36 MOTORHOME INSURANCE AGENTS

Insurance agents advertise widely and frequently; we often think that this is where our premium goes. This, and giving money to people who don't drive as well as we do! In their advertising, the agents always extol their own virtues but rarely do they mention the snags, limits, conditions and pitfalls. It's up to all of us to find out what these are and share that information.

The following notes on 36 motorhome insurance agents are based on our own experience and research, plus information gleaned from fellow travellers and the MMM (Motorhome Motorcaravan Monthly, the UK's premier magazine in the field) and the MCC (Motor Caravanners Club).

Contact Us to add your experience and information to this shared pool.

INTRODUCTION

In general, the person(s) being insured need to be residents of the UK, having held a valid UK driving licence for at least 1 year. There is often a lower age limit of 25 (with SAGA it's 50) and an upper age limit of maybe 80 (SAGA is an honourable exception with no upper age limit).

Cover for what is called 'Europe', 'the EU' or 'the Continent' varies widely and inexplicably. The length of time you can spend out of the UK can be as little as 60 days or as much as a full year. Sometimes this length can be varied for a greater or smaller premium (this used to be true of Bakers of Cheltenham, now known as Towergate, and also applies to Sureterm Direct). Sometimes the upper time limit is rigidly applied. Sometimes '90 days' means a total of 90 days in any one year; sometimes it means in any one trip. But who counts the days?

Check which countries are covered. Not all of the 27 EU countries are necessarily included, particularly the newer members in the east. Sometimes other countries can be added, free or for an extra fee, and perhaps for a limited number of days in a given year. Check carefully. 'Turkey' may mean only 'European' Turkey. A 'Green Card' (see below) may be necessary to reassure police and border officials in some countries, particularly where the insurance has been specially extended and where the country isn't mentioned in the main policy document (eg Morocco).

Insurers often make a distinction between countries for which they will give the legal minimum cover (using the UK as a standard by which to measure 'minimum') and countries where full (comprehensive) cover applies (these are usually known as the 'Territorial Limits'). For example, the whole of the EU may be given minimum (third party) cover; but some countries (eg Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania) may not be included in the Territorial Limits. Such countries may be added in some cases, through the issue of a Green Card. This may be free or attract a small administrative charge; it may have a time limit (eg Comfort allow a total of 120 days per year).

Check that the cover is 'full' in all the countries you plan to visit – and not reduced to a minimum. Check that your breakdown cover (if any) operates in the countries for which you have insurance. Often breakdown cover is limited to countries within the Territorial Limits; sometimes it is extended to include any country listed on the Green Card.

If your UK insurer won't cover you for a given country (only NFU and Saga appear to cover Albania and we think that may be a mistake), you can usually buy a 'Green Card' at the border, which gives minimum legal cover in the country concerned (third party only). Prices vary from the perfunctory to the ridiculous (Serbia and Albania). In December 2006, we paid €53 for insurance on entering Albania from Montenegro. This was for the minimum period of 15 days. Montenegro had charged €15 for the same number of days.

For an excellent account of the Green Card, what it is, where you get one, how it is used, which countries require it - in fact everything about the Green Card - visit the Motorhome Insurers' Bureau FAQ on the subject.

Only very rarely have we been asked to show our insurance documents in routine stops or inspection at the border or by police on the road ('Carspapers!!') The documents they usually want to see are the ownership document, passport and perhaps driving licence. However, you still do need to be insured!

Breakdown cover in the UK and on the Continent is often an optional extra with the insurance policy and is usually good value. Get fully briefed on the procedure for summoning help in the countries in which you aim to travel. Make sure the breakdown operator covers your vehicle for height, weight, length, age, whatever. For vehicles over 3.5 tons, you are likely to need commercial vehicle cover of the kind offered internationally by the AA and the RAC.

Check what the breakdown cover covers. For example, it could cover towing, local repair, shipping parts from the UK if necessary, another vehicle for you to use during the repair, hotel accommodation and, if required, repatriating the vehicle and occupants to the garage of your choice in the UK.

See if the motorhome insurers will also offer discounted home and travel insurance, to include health insurance and cover for extra contents such as bicycles. They may also offer insurance for your car, your motorbike, your pets, your very life!

Some insurance agents stick with one major insurance company and are likely to offer a fuller and more reliable service, with an established claims procedure. Other agents search a wide range of companies looking for the best terms and lowest cost - companies such as AXA, Equity, NIG and Royal & Sun Alliance, Allianz & Cornhill, Equity Red Star, Groupama, Highway, NIG, Norwich Union, Planet, Premier, Provident, Zenith. With such wide-ranging agents, you are more likely to be on your own when making a claim or seeking details of the policy.

Check which insurance company your agent is using. If there is a choice, which is the best for you? Why does one agent, using Norwich Union (say) offer a full year out of the UK when another agent, also using Norwich Union, only gives 90 days?

Agents vary widely in how you can contact them. In the best practice, there is a website full of information about the policies and exclusions. You may be able to complete a form online and get a quote back by email or through a phone call. Some agents ask you to email them with your request, giving a phone number for them to ring you. At least one agent asks you to text them a simple message, and they will ring you back to discuss your needs and give you a quote. In another case, you may be asked to contact a local shop or agent, and a list of branches is given along with addresses and phone numbers. On the whole, the telephone is still preferred to the web, sometimes with freephone numbers if you are in the UK.

Insurance and breakdown companies might well expect that your Road Fund Licence and MOT are up to date. They may use their absence as an excuse not to pay or tow! Above all, don't declare a SORN as a way of avoiding the Road Fund Licence and MOT, and then expect to be legally insured on the road! The insurance agent will indeed issue documents (you may wish to remain insured while your vehicle is in store, for example) but the cover won't be valid if you have declared a SORN and then drive on the road, inside or outside of the UK. We have met motorhomers doing this and it can have dire consequences. Being on the road anywhere in Europe, having declared a SORN, is a criminal offence, not just a road traffic offence, and it carries a heavy fine and up to 2 years in prison if caught!

Safeguard spelt all this out to us, as follows: "Although we offer extensive cover for Europe, the acceptance criteria is that the vehicle must be taxed and MOT'd and that the policyholder is a UK citizen and resident and has a property in the UK (to ensure that the customer is not full-timing). We also do not cover a vehicle where SORN has been declared. If, for example, a vehicle was a total loss abroad and needed to be repatriated back to the UK, there are issues attached to the fact that the vehicle was declared SORN. I expect there are other reasons including how the vehicle was taken to the coast whilst the vehicle was declared SORN and so on."

Unadvertised, a given insurer may exclude you if you are over a certain weight (A-Plan), over a certain engine size (CIS), an American vehicle (Saga, MTC, Caravan Wise), a fifth-wheeler (most), a self-built conversion (most), etc – so read the small print!

Discounts may be offered for a limited annual mileage, a good alarm/immobiliser, tracker, reversing camera and membership of some clubs. No Claims Discounts (up to 66% after 6 years, typically) may be safeguarded so that, in effect, you can make 1 or 2 claims before you lose the discount. Some companies (eg Safeguard, Scenic) offer a large introductory discount to new customers.

You may be able to pay in instalments, if you want to – but check what fee or percentage may be added for this privilege. We find it convenient to renew by email with a card number and to receive the documents as an email attachment, although not all agents offer this service.

A new requirement, discovered in 2010, is that at least one insurer (Sureterm Direct) required the motorhome to be your second vehicle! This was to minimise the use of the motorhome and would be a problem for people with a small campervan, specifically bought as a sole vehicle for daily use.

For a discussion of motorhome insurance and what some agents call 'full-timing', see (Cold) Comfort and 'Full-timing' on this website.

INSURANCE AGENTS &  WEBSITES

NOTES ON MOTORHOME INSURANCE AGENTS

ADRIAN FLUX INSURANCE

Very wide range of vehicles of all kinds, sizes and weights including American motorhomes, classics, kit cars and motorbikes. Full insurance cover in 'Europe'.

'Flux Rescue' (UK and European breakdown and recovery) an optional extra at £85. No weight limit on that, but only covers 60 days per year in mainland Europe. Includes free 'Motor Legal Protection' (₤100,000 worth of cover for legal assistance with uninsured losses). Optional extras include 'Personal Accident' cover for driver and passengers for ₤15 per annum and 'Key Care', also £15 pa.

'Dave of Essex' recommended them (he has a large RV, winters in Spain, summers in the UK). He also put us onto Motorhome Medics, so his judgment is sound!

Age Range: 25 to 79.

Restrictions: Only 60 days breakdown cover per year outside UK.

Breakdown Cover: Europ Assist.

Underwriters: Equity Red Star.

Adrian Flux Insurance, East Winch Hall, East Winch, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE32 1HN Call 08000 838833, or go to their website and request a call-back, for a quote.

Their quote for our own American RV (over 3.5 tons) was reasonable but breakdown cover in mainland Europe was limited to 60 days.  

A-PLAN INSURANCE

Insurance for motorhomes with cover available for England, Scotland and Wales. You can phone A-Plan or complete a simple form on line. The website contains a branch finder by postcode. A-Plan is a division of A-Plan Holdings of London and is an independent intermediary specialising in the provision of insurance products.

Restrictions: size limits 3.5 tons and 7m max length.

BASILDON INSURANCE

Motorhome insurance including American models. 90 days maximum for mainland Europe in any one trip. No breakdown cover available. Telephone contact only: website is that of Academy Insurance which contains little information except a free phone number. If you email via Academy Insurance, you must give a telephone number for reply. Quotes given within 30 minutes.

Our call was handled by a young man with no knowledge of the special requirements of motorhomers and no information on which European countries were covered. If interested, we'd need to talk to 'the insurers', he said.

Basildon Insurance Services Ltd, The Property Centre, Southernhay, Basildon, Essex SS14 1EB 

BIG 4 INSURANCE

Motorhomes covered with Bromwich Insurance. Driver age limits 25-75. Breakdown cover available.

Underwriters: Lloyds.

Tel 0845 345600 or get a quote on-line.

CAMPING & CARAVANNING CLUB (CLUBCARE INSURANCE SERVICES)

Motorhome insurance available to C&C Club members (but they will give a quote to non-members, who can then join). Full insurance cover for up to 365 days per year in 'Europe'.

Restrictions: Larger vehicles excluded by a 'Maximum Engine Size 7 litre (7,000 cc)' clause. (We're 7.3 li and they wouldn't quote!)

AgeRange: 25 to 80

Breakdown Cover available: Discount rate for members from the RAC, but limited to 90 days per trip in 'Western Europe' (no limit on number of trips per year). We were quoted £189.38 per year for this extra (on an American RV, over 3.5 tons).

Insurers: Equity Red Star.

Clubcare Insurance Services, Crest House, Station Road, Egham, Surrey TW20 9LG

Tel 01277 243000 or struggle with their website for a quote.

CAMPTON INSURANCE BROKERS (UK) LTD

Insurance for motorhomes including American models and demountables. Club membership discount. Up to 365 days per trip in mainland Europe.

Age Range: 25 to 74

Breakdown Cover: Not available for larger vehicles.

Underwriters NIG and KGM

Campton Insurance Brokers (UK) Ltd, 126 High Street, Godstone, Surrey RH9 8DX

Tel 01883 742460

They quoted a good price for our own American RV (over 3.5 tons) but could not offer breakdown cover. 

CARAVAN CLUB

Insurance available to Caravan Club members. Maximum of 270 days in any one year in the EU and associated countries. Discounts for mature drivers but with a maximum age of 80 (too mature?)

Age Range: 21 to 79

Breakdown Cover: Complicated and costly. 'Mayday' scheme from Green Flag in the UK for CC members. 'Red Pennant' for rest of Europe but that would not cover larger vehicles.

Brokers: Devitt Insurance Services Ltd. Underwriters: Aviva

The Caravan Club, East Grinstead House, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1UA

Tel 0800 0284809

Their quote for our own American RV (over 3.5 tons) was not competitive and no breakdown cover was available.

CARAVAN GUARD INSURANCE     

Includes motorhome insurance, including American models. Extra premium for maximum 8 months maximum full cover in mainland Europe. 

Breakdown Cover: UK cover included and European breakdown cover available as an extra. Heather at Caravan Guard writes: "We now cover American motorhomes under our motorhome insurance policy and our breakdown service has no weight or length restrictions, so we can recover any size of motorhome or RV."

Age Range: 25 to 74. Renewals up to 89!

Underwriters: Royal and Sun Alliance.

Caravan Guard, New Road, Halifax, HX1 2JZ

Tel 01422 396769

Looking for renewal in November 2010, we wrote:

"A very helpful company, now specializing in motorhomes and RVs as well as caravans. Their adviser, Paul, phoned us back when the call was cut off and followed up by emailing details of their quotation.

Cover includes a protected no claims discount, and 24-hr breakdown cover is available throughout Europe with HGV Partner Assistance. The territorial limits are the usual 'EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland'. A Green Card could be supplied for Turkey (an extra £26.25 for 14 days, £52.50 for 28 days) but not for Morocco or Tunisia.

The only drawback was that cover is limited to a total of 8 months outside the UK in any 12 months. You don't need to inform them when leaving but you must keep ferry tickets, in order to prove when you left in the event of a claim."

However, by November 2011 our own quote for an American RV (over 3.5 tons) with full NCD was not at all competitive at over £1,000.

CARAVAN WISE LTD (MOTOR CARAVAN WISE)

Includes motorhome insurance.

Restriction: 5,000 cc engine size limit and 'No American Vehicles'! 

Discounts for police and public employees.

'Unlimited cover throughout the EU for temporary travel'

Age Range: 25 to 74 though renewals accepted at higher ages. Monthly instalments available.

Breakdown Cover: None

Underwriters: NIG

Caravanwise Ltd, 100 Ringwood Road, Walkford, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 5RF

CAROLE NASH

A newcomer to the world of motorhome insurance but long and successful experience of motorbike and off-road insurance. Could be good for the motorhomer with a motorbike.

COMFORT INSURANCE   Full 12-months cover in the EU and several other countries, extendable to others for a maximum of 120 days for a fixed fee of ₤17.50. In some cases will insure a genuine known full-timer (for a surcharge) and they offer a good range of European countries and breakdown cover, but for the highest premiums we have met!

Also offer a Home Insurance policy allowing up to 180 days away from home in any one trip. (Many such policies have a one-month limit.) Travel/health insurance also available.

Don Madge insured with them (for Home and Travel too) and thinks they're worth it. Paul Barker uses them for Home and Travel, but his motorhome is with Safeguard.

Age Range: 25 to 79

Breakdown Cover: RAC commercial breakdown cover in UK and throughout Europe with no weight or size limit, within the 'Advantage Policy'.

Part of Victor Millwall Insurance Agency Ltd. Underwriters: Norwich Union

Comfort Insurance, Comfort House, 8 Goresbrook Rd, Dagenham, Essex RM9 6UR

Tel 02089 840777

Looking for renewal in November 2010, we wrote:

"Quotations are available on-line but if you are either over retirement age or 'full-timing' the quoted figure will increase and you are asked to phone. This was not a pleasant experience!

A man called 'Nish' began by saying in a very off-hand way 'you're looking at a minimum of £1,200' (almost double our on-line quote). That was before he'd taken any details whatsoever (though he may have had a date of birth on record), nor did he show the slightest interest. Asked if that amount would be reduced by a full no claims discount, he said that no claims discount didn't come into it, there wasn't any. He stressed that £1,200 was a starting point and it would probably be more. As he clearly couldn't be bothered to discuss any aspect of our insurance needs, we rang off.

This shocked us, coming from a company we had used for many years when it was a friendly family-run business specializing in motorhomes. Why load a policy against a particular category or age of driver without taking their history and claims record into account?"

See also our article: (Cold) Comfort Insurance and 'Full-timing' on this website

DOWNUNDER INSURANCE SERVICES LTD

Long-term and short-term cover for motorhomes and campervans. 12 months cover in mainland Europe.

Maximum value of motorhome ₤20,000. 4,500 cc engine size limit. Minimum driver age 20. (Popular with young antipodeans, though not cheap.)

FOOTMAN JAMES COMPANY

Insurance for motorhomes, specialising in older vehicles: classic cars and campers. Maximum 35 days per trip for mainland Europe. Size limits 3.5 tons and 5.4m max length.

HIC

Herts Insurance also cover motorhomes.

Tel 0844 8884888 or go to their website and request a call back.

INSURANCE CHOICE

Up to 365 days foreign use, cover for awning, personal effects, UK, European and American motorhomes, professional and self-builds, only or second vehicle, agreed values, breakdown cover, etc.

Underwriters: Aviva/Norwich Union.

This sounds good, but our own quote for an American RV (over 3.5 tons) with full NCD was over £1,000 not including  breakdown cover, as at Nov 2011.

INSURANCE FACTORY

Formerly 'Insure Motorhome' - offers contents cover up to £5,000, 'European cover' up to 186 days, and UK and EU breakdown cover.

LIFESURE

See MCIA

Classic vehicle insurance including classic campers. Vehicle must be at least 20 years old and worth at least ₤1,000. Driver must be a club member, aged over 25 and not using the campervan for business. Free 'foreign use' restricted to overseas rallies!

MCIA (MOTOR CARAVAN INSURANCE AGENCY Ltd)

A member of the Lifesure group of companies. 12 months Continental Green Card cover and optional Continental breakdown cover (latter has a 3.5 ton limit). Minimum age 25. Max sum assured ₤40,000. American vehicles not covered. Size limits 3.5 tons and 7m max length.

Age Range: 25 to 79 with renewals if DVLA issues licence.

Breakdown Cover: Europ Assist extra. Limit 4250 kg, 8m long, 3.5m high, 2.5m wide.

Underwriters: NIG, AXA

MCIA, 34 New Street, St Neots, Cambs PE19 1NQ

MOBILE HOMES INSURANCE SERVICE

Their website redirects you to www.ukcampsite.co.uk (a website with assorted info, forum, adverts, etc). For 'Insurance' it simply gives links to Adrian Flux, Budget, Caravan Guard, Comfort and Safeguard.

MOTOR CARAVANNERS CLUB

Members may get discounted insurance rates with some companies, but no reference to this on the Club's website. They do offer a Breakdown Recovery, which includes 7 days 'continental cover'!

MTC (formerly the Motorhome Ticket Club)

Part of a West Country chain of travel agents, also offering Travel Insurance and Pet Insurance. American motorhomes not covered (despite a photo of one in their advert). Size limit 4,000 cc.

Optional European breakdown cover with RAC Commercial. Cover in mainland Europe is not standard and costs extra, with price bands for 90, 180, 270 or 365 days per annum.

Age Range: 25 to 80, could be extended for existing clients.

Insurers: Equity Red Star, or Provident Insurance

MTC, The Connect Centre, Kingston Crescent, North End, Portsmouth PO2 8QL

For our very unfortunate experience of booking a ferry through MTC, click here!

Motorhome insurance including dismountables and fifth wheelers. Unlimited cover in mainland Europe. Size limit 3.5 tons.

Prefer customers with more than one vehicle insured with them! They insure through Mutual Direct.

Contact your local branch (to be found through NFU website's 'Branch Finder' or tel 0800 316 4661).

Martin Wiltshire insured with them (changed from Comfort because of Ben Cue's attitude and a higher premium).

Looking for renewal in November 2010, we wrote:

"A friendly young lady at our local office asked us to ring back in 30 minutes to speak to the insurance adviser.

When we did that, there was still no-one available so Rachel took our details and noted our questions. She said there was no limit on time in 'the EU', and National Assistance Breakdown Cover could be arranged as an extra. She could not say how much that would cost, nor exactly which countries might be included or available as extras, and again asked us to ring back in the late afternoon (when we couldn't get through).

Next morning a different young lady knew nothing of our enquiry but said Rachel would be in at 9.30 am. Ringing again at 9.40 am, a recorded message told us no-one was there and asked us to ring back later. Having already phoned NFU five times (from 'Europe') we gave up."

Up to 90 days in mainland Europe.

Age ange: 25 to 70

Breakdown Cover: Europ Assist package, UK and Continent for extra money. Limits 7m long, 3m high, 2.25m wide.

Underwriters: NIG

Park Home Insurance Services Ltd, Helix House, High Street, Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 6AA

PREMIUM CHOICE

Cover for motorhomes, with 10% discount for members of (for example) the Motor Caravanners Club.

Tel 0800 9542875 or go to their website and request a call-back.

SAFEGUARD   

Fully comprehensive cover with no size or weight restrictions; no time limit on mainland Europe. AA breakdown cover within the UK and Europe is included, for motorhomes under 20 years old, with no size or weight restriction.

Safeguard is part of the Swinton Group. Although they offer extensive cover for Europe, the acceptance criteria are that the vehicle must be taxed and MOT'd and that the policyholder is a UK citizen and resident and owns a property in the UK (to ensure that the customer is not full-timing). They also do not cover a vehicle where SORN has been declared. Safeguard tell us, for example, that if a vehicle was a total loss abroad and needed to be repatriated back to the UK, there would be issues attached to the fact that the vehicle was declared SORN. There are other reasons, including how the vehicle was taken to the coast whilst the vehicle was declared SORN and so on.

365 days 'foreign' use.

Complete a form on-line and they will phone you within 24 hrs with a quote (and they did).

Paul Barker insured with them: "cheaper than Comfort; claims promptly met". We are also covered by them and agree with Paul (though we have yet to make a claim).

Age Range: 21/25 to 79. Older people if already insured.

Breakdown Cover: Full AA Assistance cover as standard in the UK and throughout Europe. Age limit for the motorhome is 20 years.

Underwriters: Allianz

Looking for renewal in November 2010, we wrote:

"A very helpful company, who also offer insurance for caravans, pets and travel. They are part of the Swinton Group and insure through Allianz. Their adviser, Liam, was very thorough and followed up with an email.

Motorhome cover includes a protected no claims discount and 24-hr breakdown cover throughout Europe with the AA. There are no time limits on trips abroad. The territorial limits are the usual 'EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland'. A Green Card extending the territorial limits could be supplied at no extra cost for a number of other countries. A good choice at a reasonable price."

We chose this company again in Nov 2011, though were disappointed to find they now have a 2.5% surcharge for credit card payment.

Safeguard also offer Personal Accident Cover as an optional extra for £7.98 per month (with an introductory offer giving the first 3 months free).

SAGA SERVICES LTD   

Excellent cover for the over-50's with good recent insurance record. No upper age limit, but no cover for American motorhomes. Full year's cover in mainland Europe (the EU and some other countries on request). Saga's list 'B', of countries for which you have to apply for a Green Card, is excellent: Albania, Andorra, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Moldova, Morocco, Romania, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine.

We've met several satisfied customers, eg Mike Vere, Cindy Webb.

Age Range: 50 until no longer holding DVLA licence!

Breakdown Cover: UK and Continental package as an extra at a good price.

Underwriters: Acromas

Saga Group, The Saga Building, Middleburg Square, Folkestone, Kent CT20 1AZ

Looking for renewal in November 2010, we wrote:

"Saga insure many risks through their underwriters, Acromas. We know from other motorhomers that they offer a wider range of countries than most other countries, with unlimited access.

We rang and, having pressed all the right call centre buttons, we were eventually connected to an anonymous assistant, only to be told that Saga do not insure 'imported vehicles'. Asked if that meant they would not therefore insure a German, French or Italian motorhome, we found that 'imported' meant 'from the USA' – even if imported by a specialist dealer and professionally adapted for European use.

When pressed for a reason (beyond the initial excuse 'it's not our policy'), we were told that the underwriters say the cost of spares is too high for American vehicles. So why not check that out, take no claims years into account and give a quotation for the estimated risk? 

A friend (or rather his insurance company) was recently charged over £3,000 to replace a broken side window on a Hymer (which Saga would insure) – and that was in Germany, where Hymer parts are readily available! How can American vehicles be a greater risk than that?

We did ask to speak to someone else, to point out how much business Saga are missing, as most RV owners are careful drivers in the Saga age bracket. We were told to write to 'Customer Relations'. They did not reply. A final irony is that a Saga brochure we once saw pictured a large American RV on its cover!

Maybe a good choice for those aged over 50 and not driving American vehicles."

SCENIC MOTORHOME INSURANCE

A division of the Swinton Group, they search a panel of insurers for the best price. Optional breakdown cover and legal expenses cover available. Introductory no claims bonus up to 70%.

Swinton Group Ltd, Swinton House, 6 Gt Marlborough Street, Manchester N1 5SW

Tel 0800 1164083

SHIELD TOTAL INSURANCE LTD

Insurance for touring caravans, motorhomes and folders (including self-built or professionally converted panel vans) and pets. Optional breakdown assistance. Maximum 90 days in mainland Europe per trip. Unlimited trips, but inform Shield before travel. Size limit 3,000 cc.

Age Range: 25 to79 but can be extended for existing policy holders.

Breakdown Cover: Europ Assist package as an extra. Limit 8m long, 3.5m high, 2.5m wide and 4250 kg.

Underwriters: HSBC Insurance (UK) Ltd, Corinthian motorhome scheme.

Shield Total Insurance Ltd, Market Square House, St James St, Nottingham NG1 6FG

SURETERM DIRECT   

Insurance specialists for 4x4, classic cars, kit cars and American cars. Also cover UK, European, Self-builds and American motorhomes (including full-timers).

Tel 0800 9992030 or complete an on-line form and they ring you.

Looking for renewal in November 2010, we wrote:

"A company advertising 'cheap insurance for RVs'. Their adviser, Gareth, was helpful and followed up with an email and phone call. 

The territorial limits are the usual 'EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland'.

However, it was not possible to obtain cover for any other countries at all. Nor could they arrange breakdown cover for vehicles over 3.5 tons. The policy had a limit of up to 60 days per trip outside the UK, though this could be waived for an extra payment.

Their quote was very competitive BUT there was one major drawback. A motorhome could only be insured if it was a second vehicle – meaning you have to have another vehicle legally on the road for daily use. This excludes many potential customers, including those who have a small camper-van as their sole vehicle.

Maybe a good choice if you also run a car."

Obtaining a quote in Nov 2011, the price was competitive but with no possible breakdown cover.

WHITTLESEY INSURANCE SERVICES LTD

Cover for all types including American Motorhomes. Up to 90 days per year, must be notified.

Age Range: 25 to 79 (renewal requests over 79 can be agreed for existing customers).

Breakdown Cover: Limited cover for vehicles over 18 ft in length!

Underwriters: HSBC Insurance (UK) Ltd, Corinthian and others

Whittlesey Insurance Services Ltd, 12 Queen Street, Whittlesey, Peterborough PE7 1AY

Tel 01733 208117

Their quote for our own American RV (over 3.5 tons) was over £1,000.