How much is campervan insurance?

Insuring a campervan

If you’re a first-time campervan owner looking for campervan insurance it can be a bit confusing to understand the different policies on offer. Here’s our handy guide to campervan insurance…

What’s the difference between campervan insurance and van insurance?

A campervan policy will not just cover your campervan for things like road accidents, fire, and theft when on the road or in storage, a specialist policy will also cover all of your extra items of  camping equipment, from your awning to gas bottles, BBQ, outdoor furniture, pots and pans, TV and bedding etc. Caravan Guard’s campervan insurance policy provides £5,000 of equipment and personal belongings cover for many of the things you take on your travels.

Campervan insurance will also provide cover for accidental damage to your campervan’s fixtures and fittings inside the van, such as worktops, shower trays (if you have one) and glass hob lids etc.

A common campervan insurance claim is for accidental damage when manoeuvring at low speed, either on a campsite or in storage, and a specialist policy will cover those knocks and scrapes to the bodywork but also fixtures and fittings, like bike racks or canopies, as well as storm damage to an awning or your campervan.

If the fuel in your campervan is different from your car you might accidentally put in the wrong type! If you do accidentally misfuel your campervan, a Caravan Guard policy includes UK Breakdown cover which has you covered with “misfuelling help” which will include removing the contaminated fuel and flushing through the engine.

With Caravan Guard, there’s also no excess to pay for any windscreen repairs – another common campervan insurance claim and 24-hour UK recovery and roadside breakdown assistance is included as standard if you need recovering. This also includes “stuck in mud” cover, should your campervan get stuck in a muddy festival field or camping ground.

Sleep easier in your campervan with cover for locks and keys, for the various doors and lockers around your campervan, and any security devices, should they be stolen.

We know many campervanners use their vehicle every day and our specialist policy provides cover options if it’s the only vehicle in the household.

Our policy also includes £20 million public liability cover – this gives protection for you against any legal claims made against you after an incident in or around your campervan that leads to damage or injuries to third parties or their property. Plus, £15,000 personal accident cover in the event you have a major accident in your campervan.

What things can affect the cost of campervan insurance?

Make and model of campervan

Whether you own a traditional VW campervan or a large van conversion, the make and model of your campervan can affect the price of insurance, as well as other factors such as safety and security. For instance, a new campervan fitted with a tracking device, reversing sensors and tyre pressure monitoring could be less to insure that an older model which doesn’t have these safety and security features fitted as standard.

Plus the size of your campervan will affect the price of your insurance premium. A large van conversion with a high top is more at risk of bumps and scrapes than a smaller campervan with a pop-top, so might cost more to insure. However, these costs can be reduced by adding safety and security devices as explained below.

Also, consider the availability of parts and if a campervan has been imported and then converted. Many insurers might specify that these have to have been imported by a recognised UK dealer and have been converted professionally, and they might cost more to insure as a result, due to the availability of those parts from abroad.

Campervan value

The value of your campervan will affect the cost of your insurance and you will be asked for the new or used value of your campervan when you get an insurance quote. The higher the value of your campervan, the more your insurance is likely to cost so that you’ll be put back in the same position should your campervan be stolen or completely damaged (written off).

Consider and specify any aftermarket work or modifications you might have made to your campervan. These will need to be factored into your overall sums insured so that any repair costs or replacement of parts would be covered in the event of a claim.

Age of the campervan

When insuring your campervan, you’ll also be asked for the age of your ‘van as it can affect the cost of campervan insurance.

Storage location 

The storage location of your campervan can greatly affect the price you pay for campervan insurance, so it’s important you choose carefully not only where you store your ‘van, but also the security at that storage location.

Security measures at your home can result in a saving on your campervan insurance – examples include fitting a padlock to gates, installing a security post at home, or storing in a locked outbuilding at your home.

Campervan security 

Adding an extra layer of physical security to your campervan, from a steering wheel lock to a wheel clamp or pedal lock can not only deter theft but can help to reduce your campervan insurance premium. Always look for products which have a Sold Secure grading as they will have been independently tested for their resistance to attack.

And electronic security systems, such as an alarm or approved Thatcham tracking device can also affect the price you pay for your campervan insurance. Many specialist insurers will offer a campervan insurance discount for fitting these devices.

Campervan safety devices

Similarly, safety devices such as reversing cameras or sensors, and tyre pressure monitoring systems or Tyron bands, can help to make your campervan a better risk, and will help to reduce your insurance costs.

Who’s driving the campervan?

As well as the age of the main driver of the campervan, other things like the number of drivers, previous claims or convictions, campervan driving experience and any no claims discount will affect the price of a campervan insurance policy.

A young driver with no experience of driving a campervan is likely to pay more for their insurance than an older campervanner who has owned numerous campervans.

With a Caravan Guard campervan insurance policy, drivers can transfer no claims discount (or bonus) from the previous insurer of their campervan, motorhome, car or another insured vehicle, which can help to reduce the premium.

Owners could pay more to add numerous drivers to the policy.

Mileage covered

The amount of time your campervan is on the road, clocking up the miles, will affect the price of your premium. The more miles covered can increase the risk of accidents or damage, so the greater the insurance premium. So when insuring your campervan, consider how much you’ll be using it, how far you’ll be travelling, and where you’ll be travelling to so you’re adequately insured. If you’re going to be holidaying in Europe you will get up to nine months of European cover for your campervan as standard with Caravan Guard.

Your campervan insurance excess

The excess is the amount you pay in the event of making an insurance claim. With Caravan Guard, our excess starts from £150, but you can increase this in return for a discount on your insurance premium. But make sure you set this at a level you are comfortable with and can afford in the event of a claim.

What should I expect campervan insurance to cost?

As explained above there are so many factors to take into account, including the amounts you insure for, the savings you qualify for, the storage location and the driver history.

Our premiums start at £261 (correct as May 2023) but we insure some £90,000 plus models. In this review of the £92,995 Wildax Altair campervan our premium came out at £468* (correct as of 07/03/23) but prices can vary significantly dependent on individual circumstances.

For high-value models, it’s likely a Thatcham Category 1 approved alarm or tracking device will be needed to get insurance cover.

Campervans are covered under our motorhome insurance policy. Our campervan insurance is fully comprehensive and tailored to your specific needs, so it’s best to get a quote online here www.caravanguard.co.uk/campervan-insurance or call us for an accurate quote at 01422 396769.

This article provides a brief summary of the policy cover and options that are available to you. Your schedule will confirm cover features and levels applying plus any security you have agreed to fit. Benefits and discounts are subject to change and are subject to terms and conditions, cover level, and underwriting criteria. Minimum premiums apply. For more information, you can download a policy summary from our motorhome policy documents section.

*Campervan insurance cost based on Wildax Altair motorhome retailing at £92,995 with an immobiliser, Cat 1 alarm, Thatcham S5 approved tracking device, parking sensors and steering wheel lock. UK travel only. Kept on driveway at home at TD9 8ED behind locked gate post. Motorhome owners – professionals over 50 years old with no claims, convictions or health conditions in last three years. Four years no claims bonus mirrored from car policy and two years motorhome driving experience. Members of motorhome club doing less than 5,000 miles annually. £600 excess applies. Premiums include insurance premium tax at 12% and are correct at 07.03.23