First timer trying to sort out insurance

[krusty]

Any advice on the main points to consider would be greatly appreciated - I hadn't even thought about personal possessions until I saw it mentioned on the forum............ :-S

[ips]

Just to get the ball rolling its worth considering if you need....

 

foreign cover

breakdown cover

limited annual mileage (discount if you cap it ours is 6000 miles)

 

 

 

[Tony Jones]

Hi Christine, and welcome.

 

Other points to check depend on the way you'll want to use your van, eg:

 

If you plan to go abroad, any UK insurance automatically gives you legal minimum cover throughout the EU, but that's usually only 3rd party. To keep your fully comp cover intact, some insurers limit the number of days outside the UK, and some will want notification of each journey. If straying outside the EU, read the small print first!

 

If, like me, your van is to be your main transport, ANY kind of "business" or "work" use is excluded on most specialist motorhome policies, so you'll need to look beyond the adverts in MMM. On the other hand, once you move away from specialist MH policies, you may not have the cover you want for the kind of "possessions" we tend to carry. BUT you may already have that extra cover elsewhere without realising it, eg on your household policy, or as a freebie from your bank.

 

With motorhomes, even more than cars, where you keep the van will affect the premium (and possibly even the "acceptance").

 

So think very carefully about the kind of use you'll make of the van, and what's likely to be in it, make a list of your cover requirements, then go and read each firm's "summary box." If anything you need isn't mentioned there, ask for the information - in writing! Don't rely on anyone's verbal assurance that something is covered: if it's not in the written details, ask for a letter confirming it, and if they "can't" do that, assume you're not covered.

 

But cheer up, remember you only have to do this once, and if you get it right you can forget all about it. I know some people shop around every year to see if they can save a few quid, but IMHO life's too short!

 

[Uncle Bulgaria]

Hello Christine,

I think both the major motorhome magazines (MMM and Practical Motorhome) do an annual survey of motorhome insurance products. Their breakdown of what is included and excluded, restrictions and indicative prices is a useful starting point. You should be able to get the relevent back number from the publisher. A useful starting point from which to prepare a shortlist. Then get on the 'phone and get full quotes.

Cheers.

Richard.

[krusty]

Thanks for all your advice, it was certainly food for thought.

 

Delighted to say that we have now taken posession of our 'new toy' and have spent our first two nights away on the Kintyre peninsular.

 

Now living for the weekends........

[Mel B]

Howdy Krusty, pleased you got sorted .... c'mon then, lets hear about your new baby ... what is it etc. :-D

[Mike B.]

Hi Krusty

One of the main things to consider (Especially if you're going abroad) is breakdown cover.

A lot of Insurers don't include this and it can cost you around £100 per year through Green Flag or AA/RAC and that's just for UK.

We are insured with Safeguard (which is part of Swinton Group) in Horsforth nr Leeds and they cover UK and full cover EU plus breakdown UK and EU and this even covers punctures-Something that is not fun on a rainy night on a motorway in a motorhome.

In addition to this, if you have a car insurance with NCB they will mirror that NCB on your motorhome until you have built one up on the van policy-their philosophy is if you're driving the van you can't be driving the car and vice versa.

Not pushing them and I don't work for them but I've been insured with them for about 5 years now and found their service second to none and the price was competitive -mine is £365 pa including all the above on a 2005 Fiat 2.8

Hope this helps

Mike