IS YOUR CARAVAN LEGAL?
IS YOUR CARAVAN LEGAL?
Here I talk about caravan insurance and safety and show you a better way to weigh your tow vehicle and caravan.
In brief :
- Check your Caravan PDS (Product Disclosure Statement) to make sure you understand what’s covered.
- Make sure your caravan is not overweight. Overweight caravans are unsafe and may not be covered by insurance.
- Consider getting a layup discount if you are not going to be using your caravan for a while.
- Consider getting static caravan insurance if your caravan is going to be in one place for a long time.
- Try to get an agreed value policy for your caravan insurance, so you know how much you will be paid out in the event of a claim.
- Get your caravan weighed by a professional to make sure it is safe to tow.
Watch above video for a 10% discount on caravan weighing services is offered.
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Below is research information much of the video was based on. Though quite long, there are some eye-watering things you might be surprised to read!!
Types of Caravan Insurance:
Caravan insurance is split into 3 main categories: Touring caravan, static caravan and trailer tent/folding camper.
Touring caravan insurance
Touring caravan insurance covers you when you’re towing a caravan behind your vehicle. Each insurer has different benefits but generally this type of insurance will cover you for contents, new for old replacement, third party and public liability.
Static caravan insurance
Static caravan insurance covers you if your caravan stays situated in one place such as a holiday home or caravan park, but not a site where you live permanently. Similarly to touring caravan insurance you will be covered for contents, new for old replacement, third party and public liability.
From <https://www.compareinsurance.com.au/caravan-insurance/guides/guide-to-caravan-insurance
Youi Caravan insurance
Comprehensive insurance
Want the highest level of cover for your caravan or trailer? If so, our Comprehensive insurance could be for you. This type of caravan and trailer insurance includes cover for accidents, most types of severe weather events, fires, theft, and damage to someone else’s property.
Accidental damage to your trailer or caravan.1
Storm, hail or flood damage.1
- After you’ve sold or given away your current caravan or trailer,we will insure your replacement caravan or trailer for up to 14 days from the sell or give away date, up to a maximum of $75,000 after $1,000 excess.19
Third Party Fire & Theft
Our Third Party Fire & Theft insurance includes cover for your caravan or trailer against fire and theft, plus damage to other people’s property. Here are some inclusions for events insured under this cover.
- Cover for theft, or damage to the caravan or trailer caused by attempted theft, and damage to the caravan or trailer caused by fire.2
- If your caravan or trailer is damaged in an insured event, we’ll cover the cost of towing it to and storing it at the nearest suitable place for safekeeping.5
- If the contents inside your caravan or camper trailer are lost or damaged as the result of an insured event, we’ll cover perishable food up to the value of $150, and up to a total of $1,000 per claim, after excess.
Third Party Property Only
If your trailer or caravan causes damage to someone else’s vehicle or property, and if we approve your claim, our Third Party Property Only insurance will have you covered for the following.
- Up to $20 million legal liability if your caravan or trailer damages someone else’s property.6
- Up to $1,500 per person for counselling services for you and household members after an incident where a claim has been accepted.6
From <https://www.youi.com.au/caravan-and-trailer-insurance#cover>
Accidental damage
No matter how careful you are, accidents can still happen. With this feature, your caravan or trailer is covered for accidental damage caused by you or someone else.
New caravan or trailer replacement
If your brand new caravan or trailer is a total loss within the first 2 years, we’ll replace it or pay you the replacement cost.
Storm, hail or flood
Comprehensive insurance, you’ll be covered for damage caused by storms, hail and floods.1
Theft
Keep your caravan or trailer covered for theft and damage caused by attempted theft with one of our Comprehensive or Third Party Fire & Theft insurance policies.
Emergency accommodation, transport and repairs
If you’re involved in an insured event that means you can no longer safely use your caravan or trailer, and you’re more than 100km from the place where it is usually kept, we’ll reimburse up to $1,000 combined for your emergency accommodation, transport, storage and repairs.8
Contents inside your caravan
It’s not just your caravan we’ve got covered if an insured event occurs. Comprehensive and Third Party Fire & Theft policies include up to $1,000, after excess, of caravan contents cover per claim, with a maximum of $150 for perishable food.5
Fire
Under our Comprehensive and Third Party Fire & Theft policies, you will be covered if your caravan or trailer is damaged by fire.2
Towing costs
Cover includes the cost of towing and storage of your caravan or trailer to the nearest suitable place for safekeeping after an insured event.5
Intentional damage
Not all damage is accidental. We’ll cover the cost to replace or repair your caravan or trailer if someone (other than you, anyone else who’s been given permission to use the caravan or trailer, or anyone acting with your consent) intentionally damages it.1
Legal liability
We’ve got you covered to the tune of up to $20 million for your legal liability if your caravan or trailer causes damage to someone else’s property.6
Animal death or injury
Under our Comprehensive policy, we’ll pay the cost for accidental death and veterinary fees, up to $5,000 per claim, if animals being transported in your trailer are injured or die as the result of an insured event which also causes loss or damage to the trailer itself, and for which a claim is accepted.1
Caravan park fees
If you incur costs for unrecoverable caravan park cancellation or rebooking fees where a claim is accepted for loss or damage to your caravan caused by an insured event, we’ll cover up to $1,000 per claim, with a total of $2,000 across all incidents in that contract period.5
From <https://www.youi.com.au/caravan-and-trailer-insurance#cover>
Business items
If you carry and store business items in your caravan or trailer while anywhere in Australia, this optional extra will provide coverage of up to $1,000 per business item that’s been lost or damaged in an insured event.9
To get a caravan insurance quote.
- Your contact details
- To get started, we’ll need some basic information about you, including your driving and towing history.
- The details of your caravan or trailer
- We’ll need to know the make, size and year of your caravan or trailer to make sure your policy and premium are accurate.
- What you use the caravan or trailer for
- Will your caravan or trailer be used for personal or business purposes? Let us know, as this can affect your premium.
- Where your caravan or trailer is usually stored
It’s important to let us know whether your caravan or trailer will be kept in a carport, inside a locked garage, on the street, or at another location, as this could also affect your premium.
From <https://www.youi.com.au/caravan-and-trailer-insurance#cover>
VIEW THE PDS
From <https://www.youi.com.au/caravan-and-trailer-insurance#cover>
BEST CARAVAN INSURANCE – PRODUCT Review
Youi Caravan and Trailer Insurance 🏆 2024
bollie7 NSW
Getting quote was pretty easy we already had a couple of cars insured with Youi with no problems.
Getting a quote for our camper was pretty easy. They asked a few relevant questions (as expected) quote came back just over $300 less than my previous insure… Read more
Jason M.6 posts
DO NOT INSURE WITH CIL Absolutely hopeless. Took out an insurance policy for my campervan, eight weeks later the window got a stone chip. I called them to find out what the excess was because it was not provided on the initial information supplied … Read more
Shenli S.
Third Party Property Damage
Poor claims management I recently found myself in a car accident where the other driver rear-ended me from the side of my vehicle. Despite the clear circumstances, they tried to manipulate the situation, insisting it was my fault and even claimed
RACV Caravan & Trailer Insurance
Alex
Over 16 months with no claim resolution After 15 years and being a silver member of RACV, we are yet to receive an outcome from our claim made in May 2022. We have been unable to travel in our camper trailer we purchased as we came out of lockdown as a means to Read more
Hi Alex, we’re sorry to hear that RACV Insurance did not meet your expectations. We appreciate your feedback. We will contact you via private message to discuss this further and investigate. Kind Regards, Robert – Social Media Consultant.
Graeme RNSW 3 posts
Totally Illogical Have had my vehicles insured with GIO for many years and last year when my CIL Caravan Insurance renewal arrived which had increased substantially, I tried to obtain a quote from GIO. However, because it was stored in an under…
MariaVIC 6 posts
Logo should read “Unlucky you’re with AAMI”Caravan insurance claim denied.
We have an on-site caravan.
Caravan has water ingress damage.
A “tornado” Storm event occurred during lockdown.
We were loc… Read more
From <https://www.productreview.com.au/c/caravan-insurance>
Grey Nomads review
Grey Nomads review
C I L, maybe not cheapest, but agreed value, reasonable excess, I think you can nominate a ” lay up period ” as well to lessen the pain.
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Cheers Craig
Expect to pay 10% to 15% of agreed value if registered to NSW Address – if you have clean driving and Insurance claims record. CIL are better to deal with than other insurers when it comes time to make a claim.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Swann Insurance, Woolworths, and Budget, but I don’t like Budget; their fine print has some serious outs.
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Ric – The Eccentric One
Not 10% to 15% Possum. I pay 3% of the agreed value with an excess of $200 with NRMA. A mate with a van insured for $85K pays $1500 per year with a $500 excess with the same mob.
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Put the decimal point in the wrong place didn’t I? (Should be about 1% to 1.5 – NRMA Gold Member, 65% No Claim, Zero Demerits, $200 excess)
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
RACV.
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My advice is don’t base your decision on premium alone, cheapest is not always best. Take the time to read the PDS to make sure you are being covered for what you think. We are also with RACV.
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A good friend has traded her Jayco in on a new 90K Millard after much research and it is due for delivery in September.
She rang me last week with a major shock of quotes hitting 3 grand.
Eventually she found CIL for I think about $1,543 or something?
She has also been researching caravan movers (parking and positioning units) and found a firm in W.A. does them with a good name evident.
I pay very little on my modest old Roadstar with the NRMA.
Though I have a few policies with them and a massive no claim bonus.
Insurance is an unwelcome but necessary part of life and caravanning is it not.
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Ron
RedProw wrote:
My advice is don’t base your decision on premium alone, cheapest is not always best. Take the time to read the PDS to make sure you are being covered for what you think. We are also with RACV…
I agree with what you wrote, but highlighted the first part because I think most focus exclusively on price.
The Product Review site has some useful statistics. Of course it only shows people who post there and there will be a larger percent of dissatisfied people; however when there is a large enough number of reviews some comparisons between insurers can be made.
For example, some useful statistics (only shown when there are plenty of reviews):
Time taken to resolve claim
Approved vs denied
Caravan insurance does not have as many reviewers as car insurance, so you may need to make an assessment based on the car insurance reports. For example you could just type in the name of your insurer or search for Insurance, then select Car, then sort by rating.
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rmoor wrote:
A good friend has traded her Jayco in on a new 90K Millard after much research and it is due for delivery in September.
She has also been researching caravan movers (parking and positioning units) and found a firm in W.A. does them with a good name evident.
Did she tell you the Name of the unit/dealer?
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Yeah, thanks for the question Possum.
She rang me not long ago re the arrangements for our upcoming Beechworth visit.
The van moving unit she has been looking at I believe to be a Tug (made in W.A.) V4 I believe.
It will need to move a 17′ Millard, with a slight incline and bump…..
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Ron
RACWA. Cheapest quote and best coverage I could find this time around.
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Greg O’Brien
Thanks everyone. Previously we had a little 14ft jayco and insurance was nothing to worry about but the lotus will be a bit different I need to prepare myself. So the premium is a percentage of the agreed value? Is that how it works?
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Boothy
Boothy wrote:
So the premium is a percentage of the agreed value? Is that how it works?
It’s the primary factor. Location would probably be next along with storage method (street, driveway, garage, etc.), security devices and type, age and brand. Then comes driving and towing experience, claims history, demerit points etc.
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Does it help if you’ve done at caravan towing course? Hubby drives heavy machinery for a living but was just wondering if you had done a caravan towing course whether this would help with your premiums I might actually do one myself I think I probably need it LOL
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Boothy
Unfortunately it doesn’t – although it is a course that is well worth the effort.
Boothy wrote:
I have never been asked. Just “How many years have you been licensed? How many years towing?” Some ask more questions, some ask less. Some will insist on security devices, others may not, or may increase the premium.
I just swapped companies for mine and because of age and value of cover they had to seek approval from the underwriters. They came back with a question I have never been asked before. “Why is the van not stored at your home?” Maybe if yours is a borderline case, mentioning the towing course may help.
But I think you just need to find those answers by calling them. You will likely get wildly different quotations.
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I’ve had no issues with RACQ – they paid for damage that I caused when I backed into a corner on our then Jayco Eagle.
Our current Discovery is insured for an “agreed” value.
I’m not certain if they would cover a van that was taken off a “made road, track” & you hit a big stump or something similar – you’d have to ask the insurer at the time of taking out the policy.
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Warren
NRMA agreed value, covered Australia Wide even off road.
Warren, RACQ read the fine print Agree value or Market value whichever is the lessor.
Darjak
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RACQ – terrible to make a claim with, they find any reason to deny a claim, and don’t expect to be refunded your premium, just don’t go there.
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Ric – The Eccentric One
Boothy wrote:
We will be taking possession of our caravan next year. Just interested to hear who people insure with and if you’re happy? What sort of $$ can we expect to pay on an off road van with all the bells and whistles? Can you pay more when using and less when storing?
When we bought our previous van we initially insured it with CIL the renewal notice came around we swapped it over to NRMA because they were cheaper. We also had all of our other insurance policies with NRMA and had been with them for 40 odd years (never making a claim). While doing 95kph the trailing axle turned at 45deg. causing a wheel to go through the stairwell. We made a claim, NRMA eventually got around to sending out an assessor about 2 months later to inspect the damage. The assessor said no problem in his experience this is just a formality it will go straight through. I told him I had no idea why the bolts failed whether it was the result of hitting a pothole or maybe something else on the road, but I did know that the inner wall of the cheap Chinese brand tyre had blown out. I knew that because I had asked the tyre repairer when I took it in to replace the damaged tyre if the damage was a result of the accident or a failure. He said no it wasn’t torn it was a definitely a huge blowout. To our surprise we received a phone call a few days later telling us that they would not be accepting the claim because in their opinion it had been the result of a mechanical failure. They said that in the PDF it states that damage caused by structural, mechanical or electrical failures is not covered. I argued that there was no evidence that the bolt failure was the primary cause but to no avail they just said you can appeal if you want but we are not paying. Being $8K out of pocket I immediately cancelled every policy that we had with NRMA and reinsured with someone else. For the van we went back to a specialist caravan insurer i.e. CIL even if they did cost us a bit more. If the same thing happened would we be any better off with CIL who knows but at least it made me feel better telling NRMA we would never be doing business with them again. (I find the pain is less by paying it monthly).
BB
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DavRo
From your description I am not surprised the claim was rejected. Had you said it WAS the result from hitting a pothole or some object on the road, then it becomes definite accident damage rather than maybe a mechanical or tyre failure. If you couldn’t prove it, you may still end up fighting them. But the difference is accident damage is a covered event while mechanical or tyre failure is not. I think you will find all the common insurers’ PDS will have similar.
Have a read of my first post in this thread with a link to Product Review. You may need to look for their car insurance reviews to get a meaningful number of reviews. NRMA does not do well with statistics on claim approvals … percentage approved and claim resolution time. (These stats are only shown when there are plenty of reviews). Like you, I have been an NRMA client for many years with several policies, but those statistics combined with premium increase were the prime reason I just renewed with another insurer. I chose National Seniors Insurance. Not many reviews but those small number have much better stats than NRMA. Saved about $100 in premium as well. CIL scores the same as NRMA but with only a small number of reviewers, less meaningful. Youi scores the best in reviews but in my case the premium was more than double NRMA.
No doubt Are we Lost that I was guilty on 2 fronts 1) I thought that when you paid lots of $$$ every year for comprehensive insurance you would be covered for damage that was the result of something that was not your fault 2) I didn’t read every line of the PDF enough to clearly understand exactly what we were covered for. The fact that we had our claim rejected was just something we had to accept – giving the NRMA the flick probably didn’t make much difference to them but it did make me feel a bit better…
BB
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DavRo
Just did a comparison quote with CIL and my current insurers :
Over TWO TIMES current costs and off road is considered as unsealed!
Lookout!!!
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Been with NRMA for decades any claims I have had have been dealt with without any hassles. When I do a ring around to compare premiums so I’m not paying a lazy tax they are competitive if not cheaper with all the discounts I get.
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National Seniors Australia Ltd arranges insurance as agent for Allianz Australia Insurance Limited. National Seniors Australia Ltd receives a commission which is a percentage of the premium.
CIL Insurance is a trading division of AAI Limited. AAI Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Suncorp Group Limited.
NRMA Insurance is owned by Insurance Australia Group.
Swann Insurance is owned by Insurance Australia Group.
RACQ Insurance is owned by The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland Ltd who are currently in discussion to sell the insurance operations to Insurance Australia Group.
RACV Insurance is a joint venture which is owned 70% by Insurance Australia Group and 30% by RACV.
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Just getting quotes for my new van. I usually go with Youi as they have saved me heaps in the past, but NRMA (surprise) was over $760 cheaper, with basic excess reduced from $750 to $200. Both offer new replacement for first 24 months (plus a whole lot of similar additives). I asked Youi to rework their figures but they couldn’t come close. Go NRMA, you good thing 😉
From <https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t69664752/who-is-your-caravan-insurance-with/>
FORBES Review of Caravan Insurance quotes
Our Pick of the Best Caravan Insurance For Australians
Editorial note: Forbes Advisor Australia may earn revenue from this story in the manner disclosed here. Read our advice disclaimer here.
If you own a caravan, you’re one of a group of hundreds of thousands of Australians that caravan insurance is designed to aid. The government’s tourism research data shows that as of 2021, there were 770,000 caravan registrations across all Australian states, and this number is likely to have grown since.
Best Caravan Insurance
Jayco Caravan Insurance
4.6
Content cover as standard
Up to $5,000
Choice of repairer
Yes but insurer can insist on another that suits you and it
Emergency transportation cover
No
Why We Picked It
This policy is a rare one in that it offers a ‘lay-up’ discount on the premium if you don’t intend to use your caravan during certain months. It also is one of few that insures at market value or agreed value. You can also take advantage of $5,000 in cover for any loss or damage to the caravan’s contents—considerably higher than the usual amount of $1,000 provided by most insurers.
Cover extends to accidental damage, including when caused by fire, flood, hail, malicious damage, storm and theft or attempted theft, and motor burnout in appliances. Up to $1,000 is provided for emergency repairs, and the same amount for spoilt food caused by damage to the vehicle. The policy also offers up to $1,000 for vet expenses if your pet is injured or falls sick while travelling in your caravan more than 100km from home, which is double the average amount offered by most insurers. For annexes, there’s up to $3,000 in cover.
While this policy does not cover costs for transportation in the staticevent you are left stranded after an accident, it does cover up to $5,000 in ‘reasonable’ towing costs for your caravan, if you’re more than 100km from home. It also will cover costs for accommodation, at a rate of $200 a day up to a total $2,000 within the insurance term, if you are at least 100km from home. If the caravan is your home, the total limit rises to $2,400. In cases where your caravan is deemed a total loss following an accident, this policy will pay out to cover a new replacement. This insurer also offers on-site cover as an alternative to Australia-wide insurance. However, it’s important to note that its customer service team is not available outside of business hours; it provides no live chat facility and does not accept claims online, which may inconvenience some.
Pros & Cons
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- Lay-up discount available
- Up to $5,000 in contents cover
- Insures at market value or agreed value
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- Insurer can request second repairer quote
- No customer service outside business hours
- No online claims process – form downloadable
CIL Caravan Insurance
4.5
Content cover as standard
$1,000 per incident Option to add extra
Choice of repairer
Yes
Emergency transportation cover
No
AAMI Caravan Australia Wide
4.5
Content cover as standard
$1,000 per incident Option to add extra
Choice of repairer
Yes
Emergency transportation cover
No
Why We Picked It
This policy covers accidental damage, caused in a variety of ways, including by hail, storm, cyclone, flood or fire. It also covers theft, attempted theft, malicious damage, vandalism, collision and impact to your caravan. Cover for loss and damage automatically extends to annexes when they are locked away, while additional annexe cover, for when it is in use, is available at an extra cost.
You can claim up to $1,000 for damaged or lost items as standard on this policy, and equally as much for motor burnout, should an appliance, no older than 15 years need repairing or replacing. You will also have $500 in protection for spoilt food caused by damage to the caravan, and an equal sum for vet expenses, if your animal is hit by a vehicle. In the most serious cases, where your caravan is a total loss, the policy will cover a new replacement, but only where you are its first registered owner, you bought it as an ‘ex-demonstration’ model, or whoever financed the vehicle provides written consent for you to replace it.
You can also claim the cost for the towing of your caravan to a repairer or a safe place after an incident, and for alternative accommodation arrangements. For owners who do not use their caravan as their usual home, the policy pays out $150 daily up to three days for emergency accommodation, if you’re less than 100km from home, and the same rate up to 14 days, if you’re further away. Those who live in their caravan can take advantage of the same rate for a maximum of 30 days. In all cases where you’re caravan needs repairing and you’re left stranded, you’ll have to cover the cost of transport to get you where you need to be. AAMI Caravan also provides ‘on-site only’ cover as an alternative to ‘Australia-wide’ cover, which is only valid when the caravan is at the location you provide when purchasing cover.
Pros & Cons
- Choice of repairer
- Online claims process available
- Customer service outside of business hours
- No transportation cover
- Insures at market value only
- No lay-up discount
- No annex cover as standard
APIA Comprehensive Caravan Cover
4.5
Content cover as standard
$1,000 Option to add extra
Choice of repairer
Yes
Emergency transportation cover
No
Why We Picked It
As common with caravan insurance, loss and damage cover extends to an annexe only when it’s locked away. However, there is the option to pay extra to cover the annexe when it’s in use. The policy also includes $1,000 in contents cover as standard, with the option to pay an extra premium to increase this cover level if needed. Another $1,000 in cover is provided for motor burnout, while up to $500 is claimable for food spoilt due to vehicle damage, and an equal amount for vet expenses if your pet is hit by a vehicle.
You can choose who repairs your caravan, and the policy will cover the cost to tow your caravan to them, or to storage, from the scene of the incident. For emergency repairs there’s a total $1,000 on this policy, while it covers temporary accommodation costs at a rate of $150 a day for three days, if an incident occurs less than 100km from home. It pays out the same amount, but for up to 14 days if you’re further away, and up to a maximum of 30 days if the caravan is your usual home. APIA also offers on-site only cover as an alternative to Australia-wide insurance.
Pros & Cons
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- Choice of repairer
- Online claims process available
- Customer service outside of business hours
- No transportation cover
- Insures at market value only
- No lay-up discount
Suncorp Caravan Cover Australia Wide
4.5
Content cover as standard
Up to $1,000 Option to add extra
Choice of repairer
Yes
Emergency transportation cover
No
Why We Picked It
There’s up to $1,000 available on this policy for emergency repairs, and an equal amount for damaged or stolen content. Cover extends to accidental damage including when caused by hail, storm or cyclone, fire, theft or collision.
Cover for an annexe is also included as standard, on the proviso that it is locked away, while additional annexe cover is available to bolt onto the policy. You can also claim up to $1,000 for motor burnout in appliances up to 15-years-old, a maximum $500 for spoilt food as a result of damage to the caravan, and the same amount in vet expenses in the event your pet is hit by a vehicle. If the caravan is deemed a total loss, this policy can cover the cost of a new one, subject to requirements as specified in the PDS.
Although the policy does not cover transportation costs if you’re left stranded while your caravan is repaired, it will cover towing costs if it is no longer roadworthy or needs to be held in storage. It also covers accommodation costs, at a rate of $150 a day for three days if you are involved in an accident less than 100km from your home. If you’re further away, it will cover accommodation for up to 14 days, while those who use their caravan as their usual residence can receive this cover for a maximum 30 days. An extra $300 will cover the costs to accommodate a pet during this time.
Pros & Cons
-
- Choice of repairer
- Online claims process available
- Customer service outside of business hours
- No transportation cover
- Insures at market value only
- No lay-up discount
GIO Australia Wide
4.0
Content cover as standard
Up to $1,000
Choice of repairer
Yes
Emergency transportation cover
No
Why We Picked It
This policy covers theft, attempted theft and accidental damage caused to your vehicle, including as a result of hail, a storm or cyclone, fire and collision.
It will pay out up to $1,000 in contents cover, and the same amount to cover emergency repair if your caravan needs immediate work after an incident, in order for it to be towed. It can also cover the cost of getting the caravan towed to a repairer, or a safe storage place; up to $500 for spoilt food caused by damage to your caravan; and the same amount for vet expenses if your pet is hit by a vehicle. You can claim for the cost of replacing your caravan if it is deemed a total loss, subject to the insurer’s requirements.
In the event your caravan is unusable following an incident, it is not your usual home and you are stranded up to 100km from home, you can claim $150 per day up to three days. The daily limit extends to 14 days if you’re further away from home, and a maximum 30 days if the caravan is your usual residence. Up to $300 is also provided to cover accommodating a pet that lives with you. However, the policy does not cover the cost of transportation away from the scene of an incident. While annexe cover is provided as standard on the policy, it only applies if the annexe is locked away. GIO also offers on-site only caravan cover, and policies for trailers and horse floats.
Pros & Cons
-
- Choice of repairer
- Online claims process available
- Customer service outside of business hours
- No transportation cover
- Insures at market value only
- No lay-up discount
NRMA Touring Caravan
3.9
Content cover as standard
Up to $1,000
Choice of repairer
No
Emergency transportation cover
Yes
Why We Picked It
A lay-up discount is offered as an optional extra on this policy, allowing owners to pay a reduced premium during months when they are not using their caravan.
As the only caravan policy offered by NRMA, it also covers an annexe. Owners will be able to claim for accidental damage to the caravan or annexe, including when caused by theft, attempted theft, fire, a storm or a flood, and up to $1,000 for items inside that have been damaged. However, motor burnout cover for appliances is only available as an optional add-on.
There’s $800 for emergency repairs to enable the caravan to be towed, secured or used after an incident, and up to $500 to cover food and prescription medicine stored in a fridge or freezer. A total $1,000 covers emergency transport and accommodation for you, your companions and pets following an incident, if it occurred more than 100km from your home. The policy also covers the towing of your caravan to a safe place and to the repairer. In the event the caravan is a total loss and less than two-years-old, the policy can cover a new caravan replacement.
Pros & Cons
-
- Lay-up discount available
- Annexe coverage
- Customer service outside of business hours
- No choice of repairer
- Insures at market value only
- Motor burnout coverage as add-on only
Methodology
To find the best comprehensive caravan insurers in Australia, Forbes Advisor analysed 15 of the most popular companies in the country.
Our analysis included comparing how a caravan is insured (whether by market value or agreed value); policy benefits, such as content and annexe cover; and an in-depth review of each provider’s product disclosure statement (PDS) to evaluate any exclusions and extras.
The policies were compared across the following 18 key data points:
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- Theft and accidental damage: Is the caravan covered for damage or loss caused by theft, attempted theft, collision, malicious damage and fire, and natural events?
- Transportation costs: Will the insurer reimburse transportation costs if the caravan or trailer can’t be safely driven home after an accident?
- Towing and storage: Following an incident, is the cost of protection, removal and towing of the caravan or trailer to the nearest repairer, place of safety or agreed secure location covered?
- Legal liability: How much cover is there for damage caused by a caravan owner to other cars or property with their caravan?
- Insured at agreed or market value: Can the caravan owner choose whether their vehicle is insured at agreed or market value?
- Cover for contents: Are the contents of the caravan covered in case they are stolen or damaged?
- Food spoilage: Will the caravan owner be reimbursed for food spoilage as a result of an accident/damage?
- Emergency repairs: Are emergency repairs covered if needed straight away?—For example, to enable the towing of the caravan to its intended destination after a covered accident.
- Choice of repairer: Can the caravan owner choose their repairer?
- Vet expenses: If a domestic pet is living in the caravan or travelling with its owner, and is hit and injured by a vehicle, will the insurer pay a portion of the vet fees? If so, up to how much?
- Temporary accommodation: In the event the caravan is damaged, is temporary accommodation paid for, if the owner needs it?
- Motor burnout: Is there cover for household electrical machines or appliances that form part of the caravan or annexe, and are burnt out by an electric current (such as a refrigerator or an air conditioning unit)?
- Annexe cover: An annexe means the structure designed to be attached to the caravan for the purpose of providing additional accommodation. Is this covered, and what are the requirements/maximum benefit limits?
- New caravan replacement: Is a new replacement covered after a total loss of a caravan, as long as it is less than a certain age?
- Discounts for ‘lay-up’: Is a discount on the policy premium applied when the caravan owner advises the insurer that they won’t be using their vehicle during specific months?
- Customer rating: Average rating score from independent site, Product Review.
- Customer service: Does the insurer offer live chat, customer service channels on weekends and outside of business hours on weekdays?
- Online claims: Is it possible to make a claim online?
Data Research: Mia Dunn
What Is Caravan Insurance?
Insurance for your caravan protects it against a range of circumstances that can arise out of the blue, cause inconvenience and disruption, and leave you out of pocket. These include accidents, liability concerns and theft.
While this type of insurance is not a legal requirement in Australia, it can be a worthwhile investment if you’re unsure how you would cover emergency costs that can arise from such eventualities. Costs can range from fees for repair work to vet bills if your pet is injured by a vehicle.
Caravan insurance comes in two forms:
Australia-wide: This type of cover does what it says on the tin, covering your caravan wherever it is in Australia.
On-site only: On this type of policy your caravan will only be protected when at the location you specified when purchasing the insurance.
What Does Caravan Insurance Cover?
Caravan insurance often includes a selection or all of the following types of cover:
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- Accidental damage and theft: Covers accidental loss, damage and someone stealing your caravan, accidental loss or damage due to hail, storms or cyclones, fire, theft and collision.
- Legal liability: Often up to $20 million is provided for legal liability claims, and associated legal costs, resulting from an incident where you have injured someone or damaged another person’s property. Such an incident could involve, for example, the stairs leading out of your caravan collapsing and injuring a guest’s leg.
- Emergency repairs: Covers repairs that are required to be able to tow the caravan after an incident.
- Towing and storage costs: Covers the cost of towing your caravan to a repairer, storage, or a safe place if damaged and not roadworthy after an incident.
- Motor burnout: For repairing or replacing any motor in a household electrical machine or appliance, such as a refrigerator or air conditioning unit, usually if it is less than 15 years old.
- New caravan after total loss: Usually applies if the caravan is less than two years old and you are the first registered owner of a caravan.
- Contents cover: Usually up to $1,000 is provided as standard covering items such as removable furniture, furnishings, carpets, floor rugs, portable appliances, clothing, sporting equipment, and devices. Sub-limits on cover may apply to certain items such as watches and jewellery, and certain items may be excluded.
What Else Does Caravan Insurance Cover?
On average, an insurer will cover $500 worth of spoiled food caused by damage done to the caravan. Those who are less than 100km from home and cannot use their caravan due to an incident resulting in an accepted claim, are often covered at least $150 per day for a maximum of three days for temporary accommodation, and up to 14 days if they are further away. Those who use their caravan as their usual home typically can claim costs for up to 30 days. Some policies also accept claims for vet expenses where a pet has been hit by a vehicle and injured.
What Does Caravan Insurance Exclude?
The product disclosure statement for a policy, found on the insurer’s website, will outline exactly what it does and does not cover, as well as any limitations on cover.
Generally, caravan insurance can exclude certain items you may leave in your caravan, such as mobile phones, cash, documents, works of art and musical instruments. It’s also unlikely to cover claims resulting from being under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication, or damage caused by your pets. Claims relating to asbestos, mould, mildew, rot or wear and tear are also typically rejected.
Your policy may not provide cover if you do not take reasonable care with your caravan, such as keeping it away from rising flood waters. If you attach the caravan to an unattended vehicle, you’ll be expected to lock the vehicle. An unattended caravan would also need to be locked and no items left in an unsecured annexe.
It’s also important to note that if you choose to take out on-site only insurance, your caravan won’t be protected away from the location you specified when taking out insurance, including while it’s in transit.
Market Value Vs Agreed Value
Agreed value insurance: Pays out an agreed upon amount.
Market value: Pays out the current market value at the time of the claim.
Cost of Caravan Insurance
According to broker Credit One, the average yearly cost of caravan insurance is $560.
You may also be able to pay a reduced premium for limited cover during the months you don’t use your caravan. This is called a ‘lay-up’ discount and is only offered by some providers, usually up to a cap of six or eight months.
From <https://www.forbes.com/advisor/au/car-insurance/best-caravan-insurance/>
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is an underwriter?
Underwriters assess and calculate the risk of offering policyholders cover for insurers. Out of our 10 best picks for caravan insurance, five policies are underwritten by the company AAI.
- CIL Caravan Insurance,
- AAMI Caravan Australia Wide,
- APIA Comprehensive Caravan Cover,
- Suncorp Caravan Cover Australia Wide
- GIO Australia Wide.
Other underwriters
- Jayco Caravan Insurance by Zurich Australian Insurance Limited,
- RAA Comprehensive Caravan by RAA Insurance Limited,
- Youi Comprehensive Caravan and trailer by Youi Pty Ltd
- NRMA Touring Caravan by Insurance Australia Group (IAG).
From <https://www.forbes.com/advisor/au/car-insurance/best-caravan-insurance/>
| Name | Accidental Damage | Flood | New Vehicle Replacement | Agreed or Market Value | Annex cover | Choice of Repairer | |||
| QBE Caravan & Trailer
Green Company |
No | Agreed | View details | Compare | |||||
| NRMA Touring caravan | Agreed | Optional | No | View details | Compare | ||||
| RACV Touring Caravan | Agreed | Optional | View details | Compare | |||||
| SGIO Touring Caravan | Agreed | Optional | View details | Compare | |||||
| WFI Caravan Insurance | Optional | Agreed | View details | Compare | |||||
| RACQ Caravan Comprehensive | Agreed | View details | Compare |
From <https://www.finder.com.au/car-insurance/caravan-insurance>
Compare Caravan Insurance Australia (Canstar, 2019)
| Brand Name | Online Claims | Contents Cover Max | Legal Liability Max | Replacement Caravan |
| APIA | No | Must purchase separately | $20 million | New caravan replacement after a total loss for caravans less than 2 years old |
| Australian Caravan Insurance | No | $2,000 | $20 million | Replacement of your caravan in first 2 years of original registration or date of purchase |
| BUPA | No | $1,000 | $30 million | New for old 1 year old |
| Catholic Insurance | No | $1,000 | $20 million | Replacement of new caravan or trailer if it is written off within 2 years of original registration |
| CGU | No | $500 | $30 million | If your caravan’s less than a year old and is a total loss, we’ll buy you a new one |
| CIL Caravan Insurance | No | $1,000 | $20 million caravan legal liability and $20 million personal liability | A new replacement caravan if it is a total loss within 2 years of registration of the caravan |
| GIO | Yes | $1,000 | $20 million | 2 year new caravan replacement |
| NRMA | No | $1,000 | $20 million | If your caravan or camper trailer is written off in its first two years and we agree to pay your claim as a total loss, then we may choose to replace it with a new one |
| Over 50 Insurance | No | $1,000 | $20 million | New for old replacement after a total loss – caravan or trailer less than 2 years from first registration |
| QBE | Yes | $750 | $30 million | We’ll provide you with a new replacement vehicle of the same make and model, or nearest equivalent for up to 2 years |
| RAC | No | $1,000 | $20 million | If your caravan or trailer is written off and it’s less than 2 years old and you’re the first registered owner, we’ll replace it with a new caravan or trailer |
| RACQ | No | $500 | $20 million | |
| RACQ | No | $500 | $20 million | |
| RACT | No | $1,500 | $20 million | |
| SGIO | No | $1,000 | $20 million | 2 year new caravan replacement |
| Suncorp | no | $1,000 | $20 million | 2 year new caravan replacement after a write off or theft |
| Youi | Yes | $1,000 | $20 million | Subject to availability, we may choose to either replace the caravan or trailer or pay the replacement cost of a new one, if it is assessed by us as a total loss within the first 24 months |
From <https://www.canstar.com.au/caravan-insurance-non-rated/>
Allianz pds will not pay as follows :
When we will not pay your claim
You are not covered and we will not pay any claim under the policy for loss, damage or liability or costs or expenses that is caused by arises from or is in any way connected with:
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- An unlicensed driver
- Your caravan or trailer being towed by or in charge of someone unlicensed, or not complying with the conditions of their licence.
We will pay a claim for you but not the driver or person in charge of the vehicle towing your caravan or trailer if you can prove to us that:
- you were not the driver of the vehicle towing the caravan or trailer when the incident leading to the claim occurred; and
- you did not or could not reasonably have been expected to know that the driver was unlicensed, or not complying with the condition of their licence.
A driver under the influence
The vehicle towing your caravan or trailer being driven by you, or any other person:
- under the influence of any drug or intoxicating alcohol; or
- who, as a result of the accident, is convicted of driving under the influence of any drug or intoxicating alcohol;
Exceeding load limits for the towing vehicle, caravan or trailer
The vehicle towing your caravan or trailer carrying more people or a larger load than it is designed for, or the driver is permitted to carry by law,
We will not refuse your claim if you can prove that the accidental loss, damage or liability was not caused or contributed to by its greater load or number of passengers.
Unsafe caravan or trailer
Your caravan or trailer being used in an unsafe or unroadworthy condition or was being towed by an unsafe or un-roadworthy vehicle. We will not refuse your claim if you can prove that the accidental loss, damage or liability was not caused or contributed to by the unsafe or un-roadworthy condition of your caravan trailer or the vehicle towing it.
Deliberate, intentional, malicious or criminal act
Your caravan or trailer being subjected to a deliberate, intentional, malicious or criminal act (including theft, conversion or misappropriation) caused by or involving:
- you, or any other person named in the policy schedule; or
- any person who is acting with your express or implied consent.
War
Your caravan or trailer being damaged by any war, hostilities or warlike operations (whether war be declared or not), rebellion, civil war, revolution, insurrection, military or usurped power, invasion, act of foreign enemy or popular or military uprising.
Radio activity or nuclear materials
Your caravan or trailer being damaged by:
- any nuclear fuel or from any nuclear waste;
- the combustion of nuclear fuel (including any self sustained process of nuclear fission; or
- or nuclear weapons material.
Terrorism Exclusion
Your caravan or trailer being damaged by:
- any act of terrorism arising directly or indirectly out of or in any way connected with biological, chemical, radioactive, or nuclear pollution or contamination or explosion,
- any action in controlling, preventing, suppressing, retaliating against, or responding to any act referred to in the above point.