a determined caravan thief, as this on their own won’t be likely to prevent them. You should ensure they are locked in place, and you should also check that your insurers are happy with you doing this, as some policies require wheel clamps to be used. You should also check your handbook, as many caravan manufacturers recommend that axle stands are used for winter storage.
  6. You should also take plenty of photos of your caravan, in particular any particularly defining features it may have. These photos can help you identify your caravan in the event that it is pinched.
  7. You could use some large stick-on characters or paint a number or code specific to you on the roof of your caravan. For instance you can use any number that is known only to you, or perhaps a parto f the caravan’s serial number. This may be extremely useful in the event that the caravan is pinched as it makes it easily identifiable from helicopters and light airplanes that the police use nowadays.
  8. There are a number of companies around that provide a service that entails embedding a microchip into your caravan. These microchips can then be identified using a scanner. Most vans made from 1998 will have datatags installed as standard. All previous CRiS (‘Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme) registered vans can have retrospectively fitted datatags. Bear in mind that there is a bit of a flaw to these schemes though, in there exists no centralised network of scanners available to track down these stolen vans.
  9. Another choice is a tracking system scheme, which involves the installation of a transmitter which is hidden about the caravan. In the event of the caravan being pinched the transmitter will send out a signal to help the police to find the caravan. There have been a number of good results using this scheme. However there exist a couple of issues when it comes to caravans (rather than cars or motorcaravans), the first is that the transmitter needs battery power in order to send out a signal, and the second is that the transmitter is only activated once the caravan has been reported as stolen. These issues present a difficulty if your caravan is in long-term storage, and only visited infrequently.
  10. You should unquestionably make a note of the chassis number of your caravan, and if it is registered with CRiS, you should keep the registration documents in a safe location away from the caravan. Other important information should also be noted and stored in this secure location.

The greater number of these ideas you implement, the more likely it is that your caravan won’t get pinched at all, and also, should it get stolen, that it will be returned to you.

But also, of course, make sure you have the right caravan insurance for your touring caravan.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Caravan Tips | No Comments »

Static Caravan Contents Insurance

Monday, April 16th, 2012

Most people have the common sense to compare the cost of their static caravan insurance quotes. However, some make the mistake of not comparing exactly what it is that they are spending their money on. Buying on price alone is often a false economy, as the benefits a policy offers is equally as important as the price you pay.

When you are investigating your static caravan quotes you take the following into consideration:

· Many static carvans have a great deal more furniture than the average touring caravan, because you look to make it a home away from home. Some static caravans have flat screen TVs, and perhaps also a portable TV in a bedroom, maybe a DVD player or two and various other electrical items, plus numerous other fixtures and fittings. All of these need to be considered when summing up how much it would cost to replace all of the contents, should it happen that everything was either stolen or destroyed.

· Once you have calculated the value of the contents of your caravan, this amount – known as the sum insured – is a factor in determining the cost of your static caravan insurance quotes. It makes no sense to insure for more than the value of the contents as you are paying for something you just don’t need. But of course you wouldn’t want to leave yourself under insured as in the event of loss you could find yourself out of pocket. It makes great sense therefore to undertake an inventory of your contents when calculating the sum to insure, from the smallest to the largest item. It is easy to underestimate just how much value there is in your static caravan.

· It is worth checking what you will get back should you have to claim an any of your contents. You will find that some policies cover you ‘new for old’, so if you lose something, it is replaced with a new one. Others offer depreciated values dependent upon the age of the item, so you will only get a certain percentage back. Consider what you would want in such circumstances.

Once you have calculated the amount you need to cover for, then you want to dig into the policy details to identify what is suitable for your needs. This way you will be sure to get the right static caravan insurance.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Caravan Insurance | No Comments »

Initiative to Improve Caravan Security

Saturday, April 14th, 2012

Those industrious folks down at Towergate Bakers are at it again, coming up with initiatives to push forward the uk caravan insurance market. Following on from their recent Green caravan insurance initiative comes another idea, providing the new Datatag caravan security system as part of their Select and Economy insurance polices on caravans worth over £10,000.

Datatag are Europe’s leading asset marking company, and have been providing asset protection within the Watercraft , Motorcycle and Construction industries for a number of years. They work with Police Authorities to try reduce crime and increase conviction rates. This has led to a big decrease in thefts wherever the Datatag system is used. Indeed they proudly boast that the Crown Prosecution Service have 100% success rate of prosecution in cases where Datatag evidence is used!

The system is the only system with the Thatcham seal of approval. Thatcham is a not-for-profit organisation that tests vehicle security systems and is very highly regarded in the market.

The Datatag systems consists of a number of elements:

  • Electronic transponders which have a unique identification code that can be read by a hand-held scanner used Police Forces in the UK.
  • Datadot microdots which enable you to mark all valuable items
  • DatatagDNA which is a unique forensic chemical DNA etching solution
  • ID labels that have unique ID numbers

These components add up to make your caravan ‘too-hot-to-handle’ for the professional thief.

The Marketing Director of Towergate Bakers, Paul Havenhand, enthused about the system calling it “a great piece of kit,” and hopes that this initiative will “reduce the number of stolen caravans, leading to lower premiums overall.” We do hope so Paul.

They are running this campaign in August, but hope to extend it, and will be running an advertising campaign to raise awareness of the device.

And the beauty of this is that the Datatag system will be saving you money on your caravan insurance in years to come, as it attracts a policy discount.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Caravan Insurance | No Comments »

Caravan Insurance Advice

Thursday, April 12th, 2012

For those not fortunate to own a caravan, they don’t know what they are missing. Providing many opportunities for excellent and cost efficient holidays, it can be a home away from home. It is though a major investment and as such it makes great sense to protect yourself from losses you could incur in the event of damage or theft. This is why it is so important to make sure you have suitable caravan insurance.

If you can find yourself the right policy then you can rest in the knowledge that your investment is properly protected. If you are able to stretch to a fully comprehensive policy you can rest easy in the knowledge that any damage or loss that you incur will be covered and you will not find yourself out of pocket. Policies can be tailored to match your requirements, and it is worth spending some time considering what you do need to protect, and for how much. There is no point paying for cover that you don’t need so be sure you are clear what you are covering, and just as importantly what you are not covering.

Like any financial investment it always make great sense to shop around when looking for your caravan insurance. This is where the internet provides a great benefit to caravan owners, offering a wealth of easily accessible information to help you find the right policy. Here are caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk we aim to provide you with the information you need to find an excellent caravan insurance policy, and to  pay the right price for it.

Tags: ,
Posted in Caravan Insurance | No Comments »

Caravan Security Tips

Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

It is a sobering thought that there are around three thousand caravans stolen annually in the United Kingdom. This number is likely to rise given the increasing popularity of caravanning and the ‘staycation’ that the credit crunch has brought about. A caravan is a valuable asset and owners would be very wise to take as many security precautions as they reasonably can.

Of course even these don’t offer a foolproof guarantee that your caravan will not be stolen, so it is important to ensure that you have the right insurance policy to suit your needs, and here at www.caravan-insurance-online.co.uk we aim to provide you with the tools to find the right caravan insurance online.

Below is a list of a number of the best ways of both protecting your caravan from theft, and identifying it in the event of theft. I hope you find them of some use.

At the cheaper end of the scale, there are a number of low-cost measures you can implement:

  • Keep a record your caravan’s chassis number. Write it down somewhere and store it away somewhere in a safe place, along with any other relevant documents (for instance any ‘Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme’ (CRiS) registration documents).
  • Use either an ultra-violet pen or a permanent marker to mark a code unique to you inside the caravan. You could use either the chassis number or your postcode as this code. A particularly good place for this is any plywood that is hidden away (in a cupboard, or under the bed for instance), as it is nigh on impossible to remove pen from these surfaces.
  • Take some photographs of your caravan, as these can come in particularly handy in the event that you need to identify your caravan should it be stolen. Be sure especially to take photos of any defining features of the ‘van.
  • As police constabularies use helicopter and airplanes these days, a great way of helping to recover your caravan is to put a unique number on top of the caravan in large bold letters, enabling it to be spotted from high in the air. This can be achieved with a good old can of paint, or you could buy some large adhesive characters. Use either a part of your chassis number, or another number specific to you, again your post code is a suggestion.

Moving on to some more expensive options:

  • Having a microchip embedded into your caravan is one option. The microchip is then identified by using a scanner, proving the caravan is yours. Since 1998, most caravans have been fitted with a datatag, and for caravans older than that that are CRiS it is possible to have one retrospectively fitted. There is no centralised network of scanners for these tags though, which is something of a weak point of the system.
  • I mentioned earlier about writing a unique code inside your caravan using felt-tip pen. Even more effective that that is to have the code etched onto all the windows of the caravan. It is a good idea to also have the same etched in a few hidden away places inside the caravan too.
  • Tracking systems are another good way of protecting your caravan. A transmitter is secreted about the caravan, and if the caravan is stolen the system is activated, and it sends out a signal which can then be tracked enabling the caravan to be located. There is a drawback with these when used with caravans in that they only activate one the vehicle is reported stolen. But if the caravan is in storage, it may only be visited infrequently, and the chances are that the caravan will be long gone by that time.
  • If you keep your caravan on your drive at home, a good idea is to install a security post. These will help to stop anyone taking the caravan from your drive. They are cemented into the ground, and the caravan is hitch-locked to a towball on top of the post. They are either foldable or detachable to allow the caravan to be removed from the drive, and provide a good deterrent to thieves.
  • Hitch locks are a widely used and very useful device for providing protection against the opportunist thief. Ensure that it is manufactured from heavy steel to cover the tow socket fixing bolts, and also that it has a strong lock. This alone though does not provide sufficient protection for a caravan whilst it is in storage.
  • Wheel clamps are another popular form of security. But as with most things, there are good ones and there are bad ones. Common sense states that if they are easy to put on, then they are probably going to easy to remove. So you want to make certain that you have a good clamp, one that correctly fits your caravan. Something to note is that there are some on the market that allow a clever thief to remove the clamp along with the wheel, so be careful to avoid these.
  • Another option is wheel stands, these enable you to remove the wheels of the caravan thus rendering it (theoretically) immovable. You should check your insurance policy first though as some require that wheel clamps are fitted. You may also find that the caravan manufacturer recommends these for winter storage, check the handbook for this information.

Of course, the more of these you implement the greater the security you are providing for your caravan, but there is no excuse for not implementing at least the cheaper forms of security. And of course there is no substitute for a good insurance policy, so even if all of these measures fail you can rest assured that you will not end up out of pocket.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Caravan Tips | No Comments »

Sort Your Noseweight: Protect Your Insurance

Sunday, April 8th, 2012

Caravan owners should always be aware of ways of preventing unnecessary claims on their touring caravan insurance. One thing they should pay special attention to is the question of the noseweight of their caravan when hitching.

If this is something you need guidance on, the National Caravan Council has published a free pdf guide on their website. This advice was supported by the tyre industry representative body TyreSafe, as their recent Caravan Tyre Safety Month recently came to a close.

You should invest in a noseweight gauge, which will cost around £30. The gauge will enable you to check the weight according to the caravan’s laden weight. The noseweight is recommended to be between 5% – 7% of the laden weight.

Having incorrect noseweight can be dangerous when towing as it can have adverse effects on the stability of the caravan. The weight should neither be too light or too heavy, but the correct amount to prevent any instability and subsequent control issues. Such a simple check can prevent having to make unnecessary claims on your insurance, and in turn lead to cheaper touring caravan insurance the following year.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Caravan Insurance, Caravan Tips | Comments Off

Comparing Caravan Insurance Online

Friday, April 6th, 2012

Back in the information ‘dark ages’ it used to be nigh on impossible to find the right caravan insurance. There were  few companies in the market, and the process of comparing their insurance was time consuming and difficult. Thankfully, in these ‘connected’ days it is easier than ever to compare caravan insurance, as the number of online caravan insurers has blossomed.

You will find there are more specialist caravan insurers arriving on the scene all the time. And you will save yourself a huge amount of hassle by using their online quote facilities. It’s no longer the case that you have to call each of them up to get a quote, now it’s just a case of filling in a form on their site, and off you go. This makes it easy to collect multiple quotes.

It is important to make  sure you do compare caravan insurance quotes. It is tempting just to take the first insurance policy that seems reasonable, but you could find the same thing elsewhere for a substantial reduction if you are willing to put in that extra bit of effort. This is where comparison sites come in especially useful, as you find links to multiple insurers in one place. This is where www.caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk comes in.

It is very much worth making that extra effort to find the right caravan insurance, and with the comparison sites, this has never been an easier task. Out there is the right caravan insurance for you, and these days finding it has become far less stressful and time consuming than in the past.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Caravan Insurance | Comments Off

Online Caravan Insurance Quotes

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

Why are online caravan insurance quotes cheaper?

Reason #1:

The main reason is the reduction of overheads by the insurance companies. They don’t need someone to answer the phone, or punch in the numbers, or close the sale. All they need is a website that once it is up and running can happily tick along on its own with a minimum of intervention (except when the pesky things go down!).

Reason #2:

The other reason online caravan insurance quotes are cheaper is because of the competition. The internet has lowered the bar for entry into the market, meaning more providers are out there wanting your business. The internet also makes it easy to get comparative quotes, so it is a ‘cut-prices-or-die’ scenario for those in the game. If you keep your costs high you will not survive in the market as you will lose your business to those willing to cover caravans for less.

This is of course great news for the clued-up caravan owner, who knows they can shop around to find themselves the best deal. This can amount to a hefty cash saving, one you can use to enjoy yourself!

www.caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk is here to help you find the best quote by providing you with information from, and access to, the best caravan insurers out there. The site has a variety of articles to point you in the right direction as to how to save money, how to make your caravan more secure, and a number of other useful subjects. There are also links to the best caravan insurance companies on the market, making it easy for you to find the right quote.

Thankfully the dark old days of looking through the Yellow Pages, phoning a few companies and having to talk right through your details to each of them have gone.

Of course you should always shop around, and make sure you get several online caravan insurance quotes to make sure you are getting the absolute best price out there. But bear in mind that cheapest does not necessarily mean best, you need to make sure that the cover is right for you. Again the internet is great in that it makes it easy to find out exactly what you are getting as the key-facts and terms and conditions documents are available.

So to make sure you get the right caravan insurance policy make the most of the great resources available on the internet. You will save yourself a good deal of time and money.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Caravan Insurance | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »