Motorhome Insurance

hitchglitch
hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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edited March 2018 in Motorhomes #1

I know this topic comes up from time to time but I haven't seen anything recent.  I am currently with Safeguard and have had quotes from Caravan Guard and Comfort.  Comfort is much cheaper than the other two and I wonder if anybody has experience with them?  The cover is the same for all three insurers.

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  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited March 2018 #2

    Yes, we've been with them for 3 years now.  Claims handling very good: we had to claim for a new windscreen for an A-Class 2 years running, both due to something hitting the windscreen and causing cracks whilst in France.

    Comfort dealt with it very smoothly, no quibbling, and those windscreens were around £2600 each time, all it cost us was the £75 excess.  Last year on the way back we had a small stone hit the windscreen, which could be repaired, rang them from France (again!) on the last day there and it was organised to be repaired the day after we got home.  Can't fault them.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited March 2018 #3

    Great feedback. Thanks.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2018 #4

    Have you tried the Club insurance. In another post I mentioned that the initial renewal came through at quite a high figure so I got a quote from Comfort. When I went back to the Club they quoted the same policy but by a different insurer that came in cheaper than Comfort. This might be academic if you want the European Breakdown cover although Comfort do two levels of cover only one includes breakdown. It might be worth a check.

    David

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited March 2018 #5

    Thanks David. I have hit a snag which explains some differences in the quotes. Comfort require any storage location to have a perimeter fence and access locked 24/7 which I cannot do. This was also true of the Club’s underwriters last time I checked. However, all insurers are happy with the vehicle kept on our driveway. Generally we keep the van at home in the summer and in storage in winter but this year I got stuck in the field where it is kept and had to be towed out.

    So, Comfort is 60% of the price of others and they are not fussed about no claims bonus which is strange. All include European breakdown and recovery so I am comparing like with like.

    Looks like Comfort but I will have to keep the van at home and think again next year. Will save £220 on storage if I ditch it. Can’t see us using it in the winter but you never know. 

  • Meadow 49ers
    Meadow 49ers Forum Participant Posts: 23
    edited March 2018 #6

    Can anyone recommend an insurance company for a motorhome which covers a European stay of between 4-7 months at any one time.

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited March 2018 #7

    We are with Safeguard and find them good and knowledgeable about MH's.  For breakdown cover make sure of the terms for a van over 3,500kg as not all cover them.  Personally as Comfort is Aviva would not touch them as their claims pay outs are abysmal plus a great believer in you get what you pay for.

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited March 2018 #8

    Safeguard have 365 day EU cover as well as no limits on mileage.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited March 2018 #9

    I would have stuck with Safeguard but they put the premium up by £100 without a reasonable explanation and, frankly, I am extremely irritated by that. They knocked £10 off after three phone calls. We only use the MH about 8 weeks of the year so low mileage and limited overseas cover is fine.

  • dunelm
    dunelm Forum Participant Posts: 373
    edited March 2018 #10

    The CCC provides 365 days of cover.

    Their House Insurance allows 180 days continuous unoccupancy of the house.  There is a 10% discount if van is also insured through them. 

  • Daisy2
    Daisy2 Forum Participant Posts: 57
    edited March 2018 #11

    Always insured my motorhome via CCC as best value for what I needed.  Shopped around when switching to the caravan, but ended up going back to CCC.

  • Aspenshaw
    Aspenshaw Forum Participant Posts: 611
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    edited March 2018 #12

    Comfort arranged replacement of my AClass windscreen without any quibble and without affecting my premium. The people are easy to deal with and do what they say. I've made several changes to my van since they first insured it and each time they have acknowledged the changes and recorded them on my policy file. I would not use anyone else providing the premium remains within what I consider competitive. I've been with Comfort at least 8 years.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited March 2018 #13

    Thanks for all the comments. I decided to use Comfort and have now paid the premium which was massively less than both Safeguard and Caravanguard and with the same cover including European breakdown and recovery, the only difference being strict requirements for storage security which means that for this year the MH will be on the drive at home as this is covered with no special requirements. Very impressed with their efficiency in handling the business. I asked for a cover note by email and policy by post. The cover note arrived within one hour and the policy within two days.

    Of course, how they handle you on the phone is not the same as claims processing but it is a good start.

  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited March 2018 #14

    Of course, how they handle you on the phone is not the same as claims processing but it is a good start.

    Well, at the risk of repeating myself, we have now had 3 claims with them, and each one of them was handled very efficiently.  The most recent one I mentioned in my previous post, where we had a chip in the windscreen, we rang about the day before leaving France for home.  They wanted to know what time we would be home th next day, as they could come and repair it as soon as we got home.  We explained that we wouldn't be home until about 3pm-ish and they said they could come and do it after that, but we said that we preferred to unload the MH and sort ourselves out first, so it was arranged for the morning after.

    I can honestly say that dealing with them to sort out a claim has been very efficient and stress-free.  On all 3 occasions.