The End Of Complicated Caravan Insurance

Insuring a caravan can be a complicated business, the range of insurances available and the variety of cover can mean that owners are either left without the right policy to match their usage or multiple cover to conform with caravan park rules. It has been reported that residents in caravan parks face many problems when it comes to liaising with park owners, ranging from access, to caravan sales, and there have been allegations of deliberate arson and bullying tactics to intimidate residents. In light of this bad press, we ask if negotiations over caravan insurance are any different.

Having the right caravan insurance is dependent on the type of caravan you own and on how you use it. Touring caravans are often insured under a motor vehicle insurance, and the contents under home insurance cover. This has the potential to lead to problems if a claim needs to be made as to which policy is really responsible for paying out for what damage. It seems like it should be a no-brainer, damage to goods should be covered by the house insurance, and damage to the caravan should be covered by car insurance, but getting lots of different insurance companies to work on a claim is not for the faint hearted.

For owners of static caravans, the type of insurance available also varies wildly, even though the caravan remains in the safe confines of a caravan park, well away from pile-ups on the M25. Some owners choose to get the basic package that insures against theft and then use the home contents insurance to cover any damage to personal property such as televisions, DVD players and music systems. Unfortunately, what many owners do not realise is that if they are renting out their caravan to friends or relatives, then this cover no longer applies, and if a serious incident occurs, then there is no cover available at all.

By purchasing specialist caravan insurance, owners can ensure that they are covered against damage to property, theft, vandalism, and most importantly have liability cover. The potential for a resident to cause damage to their own static home or someone else's is just as likely when the caravan is vacant as when it is being used. Whilst occupied, residents have been known to mow through power cables, set fire to awnings, cause gas bottle leaks and the like. Whilst unoccupied there is the risk of damage to the owner's property from floods and damp and destruction caused by bad weather. The gales of 1987 are a classic example. Strong winds caused many caravans to be ripped from their tethers, and the light aluminium structures were bent, buckled and tossed around caravan parks causing damage to park property and other static homes.

Specialist caravan insurance can protect against this, but it is always wise to get impartial advice about the right type of policy. Many park owners prefer residents to get the insurance policies they provide, but after the allegations of bullying by some park owners, caravan owners fear that the policy will not provide adequate cover against price fixing in sales and damage caused by site negligence. This has lead to caravan owners buying their own policy in addition to the one on the insistence of the management, essentially double insuring in many aspects.

If you are facing problems with obtaining your own policy and keeping a pitch, ask to see the caravan insurance details, and ask for amendments that may be necessary. If you find that site management are not helpful, then it may be better to seek advice from a specialist caravan insurance advisory bureau and possibly find a pitch at another site.