Motorhome insurance quote

In theory, obtaining a motorhome insurance quote couldn’t be easier. Surely you just have to ring around a bit, get some quotes and then compare them?

Well, it is one approach but it may not give you quite the result you were hoping for.

Firstly, ‘ringing around’ isn’t always quite as easy as it sounds – and it may not be desperately cheap. Secondly it’s not easy to be sure that the person you’re calling really knows the specialist implications that arise with motorhome insurance.

What are these implications?

Motorhomes – a specialist insurance marketplace

If you’ve ever called around randomly trying to find such cover, you may have experienced at times the confusion and unease that can arise at the other end of the phone because:

• some makes of vehicle are very expensive, very attractive to thieves and as a result, they can be difficult in terms of finding cover;
• your motorhome may have extensive and expensive contents and fittings – some insurance companies may not be comfortable with this;
• to achieve reductions in premium costs you may need to fit specialised and approved security equipment – this area is not always easy to understand without specialist knowledge.

Some insurers may not cover motorhomes at all and others may provide you with a very high motorhome insurance quote primarily because it is not an area they understand well.

Motorhome insurance – using specialists

If you use a specialist caravan and motorhome insurance website you may find that you are better positioned to be able to understand your requirements by viewing the articles and information on their website.

As an example, a specialist caravan insurance website typically will be able to provide information on things such as how to reduce your risks and costs by:

• fitting approved security devices including tracking;
• removing your awning when you’re away from the vehicle as typically it will not be covered if damaged by a storm when you’re not there;
• avoiding having contents in the vehicle when unattended that typically won’t be covered (cash, jewellery etc);
• joining an owners’ association.

So, dealing with a specialist when seeking a motorhome insurance quote isn’t mandatory, but it just may be a good idea!

E&L caravan insurance

Caravans are different and the insurance you need if you have a static caravan covers a different set of risks to that needed with a tourer. This is why taking a look at E&L caravan insurance may be a good idea.

Touring caravans spend more time on the road with the greater potential of being in an accident than a static model. Statics though, may be left unattended for longer periods of time in more remote locations and therefore be at higher risk of break-ins, theft and damage as a result of burst pipes and flooding etc.

While general insurance providers can and do offer policies for caravan owners, some people prefer to use a specialist who understands these differences and all the others.

E&L caravan insurance providers may offer discounts if you can show that you are doing what you can to help reduce risks.

Taking precautions

Reducing risks may include:

• fitting approved security alarms you can help protect the contents of your caravan. Removing expensive items from your caravan when it is not in use is typically just common sense;
• fitting wheelclamps and hitchlocks to your touring caravan can help prevent its theft. Indeed some insurers may insist on these in the terms and conditions of their policies;
• there are a number of specially licensed secure sites where you can store your caravan when it is not in use. Draining down water and heating systems is typically also a good safety measure;
• making sure that external fittings such as awnings are safely stowed when you are not around may be essential under the terms of your policy.

Committed caravanner

Being a member of a recognised caravanning club is regarded by many caravan insurance insurance providers as a sign of a serious and careful caravan owner and may result in discounted premiums.

A specialist caravan insurance provider can typically give you access to specialist caravan insurance cover including E&L caravan insurance. Once covered, all you have to do is go out there and enjoy using your caravan!

Motorhomes insurance

If you’re the owner of a motorhome then you probably appreciate that it’s a precious and typically fairly expensive thing. Understanding your motorhomes insurance may therefore make common sense.

What are the typical characteristics of such insurance?

Contents protection

Your motorhome will be lived in as part of your holidays but you can’t spend 24 hours per day in it watching your possessions. It may therefore be advisable to look closely at the details of your motor caravan insurance contents cover.

Some providers may issue premium discounts for alarms etc. Typically, some policies will place constraints on certain articles being covered such as not covering cash, chequebooks, credit cards, electronics, and jewellery and antique possessions left in the vehicle while it is unoccupied.

Some others may also place constraints upon where the vehicle can be left whilst unattended, such as supervised sites, if the cover is not to be invalidated. Some forms of door and window security systems and possibly alarms may be obligatory in some cases or in others, essential to obtain premium reductions.

Vehicle protection

You may not be the only person that thinks your motorhome is great and given half the chance, some of those other people will do their best to acquire it illegally. Some makes are particularly prime targets and they may attract higher motorhomes insurance premiums as a result (or be difficult to insure).

Typically your insurance should cover things such as theft and vandalism or loss through accident. You may be able to reduce the costs through some common-sense steps such as:

• reducing the number of days you plan to use it and/or use it overseas;
• fitting tracking devices and other approved security systems;
• reducing your overall target mileage;
• joining an approved caravanning organisation.

All these steps may help keep your bills down.

Specialist advice

Motorhomes insurance is a specialist market. To ensure that you have appropriate protection and at an affordable cost, it may be advisable to use a specialist motorhomes insurance provider who can give you access to a number of potentially suitable motor home insurance deals.

Compare insurance on Northern Ireland websites

Not so very long ago, Northern Ireland residents who looked for insurance on price-comparison websites were likely to be in for a fairly dispiriting time. They’d fill in the details of the insurance cover they needed, click on the “get a quote” button to complete the enquiry and only then discover that the policy in which they were interested was simply not available for residents of the Province. These days, however, it has become possible to compare insurance for Northern Ireland residents in just the same way as the rest of the UK.

The exclusion of residents in this part of the world from enjoying the benefits of online shopping for insurance came about because of insurers’ perceived risk of extending cover for those living in the “troubled” North of Ireland. Insurers took the view that bombings, street fires etc were no environment in which to cover risks.

Things have changed these days, of course, and the Province has returned to a welcome state of peace and stability – it is a place where insurers are once again keen to do business. Indeed, in their eagerness to make the most of this rediscovered market, most insurers are also using making full use of probably the single most important contemporary marketing tool, the internet.

Across the whole range of different insurance products, it is now possible not only to search online, but to get immediate quotes for whatever the cover in which you are interested, allowing you to compare insurance for Northern Ireland cover.

Nowadays, therefore, when you go online to compare insurance in Northern Ireland, you’re unlikely to find that cover is unavailable simply because of where in the UK you happen to live. Across the whole board of insurance – from motor insurance, to home insurance, health insurance and even pet insurance – there is almost certain to be a website to help you find just the product (or products) you need.

Are you struggling to find car insurance companies Northern Ireland?

Residents of Northern Ireland may struggle when it comes to finding car insurance companies willing to offer them insurance. While problems of the past stop some insurance providers from offering cover to residents there are now websites who specialise in bringing insurance companies willing to offer protection together. This can make choosing car insurance companies in Northern Ireland a great deal easier for residents.

When looking for car insurance there are two common types, which the car owner may choose to take out depending on the vehicle they own.

Third party, fire and theft
If your car is an older model, you may wish to look into taking out protection by way of third party fire and theft. This is one of the cheapest ways of insuring your vehicle; however, the downfall is that the policy typically only protects your vehicle against the possibility of damage or destruction by fire, and theft of the vehicle. However, it does provide third party insurance in the event that you were to be involved in an accident or you damaged a third party’s property with your car.

Fully comprehensive
If you have a newer model of car are you are buying a car over a certain amount then fully comprehensive may typically be needed. Fully comprehensive is dearer but it does provide the policy owner with greater coverage than third party, fire and theft cover. If you vehicle is damaged in an accident – even if it is your fault – then the policy will usually pay out. There are other benefits available too, which can vary from insurer to insurer.

Car insurance companies in Northern Ireland may typically offer competitive quotes and some may offer better value for money than its contemporaries. Therefore, with this in mind it may pay to compare quotes and the benefits and features given by providers. Providers also typically add in exclusions and limitations to the policy so it may pay to check over the summary of any insurance policy you are thinking of taking out to ensure you know what the cover entails.

Your caravan insurance caravan protection

Your caravan insurance caravan protection is there to cover a wide range of events that you as a caravan owner may be faced with. There are policies available aimed with the static caravan owner in mind and for the touring caravan owner. Some of the benefits are the same whilst others are aimed at protection for different areas based on the type of caravan.

Protection for your touring caravan
In the typical caravan insurance policy for your touring caravan, you may find the following benefits:

• third party liability to protect against you damaging a third persons property or vehicle whilst pulling your touring caravan behind your vehicle;
• protection for travelling around Europe with your touring caravan;
• breakdown cover;
• so much towards a stay in alternative accommodation in the event your caravan is damaged by a covered risk;
• cover against the theft of your caravan while it is hitched to your vehicle;
• protection for the contents of your caravan and any personal belongings in the form of new for old replacements;
• new for old cover for your touring caravan in the event it is stolen or destroyed.

Your insurance policy typically protects against any of the above. However, it is essential that you check in the wording before you take out the cover as the benefits may differ with providers and so some of these elements may not be covered.

Protection for your static caravan

• liability insurance in case a holidaymaker were to become injured or even died while staying in your caravan and the fault was yours;
• loss of rental income in the event a holiday maker who had pre-booked was unable to stay in your caravan due to the caravan being damaged by an insured risk;
• new for old protection on the contents of your caravan and the caravan itself providing it fell within the criteria set out by the provider;
• protection against theft;
• accidental damage;
• all year round protection for peace of mind when you are not staying in your caravan.

Your caravan insurance caravan protection is there for your peace of mind so choosing an adequate policy whilst keeping the premiums down is to your advantage.

Competitive insurance quotes in Northern Ireland

Residents of Northern Ireland are typically faced with the possibility of being turned down for cover based on the fact of where they live. This is mainly due to the many problems seen in the past when rioters sometimes stole cars to set them alight and use them as barricades. Things have now settled down a great deal, however still some insurance providers fail to offer insurance protection. If you want to find competitive insurance quotes in Northern Ireland, you may wish to choose protection using a specialist website that finds insurance providers on your behalf.

Car insurance is one of the types of insurance that often residents struggle to find when it comes to competitive quotes. There are ways that those living in Northern Ireland may be able to keep the cost of their car insurance premiums down by taking preventative measures. Your insurer may reward you for taking these measures by offering discounted premiums Even if they don’t, it makes sense to secure your vehicle as much as possible:

• one way is to boost the security of their car. For instance, installing a tracking device may help to recover the car if it is stolen. A quality alarm system, steering wheel lock or gearstick lock may all help to improve the safety of your vehicle;
• if possible do not leave your car by the side of the road when not in use. When at the roadside it may become accidentally damaged from passing vehicles. It may also be a target for thieves and vandals and of course, it is stood out in all types of weather. If you are able to park it in a garage that is securely locked or if not possible under a carport at the side of the house this may keep it safer;
• consider taking out limited mileage protection if you are insuring a car that is not used all the time. You protect the car for up to so many miles on the road each year and typically pay less in insurance.

Considerations may be taken into account such as the above for virtually any type of insurance you need when looking for competitive insurance quotes in Northern Ireland.

Finding a caravan insurance Northern Ireland policy

Residents of Northern Ireland may sometimes struggle to find insurance as they are often dismissed by the provider simply due to where they live. If you are looking for a caravan insurance Northern Ireland policy, you may wish to base your search online with a specialist caravan insurance website.

So, what do you need to consider when choosing your caravan cover?

Caravan security and theft
One of the main factors that insurance providers worry about is theft. This may be of your belongings, contents or your caravan itself. Therefore, you may want to consider the security features of your caravan. Your touring caravan is of course at greater risk of being stolen than a static caravan. However, both are at risk when it comes to the contents and your belongings.

Your policy may payout for a brand new caravan if it meets the criteria set out by the insurance provider. Usually this means the caravan is under a certain age.

Do note that the insurance provider usually expects you to have taken security measures such as installing a hitchlock to help prevent theft when your caravan is hitched to your vehicle. They may also require you to use a hitchlock and a wheel clamp when it is detached from your car.

New for old protection
Contents may be insured on a new for old basis and this typically means that if you are the victim of theft and have met the criteria set out by the provider, they value the stolen items as brand new and this is the amount you may get back, less any policy excess of course. However always check in the summary of the policy to find out what exclusions and limitations may apply.

Protection against liability claims
When looking for a caravan insurance Northern Ireland policy, if you rent out your caravan to others, check what liability insurance is included within the cover. Liability protection is there in case a third party such as a holidaymaker suffered an accident or even death while staying in your caravan. Providers typically offer up to so much liability insurance which may help pay towards any legal costs or compensation claims.

Comparing insurance for static caravans

Comparing insurance for static caravans is equally as important as ensuring that you get the cheapest premiums. Were you to take out a policy solely based on the cost, you may regret it if a claim had to be made and you found the policy gave inadequate protection.

The needs of the static caravan owner may differ and so may the benefits needed. For instance if you choose to let others stay in your caravan then you need to ensure that your policy provides adequate liability cover.

Why is liability protection so essential?

• A holidaymaker slips and falls on broken steps and sues you for breaking their leg;
• The fencing around your decked area needs repair and someone leans on it, it breaks, they fall and hurt their back and sue you;
• Your aerial is not secure and falls onto a holidaymaker’s car and they sue you for damages.

Any of the above events may mean you have to pay legal costs and costs for compensation. Liability insurance typically pays out towards these types of costs, which may add up to thousands of pounds.

Protection against a loss of pre-rental income
If you rely on the income from renting out your caravan then you may wish to check whether your provider includes a loss of pre-rental income in your policy. This works if a holidaymaker pre-books your caravan for a holiday and then for some reason your caravan is damaged by an insured risk (such as fire, flood or other damage) and they cannot stay in it. Without cover for the loss of rental income, you may lose a great deal of money. If it is covered, you may claim towards your loss.

New for old cover
When comparing insurance for static caravans you might wish to check if the provider offers new for old. New for old is typically there to replace the contents or belongings in the caravan if they are destroyed or stolen. If this happens, you are provided with brand new replacements. However, some insurance providers also offer new for old on the caravan itself. However there is certain criterion that has to be met, for instance your caravan has to be under a certain age, so check with the provider.

A brief guide to direct insurance Northern Ireland

Direct insurance for Northern Ireland residents is fast becoming the boon it has proved to many consumers in the mainland UK and elsewhere. It’s called “direct” because it is possible to buy directly from the insurance provider without going through a high street broker or other expensively-maintained “shop”. Typically, the savings in operating costs of those who are selling direct to the consumer are then passed on by way of cheaper premiums for the insurance cover bought.

The range of insurance products now being offered in this way in the province is beginning to match that provided on the UK mainland – with prices steadily becoming almost as competitive. Here is just a glimpse of some of the products already available for direct sale to customers:

• Motor insurance – one of the biggest bugbears, perhaps, has been the extra premium paid by Northern Ireland drivers for insuring their cars, compared with those on the mainland (insurers blamed the uncertain security situation in the province as the reason for an increased risk and, therefore, higher premiums). Greater competition – and a considerably improved security situation – however, has been largely responsible for tumbling prices and a full range of products that cover cars, vans, motorcycles and even bicycles. There are insurers who specialise in motor policies for women drivers and those who offer cover for breakdowns and roadside emergencies;
• Home insurance – whether it’s the building itself or the contents that need covering, direct insurance in Northern Ireland offers a range of products to choose from, including special packages for students (living at home or in student accommodation);
• Pet insurance – whether it’s simple cover for the family pet or insurance for a horse (or horses, of course) there are competitively priced policies specifically written for Northern Ireland residents;
• Health insurance and life insurance – if you are looking for health cover for you or your family or considering life insurance to ensure they are adequately provided for in the event of your death, direct insurance might provide the most cost-effective option for you;
• Business insurance – small business insurance to cover the wide range of liabilities to which your livelihood might well be exposed is also now widely available in the form of direct insurance, Northern Ireland.