Thought I'd better get an insurance quote for my van today and am now beginning to wonder if it's worth taking out insurance:
My caravan is a 1973 Bailey Maru - yep I know it's old and most companies won't insure, but - my reasoning was mainly for equipment I intend to install or keep in the 'van.
I spoke on the phone to a very nice man from Shield, who, as well as providing me with a quote, enlightened me on a few shall we say myths I had acquired.
Talking about extras to be insured, I asked about TV - 'yes ok,' radio - 'no home insurance,' but I want to fit my own dedicated car type radio - 'no we only cover a radio or that sort of thing if it is fitted in the caravan from new by the manufacturer.'
Which led me to wonder afterwards, what about the other stuff I want to install for comfort, things like a toilet, shower, water heater, perhaps either a microwave or a oven. These are all dedicated caravan accessories but because they haven't been fitted 'when new by the manufacturer' and because they are either fitted to the caravan or are 12v my home insurance is going to tell me that 'it's nothing to do with us mate, it not in your home.
Now the premium was £90 with a £100 excess, their minimum as far as I'm aware, but no doubt, should some naughty person cut off the wheel clamp and the hitch lock, then sneak the van out of the secure storage compound past the 24 hour surveillance or when I'm sleeping in it, the loss adjuster will undoubtedly asses it's value very close to £100.
To my mind what they are saying is give us your money but we won't give you anything back on what you lose, and with the horrendous stories of the reluctant attitude of the police one must ask is it worth it.
Sorry for the long post - must be a rant - but if anyone has any ideas where insurance for add-on equipment can be obtained then I be a bit happier
You will have cover though if the caravan were to damage another persons property or injure a 3rd party. For example if it blew over in a gale onto the caravan next to you, killing the occupant then the insurance company would pay compensation to the victims family. If you have no insurance then you could end up in court yourself for compensation. I agree that comprehensive cover is pointless, you are really only going to be getting 3rd party insurance. That alone is worth the £90 premium IMO. I suspect many others will chip in saying you need 3rd party insurance as they will be worrying you may park next to them! Most storage companies insist on 3rd party insurance as well.
Where your home insurance comes into play is if you have what is called "away from home" cover. This covers you for items you take out of the home such as a tv, stereo, camera, digi cam etc etc. Check with your home insurer for exact details.
It's not so much the minimum - even at £90 it's cheaper than my car - it's really a case of what they are going to class as insured.
Makes me wonder if the dedicated caravan radio that they wont insure for theft would be insured if, by some quirk of fate, it is the cause of some fatal wound to a third person
Where your home insurance comes into play is if you have what is called "away from home" cover. This covers you for items you take out of the home such as a tv, stereo, camera, digi cam etc etc. Check with your home insurer for exact details.
Ali
I agree and am happy with that, it's the fitted extras that is the problem, the things that will never see the inside of my home.
Well then you would not have conventional home insurance and would add it to the caravan insurance! ie I insure through the Caravan Club, the van is insured for X amount and the contents for Y amount. I do also have away from home on the home insurance so hopefully it is covered from all angles.
Same here. I think you should telephone the CC and ask how they treat things you have permanently installed in the caravan. If it is screwed in place IMHO it becomes part of the van. You would then need to add the cost of those items to the value of the van. But by doing so they would be covered on a "market value" basis.
BTW, it is not really cost effective to fit a shower and hot water to an older van as these items are pretty expensive.
Quote: Originally posted by jennifernn on 26/2/2007
BTW, it is not really cost effective to fit a shower and hot water to an older van as these items are pretty expensive.
Yes I know that, you know that, my bank balance will find that out - but I still want one
I thought I'd go for it though as I'll be using a few fields on occasion where I'll be glad of a hot shower at the end of the day.
I reckoned if I keep it a couple of years it might prove to be cost effective if I sourced second hand equipment and justified it by reasoning that if no one wanted to buy it at a price to cover my costs I could always sell the parts and van seperately
"horrendous stories of the reluctant attitude of the police" you say. I say have a look at your local force's website and see how they're doing in terms of detection rates, forced on them by Tony Blairs policies, before knocking their good work. People like you, afraid to pay for a bit of quality insurance for your own items, whilst wanting everything that comes your way, really annoy me. Get the best insurance you can afford, for home, car and caravan, then you'll sleep a little safer. Otherwise, let me know where you buy those rose coloured glasses from.
Quote: Originally posted by Dave487 on 28/2/2007
"horrendous stories of the reluctant attitude of the police" you say. I say have a look at your local force's website and see how they're doing in terms of detection rates, forced on them by Tony Blairs policies, before knocking their good work. People like you, afraid to pay for a bit of quality insurance for your own items, whilst wanting everything that comes your way, really annoy me. Get the best insurance you can afford, for home, car and caravan, then you'll sleep a little safer. Otherwise, let me know where you buy those rose coloured glasses from.
Many thanks for your rant, I'm sure it's added to the discussion somewhere. Now if you'd like to read what I've written you will notice that my concern is not with the police (I'm well aware of their limitations) neither does it has anything to do with not wanting to pay out the money, it is the fact that a insurance company is not willing to insure something that has been added to a caravan that is obviously a part of the caravan and not something that can be classed as part of your home.
I'm sure you can see that paying an insurance company good money for them not to insure something is like....... well paying council tax and then finding the poli...... oh perhaps it's better not to go down that route
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Topic: Insurance
- but if anyone has any ideas where insurance for add-on equipment can be obtained then I be a bit happier
perhaps it's better not to go down that route
