Insurance renewal

Might also be worth checking out Ripe Insurance.

Again underwritten by Aviva.

When I did a comparison this year ( I think I had been with the CAMC insurance) and went for a cheaper quote - found it was exactly the same insurance through Devitt! The price seems to depend on the broker rather than the actual insurer.

I'm about to trade in a 2022 Autosleeper Broadway EL for a 2024 Hymer MLT 580.  CAMC insurance (Devitt) quoted £3400.  Caravan Guard £1050 - and that includes UK and EU Breakdown.  In my experience CAMC are always the most expensive quote we get, for only average features/benefits.  Caravan Guard is always best coverage and best value.  (And no, I'm not getting paid for that endorsement of Caravan Guard!)

It has always surprised me that when you consider the potential pot of customers the club has, how expensive the insurance/cover is compared to you going it alone on the open market of suppliers.

Colin

I renewed earlier this year. as it happens through Devitt who obtained the best Premium EVENTUALLY.  I have used different insurers over many years mostly with Comfort and sometimes Devitt. To be clear Devitt (who have been the Clubs insurance agents continuously for decades) are brokers, they place insurance on behalf of their customers with different insurers. Comfort are an independent broker who do the same. Both Devitt on behalf of CAMC members and Comfort on behalf of their customer's have designed and agreed a "special policy" for motorhomes. I think in the case of Devitt that is used across all the insurers they use and with Comfort its Aviva which is their main MH insurer. Actually although their and many aspects of Devitts paperwork and service model that I intensely dislike the policy wording and consequently scope of cover is very good. 

So two takeaways :-

1. Look very carefully at the package you are being offered and especially the policy wording and scope of cover. Premium is just one aspect. When I was being trained to ride a motorcycle my instructor advised trainees to buy a cheap helmet only if we had a cheap head.

2. In the world I used to inhabit no organisation would use the same organisation as a supplier for years and years and years without a re-tendering or review process. But this isn't in the case of Devitt One Man, Two Guvnors (the insured should be one of the Guvnors) its One Man, Three Guvnors. 

I've had the opposite experience - but with the Club's House Insurance, through Devitt's.  I was a bit miffed to find that their quotation for renewal this year had gone up by about £140 based on last year. Decided to have a look around and got a quote from LV - being another company I trusted - and to me, that's more important than saving a few quid on the premium. They wanted almost three times what Devitt's had quoted - and yes - I did make sure it was like for like cover. Just can't be bothered to trawl through the comparison sites although I know I would find a cheaper quote.  As I said - most important consideration for me is "Can I trust them to act in my interest if I have a claim" and past experience (with the caravan and this Club' cover) is a resounding "yes".  

I suppose it's understandable really - given the massive increase in, for example, timber prices over recent years - that quotations will have risen due to higher rebuilding costs.

Like many our last renewal quote with the Club  had increased considerably year on year. When I spoke to them to ask what could be done to reduce the premium a couple of things that had a surprising impact on the cost was the projected miles for the coming year having other named drivers on the policy. With regards to miles covered in a year if you don't go abroad you are probably covered for doing far more miles than you need. Now second drivers. It almost becomes second nature to add a partner to the policy which is fine if they are going to drive the vehicle. However if you were in the same position as me where my wife would not drive the motorhome regardless of the circumstances why have them included on the policy?

David

Every vehicle we own (4) has a stated mileage agreed by us to help keep insurance costs down. You can increase it it you need to as well, so it’s just a way of us trying to keep insurance as low as possible. Same with named drivers as well, although all vehicles are for both of us.

Having always found the club insurance expensive I was in the habit of shopping around as most people do. Last year SAGA surprisingly was the best (not the cheapest). SAGA have now ceased providing Caravan Insurance and contacted the club to arrange an agreement whereby existing customers would be offered a renewal at last years price.

This week I contacted HQ and arranged my insurance, the cost as promised was approx £270. Just as a matter of interest I asked what it would have cost if I had not been a SAGA referral........dark room time..... approx £600!

Not sure how Devitts got it so wrong but I do not think they use Aviva in their panel. There is nothing wrong with Aviva so I would take the quote.

No one insurer is the cheapest on all quotes and the Aviva figure could be far higher than from Devitt on a different set of details. Brokers like Devitt will normally be tied to one or a panel of companies and with he idea that this higher volume will get them a better deal. It does not mean they will always give you he best deal although the example here looks like a poor effort.

I have found Aviva very competitive through their General Accident alternative, being considerably lower than anything I could find on two comparison sites. As my house insurer More Than are giving up that business I am now going to try them for that.