Posts Tagged ‘caravan’

Saving Money with Caravan Insurance Excess

Monday, April 2nd, 2012

With all the belt tightening going on these days, people are sensibly looking for more ways to save their hard-earned money. There is an opportunity to do this with your insurance policies. If you have a caravan insurance policy you may want to think about opting for a voluntary excess.

Almost all policies have an excess as standard. This means the insurance company will only pay the amount of any claim minus the amount of your excess. Clearly the higher the excess on your policy, the less you would receive back in the event of a claim. However bad this may sound, it also attracts the benefit that it reduces premiums.

It is important however that you get the balance correct. It’s great to be able to save some money on premiums, but you have to bear in mind the practicalities if you have to make a claim at some point. You need to be realistic about whether you could acutally afford to cover the excess. If you choose a voluntary excess to save yourself some money, you need to know that you could bear the cost if you need to make a claim.

So with some common sense it is easy to save yourself money on your caravan insurance. You just need to consider carefully that you are getting the balance between saving money and protecting yourself adequately

Saving Money On Your Caravan Insurance: Tip 1

Saturday, March 31st, 2012

One of the best ways to keep down the cost of your caravan insurance is not to make a claim on it. Fairly obvious I know! But the question is what can you do to make this more likely?

One possible way to achieve this is to improve your caravan manoeuvring skills. The Camping and Caravanning Club provide one day courses aimed to achieve just this. The course costs £95 for club members (non-members should include the cost of joining the club) and breaks down into the following Syllabus:

  • Towing a Caravan
  • Caravanners and the Law
  • Loading a Caravan
  • Hitching and Unhitching
  • Reversing with Safety

All trainers are qualified driving instructors. And there is a restriction of only twelve participants per course. This gives a ratio of four participants for each instructor.

To take the the course all that is required is a full drivers licence, caravans are provided to complete the practical elements of the course. At the end of the day all participants receive a course certificate and a free copy of the handbook “Safe Towing for Life”.

To book a course, or make an enquiry, you can call the club on 0845 130 7412.

These improved skills will help make you safer when in transit, and when siting the caravan on site, reducing the likelihood that you will find yourself in a situation where you have to make a claim on your caravan insurance.

Avoiding the Caravan Insurance Gotchas

Thursday, March 29th, 2012

Thankfully these days reputable insurance providers are far less prone to burying gotchas in the small print. Nonetheless it is always very advisable to read a caravan insurance policy closely to be sure you understand what you are signing up for, both in terms of what cover you do have, but also what might not be in the policy. Some things to look out for are:

  • check what security devices are obligatory under your policy, as you will not be covered unless you use these.
  • What external items are covered? Furniture, barbecues, satellite dishes. Be sure you know, so you don’t get caught out.
  • statements of your claim obligations. If you make a claim against the policy for theft then you may need to provide supporting evidence that it was reported to the police within a specified amount of time.
  • Static caravans may be required to be fully jacked off of its wheels and secured using a specific anchoring method.
  • During the in-season you may find that there are stipulations at to where you can locate your caravan. For instance a static caravan may need to be on a licensed site that provides full services.
  • During the closed season you may have to store your caravan off-road, or possibly in a secure location.

The main point is that it is important that you read your policy carefully to fully understand your obligations and the limits of your caravan insurance policy.

Why Should I Buy Caravan Insurance?

Tuesday, March 27th, 2012

Ahhh…. Summer…. The time of year when caravanners will be dusting down their gear, getting their caravans out of storage, and dream of sunny days on the open road. Unfortunately a lot of these people will do so without having any kind of caravan insurance cover. And for a section of these this will prove an expensive oversight.

Those dreams of carefree days can turn to a nightmare if disaster befalls, and adequate precautions were not taken prior to setting off on your trip. And the strange thing is that there is not actually a legal requirement to insure a caravan. Indeed may people rely on their household insurance.

Nigel Coppen, spokesman of the Camping and Caravanning Club says, “Many people are surprised there is no legal requirement to insure a caravan, but you are covered under your motor insurance in the case of an accident on the road.” However he sagely adds that “Personally, I wouldn’t own something that can cost up to £20,000 and not insure it.” We’re with you on that one Nigel.

Ian Crowder of the AA says, “Most motor insurance policies do allow the driver to tow a caravan or trailer,” adding that, “you should check with your insurer.” He also points out that there are “tough rules about which cars can tow which size of caravan.” And it is wise to stick rigidly to this, or risk losing out.

Having good insurance is very important for at least two reasons: firstly, you could find yourself very out of pocket if things go wrong; secondly, you are going to have a rotten holiday if something goes wrong. And bear in mind that many insurance policies will cover for alternative accommodation, so you can continue to enjoy your holiday without the financial burden.

Also bear in mind that contents left inside a locked car are not covered by your car insurance. So if your car is broken into and valuable gear is stolen, you will have no protection.

And for those relying on their home insurance policy, these items could add up to a hefty sum, which your insurance may not cover, and could also push up next years premium by a hefty amount.

We have said it before many times, and we say it again. Be sure you have an adequate touring caravan insurance policy. That is what we here at caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk are here to help you with, find the right insurance at the right price.

Finding The Cheapest Caravan Insurance

Sunday, March 25th, 2012

During these difficult financial times we are all looking to squeeze the most we can from each of our hard-earned pounds. It can often seem frustrating paying out for insurance, for something that may have no financial return. However it remains an essential investment even in the hardest of times, and this is as true of caravan insurance as any type of insurance.

When looking for your next insurance policy you will only find the cheapest caravan insurance if you are willing to compare prices. This used to be a case of hunting through the Yellow Pages and making laborious phone calls to insurance providers, however with the internet this becomes a much more straightforward task.

The best place to start the process of comparison is a specialist caravan insurance comparison site, like www.caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk. They will offer you easy access to the range of caravan insurers in the market making the task a lot easier. However it needs to be borne in mind that the price is not the only consideration when buying insurance. You must also make sure that you have adequate coverage.

Adequate coverage means both enough coverage in financial terms, and also enough coverage in the breadth of items and circumstances that are protected. For instance you may take your caravan touring on the continent, in which case you will want to include continental coverage in your insurance. And if you don’t, you will want to make sure you are not paying for it unecessarily.

It is important to take the time to compare both prices and coverage between at least several different providers to make sure you are getting the right insurance, but also at the best price available. Substantial savings can be made with fairly little effort by harnessing the power of the internet, and in these financially pressing times this becomes more important than ever.

Caravan Towing Tips

Friday, March 23rd, 2012

Towing a caravan presents added risks to driving, and should only ever be undertaken responsibly.  The following tips will help reduce these risks:

  • You should allow yourself extra time and space for everything you do. Whether it be braking earlier than normal, or turning wider to prevent catching a curb or cutting a corner.
  • Bear in mind that speed limits are often lower when you are towing. You shouldn’t exceed 60mph on dual carriageways, and 50mph on single carriageways.
  • You must not tow in the outside lane of a motorway that has 3 or more lanes, unless explicitly instructed to do so.
  • Ensure you have a clear view to the rear of your caravan. You will probably need to use extension mirrors.
  • Never carry passengers or animals in the caravan when towing.
  • Your number plate must conform to British Standards, it must show your registration number, and must be illuminated during the hours of darkness.
  • Check you rear light panel before every time you drive off.
  • If traffic is building up behind you, make sure you pull over at a suitable place to allow it to pass.
  • Make sure you park sensibly and don’t cause an obstruction. And don’t park in parking meter bays.
  • Don’t ever dispose of your caravan’s waste water on the public highway.

A lot of these tips are plain common sense, but by following them you will make your experience and those around you safer and more pleasurable. You will also of course be doing yourself a favour in terms of your caravan insurance, by reducing the risk of needing to claim.

Carry On Touring (But Don’t Forget the Caravan Insurance)

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

It was heartwarming to hear the story of Wally Jinks, 51, from Doncaster, who shared £2,033,705 with his friend Alan Stringer, 50, after the pair matched all six numbers in a Lotto Rollover. Despite his good fortune though Wally has no intention of giving up his regular caravan holiday to the Yorkshire coast. One extravagance though, he and his wife Dawn are going to upgrade their touring caravan.

Lucky for Wally he will have the cash to replace his caravan if something happens, but for most of us, making sure we insure our touring caravans properly is an important financial consideration. A caravan is a big investment, and will make a big hole in the average wallet if it is not insured and something happens.

Luckily in these information super highway days, we have the benefit of being able to hunt down the right touring caravan insurance with ease. There are a variety of insurance providers on the internet ready to offer you there wares. www.caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk is here for the very purpose of helping caravan owners find the policy that is right for them.

We have a variety of resources to provide you with the background information to make informed choices, and to save money when you are looking for caravan insurance. And we provide links to the main insurers on the internet, to aid your journey to the right insurance.

How do I make my caravan more secure? How can I save money on premiums? What isn’t covered on insurance? what do I need to cover on insurance? These are the kind of things we look to help out caravanners with when they are looking for their touring caravan insurance.

Static Caravan Insurance Online

Monday, March 19th, 2012

So why should I buy my static caravan insurance online?

An excellent question, and one that has these compelling answers:

  • information
  • choice
  • price

Information: The internet is an excellent source of information (of course we include www.caravan-insurance-cover in that statement!). ‘Knowledge is power’ the saying goes, and it is an important truism when researching your insurance. Our aim on this site is that you should be able to find out pretty much all you need to know before buying your insurance without leaving the site. To help you understand the elements of static caravan insurance, to ensure you are buying the right policy.

Choice: The internet is essentially an enormous virtual shopping mall, one you can browse without leaving the comfort of your armchair. Easy access is available to various static caravan insurance providers, so you can see what each has to offer, and compare policies before investing your hard-earned money. This allied with the information I mentioned earlier puts you in a far better position to get the right insurance policy for your static caravan.

Price: This is the big one for most people. Many caravan insurance providers offer discounts for buying insurance online. So, you know what you need (information), you know where you can get it (choice), and you know where you can get it the cheapest (price).

All in all the chance to research and buy your static caravan insurance online is one that puts the buyer in the position of power. It is our aim here at caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk to help you get into that position of power, to make sure you get the right static caravan insurance policy at the right price.

The Right Caravan Insurance At The Right Price

Saturday, March 17th, 2012

The great thing about being a touring caravan owner is that you can take off pretty much whenever the fancy takes you. And if you have a good insurance policy you can go with complete peace of mind. To find the right policy you want to investigate the specialist touring caravan insurance providers you can find on the internet.

An increasing number of companies now provide specialist caravan insurance, meaning an ever growing choice for the caravanner. And as we all know, competition is a good thing for the consumer, it offers choice and lower prices. So make sure you take advantage of this, and use the internet to research the insurance market, and get the right insurance policy.

As we never tire of saying here at caravan-insurance-cover, knowledge is power, and the internet is a godsend for caravanners looking for insurance. It is an amazing tool for research, which helps you to get informed about your needs for insurance, find the insurance policies that match your needs, and also find the cheapest caravan insurance quotes. A triple whammy.

The internet also makes the job of comparing quotes that much easier. Gone are the days of leafing through the Yellow Pages, making time-consuming phone calls to get overpriced insurance. The internet has democratized the market, putting downward pressure on prices as the bar to entering the market has been dramatically lowered. More competition, more information, this is all good news for the caravan owner.

A great place to start when looking for your next caravan insurance policy is here at www.caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk. The site offers you information about caravan insurance, so you can understand what goes to make up a caravan insurance policy. This will enable you to make informed choices when comparing polices.

We also offer links to specialist caravan insurers to simplify your job when looking for quotes. This will make it easier for you to get several quotes prior to spending your hard-earned cash. So you can find the cheapest policy that fits your requirements.

This mix of information and links offers a portal to caravan owners. A portal that puts the consumer in control. And with this powerful tool we seek to achieve our goal, which is to help caravan owners find the right caravan insurance at the right price.

Compare Caravan Insurance Online

Thursday, March 15th, 2012

Whenever you buy something, you naturally want to find the best deal available, and this is as true of caravan insurance as anything else. And like anything else the best way to achieve this is by comparing policies. It is tempting to try to save time by just finding any policy and signing up, but this will very likely be a false economy, and come back to bite your behind.  It’s actually a lot easier than many people imagine to compare caravan insurance policies if you approach it in the right way.

So what is the right way? To head online is the answer. It is common knowledge that the internet has revolutionised shopping for many people, and this is as true as for caravan owner searching for insurance as for anyone else. It is easy online to investigate the options available to you, to investigate what different policies have to offer, and price comparison sites make this task even more straightforward.

Finding the caravan insurers is very easy using an online caravan insurance comparison site. Here at www.caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk. we provide you with access to the best caravan insurers the country has to offer. This will make finding the right caravan insurance policy, that is one that suits your needs, and your pockets, a whole lot easier. Save time, save money, use the power of the web to help yourself.