Campervan Insurance
Let us help you protect your campervan by sourcing a quote that you can rely on.
Why choose Howden for Campervan Insurance?
Howden is the new name for A-Plan. Here at Howden, we pride ourselves on doing the heavy lifting for our clients, so they don’t have to. We make the process of comparing multiple policies, on your behalf, simple and easy, thanks to the great relationships we have with our selected panel of standard and specialist insurers. What’s not to like?
We also provide a personalised service, focused on getting to know you and finding out exactly what you want from your campervan insurance, because our team knows that each policy needs to be as individual as its owner. As enthusiasts ourselves, we also understand how important your campervan is to your lifestyle, and want to help you keep it that way.
Ultimately though, just know, whether you need to purchase a new campervan policy, renew an existing one, or even need to make a claim, we’re always here to help.
Benefits of working with Howden:
- You can trust us – we’re rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
- We’re driven to save you time, money, and hassle.
- Benefit from a tailored service that comparison sites can’t provide.
- Speak with your local branch, within your community.
- We’re right by your side in the event of a claim.
What is campervan insurance?
Doing exactly what it says on the tin, campervan insurance is a specific type of specialist insurance coverage designed to protect campervan owners against potential risks and liabilities associated with owning and operating a campervan.
Similar to car insurance, a campervan insurance policy will provide financial protection in the event of an accident, theft, damage, or other unforeseen events that may occur while using or storing your campervan.
Do I need specialist Howden insurance for a campervan?
As van insurance would typically not provide adequate cover, and because insurers want to know if you’re driving a non-standard van, a specialist campervan insurance offers the best way to insure your campervan, ensuring you’re comprehensively covered.
We’d be more than happy to talk to you about your options and find out more about what you’re looking for from a campervan insurance policy.
What is a campervan?
A campervan can best be described as self-contained home on wheels, designed to provide both transportation and a well-equipped accommodation option.
They offer the convenience of having a comfortable living space combined with the flexibility to travel to different destinations and are popular among individuals and families who enjoy camping, road trips, and exploring the outdoors.
If you’re still not sure what a campervan would look like, just think of one of those iconic Volkswagen campervans, known for their classic style and popularity during the ‘Splittie’ years throughout the 1950s and 60s. Here at Howden, we can insure the classic campervans in addition to the more modern converted VW Transporters, amongst others.
What’s the difference between a campervan and a motorhome?
There can be a lot of confusion around differentiating these two types of vehicles, but we’re here to clear this up for you.
The main difference between motorhomes and campervans is their size. Campervans tend to be smaller, more compact and more ‘van-like’ than motorhomes. Both types of vehicles are equipped to be lived in, but campervans are usually more modified for shorter stays or camping, conventionally van-sized, and are therefore, for some, easy to manoeuvre and park.
Motorhomes, on the other hand, which are often called ‘RVs’ in the US, are typically larger with ‘coach-built’ frames and bigger chassis. You might expect a motorhome to have more advanced facilities and be better for those looking to travel further and enjoy longer stays in a purpose built ‘home from home’.
What’s covered under Howden campervan insurance?
Like a lot of standard policies we offer, such as home and car insurance, the more comprehensive level of cover you choose to include in your policy, the better coverage you’ll get. This is no different for Howden campervan policies which are designed to be as flexible as possible, allowing you to choose what you need based on your vehicle and lifestyle.
As standard though, and much like a motorhome insurance policies, you can expect a comprehensive campervan insurance policies to cover you for the following:
- Theft
- Fire
- Vandalism
- Third-party damage or injury caused to third parties
- Accidental damage
Some of our insurers will also allow you to get cover for other aspects of your camper too, which may not be covered in a standard policy. For instance, you may decide you want to protect any awnings or generators you have, or add windscreen and window cover, or maybe include personal belongings cover. You may even require campervan conversion insurance if your camper has been converted from a van, or upgraded insurance for when you take your campervan abroad.
Ultimately, there are upgrades and add-ons you can include in your campervan policy, but it’s worth clarifying with your insurer or insurance broker first to find out exactly what there is on offer. Don’t worry, we can help guide you through this.
Howden’s campervan policy exclusions
Unfortunately, when it comes to campervan insurance not everything can be covered. It’s therefore important that you understand exactly what isn’t included in the campervan policies insurers have to offer. You can expect standard policies to not include:
- Any damage done to the campervan’s tyres due to braking, punctures, cuts or bursts
- Any damage to the campervan inflicted by vermin, domestic animals or an infestation
- Wear and tear, or depreciation
- Loss or damage arising from theft whilst the campervan is unattended or left with the engine running
- Any damage caused by someone driving the campervan without an appropriate licence.
How much is campervan insurance in the UK?
Whilst we’d all love to know right away how much a policy is going to cost, the cost of campervan insurance in the UK can vary significantly depending on several factors, much like when you look at taking out car insurance. These factors are important because they’re what insurance providers assess in order to determine your final premium.
So, these factors are:
- The campers make, model, and age
- Your age
- The length of time you’ve held your full UK driving licence
- Whether you’ve had any motoring convictions
While no policy or policyholder is the same, just remember that no insurer is the same either, so expect prices to differ depending on your circumstances and your campervan. You can always talk to an insurance broker, such as Howden, who would be more than happy to compare the best value deals available based on the information you’ve provided and your budget.
How can I reduce my campervan insurance premium?
So how can you save some money on your campervan cover? There are ways you can potentially reduce your premium:
Reduce your annual mileage
Clocking less miles on the road can reduce the chances of an accident and might bring down the price.
Store your camper securely
Keeping your campervan is a secure location or safely in a garage might convince insurers that your premiums should be lower.
Join a camper club
Becoming a member at a campervan owners club could earn you a discount on your policy price.
Pay upfront
If you can, paying upfront as a lump sum will be cheaper that paying for your insurance in monthly instalments.
Assess your options
Comparing insurers prices against each other is a brilliant way to ensure you get the cheapest deal out there. It’s even more convenient when an insurance broker can do that for you to save you the hassle.
How to get a campervan quote from an insurance broker
Whatever the model of campervan you have and however long you’ve been driving it for, we want to help you get the best campervan insurance quotes, designed to suit your needs and budget. We also want the process to be simple for you. All we need is the following information:
- Your personal details
- Your driving experience
- Your claims history
- Details about your campervan (the model, the make, its age, its mileage)
- The level of cover you’re after
The best first step you can take towards getting a campervan insurance quote is getting in touch with us, your local insurance broker! You can either visit any of our Howden branches, contact us via our website or give us a call on (phone number).
Who we work with
The great relationships we have with a wide range of trusted campervan insurance providers allows us to provide a service which supports each and every one of our campervan clients.
The years of experience our team have working in the insurance industry, in addition to being enthusiasts themselves, has meant that Howden continues to be rated highly by our clients.
Claims
We’re here to assist you when it matters most.
Whatever’s happened to you or your campervan, we’re here to help. It’s part of our service to make sure that your claim is dealt with as quickly as possible and without any hassle.
MAKE A CLAIM
Related Articles
Want to find out more about campervan insurance? Check out our related articles on the Howden Blog!
- How Much is Campervan Insurance in The UK?
- Do you need specialist insurance for a campervan?
- What is motor legal protection?
- The road ahead for VW insurance
- A guide to camping and caravan insurance
Campervan Insurance FAQs
What insurance do I need to rent out my campervan?
The likes of commercial hire insurance, public liability insurance and Contents insurance are all policy options you could use to cover the rental of your campervan, because campervan insurance alone would not be adequate.
The most important starting point is to inform your insurance broker or provider of your intentions to rent out your campervan so they can let you know what your options are and how you can get coverage.
Is campervan insurance cheaper than van insurance?
There’s no guarantee that a campervan insurance quote will be cheaper than van insurance quote, but typically, because of how campers are used in comparison to vans, they’re often cheaper to insure. Campers are usually used less frequently than regular vans, often only moving from driveways to campsites and are driven with more care typically because they’re an investment.
That’s not to say though that insurance premiums are not significantly dependant on the type of camper or van you’re insuring, or your claims history.
Can you park a campervan anywhere?
In the UK, you’re not able to park your campervan wherever you like. For instance, you can’t park a campervan on a road which requires a parking ticket or permit, or on land that doesn’t belong to you.
However, if you have permission from the landowner to park on their land, or the road you hope to park on doesn’t require tickets or permits, you might be able to park your campervan in these places as long as you like. It’s important though that you’re wary of the people and cars parked and around you, to ensure you avoid disturbing anyone else.
Is road tax cheaper for campervans?
This is a tricky question to answer, as the amount owed in road tax (VED) for a car is calculated differently for a campervan.
Car road tax is simply determined based on how much CO2 the car produces, whereas to work out the road tax for a campervan you’d need to find out which classification it falls under. This then depends on how powerful the campervan's engine is, and how big the campervan is itself, because typically the larger and more powerful the campervan is, the more expensive it’ll be to tax it.
Can you drive a campervan on a car licence?
Yes, you’re able to drive a campervan on a standard UK car licence, but you’re limited to the size of the campervan you can drive. Standard licence holders (category B) can drive any campervan which weighs less than 3,500kg. Any heavier than that, you’re required to get a category C licence.
Do I need to register my van as a campervan?
If you plan on living in your van conversion, you’re not strictly required to register your van as campervan if I wish not to, but you’re still required to have appropriate campervan insurance.
Many people do opt to register their van as a registered campervan though through the DVLA as campers are generally cheaper to insure than vans, and vehicles registered as campervans generally have better contents insurance than vans.
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