David Quick, managing director, insuremycaravan.co.uk
June 2010

Buying a second hand caravan can present excellent value but inevitably causes worries about hidden horrors. Even careful checks by an expert can’t reveal some flaws or weak points.

A similar problem faces those who bought new or nearly new but are coming to the end of the original warranty period. Even knowing the full history can’t guarantee that problems are not just around the corner. It’s not just regular, high mileage use that takes its toll: long periods in storage can result in component failure.

Typical examples of warranty issues are if the factory-fitted fridge stops working, or a wheel bearing were to fail prematurely, or if a seal failure caused water was to get through the caravan’s outer skin and cause de-lamination.

Most owners are well aware of the need to protect their investment by buying insurance that covers against perils while being towed, on site or in storage, such as theft and collisions either at home or abroad. These days the internet makes shopping around for cost effective insurance – the best combination of price, features and service – quick and easy.

The same logic also applies when looking at warranties to cover against mechanical or electrical problems that are not the result of normal wear and tear. A key point to remember is that although the original warranty company will try to get you to renew, the cover will usually be far more expensive than finding a specialist. So that renewal letter offering you a deal is the ideal signal to start shopping around.

As a leading player in the caravan insurance market with a reputation for keen pricing and quality of service levels we were keen to work with leading caravan warranty administrators to offer better warranty solutions to owners of routing vans. We have unique experience and understanding of the sector, a network of contacts across the country to help us resolve our clients’ problems, and the technological expertise to reduce costs while making buying quick and simple.

For caravans up to five years old, our gold policy covers the majority of mechanical and electrical factory-fitted components in the UK and EU, including some travel costs or hotel cover following mechanical breakdown.

It covers external equipment such as brakes, chassis, running gear, suspension and towing equipment, issues such as leaks, and internal equipment such as cooker, fridge, water system, toilet, electrics and heating systems. The maximum claim is up to the value of the caravan. Our silver policy for vans older than five years protects along the same items, but with a maximum size of any single claim of £500.

A warranty does not have to break the bank – it can work out less than £100 a year over a three-year period which is great value on caravans that can be worth tens of thousands. But buyers should remember that when it comes to warranties the devil is in the detail.

Warranties are not maintenance contracts so exceptions will typically include service and maintenance items that wear out such as tyres and batteries and those easily damaged such as wheels, paintwork, glass on the outside and furnishings, carpets, work surfaces and other decor.

It is worth checking the small print for what is and isn’t covered. To see our terms and conditions go to www.insuremycaravan.co.uk and click the caravan warranty link. While you are there, why not take a few minutes to get a full caravan insurance quote to check your existing policy is competitive – you may be able to save enough to pay for the warranty too.

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