Protect your investment

A touring caravan can represent a significant financial outlay for most caravanners. Brand new tourers cost anything from £5,000 - £20,000. New motorhomes considerably more expensive. It is also a sad fact that every year several hundred caravans and motorhomes are stolen - often from outside the family home.

Obviously there are many security devices on the market, some more effective (and expensive) than others, but at the end of the day, it is essential to have good insurance cover for your prized holiday home.

Choosing the right insurance

Caravan Insurance - A Consumer's Guide. Caravan Insurance Online, is a web site created to help you and the wider caravan community access impartial information about touring caravan insurance and related topics. They are not related to any insurance company and it is their aim to provide you with a means assessing the available services and therefore helping you make an informed decision on how best to protect your caravan.

What to check up on

• What does the policy cover?
• What security measures am I required to have
• Is the caravan/motorhome covered for touring abroad?
• What value contents cover is included?
• Can I lend it to family or friends?
• What is the excess for each claim?
• Are there any conditions for its storage?
• Is the cover new for old?
• Will there be a replacement if a holiday is imminent?

£33 million and rising...... that's the approximate value of stolen caravans that have yet to be found!

'Thiefbeaters' - Protecting your caravan from thieves is essential. Use Thiefbeaters - A 'Thatcham' Approved Theft Deterrent for peace of mind security. Professionally installed at your premises for under £180. Make sure you're protected.

Minimum cover

Obviously, you need to be covered for replacement or reimbursement if your caravan is stolen, destroyed or damaged beyond repair. This should also include all accessories you have so expensively acquired over the years.

You will also need to be covered for accidental damage, or all kinds of fire, storm, flood, theft and malicious damage.

Most insurers offer recompense for hotel accommodation if your caravan is rendered uninhabitable during a holiday away from home.

It is a wise precaution to include third party liability cover.

Another essential is to have cover for the caravan's contents while you are on holiday. When the van is in storage, no valuables should ever be left inside.