Buying and using a Motorhome or RV is one of life’s great pleasures – providing life on the open road and the opportunity to find great weather and spectacular locations.
But what happens when something goes wrong? With the right insurance policy, virtually any situation can be managed quickly, efficiently and hassle-free. But with the wrong insurance, you run the risk of encountering heartache which could drag on for days, weeks or even months.
One of the easiest ways to get the very best Motorhome or RV cover is to use a company that specialises in bespoke Motorhome insurance – like Sureterm Direct, for example – who understand exactly what’s required to guarantee a trouble-free life when accidents happen.
Here’s a list of the key dos and don’ts when insuring your Motorhome.
5 ESSENTIAL Dos
DO consider exactly what your circumstances are likely to be over the coming year. How much will you be using your vehicle? Where will you be going, especially abroad? How many miles do you expect to do? All these factors can affect your policy.
DO make sure your policy covers personal effects that will be in the Motorhome or RV, and extras like awnings. Some large awnings, for example, can be expensive to replace. Specialist insurers pick up on these little things when you’re discussing your requirements.
DO ask if there are discounts available depending on the length of time you’ve owned your Motorhome or RV, or if you’re a member of a club or association. Many specialist Motorhome insurers reward experience with better premiums.
DO be clear about your No Claims Discounts (NCD). Many insurers will mirror the NCD you’ve accrued while driving your car.
DO make sure your policy provides adequate cover for legal expenses. In the USA, particularly, personal claims lawyers can be as vicious as the alligators in the Florida swamps, and you may need to fight fire with fire. If you’re policy means you can employ your own alligator – at no extra cost to you – it makes sense!
5 IMPORTANT DON’Ts
DON’T lie about your circumstances – be honest with your underwriter. If you cause a pile-up in Peru having claimed you were never going to leave Peterborough, be prepared for a nasty surprise!
DON’T make assumptions. For example, many Motorhome owners tow a small car behind to make it easy to pop to the local shops. But don’t assume your Ford Ka, Smart car or little Fiat will be covered simply because it’s attached to your Eldiss or Bessacar. Some policies automatically give you third-party cover for your cover, but in other cases you might need to take out full-comprehensive car insurance too. Always check.
DON’T always settle for a high Excess figure. The joy of using a specialist insurer is that they can often create Motorhome cover with lower than expected Excess figures (the initial amount you have to contribute to any repairs to another vehicle before your insurer covers the rest).
The usual Excess figure is between £100 and £500. But with a specialist company, even if your Excess is slightly higher than you’d expected, the policy you get is often way better, with many more features, than an ‘off the shelf’ product.
DON’T fall into the trap of thinking that the larger insurance companies will offer the best policies. As Motorhome or RV insurance is not their core business, they often overlook factors that could make a huge difference once you’re on the road.
Continental breakdown cover could be missed off, or you might be restricted on how much travel you can do in Europe within a calendar year.
DON’T make a claim for minor accidents. Small accidents to another person’s vehicle like a broken wing mirror are often best dealt with without involving your insurer. By paying for the repair yourself, you can protect your No Claims Discounts and ensure you continue to pay low premiums.
John Kelly is the web editor for www.sureterm.com, one of the UK’s leading specialist Motorhome or RV insurance companies.
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John Kelly is the web editor for http://www.sureterm.com
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