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Insurance is an essential part of any journey but it can prove even more important when motorhoming in Europe. This simple step-by-step guide makes it easy to ensure you’re covered in the event of an accident or emergency at any point during your trip.

To guarantee a smooth, stress-free journey, ask yourself the following…

Is European cover included on my motorhome insurance policy? 

It’s always worth checking to see if your motorhome insurance does in fact include European cover. Not all policies include this as standard. In fact Caravan Guard customers can now pay for an option giving up to nine months worth of comprehensive cover so they can enjoy taking trips across the channel and all over Europe!

If you are planning a long trip or multiple trips during your policy year, it’s important to make sure you have a sufficient number of days on your policy to cover you while you’re away.

Am I likely to exceed my annual mileage? 

Trips to Europe can soon rack up the miles! Try to work out how many miles you plan on doing and make sure you’re not about to exceed the annual mileage you quoted when taking cover. Caravan Guard customers can make a quick call to our team of advisers and adjust mileage before they any trip if needs be. 

Will my equipment be covered? 

If you are planning a long-distance journey, chances are you’ll be taking more equipment with you than usual. Having the right level of cover means that things like awnings, gas bottles, satellite navigation systems, TVs and generators are protected should the worse happen.

We offer cover for such items abroad when our European cover option is taken. Existing Caravan Guard customers now benefit from £5000 of cover for equipment (which also includes trailers up to the value of £1000) and personal possessions. Personal possessions cover includes clothing and we cover such items up to a single article limit of £300.

What happens if I breakdown? Am I covered? 

Breakdown cover is something you shouldn’t leave to chance, especially when travelling on unfamiliar European roads. So it’s worthwhile checking if your motorhome recovery service will provide assistance abroad also. Again our motorhome breakdown cover can be extended to Europe for a small additional premium so that’s one less thing to worry about!

If you own a large motorhome check that there are no weight or length restrictions applied by your breakdown provider in case it ever needs to be recovered when in Europe. Breakdown cover benefits such as ill driver cover, which pays for a driver to take the motorhome, driver and passengers home should they be unable to drive due to illness or injury are very useful. So too is overnight accommodation cover when vehicle repairs can’t be completed the same day.

Going to France? Remember that if you breakdown on a French ‘toll road’ it’s up to the local police to arrange pick up and have your motorhome towed to a local garage or a motorway service station. If this happens then you will have to pay for this help on the spot but if you have European breakdown cover it should reimburse these costs – just keep receipts of costs incurred.

Is my motorhome covered when left unattended? 

It makes sense for you to leave your motorhome and explore the surroundings using other methods of transport when in Europe. Day trips are fine but if you don’t plan on returning to your motorhome the same day, always check how long your insurance policy allows you to leave the motorhome to be unattended for whilst abroad.

If you are insured with Caravan Guard, and have selected the European cover option, you are permitted to leave your motorhome unattended for up to 72 hours at a recognised caravan park without notifying us. All security devices shown on your schedule must be fitted and in use.

Can I get emergency accommodation cover cover? 

If you can’t use your motorhome following an accident during your holiday abroad we do offer optional cover for alternative accommodation. Caravan Guard’s lastest cover (for renewals or new policies taken after 1st April 2014) offers a cover option which gives policyholders up to £75 per day for up to 14 continuous days to pay for suitable alternative accommodation. There’s even an upgraded option to increase the daily allowance up to £100 for up to 30 days.

I’m travelling all over Europe, do I need a Green Card?  

Countries outside the EU require you to travel with a Green Card. Examples of countries that need a Green Card (at the time of writing) include Albania, Belarus, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and Turkey. If you plan on extending your trip to these countries and you’re covered with Caravan Guard, we can issue a Green Card on request. Green Cards prove that the minimum legal requirements for third party liability insurance in any country for which the Green Card is valid are met by the insured’s own motorhome policy. 

What other things should I be aware of? 

Look at where you’re going, what are the speed limits? Should I carry any additional equipment with me? For instance in France you’re expected to carry a “high vis” jacket and warning triangle to be worn and displayed in the event of an accident or breakdown. Is the country a hotspot for crime or accidents? Understanding where potential risks lie could help you to be extra vigilant.

Common risks include low bridges, narrow roads, third party collisions, and misjudged manoeuvres.

Are my security devices doing the job they’re supposed to? 

The benefits of tracking devices are endless but not all are guaranteed to work in European countries. Check that the tracking device you choose is still monitored and can co-ordinate recovery following theft in European countries.

Should I take my insurance documents with me?

Of course! Always make some extra space in your case for important policy documents. We’d advise you take your Certificate of insurance, emergency contact numbers and details on how to make a claim wherever you go – you never know when you might need them. Authorities may also wish to see a vehicle registration document following an accident so it’s worth digging that out too.

Take a look at the motorhome insurance page for more information on European cover.

Benefits and discounts are correct at time of publication (April 2014) and are subject to terms and conditions, cover level and underwriting criteria. For more information about our motorhome insurance policy, you can download a specimen policy or policy summary from our insurance documents section.