Seasonal Caravan Use: How To Adjust Your Insurance Coverage

Either way, this helpful guide will show you how to adjust your insurance coverage and how to identify your seasonal needs.

What does the caravan insurance policy cover?

You should always begin by asking about what is included in your caravan insurance policy. Most providers usually offer coverage that includes accidental damage, theft, and third-party liability. However, the level of protection can vary, so make sure that you ask your provider for specifics if there is anything in particular that you want to make sure is covered.

What are the policy exclusions?

Knowing what isn’t covered in your policy is just as important as knowing what is. Typical exclusions can include general wear and tear or electrical/mechanical failures.  

Details of what is and isn’t covered should be provided in your policy documentation, but it is important to check what the policy covers before purchasing caravan insurance to ensure that the cover meets your needs.

For example, if you have a touring caravan and you’re planning on using your caravan abroad then you should check that your policy allows this as some providers might have geographical limits. There could also be minimum security requirements so you should make sure you’re aware of what these are and when they would need to be used.

Are there any optional extras or add-ons available?

Some insurance policies don’t include the contents of the caravan in the standard coverage. If you store your belongings (such as camping equipment) in your caravan, ask if contents cover is included or if you need to add it to your policy. You should also find out whether there are any contents which would not be covered by your policy, such as valuables.

If you plan to take your caravan abroad, you need to inquire about European travel coverage. Some insurers offer coverage extensions for trips outside the UK, but this usually requires an additional premium. Confirm what’s included and if there are any restrictions on the countries you can visit before you plan your trip.

What type of caravan cover am I getting?

Caravan insurance isn’t like car insurance. It is not fully ‘comprehensive’ or ‘third party, fire and theft (TPFT)’.

Instead, policies usually determine your caravan’s value based on either the ‘new for old’ or ‘market value’ approach. You can contact your provider to find out what options are available to you.

• New for old policies replace your caravan with a brand-new model that has similar specifications, in the event of a total loss.
• Market value policies only cover the current value of the caravan, factoring in depreciation.

Understanding seasonal caravan coverage

There are types of coverage that allow you to increase your insurance protection when your caravan is in use and reduce it during off-seasons when it’s in storage or on a seasonal pitch.

Some benefits of adjusting your coverage for seasonal use can include:

• Protection during times of active use — covering risks such as accidents, theft, or damage while on the road or at a campsite.
• Potentially lower insurance costs when the caravan isn’t in use — if you can reduce the level of coverage needed during storage.

Identifying your seasonal needs

Everyone who owns a caravan has different needs. Whether you use your caravan in the summer months or predominantly use it for winter getaways, you should look at your usual yearly usage and assess your level of coverage.

If your caravan stays in storage for extended periods over the winter months, you might benefit from adjusting your caravan insurance policy to reflect this. However, if you normally use your holiday home during the spring and summer, you might want to make sure your insurance policy covers damage, theft or accidents during those months.

Adjusting caravan coverage for active use

When your caravan is in use, you might have specific scenarios or risks which you want to make sure are covered. Your policy wording will provide details of what is and isn’t covered, but below are some examples of common concerns:

Accident coverage

One of the main concerns for touring caravan owners is accidents on the road, so you should check whether your insurance policy covers accidental damage. At Towergate, we offer accidental damage while towing as standard on our touring caravan policies. We also have the option to extend your accidental damage cover to protect your caravan while it is unhitched - giving you the freedom to tailor the cover to meet your specific requirements.

Personal belongings coverage

Some caravan policies will also provide cover for your possessions and equipment. You can ask your provider whether personal belongings, such as your clothing and camping equipment, are covered against incidents such as theft, loss or damage. You may also be able to remove this cover from your policy if your main concern is protecting the caravan itself.

Public liability

Public liability cover provides protection if damage is caused to a third party. This would usually be covered by your car insurance while you are towing the caravan, but it is important to check this with your provider. You should also check whether public liability is covered while your caravan is unhitched, for example while your caravan is on site or in storage.

There are all sorts of other types of cover you can invest in, but these are the most common to protect caravans on the road, even if it’s not a obligation.

Adjusting caravan coverage for off-season storage

If your caravan isn’t in use during an off-season, or it’s a period you normally keep it on a seasonal pitch, talk to your insurance provider and see if you can adjust your policy as below:

Personal belongings coverage

Even in storage, your caravan might be vulnerable to risks like theft, fire, and vandalism. It’s important to check that cover is still in place while you’re not using your caravan and whether any conditions apply - for example, you might need to use a hitch lock or wheel clamp to be covered against theft while your caravan is not in use.

Cover amendments

Towergate policies for example allow you to remove certain additional covers such as EU cover or additional drivers, but it’s worth noting that there could be an additional fee to amend your policy cover mid-term.

Again, these are only a few of the things you can do to adjust your policy for seasonal usage. Get in touch with your provider and see how they can help.

Need to adjust your caravan insurance?

By adjusting your caravan insurance for seasonal use, you can make sure your policy meets your needs and is suited to how often you use your caravan. Take the time to evaluate how and when you use your caravan. Once you have a clear understanding of your seasonal needs, speak with your insurer to discuss your options.

Looking to adjust your insurance policy? Maybe it’s time to change policy for something more flexible. Whatever your reasons, get in touch with our experts and we’ll work to provide a policy that works for you and your caravan all year round.

Caravan insurance from Towergate

Get a specialist caravan insurance quote from us today, either online or by phoning us on 0330 808 9130.

About the author

Adam Summersby is a respected leader with 11 years’ varied experience in niche personal and commercial lines insurance, including caravan, site operators and excess reimbursement, with proficiency in leadership, sales and account management.

Consistent with our policy when giving comment and advice on a non-specific basis, we cannot assume legal responsibility for the accuracy of any particular statement. In the case of specific problems we recommend that professional advice be sought.