One of the most important, albeit overlooked, aspects of caravan insurance is the need for commercial liability insurance. This is part of most caravan insurance packages, with a limit of up to £2million in the event of an incident involving your caravan for which you are liable.
This coverage is particularly important given the current climate where ‘suing’ has become almost second nature to the accident law firms that exist with their ‘No Win, No Fee’ ads. We’ve all seen the commercials on TV and it’s a booming business so protecting yourself is always a good idea.
The insurance you have will cover any amounts that you are legally required to pay such as:
For example, if your caravan should damage another caravan on a site, this cover is designed specifically for this type of damage. For stationary caravans, the website you are on will generally require you to have this cover for at least £2million and will ask you to see a copy of your insurance certificate to prove this and have it for their records store. This information is usually given on your insurance plan and a full explanation of coverage is included in your insurance booklet. It’s also very important to have these things with you when driving around or on site with your static van.
Some insurers automatically extend European coverage, this is generally the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Channel Islands), European Union, Norway and Switzerland, and public liability this is not always the Case. Public liability covers these geographic boundaries, but it’s always best to check your coverage in advance to ensure you have adequate protection.
Another important point to note is that despite many assumptions and misconceptions to the contrary, public liability on the road is actually covered by your car insurance and not your RV insurer. This is because your car insurance is a legal obligation and will cover you for damage you cause to other vehicles, personal injury to others etc, again typical limits of £2million or £5million.
However, any damage caused to your caravan or contents is covered. For example, if your van has been damaged or scratched by another vehicle, your insurer will offer special coverage for these eventualities. It has to be said that car insurance providers sometimes incorrectly tell their customers that the caravan insurer should cover the liability insurance when towing, forgetting that there is no legal regulation caravan insurance causing obligation.
