When looking at converting a campervan, insurance can be an afterthought compared to meatier projects like electrics, heating, and carpentry. However, the specifics of your build determine the cost of your RV insurance policy and the number of options you'll have to choose from. It's therefore worth doing your research early, ensuring you don't end up with a finished camper that nobody will insure. This article goes over the process of choosing between companies that offer insurance on RVs. We'll look into how RV insurance differs from car or van insurance, explain key terms, and give you tips on how to save money on your final quote.
We recommend Roamly insurance in the US for their flexible policies catering to self-builds and full-timers. Read on to find out more.
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Shane, the founder of The Van Conversion, is a campervan professional dedicated to helping people transform ordinary vans into homes on wheels. He has authored Roaming Home, and teaches The Van Conversion Course, guiding many people through their van builds. Shane also writes The Van Conversion Newsletter, where he shares practical tips and insights. After completing two van builds and living on the road full-time since 2020, he is passionate about sharing his expertise with others.
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Understanding RV and Camper Van Insurance
Insurance for campervans is necessary primarily because a normal van or car insurance policy won't cover the modifications that are inherent to a campervan. Interior modifications like fixed furniture and exterior modifications like awnings and pop-tops invalidate a normal vehicle insurance policy. Additions like electrical systems, gas installations, water tanks, and heating aren't covered under normal policies either. Simply put, a campervan that's only insured under a normal van insurance policy will almost certainly not be protected by that policy, leaving you liable if anything goes wrong.
A campervan is a significant investment, with the interior components and modifications making up a substantial portion of the total value. A specific motorhome insurance policy covers not just the vehicle, but everything you've added to it. Camper van insurance policies also offer unique, camper-specific benefits like overseas holiday cover, contents insurance, and coverage which takes into account seasonal or infrequent use.
Special Considerations for DIY Converted Campervans
Do your insurance research before getting too far with your conversion. The legal criteria for insuring a vehicle as a campervan vary by country (and by state in the US). If you can't register the vehicle as a campervan, you won't be able to insure it as one. At the same time, your modifications are likely to mean that you won't be able to insure it as a normal van either. Therefore, you need to understand both your country's legal regulations for campervan conversions as well as the criteria of campervan insurers.
We can illustrate this problem with a story about our founder Shane's first camper. Having merrily gone through with his conversion, he finally looked into insurance when he was finished and ready to set off. He then found that insurers in his native Ireland postulate 'bodily access' between the cab and living space as a requirement for covering a vehicle as a campervan. Shane had installed his kitchen right across the back of the cab, blocking bodily access. He eventually had to ask the insurance ombudsman to help him get a policy, which ended up being wholly bespoke and very expensive. Had Shane done his research beforehand, he'd have been aware of the requirement for bodily access and built his campervan differently.
In the UK, the government's legal requirements for registering a vehicle as a campervan are laid out here. In Europe and the US, these regulations vary by country/state, so you'll need to do your research depending on where you live. Potential insurers have varying requirements for providing a policy. Contact individual insurers for an explanation of their criteria and plan your conversion accordingly.
Different Types of Coverage
When researching policies, you'll encounter certain terms which define different kinds of coverage:
Third party (UK) or liability (US) coverage: this is often the minimum legally required coverage for any vehicle, and covers damages to other people's property due to an accident that's your fault.
Collision coverage: covers damage to your own vehicle due to an accident, regardless of who's at fault. This usually incorporates an excess (UK) or deductible (US) which is an amount of money that you pay out of pocket before the insurance kicks in. Collision coverage is included within comprehensive insurance in the UK.
Comprehensive coverage: includes collision coverage as well as coverage for damage of other kinds like fire, natural disasters, and theft. Comprehensive coverage is often customisable, allowing you to add extra protection like windscreen repairs and insurance against damage from falling objects.
Personal effects coverage: covers damage and loss of personal items in your campervan like sports equipment, electronics, and clothing. This is of particular interest to vanlifers, whose vans contain a lot of valuable personal belongings.
Emergency expenses coverage: covers unexpected costs incurred due to accidents whilst travelling, like temporary accommodation and transportation costs if your van is badly damaged or stolen. There might also be options for international vehicle recovery and emergency replacement of essential items.
European/international coverage: extends your policy to foreign countries, including breakdown, repairs abroad, and repatriation.
Agreed value coverage: lets you and your insurer agree on a value for your campervan, taking into account customisations. This means you can agree on a total value which incorporates the components and materials you've added, as well as the value of the work put into the conversion. This can include or be separate from accessories coverage that includes external additions like awnings, pop-tops, and bike racks.
Key Factors Influencing Insurance Costs
You may wonder how insurance companies decide on the price they quote when offering you a policy. RV insurance cost depends on a number of key factors, some of which you can influence and some which you can't:
Vehicle type and age: newer models and luxury vehicles have higher premiums due to their higher value. Equally, a vehicle with a poor breakdown and maintenance history might also have a higher premium due to a higher perceived likelihood of future breakdowns.
Usage frequency: the more you drive your campervan, the higher the premium will be as the risk of an accident increases with use. Some insurers offer discounts for lower annual mileage, referred to as mile-based discounts or limited mileage discounts.
Driving record: a clean driving record with no accidents or violations can result in lower premiums.
Storage location: secure storage in a locked garage or storage facility will lower premiums, and a private driveway is better than on-street parking.
Conversion style and components: a quote for self build camper van insurance will generally be more expensive compared to professional conversions, as will insurance for luxury conversions with expensive exterior components.
Security measures: alarms, immobilisers, and tracking devices can reduce premiums by lowering the risk of theft.
Driver's experience and age: younger and less experienced drivers, as well as senior drivers generally face higher premiums.
Credit score: a higher credit score can reduce your premiums as it indicates financial responsibility.
Location: regional factors such as crime rates and weather conditions can influence premiums.
How to Choose the Right Insurance Policy
When getting a van insurance quote and choosing between motorhome insurance policies, the most important thing is choosing a policy that covers your needs at a good price. Beyond that, the best thing you can do is choose based on reviews and recommendations.
Review aggregate sites like Trustpilot give you an idea of people's opinions on specific businesses based on authentic customer reviews and experiences. Clearsurance in the US and Which? in the UK offer more detailed overviews of specific companies, including evaluation of policy offerings and pricing.
For an even more personal touch, go to vanlife and caravanning communities on Facebook and forums. Search for posts about your shortlisted insurers or make a post asking for people's opinions. Understanding individuals' recent real-life experiences with insurers should help you narrow down your decision.
Finding the Best RV Insurance in the US
There are many options and it's best that you compare camper van insurance policies yourself. Here, we'll recommend some well-regarded companies that offer insurance on RVs which might serve as a jumping-off point.
Roamly are an insurance company started by the popular campervan rental site Outdoorsy and they're the most campervan-friendly insurance business around. Roamly began with policies tailored to full-time vanlifers, and now offer policies to RV users of all kinds. Their policies are highly flexible with lots of optional add-ons, and are easy to qualify for even with a highly customised self-build.
We'd highly recommend Roamly as your first port of call for RV insurance companies in the US.
Progressive are a longtime staple in the US auto insurance market who have expanded into offering insurance on RVs. They offer a a range of add-ons tailored for RV owners in addition to their standard policies, including policies for full-time vanlifers.
Foremost Insurance offer extensive RV coverage with many specialised options including for full-timers and owners who rent out their RVs. They're known for high-quality roadside assistance and easy customisation.
Good Sam Insurance offer policies to full-timers and leisure RV users, and are notable for their partnership with Mexico Insurance Online through which they offer cross-border coverage.
National General focus more on budget-friendly insurance on RVs, meaning they have fewer options for full-time users. Their focus is on cheap camper van insurance and money-saving options like multi-vehicle and limited mileage discounts.
All of these companies are generally well-regarded in the US and offer a range of RV insurance rates that should suit any vanlifer.
Finding the Best RV Insurance in the UK
There's a wide range of UK camper van insurance companies and again, it's best to do your own research. Below are five good options to get you started:
Adrian Flux have been popular for years as a flexible insurer who cater to campervan users of all kinds, including full-timers and self-build insurance for camper conversions. They also offer options for European travel and breakdown insurance.
Caravan Guard are another well-regarded provider of insurance for campervan users who cater more to leisure users over full-timers. They cover factory, custom, and self-build conversions whilst providing discounts for tracking devices and secure storage.
NFU Mutual are a more premium option for insuring a motorhome. They cater to high-value factory and professional conversions and also offer European coverage.
Comfort Insurance cover self-builds, factory conversions, full-timers, and leisure users, with a strong focus on comprehensive European coverage including repatriation. They offer discounts to members of motorhome clubs.
Principal Insurance are another provider catering to any kind of camper. They offer a wide selection of discounts including multi-vehicle, motorhome club membership, and limited mileage.
Tips for Lowering Your Insurance Costs
We discussed the factors affecting the cost of insurance on RVs earlier, but we didn't go into detail about the things you can do to save money on your policy.
Reducing the Cost of Your Van Insurance Quote
There are things you can do to make you and your van a lower-risk prospect to an insurer.
Security features like alarms, immobilisers, and GPS trackers often get you a discount with insurers by making your van harder to steal. Make sure you check the manufacturers and standards of such products that are accepted by your chosen insurer. Insurers are unlikely to take into account a device from any old manufacturer, and may require a professional installation.
Secure storage like a locked garage or storage facility will also go towards a lower premium. Even a private driveway is better than street parking, and might get you a discount.
Taking an advanced driving course, like those offered by the Institute of Advanced Motorists in the US and Pass Plus in the UK, can certify you as a safe driver and net you a lower premium with many insurers.
Finally, it's important to carefully consider the modifications you make to your camper. Modifications are par for the course with campervans, but some increase premiums more than others. A woodburning stove is considered less safe than other kinds of heating, increasing your premium in many cases. Body kit modifications like suspension lifting, custom rims and wheels, bullbars, and winches add weight and raise your van's centre of gravity while implying rougher driving. Finally, expensive external add-ons like decals, body wraps, awnings, and floodlights make your van more attractive to thieves and thus increase your premium.
Getting a Discount on Your Motorhome Insurance
Many insurers also offer discounts on their policies based on certain prerequisites. A common example is a motorhome or caravan club discount, where insurers consider membership of such clubs to indicate responsibility and community-mindedness. Partner discounts with breakdown associations are also common. In the US, ask about armed forces discounts.
Multi-vehicle policy discounts are worth considering, where choosing to insure another vehicle in your home with the same insurer nets you an overall discount.
Limited mileage or mileage-based discounts are also worth asking about. These are discounts which reward you for driving shorter distances, as less driving means less chance of an accident.
Finally, while not strictly a discount, some insurers offer no-claims protection, which keeps your premium from increasing due to minor claims.
Short-Term and Temporary Insurance Options
Before we conclude, it's worth mentioning short-term and temporary converted camper van insurance. This is flexible, short-term coverage where you only pay to insure the vehicle when you're using it.
Short-term insurance is common in the UK, where many temporary insurers like Tempcover and Dayinsure offer such policies designed for non-primary use vehicles which can be quickly purchased online. A short-term policy might only cover you for a day, or it might be seasonal. These policies are well suited to occasional campervan users for whom an annual policy doesn't make sense.
Be aware that per-day rates for temporary insurance are much more expensive than for equivalent annual policies. Calculate your usage to understand the point at which you’re better off with an annual policy. Additionally, understand that such policies may be less comprehensive, possibly omitting breakdown coverage or theft protection when the vehicle is stored.
In the UK, a vehicle must have continuous insurance if it’s kept on public or private roads when not in use. Unless you’re able to keep it in a private garage or driveway, you’ll need to look at an annual policy with only seasonal coverage, limited mileage, or that’s usage-based. If you do have a garage or driveway, you’ll need to declare your vehicle as being off the road with a SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notice). Be aware that a SORNed and uninsured vehicle won’t be covered for theft, fire, or accidents. A laid-up or storage insurance policy will keep you protected even when the vehicle is SORNed.
Short-term and temporary insurance is much harder to get in the US. Here, you're better off looking for companies offering limited-duration add-ons to existing policies or pay-per-mile options. Some companies also offer pro-rated annual policies that can easily be cancelled when your vehicle isn't in use.
Final Thoughts
As discussed at the start of the article, it's much better to do your research on insurance early on in the conversion process. This way, you'll have a provider in mind and will understand what they're happy to insure and what they're not. With the vanlife community growing apace, more and more insurance companies are offering policies that suit caravanners of all stripes. In the US, check out Roamly for flexible policies designed with RVs in mind.
Don't forget to subscribe to The Van Conversion Newsletter for everything you need to get started with your own van conversion (we'll send you a free wiring diagram when you join).
If you're looking for some guidance with your van conversion, you might be interested in our book Roaming Home, or in our online course The Van Conversion Mastery Course. You'll learn directly from our founder Shane how to convert a van into your dream home - no prior experience needed.
Until next time.