Ripe Motorhome Insurance Query

[PlacidoD]

My MoHo insurance is due for renewal 16/05/25 and I am away in Normandy over the turn of the month and so trying to make progress this BH weekend.

I have got an online quote which on the face of it is very competitive from Ripe but I wanted the EU cover (and EU breakdown cover) and their FAQ re EU cover speaks of the cover being minimum required by EU country laws.

I am unsure whether that means a Fully Comp policy covering Europe or just 3rd Party? Is anybody insured with them able to solve that minor but highly relevant mystery? I assume Fully Comp but can see nothing in writing

I have tried using the Live Chat but got no response and an email enquiry using their standard form says their hours are Monday to Friday only excluding bank holidays which is fair enough albeit a bit of a pain for this working man!

But that has we wondering do they have 24/7 claims numbers for RTAs and breakdown?

So basically I am asking for MHF user's experience of them to date plus clarification on their EU cover.

Subject to the above I am happy not to spend the rest of my Easter BH weekend doing other things rather than searching for other quotes!!!

TIA for replies!

 

[Lenny HB]

Minium cover normally means 3rd party.

 

[kev54]

Minium cover normally means 3rd party.

I stepped away from their offer due to that limitation. Comfort gave me a great deal, fully comp and UK/EU breakdown - but I fear the Bank Holiday may scupper your ability to speak with someone to do the deal

 

[PlacidoD]

Minium cover normally means 3rd party.

Yes. That would be my expectation but current insurers Caravan Guard assure me that because I had also taken out breakdown cover with them giving me one "cover all" policy that my EU cover with them was/is fully comp even though their policy wording would suggest otherwise. That was my first question to Caravan Guard when asking for a renewal quote.

Work is going to be frenetic Tuesday to Friday and I am setting out for the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry late Saturday for a week in Normandy. I rather wanted my renewal insurance sorted before then even though I am still on the old policy when I return. I will not get the best terms making last minute enquiries.

 

[activecampers]

It is iffy wording and suggests minimum 3rd party, but our policy has an endorsement that changes it to fully comp.

Insurance cert only says basic, but...

Has continental cover as part of the schedule

Section 7 says "minimum" but also says "extend what you have in section 1"

Section 1 says "if you have fully comp then it is covered".

Ergo, section 1 confirms what fully comp means. Section 7 says that applies to europe (if you have european endorsement on schedule). Schedule confirms euro cover.

So its fully comp in euroland.

Yes, I panicked when I first saw it but I read and I am happy with the entire policy.

YMMV

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[Howard B]

My MoHo insurance is due for renewal 16/05/25 and I am away in Normandy over the turn of the month and so trying to make progress this BH weekend.

I have got an online quote which on the face of it is very competitive from Ripe but I wanted the EU cover (and EU breakdown cover) and their FAQ re EU cover speaks of the cover being minimum required by EU country laws.

I am unsure whether that means a Fully Comp policy covering Europe or just 3rd Party? Is anybody insured with them able to solve that minor but highly relevant mystery? I assume Fully Comp but can see nothing in writing

I have tried using the Live Chat but got no response and an email enquiry using their standard form says their hours are Monday to Friday only excluding bank holidays which is fair enough albeit a bit of a pain for this working man!

But that has we wondering do they have 24/7 claims numbers for RTAs and breakdown?

So basically I am asking for MHF user's experience of them to date plus clarification on their EU cover.

Subject to the above I am happy not to spend the rest of my Easter BH weekend doing other things rather than searching for other quotes!!!

TIA for replies!

My Ripe insurance product information document has the following under "Where am I covered".


 In the United Kingdom
 Where you have selected cover for Continental Europe and it is shown in your Statement of Insurance, we will also provide the minimum insurance needed by the relevant law to allow you to use your vehicle in the membercountries of the European Union as well as Andorra, Gibraltar, Iceland, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Bosnia andHerzegovina and Montenegro
 We will provide the cover shown in your Statement of Insurance in these countries for up to 90 days per trip or 180days in the period of insurance.
 Your permanent home must be in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and yourvisit to these countries must be temporary

The third bullet point covers what cover you will have. In my case, the statement of insurance shows I have Fully Comp insurance. I guess the EU member states are expecing at least 3rd party cover.

 

[Jim]

I stepped away from their offer due to that limitation.

I don't think there is a limitation, its just a bit of boilerplate text, Their European cover appears to be much the same as everyone else's


Snap... people were saying the same as I was typing

 

[PlacidoD]

My Ripe insurance product information document has the following under "Where am I covered".


 In the United Kingdom
 Where you have selected cover for Continental Europe and it is shown in your Statement of Insurance, we will also provide the minimum insurance needed by the relevant law to allow you to use your vehicle in the membercountries of the European Union as well as Andorra, Gibraltar, Iceland, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Bosnia andHerzegovina and Montenegro
 We will provide the cover shown in your Statement of Insurance in these countries for up to 90 days per trip or 180days in the period of insurance.
 Your permanent home must be in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and yourvisit to these countries must be temporary

The third bullet point covers what cover you will have. In my case, the statement of insurance shows I have Fully Comp insurance. I guess the EU member states are expecing at least 3rd party cover.

Yes I have read all of that and it does not really answer the question. As Jim has just said. It is boilerplate text. If it is fully comp in Europe I will happily go with them on renewal and stop searching but they really ought to change their FAQ wording to promote clarity especially to help their marketing if they do nor wish to work weekends (I am sympathetic to that aspiration)

 

[Howard B]

Yes I have read all of that and it does not really answer the question. As Jim has just said. It is boilerplate text. If it is fully comp in Europe I will happily go with them on renewal and stop searching but they really ought to change their FAQ wording to promote clarity especially to help their marketing if they do nor wish to work weekends (I am sympathetic to that aspiration)

Its clear enough to me in that I have fully comp cover in Europe. The wording is also very similar on my AA car insurance policy.

I have been happy with their service to date having made a number of changes and not been charged for any of them. Also got a partial refund with one change.

 

[kev54]

I don't think there is a limitation, its just a bit of boilerplate text, Their European cover appears to be much the same as everyone else's


Snap... people were saying the same as I was typing

Well, looking at my notes, in fact it was the cost of their EU breakdown (2013, 3.3t, 6m, ≈£30k value) that actually stopped me. However I usually consider that the ‘boiler plate’ terms are those that the insurer will fall back on in case of a claim. The text was a bit too vague for my liking. I’ll maybe try them again next year

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[Minxy]

I don't think there is a limitation, its just a bit of boilerplate text, Their European cover appears to be much the same as everyone else's

On some things yes but on other no, some countries aren't covered such as Switzerland and Andorra for which an extra premium is required, in my case it was over £80, by the time I added them in to bring it up to the same level of those included with Comfort as standard. Along with other stuff Ripe ended up a lot more expensive, also Comfort's £ limits are more generous than Ripe. It may well be a good policy for some but they certainly aren't all on a level playing field.

As with all insurance products always read the T&Cs, limits and especially exclusions.

 

[TheMobileWanderer]

On a slight tangent, I noticed the limit to be 90 days per trip and 180 total per year. So two trips of 90 days, max. It's that which would put me off. I'd never want to be somewhere and have to return to avoid exceeding 90days.

 

[PlacidoD]

On some things yes but on other no, some countries aren't covered such as Switzerland and Andorra for which an extra premium is required, in my case it was over £80, by the time I added them in to bring it up to the same level of those included with Comfort as standard. Along with other stuff Ripe ended up a lot more expensive, also Comfort's £ limits are more generous than Ripe. It may well be a good policy for some but they certainly aren't all on a level playing field.

As with all insurance products always read the T&Cs, limits and especially exclusions.

Re Switzerland - cover for which is essential for me as my son and family live there - It is part of their EU extension cover which you can add on. See #6 of this thread for their current wording. In my case the additional premium is £66. I am also quoted £96 for UK and EU breakdown cover.

 

[PlacidoD]

On a slight tangent, I noticed the limit to be 90 days per trip and 180 total per year. So two trips of 90 days, max. It's that which would put me off. I'd never want to be somewhere and have to return to avoid exceeding 90days.

In that case you are going to find Schengen limitations mighty inconvenient (unless you have an EU passport)!!!

 

[Minxy]

In that case you are going to find Schengen limitations mighty inconvenient (unless you have an EU passport)!!!

Or go into non-Schengen countries in order to stay away longer as some people do.

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[Minxy]

Re Switzerland - cover for which is essential for me as my son and family live there - It is part of their EU extension cover which you can add on. See #6 of this thread for their current wording. In my case the additional premium is £66. I am also quoted £96 for UK and EU breakdown cover.

Yes, I was just drawing attention to it as some people may not notice and assume the coverage is the same as many other insurers who include it as standard, Spain used to be one to watch for with insurance in the past, most include it now but it's always best to check. I assume the price I was given for Switzerland etc was based on a percentage of my initial cover (£712 for 8000 miles and £85000 MH value) hence the higher add-on cost.

 

[activecampers]

The Ripe documentation says its covered in Andora and Switzerland

Yes, i says "minimum cover" which I guess is a catch al, ad then says "provide the cover shown in your statement of insurnace for up to 90 days"

Statement of insurance says fully comp

I did nothing special beyond asking for Euro cover.....

 

[Minxy]

The Ripe documentation says its covered in Andora and Switzerland

Yes, i says "minimum cover" which I guess is a catch al, ad then says "provide the cover shown in your statement of insurnace for up to 90 days"

View attachment 1045793
Statement of insurance says fully comp

View attachment 1045794

I did nothing special beyond asking for Euro cover.....

It says if you select it. It's a few weeks since I did the quote but I know it was an extra cost option whereas with others it was included as standard. If you don't need the extra cover it could work out a cheaper policy I suppose but even without it for me it was still more than with others where it was included so was moot in the end.

 

[activecampers]

It says if you select it. It's a few weeks since I did the quote but I know it was an extra cost option whereas with others it was included as standard. If you don't need the extra cover it could work out a cheaper policy I suppose but even without it for me it was still more than with others where it was included so was moot in the end.

Well if you want euro cover you've got to ask for it I'm not sure if it was included or was a tick box for euro - what I meant was I made no extra effort to get Switzerland added

 

[Howard B]

Well if you want euro cover you've got to ask for it I'm not sure if it was included or was a tick box for euro - what I meant was I made no extra effort to get Switzerland added

I took my Ripe quote via a comparison site. There were no questions on EU cover or Switzerland etc. I have Comp cover for all.
When I tried Ripe trying using the MHF link I couldn't get a quote from them.

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[PlacidoD]

I took my Ripe quote via a comparison site. There were no questions on EU cover or Switzerland etc. I have Comp cover for all.
When I tried Ripe trying using the MHF link I couldn't get a quote from them.

Zero problem linking for me and the discount is clearly set out on their quote emailed through to me.

 

[Alan Atkin]

Zero problem linking for me and the discount is clearly set out on their quote emailed through to me.

I am with ripe insurance had an accident 14/4 in Belgium they were helpful and said they would recover my van pictures etc in earlier thread. We will see how good they are when they come to settle. Accident not my faul. white van back ended me.Belgium police fire crews and ambulance crews all excellent.

 

[PlacidoD]

I am with ripe insurance had an accident 14/4 in Belgium they were helpful and said they would recover my van pictures etc in earlier thread. We will see how good they are when they come to settle. Accident not my faul. white van back ended me.Belgium police fire crews and ambulance crews all excellent.

I have just taken a look at that thread. Awful to view the damage to your MoHo and I bet your are both still a bit shaken?

Fingers crossed for you to get a replacement or repairs sorted soon. Do please let me know if Ripe show signs of letting you down. I have no reason to suppose they will.

P.S. I occasionally wonder about the relative merits of a low profile versus a PVC. I have no plans to change but your photos have renewed my speculation!

Stay safe!!

 

[Clive Beeza]

My MoHo insurance is due for renewal 16/05/25 and I am away in Normandy over the turn of the month and so trying to make progress this BH weekend.

I have got an online quote which on the face of it is very competitive from Ripe but I wanted the EU cover (and EU breakdown cover) and their FAQ re EU cover speaks of the cover being minimum required by EU country laws.

I am unsure whether that means a Fully Comp policy covering Europe or just 3rd Party? Is anybody insured with them able to solve that minor but highly relevant mystery? I assume Fully Comp but can see nothing in writing

I have tried using the Live Chat but got no response and an email enquiry using their standard form says their hours are Monday to Friday only excluding bank holidays which is fair enough albeit a bit of a pain for this working man!

But that has we wondering do they have 24/7 claims numbers for RTAs and breakdown?

So basically I am asking for MHF user's experience of them to date plus clarification on their EU cover.

Subject to the above I am happy not to spend the rest of my Easter BH weekend doing other things rather than searching for other quotes!!!

TIA for replies!

Try Caravan Guard they have excellent European cover
as an option in their tailored "to you policies"

 

[WASPES]

I don't know if this will apply to you but someone on another forum was complaining that they would not cover them for towing a car on an A frame under any circumstances

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[PlacidoD]

Try Caravan Guard they have excellent European cover
as an option in their tailored "to you policies"

I am currently with Caravan Guard who want almost twice the premium of Ripe for essentially, in terms of my needs, the same cover (including European breakdown etc.)

To be fair to Caravan Guard they will cover Europe for up to 270 days continuous. But I still work fulltime and although I get 5 week's leave per year which means over 6 weeks with Bank Holidays I also have lots of singing commitments that limit my ability to get abroad and, to some extent even to get away at weekends in the UK.

 

[kev54]

I am currently with Caravan Guard who want almost twice the premium of Ripe for essentially, in terms of my needs, the same cover (including European breakdown etc.)

To be fair to Caravan Guard they will cover Europe for up to 270 days continuous. But I still work fulltime and although I get 5 week's leave per year which means over 6 weeks with Bank Holidays I also have lots of singing commitments that limit my ability to get abroad and, to some extent even to get away at weekends in the UK.

PlacidoD your comments illustrate perfectly that insurance is all about what you/one and your/one’s personal circumstances need at a given time. This forum is wonderful to gather experiences and suggestions of where to look - but it’s all down to the particulars when it comes to paying the money.

 

[Jaguarcat1]

I don't know if this will apply to you but someone on another forum was complaining that they would not cover them for towing a car on an A frame under any circumstances

I didn't think you could tow a car on an A frame anywhere in EU

 

[WASPES]

Some do Some don't it's your choice but Ripe insurance won't cover you for towing in the UK

 

[monzer]

As for the breakdown cover side of things, Ripe's documents show 4 levels of cover to include in the policy so make sure you have the correct one. 'Total UK and Europe' is what you want to have to be covered on your EU travels.

After years of travelling Europe and always having EU breakdown cover in my policies, this time I slipped up and presumed I was covered. Costly mistake after a timing belt went!

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