What Are the Best Motorhome Insurance Companies in the UK?

If you’re in the process of buying yourself a brand new motorhome or you’re in the market for an upgrade on your leisure vehicle, the topic of motorhome insurance can be easy to overlook. But, make no mistake, motorhome insurance is a legal requirement. Therefore, searching for the best motorhome insurance companies in order to compare quotes and find the best price should be factored into your buying decision.

Seasoned experts in the industry of motorhomes, campervans and caravans, at Spinney, we have the knowledge and expertise to advise you on the very best motorhome insurance companies on the market. Selling cutting-edge vehicles alongside quality used motorhomes that are available at a fraction of their original price, Spinney can have you on the road enjoying your new vehicle as soon as possible.

From the most trusted insurance companies in the industry to extra essential information about your potential new policy, this guide will take you through everything you need to know.

What is motorhome insurance? Is it different from car insurance?

Let’s start with the basics – what is motorhome insurance, and how is it different from car insurance?

First off, motorhome insurance is needed separately from your car insurance as a legal requirement and covers the vehicle on the road as well as the interior contents, including fixtures and appliances. Motorhome insurance differs from car insurance in this sense, protecting the internal space, as well as the external, while also covering you against unique risks like damage to the awning or the gas or electric system.

The best motorhome insurance companies in the UK

There are countless companies across the UK offering motorhome insurance, but not all of them can claim to have the unique cover options, superior pricing structures and the reliable claims services of the very best providers. Here are just some of the very best motorhome insurance companies that offer such benefits:

Adrian Flux

A favourite among motorhome owners, Adrian Flux has long been a leader in the insurance market thanks to its extensive range of offerings, even on its basic plans. Their comprehensive policy will cover you for fire damage, theft, vandalism and damage or injury caused by an on-road accident, but these plans are also customisable, allowing you to tailor the package to exactly what you need.

Key benefits

• Customisable coverage with personalised policies that include coverage for personal possessions and non-essential vehicle equipment.
• Enjoy 15% off the price of your policy if you’re a member of a motorhome club.
• Insurance available for drivers aged 19 to 80, covering vehicles that are valued up to £100,000.

Caravan Guard

Offering an award-winning policy that provides fully comprehensive cover for a whole range of different types and sizes of motorhomes, Caravan Guard is one of the industry’s best insurance providers. With a whole range of different services and insurance packages, Caravan Guard has something for every kind of traveller, even offering 24-hour UK recovery and roadside breakdown assistance.

Key benefits

• European breakdown cover, including repatriation costs.
• £1,000 cover for keys and locks – quickly replace your locks and keys.
• 14-day money-back guarantee with a satisfaction guarantee.

Comfort Insurance

Comfort Insurance has over 30 years of experience helping people protect their motorhomes against a whole range of issues. Offering motorhome insurance packages from just £250, Comfort Insurance makes the whole process incredibly simple, even providing 24/7 customer claims and accident support every day of the year. By partnering with Comfort Insurance for your motorhome, you can receive a whole host of benefits in return.

Key benefits

• If your motorhome is damaged or immobilised, Comfort Insurance provides a 24-hour hire car service
• Receive coverage of lost or damaged personal possessions locked inside your motorhome of up to £5000.
• Whether you’re in the UK or Europe, receive unlimited windscreen and glass cover.

Performance Direct

As one of the largest insurance companies in the UK, Performance Direct is a comprehensive provider that covers businesses, homes and motor vehicles. Its motorhome insurance package is particularly impressive, offering free legal cover, a 24-hour claims service and an effortless app-based system to make claims as easy as possible. Plus, if you’re looking to save money, their cutting-edge system will search 100 leading UK underwriters to make sure you get the best-priced policy.

Key benefits

• A range of optional extras, including breakdown cover, legal expenses and excess protection.
• Special discounts to motorhome club members.
• A professional, independent chartered broker with over 40 years of experience delivering specialist protection for reasonable prices.

Shield Total Insurance

Covering motorhomes of every size and shape, including ones that you’ve personally refurbished, Shield Total Insurance has 25 years of industry experience providing quality coverage. While their basic policy is impressive, they also offer a range of optional extras that include breakdown cover, key protection cover and legal expenses cover, allowing you to customise your own package.

Key benefits

• Cover for personal belongings up to £5,000.
• Included cover for windscreens, windows and bodywork.
• Cover for European travel for up to 270 days.

What types of motorhome insurance policies are there?

Just like how there are different levels of insurance you can get for your car insurance, the same goes for your motorhome. When it comes to buying your policy, you must choose from these options that vary in coverage scale and overall price. Deciding on what policy type is right for you is entirely dependent on how often you use your motorhome and how protected you want your vehicle to be against damage.

Third-Party Coverage

Third-party motorhome coverage is known as the most basic form of insurance for your leisure vehicle. This form of insurance is so cheap because it only covers you to provide compensation to third parties, including other drivers, for potential injury or damage. This is the legal minimum insurance requirement for your vehicle, and, as a result, comes with its significant drawbacks.

Third-Party, Fire & Theft (TPF&T)

A slight upgrade on the bare-bones basics of third-party coverage, TPF&T covers you for potential injury to a third-party individual or to their vehicle, but in addition, your own vehicle is also covered in the event of fire or theft. This could be a good option if you’re trying to insure a particular old vehicle or are trying to save as much money as possible with an option that offers lower premiums.

Fully Comprehensive (Fully Comp)

Fully comprehensive motorhome insurance will cover you for just about anything that could go wrong on the road. This type of comprehensive insurance will cover your vehicle and third parties in the event of a traffic accident. In addition, fully comp insurance will also cover you for fire and theft, as well as injury to the driver and passengers. This is a very popular choice for motorhome and automobile owners who want to travel with total peace of mind.

Temporary motorhome insurance

Temporary motorhome insurance is exactly what it claims to be on the surface – a short-term insurance policy that covers you for a set period of time, often up to a couple of months. Temporary motorhome insurance is ideal if you want to borrow a friend or family member’s vehicle for a spontaneous adventure, or if you want to drive your new motorhome from one place to the next before purchasing long-term insurance.

Laid-Up Cover (SORN cover)

So, this isn’t the kind of motorhome insurance you’ll want to purchase if your motorhome is in active use. Laid-Up cover is used when your motorhome is legally decommissioned and is never driven on public roads. Application for a SORN is simple, but if you drive the vehicle on a public road, then the cover will become invalid. Laid-up cover usually means that any policy regarding windscreen, vandalism and fire damage will remain valid.

How much does motorhome insurance cost?

There isn’t one single set price for motorhome insurance, with different levels of coverage offering different price structures. Motorhome insurance is, however, generally more expensive than car insurance due to the fact that leisure vehicles are much larger, more expensive and more complicated to repair. If you’re wondering how much motorhomes cost to run, check out our dedicated blog!

Generally speaking, while the price of motorhome insurance will depend on your provider and package, the following factors play a significant role:

Driver age and experience: The more experience you have, generally, the less you will have to pay for insurance. Therefore, young drivers with no experience will pay significantly more.

Location: If you live in an area with low insurance claims, you may experience cheaper packages. The price could be further reduced if you park your vehicle on your driveway, rather than on the street.

Mileage: The more you use your motorhome, the more your insurance will cost. Infrequent motorhome travellers will likely pay less.

Motorhome make and model: Newer, A-Class motorhomes are more expensive to insure than older, more compact vehicles.

Any additional extras: Using an additional named driver may reduce the cost of insurance. In addition, so could establishing that you have an additional vehicle that you use for day-to-day activities away from your motorhome.

How to actually make a claim on your motorhome insurance?

While buying insurance is straightforward, actually claiming it is often considered to be a little blurry. After all, thankfully, most motorhome owners never need to claim on their insurance. But what about when you’re left with no choice? If you get into an accident and need to claim on your insurance, follow these steps:

1. Get together all the information you need to make a claim

Getting as much information as possible about the event will allow you to claim it as quickly as possible. Therefore, after the incident, make sure to note down the following pieces of information:

• A description and vehicle registration number of the third parties involved.
• The name and address of the other driver(s), including any details about their insurance.
• Note down the details of the incident itself, including the location, road name, time and date.
• Note down any other specific details about your journey, including where you were heading and what the weather conditions were like on the road.
• If a witness was present, try to secure their name, address and telephone number.

2. Contact your motorhome insurer

Next, contact your insurance provider as soon as possible after the incident with your policy number, car registration and the details gathered in the previous step. Once you’ve done that, the insurer will begin to investigate the claim and prepare it to be repaired if this is cost-effective to achieve. It’s also a good idea to check your insurance plan while on the call to see what the amount of excess is and if you’re entitled to a courtesy car that you can use until yours is fixed.

3. Go through the claims process

Now, it’s time to wait for your insurer to put your car through the repair process. If you choose comprehensive cover, then it should only take a matter of days for them to contact you with the details of where to take your vehicle to get it fixed. However, if you have third-party insurance and not comprehensive cover, this process could take significantly longer.

If you’re still unsure about how motorhome insurance works and would like to speak to an industry expert, our team at Spinney is highly qualified in all areas! But, if you’re looking for motorhome insurance, it’s also likely that you’re after a brand new vehicle, too! So, why not explore our sensational range of new and used motorhomes online or across any of our branches in the north of England and Wales?

Browse the very best motorhome brands for sale at Spinney and contact us today to learn more about our range!