Choose Your Caravan Insurance Carefully

The purchase of a caravan, whether new or second-hand, can be quite an investment. As with all major purchases, you need to protect your investment with caravan insurance. Your caravan will either be for touring or else will be a static caravan. The touring caravan is one that you tow behind a vehicle suited to the task. This allows you to take advantage of the many camping and caravanning sites available. These can be in the UK or throughout Europe. Static caravans are usually on-site in a semi-permanent arrangement, and have electricity, sewer and water available.

As different risks apply to both types of caravans, there are different caravan insurance policies available for owners. Touring caravans run the risk of accidents during road trips. Static caravans face the same risks during transportation to their locations, and have the added risks of storm damage, for example floods or falling branches. Both types of caravans share the same risk of theft. It doesn't matter how often you use your caravan, you require a policy that covers the caravan itself, and its contents as well. As with any insurance you buy, it pays to shop around and find out what different policies offer. Look for a policy that will cover the van and the contents together. You can save money on your insurance if you make sure that your caravan is as safe as you can make it. Fit good quality security devices. Remember: you get what you pay for. If you have the best security that you can afford installed, you will save money on your insurance. Ask other members of your caravan club what they recommend, or seek out online quotes to compare. Perhaps a good consideration would be to install a hitchlock. This makes it difficult for your caravan to be unhitched should you need to leave your vehicle and caravan unattended, say at a rest stop. An alarm installed would be a deterrent for would-be thieves when your van is on-site. Put in window locks as they also make it difficult for would-be thieves. One of the best safety features you can have installed is a tracking device. Make sure the one you have fitted will work in the countries you will visit. Some trackers will just give you the location of your stolen caravan. The best ones offer full European monitoring, including recovery and co-ordinated police response.

Good, comprehensive caravan insurance policies offer, among many things, new for old replacement, European cover, emergency accommodation expenses, public liability cover and a 24 hour claims hotline. Make sure you have year - round cover for touring and storage, and that you are covered if you lend your caravan to friends or family. Imagine finding out too late that your policy didn't cover someone else using it!

Caravan insurance is a necessity to protect your property. For peace of mind, and to protect you from claims should you be involved in an accident, you really should take the time to compare insurance products and choose the one that meets all of your needs.