Campervan Insurance

As a campervan owner, you must always provide cover for your legal liability towards third parties, so you're covered if you have an accident causing damage or injury to any other person, vehicle, animal or property. Third-party insurance is a minimum legal requirement, unless your motorhome is registered with the DVLA as being off the road.

Campervan insurance is motor cover specific to motorhomes, and is designed to protect owners from financial loss. It can provide cover towards the cost of repairs or replacement, if your motorhome is damaged in an accident, fire, or if someone tries to or actually steals it.

Some storage providers require insurance as a condition of using their storage facilities.

There are various types of motorhome available, but the difference between a motorhome and a campervan is a bit of a grey area - and is often in the eye of the beholder. Purpose-built (often called 'coachbuilt') motorhomes are easily identfiable, as are campervans that are built on standard manufacturer chassis - but how do you classify a conversion? At what point might a campervan become a motorhome

One of the standard 'body types' that can be listed on the vehicle's V5 logbook is 'Motor Caravan'. The Dept for Transport defines a Motor Caravan by four criteria - seats and tables; sleeping accommodation; cooking facilities; and storage facilities. If certain criteria are satisfied, the vehicle will be classified as a Motor Caravan. Otherwise it would still be classified as a 'Car' - this would apply to new builds and also anyone wishing to convert a van. For full criteria, see the Department for Travel page on internal features for motor caravans.

In terms of insurance, some insurance companies may have slightly different rules depending on whether the vehicle is classified as a ‘Motor Caravan’ or not, but normally this is simply to offer an easy differentiation between a motorhome and a campervan. In general, there is almost no difference between motorhome and campervan insurance, as both can be driven on a standard car driving licence (with the exception of some extremely outsized motorhomes).

In general, the answer is yes. Most drivers can drive most sizes of campervan on a standard car driving licence, provided the weight of the campervan isn't over 7500kg. However, a weight limit of 3500kg applies to drivers aged over 70, or a driver licensed since 1 January 1997, unless a medical test or additional test, respectively, is passed.

The vast majority of campervans do not exceed 3500kg in weight, but it is worth double-checking if you are looking at larger models such as 'American Style RVs'.

For full details, check out our technical advice page on licences for caravans and motorhome.

As with most insurance policies, the cost of campervan insurance is based on a combination of factors that the insurer uses in order to calculate the premium. For motorhomes and campervans, this might encompass a variety of vehicle and/or customer-specific factors, including:

• value
• size
• complexity and age of the vehicle
• the profile of the driver(s)
• their claims history
• how much (and where) the vehicle will be used
• what security the vehicle has
• where the vehicle will normally be stored.

There are also running costs or expenses that have to be factored into the premium, such as the cost of systems and documentation, running a contact centre and claims administration.

There are a number of ways to ensure you get the best value for your money on a campervan insurance policy. The most obvious is to shop around, but other things to think about include being realistic about your usage - many policies include low-mileage discounts.

Think about whether you will be taking your van overseas and see if there are policies which specialise in this cover or allow you to remove this cover for a premium reduction if you know you won't need it. Think about the drivers you have named on the policy - some insurers base their premiums on the youngest or least-experienced driver listed on the policy (in other words, the person considered most likely to make a claim). What extra security have you got on the motorhome - and how secure is it when it is parked/stored? Where your vehicle is stored and how secure are both elements that will often impact on your premium. Finally, once you have narrowed down your search, take the time to call one or two providers, as they may well be able to help you minimise your premium. For instance, specialist insurance brokers are often able to apply flexibility that it's not possible for them to include within an online quote journeys.

The other obvious piece of advice is to be careful! Everybody knows that if you have to make a claim, or a claim is made against you, it is likely your premium will go up at the next renewal. Sometimes there is nothing you can do, but careful driving and manoeuvring, being sensible with your security and keeping the vehicle in a good condition are all ways in which you can decrease the likelihood of a claim, and a subsequent premium increase at renewal time.

A word of warning though. Don't be tempted to make false economies, such as under-reporting the value of your vehicle, or giving false information, just to save a few pounds. At best, this will result in getting back a lower payout if the worst should happen or you could find a claim is denied or your policy is cancelled.

You are automatically covered for all journeys to member countries of the European Union (and others as shown in the policy wording), up to a maximum of 365 days in any policy year.

Yes, if you are modifying or have modified a van into a campervan, by yourself or by a professional, our insurance can protect you. Find out more here, or call us on 01342 649 763.