Insurance cover
On holiday in France last month we had two cases of fellow campers taken ill and "blue lighted"to hospital. One British man was serious and had good emergency treatment and was told to have complet rest.He was the only driver of their camper van.It emerged that they did not have insurance.They waited for ten days and decided to travel fifty miles a day, they had a long journey both in France and UK, how they coped I do not know.Talking to others on site it appeared that only about fifty percent had any insurance.We did learn that many motorhomers who do have insurance and who's partners do not drive their mhome but are qualified to drive don't include them as second drivers on their vehicle policy.This is because if the driver became incapacitated the recovery insurer would expect the partner to recover the vehicle. This is clear and sensible for motorhomers,BUT what about caravaners? Many of our partners are named as second drivers on our vehicle insurance but do not tow, would they be expected to recover the outfit.
Comments
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Good answer from AD.
And I should think that all the other breakdown/recovery insurance companies will have a different approach to the OPs point - and will need questioning in detail about the circumstances when a driver would be provided to bring a car/Caravan back.
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I must admit that isn't something that's ever occurred to me. I am named on our MH insurance as a second driver, as we share the driving on holiday. OH drives more than I do, but I do my share.
I think AD has found the answer in his first paragraph. I would expect that In the case of caravanners, if the partner has never towed, in those circumstances surely he/she would not be expected to tow the caravan back?
On the subject of insurance, it never ceases to amaze me that people travel without it, I wouldn't dare. If you've spent xx££ on either a MH or car/caravan, then the additional expense of insurance is relatively small. I realise that over "a certain age" (several ages actually) insurance becomes more expensive as it does for medical conditions. But still it's something I would not travel without.
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With the arrival of the Internet I think that all kinds of insurance are available and at an affordable cost.
There was a case in the papers about driving hire cars abroad the other day and you got basic insurance included but the excess runs into thousands of euros and you are pressured into buying the companies 'all inclusive' insurance costing mucho. You can get cover in the UK for 'excesses' for little money. Yes you have to be able to pay up front via credit card for a claim etc but can get it back.
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Although I do drive I have never towed the caravan and wouldn't be competent to do so. When we travelled on the continent we took out Red Pennant insurance to cover this. We now have Mayday insurance to specifically cover this in the UK. If we couldn't afford to do this we would not caravan anymore. I think it is very irresponsible to not take out relevant insurance.
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When we had a caravan I never towed it, yet I was on the car insurance as additional driver (as I did drive the tow car on a daily basis).
When we retired and started going abroad with the caravan it was one of the things that I was uncomfortable about. In fact it was one of many reasons that we chose to change to a motorhome, which I am happy to drive so have no issue with me being on the insurance for that.
I've recently had my name removed from the trike insurance as its to heavy for me and I find it difficult to manage, however it is now more expensive without my name on the policy.
If we were to go back to a caravan I would have to think about putting my name on the tow cars insurance as would not wish to tow.
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Very good food for thought post. I met a lady whose husband had been taken ill in Africa somewhere and was unable to tow home. She reckoned by the time she got to the Channel she had cracked it! I would encourage everyone to learn to tow - or drive the MH as you never know when you might need to. I was lucky to be eligible to rescue when I became incapable of driving - apparently newer policies didn't cover driver breakdown! I had been a member of RAC rescue for enough years! I had a wonderful builder here a few years ago and a caravanner - and sole tower. Sadly cancer got him aged 46 and the first thing his wife did was sell the caravan as she was unable to tow - back to tents with her two children.
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My wife is theoretically qualified to drive our outfit (via grandfather rights) but has never done so and to be quite frank if I were incapacitated it would be dangerous as she would be more concerned about me than the driving.
I asked our breakdown insurers, Britannia, if we would be covered for a relief driver under these circumstances and they confirmed that we would be.
I would advise everyone to check with their own insurer and get it in writing as I did.
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