A Quick Guide to Campervan Insurance
If you own or rent a campervan, you will need to consider the appropriate coverage. The following article will guide you through some of the nuances of this comprehensive topic. You don’t want to leave yourself lacking coverage for such an expensive vehicle.
Image by Elizabeth Anderson
Owners: You Need Specialised Coverage
While you can get away with adding your campervan to your car insurance policy, this is certainly not the best move in obtaining proper coverage. It is common for owners to secure a separate campervan insurance policy.
Why? In some cases, campervan owners will not get personal property coverage (one of the essentials in specific plans) due to their homeowners policy. However, and while personal property will often be covered for a campervan here, it is limited when the property is kept somewhere other than the “residence premises.”
Secondly, and more generally, campervans are better protected with their own policy. Don’t make the mistake of adding it onto a car insurance policy. It is often the case that the campervan is not adequately covered by a car insurance company.
Key Areas to Campervan Insurance
The previous discussion naturally leads to the areas that are important for a great campervan policy. You should definitely keep these in mind when purchasing campervan insurance:
- High Coverage for Personal Property: As you likely keep higher-value items in your campervan than your car, ensure that there is plenty of coverage in this area.
- Full-Time/Storage Coverage: Do you store and use your campervan occasionally, or do you live in it full-time? Speciality policies will surely be able to take care of this topic well.
- Guaranteed Total Loss Replacement: This will replace the campervan if total loss occurs; normally limited to the first five years.
- Coverage for Attached Accessories: Make sure permanent accessories are covered in your policy. Awnings, satellite dishes, antennas, and more need this kind of coverage.
The Wide World of Campervan Insurance
You didn’t think that was all, did you? There are many, many areas of insurance that you need to consider in the process.
The overarching areas of insurance are clear: there is basic campervan insurance as well as liability. Basic campervan insurance encompasses comprehensive and collision insurance. The latter, liability insurance, covers liability issues that occur outside of collisions, which is not something to balk at with campervans (propane tank and system links with fires, for instance, are rather common).
Beyond that, and not including the previous areas we’ve approached, you might find the following important to your policy:
- Rental campervan insurance
- International campervan travel insurance
- Emergency Expenses, such as hotel and transportation costs
- Extended Utility Trailer: Are you towing something worth more than $2,500 (the standard limit)?
- Campervan Road Service: Towing your campervan (and trailer) is expensive; look for one with unlimited miles and a choice of destinations.
- Emergency Medical Care and Transportation: Can be a pricey option if you’re in a remote location and have healthcare needs that are beyond your coverage; don’t underestimate this option. Check what’s covered by any existing health insurance or travel insurance policy you hold, but don’t skimp on your cover in any case.
You would certainly do well to speak with a trusted agent, as there is much more than you may think to campervan insurance.
This article contains general advice about car insurance. The author has not taken into account your financial situation or needs and you should consider whether the advice provided is appropriate for your own circumstances before relying on it.
Filed Under: Car Insurance
