Why is Motorhome insurance so expensive

[marky7seven]

Hello, I've never insured a Motorhome before, so looking to take out my first policy on a £95,000 Carthago and the cost is coming in at £1275. Is this about right or is this expensive.

I don't have any NCD for motorhomes, but have 3 other cars all with 15 years plus, I have no accidents or driving convictions. If that is the going rate, then that is fine. Please quote was from Adrian Flux.

Thank you
Mark

 

[PaulyP]

But it's not the branch that dictates, it's the underwriter, innit.
At least that what i was told by a person having worked in the field.

Why are they working in a field, don’t they have an office

 

[Lenny HB]

That was last year the previous 8 were with the specialist motorhome insurers. Last year was underwritten by aegis a pretty well known company.

Just need to check the policy carefully make sure you are cover for a fire caused by gas, the awning is covered etc.

 

[Lenny HB]

Why are they working in a field, don’t they have an office

Have you seen the cost of business rates on premises?

 

[PaulyP]

It does.
But you are correct about the postcode too.

It don't. Post code does.

Yes it does, no it doesn’t !

are we getting into a pantomime here

they are behind you !

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[The Wino]

Just need to check the policy carefully make sure you are cover for a fire caused by gas, the awning is covered etc.

Just checked the broker was insurd it's a specialist motorhome insurance policy in their FAQ they say they encourage people to fit anti theft devices and offer a discount if fitted but will insure without from memory I think we paid around the £200 mark for the year. People say about Ford's being more frequently stolen and they probably are but I suspect it's still a small minority it's the same with A class requiring very expensive windscreens.

 

[stewartwebr]

some nfu branches will not quote for mh's.

Only up to a maximum engine size of 3L. No idea why but when I changed Motorhome I explained the vehicle was almost exactly the same dimensions, they had no issue with value, size or weight the thing which caused “declined to quote” was the engine size. They explained that bigger engined vehicles need a different level of garage for repairs. It was not worth arguing that this was not the case with me as it was almost the same size as an Iveco based one. I know better than to try and reason when the computer (or underwriter in the case) says no.

 

[bobnick]

Why are they working in a field, don’t they have an office

That's why i deserve a knighthood, because i've been outstanding in my field.

 

[The Wino]

Interesting article here. It's a bit biased probably as I think it's written by people supplying trackers but the number of motorhome and caravan thefts increased in some areas last year but is lower than in 2019 in general. It would be interesting to know the amount of motorhome thefts I suspect they're a very low percentage of the amount of motorhomes in use but well publicised on places like fun. I think there are probably less than 10 a year reported thefts on here (it could be a lot less than that) yet there are loads of members and several of the reported thefts aren't people on here just ones people have seen on Facebook.

Caravan and motorhome thefts up 14% in 2022 according to new report

Thefts of caravans and motorhomes rose by 13.8% in 12 months according to a new report by AX Track following a freedom of information request to all UK police forces. The data obtained by AX Track, the vehicle tracing and recovery experts, shows that of the 30 responses received from the 45...

www.driving.org

 

[PaulyP]

That's why i deserve a knighthood, because i've been outstanding in my field.

I wouldn’t stand out in a field in this weather you’ll freeze your bits off.

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[EuroTrotters]

Never paid more than around £380 That was for a very expensive rolling Gin Palace valued at over £100k

Now pay £195 for a £19k Hymer

Caravan insurance went down from £95 to £87 last year.

 

[bobnick]

I wouldn’t stand out in a field in this weather you’ll freeze your bits off.

No mate, i'm dead ard, born n bred in Salford.

 

[The Wino]

No mate, i'm dead ard, born n bred in Salford.

When I was a lad we used to walk a couple of miles into town go out for the night around the pubs and walk back again usually just in t shirts most of the year. Having said that we did get through quite a bit of antifreeze in the pub! I remember the first time Liz visited all the girls in the pub had very little on except her in her duffle coat. These days I think we were bonkers!

 

[scotjimland]

NFU branches are tied agents they are not employed by NFU. I think there are only about 3 of them that will insure Motorhome, Chichester & Louth are two of them.

NFU in Ipswich insure mine , before moving here, I used Louth branch, who also insured the RV when we had it ..

 

[VXman]

marky7seven

Worth contacting Comfort. They are a popular broker specialising in motorhomes and underwritten by Aviva. I pay about £400. Most people seem to find them competitive.

Home

Comfort Insurance®, providers of award-winning Motorhome, Campervan and Caravan insurance cover for over 30 years. Prices start from just £220. Find out more.

www.comfort-insurance.co.uk

Only certain branches of NFU will quote on high price vans.
Just before I collected mine from Germany I was panicking as only the Chichester branch would quote me

Seems odd. NFU area national company. I would expect them all to offer the same policies. The policy details is are set by the underwriter. Essentially they are selling a rebranded product and taking a cut.

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[Coastal Cruiser.]

marky7seven

Worth contacting Comfort. They are a popular broker specialising in motorhomes and underwritten by Aviva. I pay about £400. Most people seem to find them competitive.

Home

Comfort Insurance®, providers of award-winning Motorhome, Campervan and Caravan insurance cover for over 30 years. Prices start from just £220. Find out more.

www.comfort-insurance.co.uk

Seems odd. NFU area national company. I would expect them all to offer the same policies. The policy details is are set by the underwriter. Essentially they are selling a rebranded product and taking a cut.

I think they must be some sort of franchise as it seems each office determines who and what they cover

 

[Lenny HB]

Seems odd. NFU area national company. I would expect them all to offer the same policies. The policy details is are set by the underwriter. Essentially they are selling a rebranded product and taking a cut.

its not odd if you understand how NFU operates see my post #27.

 

[bobnick]

I'm going to wait until my Comfort renewal quote comes through. If it's an acceptable rise i will renew, if it's appears to be excessive i will do the compare sites to see what they can come up with.
Or flog the MH.

 

[Soycd]

Need to be careful on comparison sites often not proper Motorhome policies being offered.

I agree. I used one the other week and the cheapest it came up with was £1221. I think it's best to use the online quotes available from the companies themselves. In the end I'll prob go with Caravan Guard at just over £700. It's a new van coming soon. Also I wanted to be able to get fully comp for Albania, Montenegro etc. they'll do a green card for them for £25 a month. Comfort couldn't to it. I think we all have our differing needs so it's sometimes difficult to get a proper comparison.

 

[Lenny HB]

I agree. I used one the other week and the cheapest it came up with was £1221. I think it's best to use the online quotes available from the companies themselves. In the end I'll prob go with Caravan Guard at just over £700. It's a new van coming soon. Also I wanted to be able to get fully comp for Albania, Montenegro etc. they'll do a green card for them for £25 a month. Comfort couldn't to it. I think we all have our differing needs so it's sometimes difficult to get a proper comparison.

That is expensive for a PVC, I would have expected under £400.

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[Soycd]

That is expensive for a PVC, I would have expected under £400.

For our last PVC it was just just under £400 with the van (2018 Challenger Vany) valued at £43,000. I think this one (Adria Twin 640 SLB) is not far of double (gulp!) that value. I think that together with a general rise in premiums, mileage 11,000 per year, has bumped it up. The one sore point is that it includes breakdown recovery, which can't be removed and i don't need. TBH it is roughly what I was expecting to pay. As they say motorhomes/boats are just a big hole into which you chuck money!

 

[The Wino]

Just looked at the thread title and thought is motorhome insurance expensive? I've never had a car a similar value to the motorhomes being discussed on here what would insurance be for a year on a £80k car? It could be motorhome insurance is the same or cheaper.

 

[Dorwyn]

One thing that lurks in my mind is that if you get a discount for say an alarm or a tracker, it's possible that the insurer will not pay if the item was not operating at the time, ie, not alarmed or tracked. So it could work against you. I've not looked at the small print of my present insurer on this point. But I'm happy wth Comfort, even if others may be cheaper. It's difficult to shop around at my age.

 

[VXman]

I'm going to wait until my Comfort renewal quote comes through. If it's an acceptable rise i will renew, if it's appears to be excessive i will do the compare sites to see what they can come up with.
Or flog the MH.

My comfort policy has gone up each year for 3 years. £341 in 2021, then £387 (12% increase) and then £501 in 2023. (30%!!! - However, WTW and Confused.com say average increases in 2023 were 58%). I've have contacted a lot of companies each year for quotes and found nothing cheaper. LV was slightly cheaper but they wanted me to fit a tracker so it would have been a lot more expensive if I did that.

 

[VXman]

Managed to get it £757.59 from Ageas, so happy with that.

Why? Seems expensive. Is it parked on a road or are you in a high crime area?

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[Orion]

LV was slightly cheaper but they wanted me to fit a tracker so it would have been a lot more expensive if I did that.

I wonder if there is more emphasis by these insurers on the postcode area when assessing risk rather than actual value or other factors? I had the exact opposite from LV for a £95k van - no requirement for a tracker or alarm, but they wanted a dashcam and reversing sensors/camera! There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme nor reason to it. Plus mine was actually less this year!

 

[bobnick]

My comfort policy has gone up each year for 3 years. £341 in 2021, then £387 (12% increase) and then £501 in 2023. (30%!!! - However, WTW and Confused.com say average increases in 2023 were 58%). I've have contacted a lot of companies each year for quotes and found nothing cheaper. LV was slightly cheaper but they wanted me to fit a tracker so it would have been a lot more expensive if I did that.

Current policy with Comfort last time went up about £30. Can't remember what it actually cost.
Going to be a considerable rise i'm guessing as i have to declare a NO fault minor accident. Frustratingly i will have to declare on all renewals, 8 in total so they will all want a slice. Bastard'@

 

[stewartwebr]

One thing that lurks in my mind is that if you get a discount for say an alarm or a tracker, it's possible that the insurer will not pay if the item was not operating at the time, ie, not alarmed or tracked. So it could work against you. I've not looked at the small print of my present insurer on this point. But I'm happy wth Comfort, even if others may be cheaper. It's difficult to shop around at my age.

If an alarm or tracker are stipulated as part of the cover, then yes if they are not operational at the time of a claim then the insurer shall refuse to pay. It is very clear on my policy under the requirements section that I must have an active S5 tracking system installed. It must have been installed by a Thatcham approved installer and a certificate to prove it. If I were not to have it and made a claim they could reject the claim. That said it also says much the same about the Motorhome keys, they must be in my possession at the time of a theft.

 

[Pausim]

its not odd if you understand how NFU operates see my post #27.

Another NFU branch that are happy to do motorhomes is Brockenhurst.

 

[Dorwyn]

If an alarm or tracker are stipulated as part of the cover, then yes if they are not operational at the time of a claim then the insurer shall refuse to pay. It is very clear on my policy under the requirements section that I must have an active S5 tracking system installed. It must have been installed by a Thatcham approved installer and a certificate to prove it. If I were not to have it and made a claim they could reject the claim. That said it also says much the same about the Motorhome keys, they must be in my possession at the time of a theft.

When my last van was stolen, the first question the insurer asked was "Do you have the spare keys?" Yes, I said, both sets! Oh, he said, sounding disappointed. They paid out well and without arguing. But in the past, even if I had an alarm, I would not declare it, on the basis that there are many scenarios where something bad could happen. Now, with alarm and tracker declared, I'll even alarm the van when on a rally and out of sight of it. And I've got a second tracker, not declared!

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[PaulyP]

No mate, i'm dead ard, born n bred in Salford.

So was I Salford born and bRED.

That was both the willows and OT.