I am thinking of leaving my tourer in France after our next holiday in a secure caravan storage facility. Their insurance covers their buildings and contents but how do I go about insurance for the period I am using it on a campsite. I rang my insurer here in Ireland and they don't insure the caravan if it is stored in France year round.... has anyone any experience of this?
Assuming you are in NI, all UK caravan insurance I've looked at does not allow caravan to be unattended for more than 24hrs in Europe which rules out French storage. Most UK owners that store in France do not bother with insurance if they have older 'vans or just have their UK insurance a bit 'Micky Mouse', ie they insure as normal & just hope nothing happens to caravan in storage which it probably won't & then they are at least covered when they are towing & on site.
Except they are not covered because by storing in France they have voided their whole insurance by breaking t&c's. However, insurer won't know caravan is stored in France so they would hope that in event of claim while caravan is in use they should get a payout ok.
I don't think normal French caravan insurance is possible because it would require French address & for caravan to be French reg with French numberplate.
It is possible French storage place might be able to arrange insurance for caravan for fire/theft while stored but you would have to ask them, or do you mean their insurance already covers stored caravans? How good is your French? It's fair to say from posts on here in the past, some owners that store in France delude themselves that they are fully covered.
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Hi Lagore. I am also from Norn Irn, and I store my caravan in Normandy, I insure through "Towergate" give them a call and they will sort you out. they are very easy to deal with.
How much is your caravan worth? If you can't get anything else then plan B could be as suggested, ie insure caravan as normal & hope nothing happens in storage unless site owner can arrange insurance for you?
French storage I've seen takes a rather more lax view of security than UK, no hitchlocks etc so caravans can be moved around easily. I don't think caravan theft is any problem in France but with no locks thats UK insurance voided straight away.
Caravan is probably worth €7,500 excluding awning and contents. The indoor storage facility have their buildings and contents insured so basically I would be taking the chance that nothing untoward would happen to the caravan when I am using it for 4/5 weeks on a campsite.... calculated risks probably apply here!! The company I have it currently insured with were very quick to say that the policy would have to be cancelled if the caravan was in storage outside of Ireland for any part of the year...
So best suggestion then would be to insure as normal & not let on caravan is stored in France? If you needed to claim while caravan was in use then as long as they don't ask for ferry tickets you would be ok.
Quote: Originally posted by Opensauce on 15/2/2016
So best suggestion then would be to insure as normal & not let on caravan is stored in France? If you needed to claim while caravan was in use then as long as they don't ask for ferry tickets you would be ok.
Yes, that was my original thought but I'm one of those people who wouldn't sleep at night unless I was upfront about everything.... if I get given too much change in a shop I always hand it back.... Maybe I should just hold out putting it in French storage till the value drops further and then take the risk that nothing will happen to it when I am using it.
It's just that for the amount we use it in the Irish weather it makes more sense to leave it in France and use it with the kids for 5/6 weeks without my husband having to stay that length to tow it home...