Although
there are a lot of insurance companies willing to offer coverage
for caravans and RVs there are some who refuse to insure people
who have sold their homes and are travelling full time. You can use sites like captain compare to check out different insurance quotes from multiple companies.
Complaints
from readers of my column 'On the Wallaby' have brought to light
the fact that Australian
Pensioners Insurance (APIA) not only refused at that time to cover full time
travellers' caravans but their motor vehicles as well.
Their
exact words in an email to me were: 'AAI/APIA do not insure caravans
whilst touring without a fixed address. Our premium rating is
based on the area where the caravan is normally garaged, while
the caravan is touring they go from one place to another which
would mean that they would have to contact us each place they
stay to revise their premium.'
However in an email dated 1.5.06 APIA has informed me of a change to their guidelines so the above no longer applies.
" In
response to an increase in full-time travellers requesting cover for
their caravans and motorhomes without a fixed address, we have changed
our underwriting guidelines. I'm pleased to advise that APIA now covers
both caravans and motorhomes where a customer is travelling full-time
and therefore has no fixed address - this is just another way we
demonstrate understanding for the changing needs of people over 55 and
not working full-time.
Given this change in our underwriting
guidelines, could you please update the article on the Caravanning
& RVing in Australia website, it is important to APIA that our
customers know we're here for them."
We
have always had excellent service from CIL Insurances and have
no hesitation in recommending them. Their phone number is 1800
112 481
There
are plenty of other companies including the NRMA, GIO, CGU, and the
RACV who will
extend cover providing you have a mailing address and some means
of contact if a claim arises.
MHIA (Manufactured Homes Insurance Agency) no longer insure caravans although they will honour existing policies.
A policy is being offered called 'Caravaners Complete Insurance' and they
are geared towards the touring caravanner in particular. The
can cover the van itself, contents to $10,000 including public
liability cover similar to the coverage you get when insuring
your house contents, www.ccinsurance.com.au
Before
heading off on that big trip make sure your insurance policy
covers you adequately and that your public liability cover will
take care of things should your dog bite someone or your fishing
line hook a person and not a big fish!
