Knowing your motorhome is properly insured is essential to being a carefree driver. Plus the law requires it. So, how can you save money on your insurance bills without compromising your cover?
Fortunately, there are plenty of actions you can take that together add up to some worthwhile savings. So, here’s a quick round up of tips and advice for bringing down your insurance premiums, without leaving anything exposed.
Tip 1 – Store it somewhere safe
Naturally, the more secure your motorhome is, the less likely it is to be stolen. But did you know that storing your vehicle in a recognised safe place could also bring down your insurance premiums – potentially by as much as 10%?
To find an accredited storage facility near to you, you might like to visit the CaSSOA (Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association) website. This is the body that certifies sites – from Silver to Platinum – using a points system to recognise certain security features, e.g. CCTV and surveillance, perimeter defences, and alarm systems.
Ask your insurer…
If you decide on this option, don’t forget to share the CaSSOA certification of the storage site with your insurance company, to make sure you benefit from any savings.
If you’d rather store your motorhome at your own address, or at a friend or relative’s property, you may still qualify for a discount if it’s kept behind locked gates – or in a locked garage.
Again, make sure you tell your insurer so you don’t miss out on any potential discounts.
Tip 2 – Improve your motorhome security
Investing in your motorhome security and fitting additional devices can also have a positive effect on your insurance premiums. However, it’s worth checking with your provider to see which measures could get you discounts.
Some simple devices that can help you deter thieves include:
- Door locks (on both your motorhome and garage – if that’s where you store it)
- Wheel clamps
- Steering locks
- Clutch claws (which lock the pedals together)
- Alarms and immobilisers
- A security post
Ask your insurer…
It’s well worth contacting your insurer about any security devices you’re considering, as they may have to fit certain requirements to be eligible for discounts. Devices may have to meet a certain Thatcham level – Thatcham is a product research company that tests and assesses security devices, among other things.
Tip 3 – Build up your no-claims discount
Typically, your no-claims discount builds up with each claim-free year. And while the level of discount varies from insurer to insurer, it can be as much as 30% for one claim-free year and as much as 60% for five claim-free years.
That’s a pretty good incentive for driving carefully.
Some insurers also offer protected discount policies which allow you to make a certain number of claims over a particular period without it affecting your no claims discount.
Ask your insurer…
If you are selling your car to buy a motorhome, rather than investing in a motorhome as a second vehicle, it may be possible to transfer the no-claim discount from your car insurance policy to your motorhome policy. Be sure to ask your insurer, especially if you’ve clocked up an impressive number of claim-free years.
Tip 4 – Join a club
There are more motorhome, camping, and caravanning clubs across the UK than you might imagine. And while they all offer different incentives to join, it’s worth checking to see if discounted insurance is one of them.
Ask the club…
When weighing up membership costs and perks, be sure to ask the club about insurance discounts. In some cases, these reductions might only be available with certain providers, or they may only apply if you still have your no-claims bonus. Make sure you gather all the facts up front.
Tip 5 – Don’t pay for what you don’t need
If you lead a busy life – or simply hate paperwork – it can be tempting to leave your motorhome insurance policy to auto-renew each year. However, this could mean you’re losing hundreds of pounds, simply for having one less thing on the to-do list.
Ask yourself…
- Are you paying for cover you don’t actually use? For example, are you paying for European cover when you barely leave Blighty? Or for fully comprehensive, when you could easily get by with third party, fire, and theft cover?
- Are you paying over the odds based on your mileage? For example, are you now covering far fewer miles than you did when you last shared your annual mileage with your insurer? If you’re unsure, try using last year’s MOT certificate as a guide.
- Do you need all the bells and whistles of your current cover? For example, do you really need ‘new for old’ cover, given it comes at such a premium?
Tip 6 – Ask the experts to find you the best deal
While it often pays to shop around, finding a good deal on your motorhome insurance needn’t mean trawling numerous websites or filling out a mountain of forms. Instead, you could come straight to the experts at InsureMy.
We guarantee to find you the lowest price for motorhome insurance by comparing policies from our panel of meticulously chosen specialist insurers. In less than five minutes, you can have the best options at your fingertips, so you can easily compare them and see which is best suited to your needs.
We think you’ll agree that, just like your motorhome, we’re outstanding in our field.