Posts Tagged ‘holiday’

Make Sure Your Motorhome Is Covered If You Hire It Out

Friday, March 26th, 2010

If you’re a grey insurance man like me, with a particular liking for early 70′s bands like Soft Machine & Caravan, you probably think you’ve seen the last of your summer music festivals and dripping tents in the middle of noisy fields in Somerset but it doesn’t have to be that way, because these days you can take your motorhome or caravan (or somebody else’s motorhome or caravan) along and enjoy the music without spending any nights under canvas. Listen to Caravan in your caravan!

Many people have found that the motorhome route is the one to take if you want the best of both worlds. You get all the atmosphere of the festival with the added bonus of a shower and a cup of tea in the mornings, there’s no queue for the loo and the bed is guaranteed to be dry and warm, or at least it will be as long as you don’t leave the sunroof open in a downpour!

Many motorhome owners rent out their motorhomes for just this type of event with most not realising that any such hiring of their motorhome for “hire & reward” purposes will not be covered under their standard motorhome insurance policy.

One of my more distinct memories from last year’s Glastonbury festival was that of a couple happily leaving their motorhome after having had breakfast under the awning, only to return that night to find that one of Glastonbury’s famous monsoons had put so much weight on the awning that all the poles were bent and broken causing the awning to be ruined. This must’ve been around 1000′s worth of damage which would have been completely uninsured if they had hired the motorhome without letting the insurance company know.

If you are thinking of letting your motorhome go to Glastonbury or any similar music festival this year, is well worth thinking about insurance.

So if you’re thinking of letting out your motorhome to family or friends for them to take to a music festival or anywhere really, the best way to go is probably to have them added to an existing insurance policy for the duration of their trip. This will allow you to relax at home safe in the knowledge that your motorhome is being looked after and even if it isn’t, that you have the right insurance to cover it.

If you are on the look out for motorhome insurance then you should visit Coversure, they are one of the leading providers of vehicle insurance providing everything from standard car insurance to caravan insurance

The Importance Of Having Caravan Insurance

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

Chester Cooke was a man who one day decided that he wanted to have a caravan on the banks of the river Avon in a perfectly situated caravan site that was professionally owned, well maintained and had all the amenities that he could ask for. However, he wasn’t the type to go spending the best part of twenty grand plus annual services on a caravan without properly thinking it through.

He phoned his broker and asked about caravan insurance who told him that there shouldn’t be any problem and the broker would be delighted to give Chester a quote. Chester gave the broker details about the type, value and size of the caravan and where it would be situated.

A few minutes later, the broker called Chester back and said that unfortunately he was not able to find any insurance companies that would offer him insurance, not because of the caravan itself, or even the site that he had chosen, but it was to do with the exact spot that he had chosen. It was right on the bank of river Avon, which had flooded the year before, causing a massive number of insurance claims on the grounds of water damaged property, and so now insurers were very wary about insuring caravans that were right on the water’s edge. This meant that if Chester really wanted the caravan, and he wanted it right there, it would have to be at his own risk.

This news meant that Chester would have to re-think his ideas about buying a caravan. Since it was highly likely that the Avon would flood again at some point, he couldn’t afford to risk placing it there without insurance. He asked his broker what the “normal criteria” of a caravan site was so that he could bare it in mind if he was still going to go ahead and buy his caravan.

Ideally the site should be a registered CaSSOA site. There are insurance discounts for these because they have minimum standards of security. If the caravan is to be sited more informally, on a farm for instance, the caravans on the farm should be in their own compound with a defined perimeter. Some insurers insist that there are a minimum number of caravans on the site, safety in numbers as it were. Finally Chester should look for a site with good security, a mature hawthorn hedge or palisade fencing marking the boundaries.

Chester hadn’t thought that insurance would be such an important consideration when he was buying his caravan. He was grateful that he had a knowledgeable broker who could give him all this education and he was definitely going to check it all out again before finally taking the plunge and buying a caravan. After all, he just wanted to enjoy his caravan and the insurance was only to take the worry out of the ownership.

Caravan insurance is one of the biggest factors to consider when thinking about purchasing a caravan. Coversure are a leading provider of caravan insurance and can offer you advice, or a quote to insure your caravan

The Versatility Of Caravan Insurance

Monday, March 15th, 2010

The 1970′s rock band Caravan once released a rather oddly titled album called “For Girls Who Go Plump In The Night” which, let’s be honest, isn’t the kind of thing you’d expect to read in an article about caravan insurance, even if the writer owns one (a caravan that is!) An insurance man in a caravan is perhaps not that strange, but an insurance man in a caravan listening to Caravan? No way!

I’m not sure what got me thinking about this subject; I think it was looking back at some photographs of last years Glastonbury festival and noticing, in one guise or another, just how many caravans were there. Obviously as an insurance man I was thinking about their insurance cover and whether or not the underwriters were actually aware just what they were being used for.

Caravans were being used for almost everything you can think of that needs a sturdy shelter, i.e. people were living in them, some were being used as resting places for tired musicians, some were being used for paid showers and some were being used shops by refreshment vendors, and I still mean proper caravans, not mobile catering units.

Over in the camping fields there were caravans sheltering security staff from the rain, acting as the temporary weekend home for ageing rockers (some may have even been fellow caravan fans who knows?) and as the meeting point for lost festival goers.

Of course, another big user of caravans at music festivals are the musicians themselves. They usually have massive ones with an extra wheel at the front for steering and they use them for changing in, for hosting after-show parties in and doing whatever it is that rock-stars do.I dread to think. Saying that, I’m not sure if Caravan ever used one, that’d just be too good to be true wouldn’t it? Caravan in a caravan listening to their first album (which is called, you guessed it, “Caravan”). Or even better, maybe they went along in a convoy with their friends – a caravan of caravans including a caravan with Caravan in it, listening to Caravan!

Anyway as I said, I started thinking about whether or not they had the correct insurance cover and let’s face it, they probably didn’t did they? If you’re thinking about taking your caravan along to a festival this year it’s worth thinking about proper insurance. A caravan can get damaged by careless fellow festival goers, it can slide off of its own accord into the mud, they can get flooded inside, catch fire, get blown away and, well, almost anything can happen. Luckily you can insure your caravan against most things – even collisions with uninsured caravans being used as tea shops!

Coversure are leading providers of caravan insurance if you are thinking about taking your caravan to a place where it would be even remotely at risk, you should think about taking out some caravan insurance just to be safe.

Motorhome Insurance

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

I read in Insurance Times recently that the financial Ombudsman had decreed that it would, in certain circumstances, back a policyholder against an insurer excluding claims for leaving keys in or near a car. I can’t help but wonder if the same would apply for a motor home. As an insurance broker, I almost feel that this story is not one to publicise.

The family and I had a late night in our motorhome playing cards and went to sleep very tired. As a result, when we woke up the next morning we were already late for a rendezvous that we had arranged with our close friends and fellow motor homers, the Wilsons. The usual queue for the shower ensued and by the time we were finally ready to go, our friends had decided to explore the country-side without us.

I then realised I had no idea where the keys were so I looked for them, and couldn’t find them. My family then joined in the search and in my usual calm and patient manner I accused each family member of stealing them, then moved on to accusations of half-hearted searching before finally accepting my son’s version of events which was that aliens must have come from mars and stolen the keys to our motorhome. So I then went to the cab to get my mobile so I could call my insurance company for help. I was stranded in a field with a grumpy family and to make matters worse, it was about to rain.

There in the middle of the cab, sitting next to my phone, were the keys! I couldn’t believe that I’d left the keys to my beloved motorhome in the cab. Being an insurance man I couldn’t help but wonder if my motorhome would have been insured if it had been stolen under those circumstances. And so my mind drifted back to the Insurance Times article.

If my motorhome had been a car the ombudsman would have considered

Location

Was I in a position to deter a thief

Was I recklessly ignoring the risks

Mitigating factors

Whether I knew about the exclusion in the insurance policy

I would like to think that this kind of thinking would have applied to me and my motorhome. If you use an insurance broker there is a much higher chance of finding a comprehensive insurance policy to cover you whatever your situation.

For a class leading service in motorhome insurance contact Coversure. Their motorhome insurance is a cut above the restand you’ll leave with peace of mind that you need when you’re on your holidays.

Straightforward And Simple Caravan Insurance Advice

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Going on holiday in a caravan is great fun for all ages. In order to make sure that you get the most from your caravan you need to have insurance for it. This will protect your caravan against it being stolen or damaged in some way. If this is something you are considering here is some straightforward and simple caravan insurance advice.

Before you take out any insurance it pays to know there are many types. So if you have a touring caravan you will need different cover to someone who has their caravan on the same site constantly. So bear this in mind when you are selecting your insurance.

Many people forget to include costly items that are stored in the caravan. So when you are looking at premiums you need to mention these. There are too many people who overlook what they have in their caravan, so don't fall into this trap when you purchase your insurance.

Some of the insurance companies that provide caravan insurance will also bring out magazines on a regular basis. These will feature special offers and new caravan sites that are of interest to people who enjoy caravans. So if you would like more information on caravans and so on, think about this when purchasing insurance.

Don't forget to get plenty of quotes. This is essential if you want to get the very best deal on your insurance policy. Use an online comparison website and you will be able to choose from a range of prices for the type of cover that you want.

By applying this caravan insurance advice and help you will get great cover. You should never leave insurance to chance, so be proactive and get a low cost quote now. Then you can enjoy your caravan every time you use it.

Locate more about caravan insurance by going online. Learn if you need to have caravan insurance or not and what coverage is correct. Go online now and learn more.

How To Get Cheap Car Rental

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

It is pretty easy to find cheap car rental, you just know a few tricks. Did you know that it is better to rent a car in the weekend or for a week? Do you know how to get an upgrade or a few extra hours for free? Are you choosing the right insurances and are you prepaying the car. Learn all the tricks to get an inexpensive car rental.

The easiest way to save a lot of money is to compare the different car rental agencies’ prices. It would be very time-consuming to do it yourself, but fortunately car rental search websites has been constructed, so you just have to enter dates and location. Then you can see the cheapest price for the various car models.

It is possible for you to plan your vacation so you need the car in the weekend, you can often save a lot of money. Usually you can find special weekend offers at the car rental agencies.

Another way to find cheap car rental is long term rental. It is often possible to rent a car for a week for the same price as 4 or 5 days will cost you.

Do you want a larger car model? Then ask. The car rental agencies are willing to buy your loyalty by offering you extra service, so if you ask for an upgrade, they will normally give it to you, if it is possible. But do not plan your whole vacation (and your luggage) on it. Think about it as an extra bonus.

If you say no to the insurance, you can save a lot of money. But it can also cost you a lot of money, if you are not insured when to get involved in a car accident. So read the policy carefully, before you refuse it.

On the other hand is the insurance a nice way for the car rental agencies to earn some extra, easy money. So use your common sense and pick only the insurances, you really need.

Normally the rental periods are divided into 24 hours. So if need the car for e.g. 27 hours, it is sensible to wait a few hours before collecting the car; or return it a few hours earlier. You can also try to ask the car rental agency if it is possible to return the car a few hours to late. Often it is not a problem, if you ask for it.

Finally it is a good idea to prepay the car. So instead of renting the car at arrival in the airport, you should find a good price on the Internet and book the car in advance. Then the car will also be ready for you, when you arrive in the airport.

Martin Elmer is writing about Car Rental in Copenhagen in the Copenhagen Car Rental Guide. Learn more about car rental in Copenhagen – and do also about the Rent Car Copenhagen.

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Insuring Your Caravan

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

To ensure an insurance company is genuine and of high quality you must look at their brand values and core integrity along with the cost effectiveness of providing a customized insurance policy to suit your needs.

To safeguard your caravan against any future problems it is important to invest in cost effective caravan insurance. When looking for insurance online it is important to pick a policy that will fit your budget therefore being cost effective for you.

Usually insurance companies that offer huge discounts on premiums take into account factors like age, experience, any claims if processed earlier and also check if you have any electronic security for your caravan. To avail a cost effective caravan insurance policy, the best thing to do is to become a member of caravan club as these clubs sometimes offer caravan insurance at discounted and cheap rates to its members.

Another form of caravan insurance that may prove to be cost effective is the limited mileage insurance. This is where your caravan is covered for the limited amount of time it is used for the specific amount of time during the year. When investing in cost effective insurance your policy will cover many areas of accidents. Examples of this are:

Damages to windscreens, windows and windshield due to bad weather, accidents or theft

Loss of any belongings during the course of the journey,

Damage because of fire

Death of the driver due to any accident

Even if your static caravan incurs damage you can get claim for the same.

Last but not the least there are many different types of cost effective caravan insurance policies that one can choose from namely caravan insurer tourer policy, static caravan insurance, trailer tent caravan insurance and motor home caravan insurance policy. Depending on the nature and type of caravan that you own, a cost effective caravan insurance policy is offered by insurance companies.

For more information on coversure insurance, click on coversure insurance

Cover For Your Caravan

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Obviously it is important to make sure that you caravan is secure and as unstealable as possible, however, whatever measures you take it is still far easier for someone to steal a caravan than it is a car. If youre planning on leaving your caravan unattended for long periods of time then it becomes a risky business for anyone to insure you, therefore you may find your premiums are very high.

There are a few things you can do to reduce the price of your caravan insurance, for example you can install a proven security device which disables the tow bar making it very difficult to steal, also you can lock the caravan away in a garage or compound so that it is out of sight.

The cost of caravan insurance can differ greatly from different companies, and so it would be well worth while to speak to an expert in caravan insurance as there may well be some simple extra security measures you could take that would reduce your insurance premium significantly.

While you are using your caravan, it is of course a good idea to take the necessary security precautions. You should carefully read through your insurance policy to ensure that all of your possessions will be covered while youre staying in your caravan, although there will probably be no cover for valuables that are left out in the open or even just on display.

You will need to make sure that any specific items of value have been specified to the insurance providers. There may well be an item value limit in your policy, and so you will be required to itemise your valuables. However not all polices include this so be sure to ask if yours does.

So you make sure that you specify to your insurance company exactly what you will be carrying with you in great detail because if you take out a generic policy without properly reading it through, you may well be in for a nasty shock should you need to make a claim.

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What to Look for in a Caravan Insurance Policy

Friday, August 21st, 2009

Caravan insurance is important to have in order to ensure that your caravan is covered for any costs that might be incurred by accidental damage or because of a fire, extreme weather conditions or theft.

The majority of caravan insurance policies will cover any damage that has been genuinely caused out of the owners control by fire, flood, bad weather, accidental or malicious damage and theft.

Your removable possessions stored in the caravan will also be covered up to a limit defined in your policy (typically 300).

The possession cover will not cover small valuables such as jewellery, money and credit cards; these should be covered under all the risks section of your household contents insurance policy. The caravan contents insurance is intended for possessions that you cannot be expected to take with you such as furniture, curtains cutlery etc.

You have a duty of care to look after your property, so theft from your caravan will only be covered if it is properly locked up whilst you are away from it. So there will not be any cover if you leave it open, or you leave your belongings under an awning or in a toilet tent.

By the same token, if you do not fit your caravan with a wheel clamp and hitch lock and it gets stolen, you will not be covered.

There may be different requirements for the security of your selected caravan site in order for your insurance to be valid. For example some insurers may insist that you park your caravan in a registered holiday park, whereas some may insist that your chosen destination in concealed by fencing or hedging around the boundaries.

If you wish to have damage to awnings included in your caravan insurance policy, then that is usually possible at a small extra cost, depending on how old the awnings are. Usually, if the awnings are older than 7 years then they cannot be covered.

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Q & A About Rental Insurance

Sunday, August 16th, 2009

There has been on going debates about the importance of taking rental insurance, when you are renting an automobile. Many believe that their own car insurance will cover them while they are driving a rental and other feel that the credit card they use to rent the car offers them protection. Somethings that you should take into consideration is that rental companies only push this rental insurance for two reasons; the first is so that they will make extra money on your rental and the second is so that the rental insurance will protect their car. In the end, their car is all that is important to them.

The following are some of the most common questions that people have about this type of insurance and the answers may surprise you.

Q: WILL MY REGULAR CAR INSURANCE COVER ME WHILE I AM USING A RENTAL?

A: The answer is yes, most car insurance will cover you fully when you are driving in a rented vehicle, however as with all things it is a good idea to contact your car insurance company in advance and ask them about this coverage. Don’t wait until you are standing in line at the rental agent to attempt to make this decision, know the facts before you get there.

Q: IF I RENT A CAR WITH MY CREDIT CARD, WILL THAT COVER ME FOR DAMAGES THAT MAY OCCUR?

A: Again the answer to this is most likely. Most major credit cards like Visa, American Express, and Master Card do offer you additional insurance protection when you charge your vehicle rental to your credit card. Again this is something that you can easily check into by calling the company in advance.

Q: IF MY CREDIT CARD AND INSURANCE COMPANIES COVER ME FOR RENTAL, DO I STILL NEED TO TAKE OUT CAR RENTAL INSURANCE FROM TEH RENTAL COMPANY?

A: This is a definite NO! Most car rental companies will try and convince you that you are only covered if you take their insurance out, but this could not be further from the truth. The insurance that you are provided by your credit card and insurance companies will offer you all the insurance that you are required to have while driving a rental. Rental companies only push their own insurance as a way to make more money offer of the rental of a car.

It is important to determine whether or not you need to purchase this coverage before you show up to rent your next vehicle. Understanding that you are covered in other ways will make you feel more secure when refusing the rental agencies insurance coverage.

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