Insurance?

[Pete-B]

Hi,

After our first year of motorhome owning come all the yearly associated costs and I suppose one of them -insurance - is worth shopping round for. At the moment we're with Saga and I'm informed today that renewal will £70 dearer this year. Whilst I suppose this is not out of this world a lot extra it must be worth contacting a few other companies. So I would very much appreciate any recommended companies that you have found to be fair and good to deal with, thanks.

[johnnerontheroad]

Saga do this so get onto Safegaurd or one of the other insurers and get a quote and then go back to Saga and they usually match it. It's a game just play it.

 

Good luck

 

Dave

[Brian Kirby]

It is generally worth getting insurance from a firm that specialises in insuring motorhomes, because they understand the patterns of use and are frequently more flexible over periods of travel, especially foreign travel. If you intend travelling outside the EU area, for example to or through any of the Balkan states (Serbia, Bosnia, Turkey, etc), do check what cover you can get for such countries before you buy. Some won't cover them at all, some will restrict duration, some may charge additional premiums.

 

Also, check very carefully any written confirmation of what you have told them if you complete a proposal over the 'phone. Anything that is not covereed on the confirmation is liable to have been left off, which could be very detrimental to you if the worst happens and you need assistance, and all you get is an argument over what was included.

 

Bear in mind that some insurers offer home/continental breakdown cover as a competetively priced "bolt-on" to their policies, so the one who has the lowest premium for your van may not be cheapest overall when this is taken into account.

 

I would also add that, IMO, it is better to ring and speak to them in preference to completing on-line quotes, as the on-line systems are not so responsive to particular needs.

 

Final point, ask for sample documents before you buy, and read carefully, to be sure you are being offered the scope of cover you want. Some are very reluctant to provide these, you may ask yourself why! :-D

 

For names, in no particuler order, I would suggest you speak to the Caravan Club (AFAIK, you don't need to be a member), Caravan Guard, and Comfort. I have been told that both Saga and the Caravan Club can provide insurance for some non-EU countries (not sure about Serbia, though!).

 

A couple of riders: if proposing to travel for over 60 days, check the absence restrictions on your house/contents insurance, many of which reduce cover if their stipulated unoccupancy period is exceeded, and check health insurance provision, as some policies include this but with restrictions on duration of cover. In either case it may be worth discussing these issues at the same time as your van insurance, because some of the specialists can offer insurance "packages" (though not necessarily sold as such), where unoccupancy periods are harmonised with foreign driving and health insurance restrictions. If available, these can be cheaper (albeit some premium adjustments may be involved), and a lot simpler and more flexible, than buying each insurance individually. Good luck with your search.

[John 47]

Obviously it depends on your precise requirements but we have been with Safeguard for 15 years because they have consistently offered us the best deal to include 12 months European cover and full breakdown recovery. If European travel isn't important to you, then you might get a better deal elsewhere but I would advise you to at least get a quote from them. Good luck