Best insurers

Poshman
Poshman Forum Participant Posts: 88

My caravan renewal quote with Frank Pickles has come in at 281. Last time it was 189. So that is a 49% increase. Spoke to lady at Pickles who could do nothing to lower the figure. I have had never had a claim with the company. So can anyone suggest a recommended company who I should contact for a better figure? Have 1000 cover for awning and 90 days overseas touring allowance plus 350 excess.Sorry, the pound key seems to have gone AWOL!!

Thanks

Comments

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited February 2019 #2

    no such thing as best insurance, it's what you feel happy with, is it all down to cost or cover provided. we all want cheaper insurance whether house/car/caravan or whatever but at what cost, that's why all the adverts on TV for comparison sites, it's all down to the individual.  

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #3

    Define 'best'. Is it the cheapest, the most effective at handling claims, the most comprehensive cover, the least restrictions……?

    Generally, you get what you pay for and it's what suits the individual.

  • DougS
    DougS Forum Participant Posts: 327
    edited February 2019 #4

    I'll put my head above the parapet but obviously price depends on your exact conditions.

    Our package with Safeguard last Aug was £154 (market value, 7YO) + £65 for breakdown both (inc Europe but unsure if 90 days you need  is total or max)

    May be worth a try or you could do CAMC + Mayday + RP?

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #5

    Try the obvious ones, like C&CC, CAMC (although be aware the insurer is the club itself) or Saga, who we use. They cover repatriation of the caravan from abroad plus you only have to include European cover when you need it so they charge pro-rata up to your next renewal date.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #6

    I was looking at an insurer who does new for old on vans up to 10 years old, but for the life of me I can’t remember their name.

    Alexander Flux is a good insurer but they are covered by the Maltese FSA not the U.K. FSA

    Like other have said only you can decide the right policy for you

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #7

    Oneputt, Saga do new for old for caravans up to 15 years old, at least I'm pretty sure they do.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #8

    "Best" for me was a company with few restrictions. Some insurers wanted me to fit wheelclamps, instal a tracker, and store on a high security Cassoa site instead of in an open fronted shed here at home. So I pay a bit more. 

  • Rob2CathDavies
    Rob2CathDavies Forum Participant Posts: 145
    edited February 2019 #9

    We use Saga, we haven’t had to make a claim fortunately and don’t use caravan abroad.

    The price is really good and unlike previous policies, we only need to use one security device when on a site.  So we just use a hitch lock on site, it saves time as we only need to use the Alko wheel lock in storage.

    Check it out, it could be different for more expensive caravans....

  • Poshman
    Poshman Forum Participant Posts: 88
    edited February 2019 #10

    Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Has anyone experience of dealing with Fluxdirect for their caravan insurance?

    On GoCompare they are offering a very attractive market value quote (£105 plus  £250 excess) for my 2014 Lunar Clubman and with overseas cover. The saying:  'If it is too good to be true etc..' springs to mind.

    But many of the reviews of Fluxdirect (Facebook included) are very poor to say the least although they tend to be from those insuring cars. Suggestion is they are brokers not insurers!

    Did get a quote over the phone from Saga but that was way more expensive than anyone's. And they wanted a further £105 for overseas cover. 

    Also appears for insurer purposes, my van becomes a 2013 model because I purchased it in late autumn 2013! That then creates difficulty with having a van over 5 years old if I wanted a new for old policy.

    Thinking I should go with the tried and trusted C&MC quote of £193 (with 192-day overseas cover) for a market value policy.

    And how can you assess a market value for a van? Mine is in good condition and comes with a motor mover. So is my figure of £12,500 about right?

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #11

    I was insured with Flux.  Always competitive with good comprehensive policy.  I only moved away from them when we brought our new van and went new for old with the club.  As I indicated previously they are not covered by the U.K. FSA but by the Maltese equivalent

  • Richard12
    Richard12 Forum Participant Posts: 112
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    edited February 2019 #12

     We are also looking for quotes as our runs out next month. So far Comfort have come out best with Saga in a very close second.

    I have not had the renewal from the CAMC (who it is with at present), but I think peoples post code is taken into consideration which would give an uneven playing field. 

  • Ricochet
    Ricochet Forum Participant Posts: 18
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    edited February 2019 #13

    In these times of Brexit double check that the Insurance company will give you a green card for all the EU countries that lasts for the duration of the policy. I have had an horendous experience with AXA who appear to not to want to honour the existing european cover and insist that they will only issue a green card if I now tell them what countries I want to visit and when. LV= just gave me a green card with all the EU countries on it that lasted until the expiry of the policy. AXA hve now stopped me from wandering around Europe deciding on a day to day basis where we fancy going. A serious downgrade of my policy.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2019 #14

    The best should have defaqto 5 star rating. If it does not show this it probably does not have it and will be short on cover, somewhere as this is what the rating relates to.

    You also need the best service and claims handling which is more difficult to define but some companies claims service is at best poor and the settlements can be mean or very hard on what is covered. These are usually at the cheaper end of competitive quotes where to get the premium down, something has to be cut out.

    My suggestions for a policy are either club, whose cover is often that bit wider and whose service is excellent, Caravanguard, SAGA, NFU and NV not in any particular order. There are others who are also worthwhile but the list might get a bit long.

     Not sure what your sum insured is but the premium you quote is still less than ours with the C&CC at just under £300, with a £250 excess and legal expenses cover and we do feel this is not excessive. Unless your sum insured is very low I would be deeply suspicious of any quote under yours.

  • Millerman39
    Millerman39 Forum Participant Posts: 45
    edited March 2019 #15

    Be aware also that some companies will not insure certain models of caravan e.g. Caravan Guard will not insure the 2013 Hobby we have just bought. They recommended Flux but looking at their reviews not impressed at all. Our previous van was written off last year (pothole disaster!) so expect slight increase but CAMG quoted £348 on a Market Value basis with £250 excess.is just OTT when compared to  CC&C quoted £334 for a New for Old basis again £250 excess.   I am now trying Towergate who have been recommended but still looking so ideas on here re SAGA, Comfort, Safeguard etc are most welcome.

     

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2019 #16

    The Adrian Flux reviews on trusted pilot are roughly the same as the ones for the club:

    https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.caravanclub.co.uk

    https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.adrianflux.co.uk

  • Mr H
    Mr H Forum Participant Posts: 356
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    edited March 2019 #17

    A couple of years ago, my caravan came adrift when on a motorway. Although fortunately no one was hurt the caravan was written off. My insurance was with the club's cover. The claim was settled,in full, in two weeks. We were treated well by all concerned at every stage.

    So sometimes your choice should be more influenced by the outcome  than saving a few bob.

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,681 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2019 #18

    Also appears for insurer purposes, my van becomes a 2013 model because I purchased it in late autumn 2013! That then creates difficulty with having a van over 5 years old if I wanted a new for old policy.

    Depends when it was built.  The caravan year starts in September, so it could be either.  The CRIS registration number will give you a definitive answer - Google the CRIS codes for the year or check the CRIS registration document if you have it.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2019 #19

    Not sure what you mean by your caravan being regarded as a 2013 model as it either is or it is not. The chassis number should show the year and I am not sure how a newer model could be regarded as anything but that. I appreciate the new models appear in September but if it was bought between then and the new year it is still the model the chassis says.

    New for old on your caravan is still available on the policies issued by both clubs although not sure where else, so may be you should change insurer.

  • Millerman39
    Millerman39 Forum Participant Posts: 45
    edited March 2019 #20

    I agree with you about how claims are settled & how fast. Our Lunar was written off last Sept & was settled by CC&C in 3 weeks. So you pays your money & takes your choice. We have just insured our "new" van (a Hobby) again with CC&C. As stated in one of my previous post CAMH quoted £348 for Market Value,(against £344 New for Old CC&C) on that basis I didn't even ask CAMH for their "New for Old" price. We talked to CC&C & have now paid £316.24 for "New for Old" with CC&C. No contest in my mind & believe me I always do a like for like quote.   

                      

     

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
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    edited March 2019 #21

    I think checking a companies Defaqto rating is sound advice.

    I'm also currently insured with the C&CC and can concur with Millerman39's experience, however that will not stop me checking the market when I renew next month.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2019 #22

    While I see no harm in checking the market at renewal, I would be wary of leaving an insurer you are happy with if the saving is minimal.

  • Solobay
    Solobay Forum Participant Posts: 156
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    edited March 2019 #23

    Our 2016 Coachman is insured with CETA through CAMC and it was £250 for a new for old deal, that's with discounts for CASSOA site etc. Proof of pudding for us was way they handled it when recently damaged by heat from a fire in the storage compound. Instructed to take straight away for quote, loss adjuster there a week later and all agreed and approved within 10 days - £8,5k for new front/windows etc - Might be a tad more expensive but great service

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
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    edited March 2019 #24

    I quite agree, however the only real test of an insurance company is making a claim, and that's not something I'm keen to do. 

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2019 #25

    I agree but having had a claim with the C&CC two years back I can say it was handled perfectly well.

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
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    edited March 2019 #26

    Thank you, that is worth knowing. 

  • Raphael Long
    Raphael Long Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited March 2019 #27

    We got the cheapest premium from Scenic who are part of Swinton

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2019 #28

    Beware the cheapest, you tend to get what you pay for. I did look up the website and the policy detail is not shown, nor do they show a DEFAQTO rating so I would not be happy.

    I am not saying the policy is no good as I do not know, just that there is nothing there to tempt me.

  • Poshman
    Poshman Forum Participant Posts: 88
    edited March 2019 #29

    After studying all the good advice on here and getting lots of quotes,finally went for the C&CC  ClubCare 'market value' policy. Bit of a delay getting them to email details of cover ('computer systems to blame') and spelling my name incorrectly but it provided what I wanted at a good price including sufficient overseas travel time for my 30-day French trip.

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
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    edited March 2019 #30

    Thanks for the feed back.