Motorhome insurance

Yes. Because a motorhome or campervan is a motorised vehicle, insurance is mandatory, just as it is for a car. But even if it wasn't, would you really consider taking the risk of not having cover for theft, damage, accident or loss?

In contrast, there is no legal requirement to take out insurance or cover for caravans.

In general, the answer is yes. Most drivers can drive most sizes of motorhome on a standard car driving licence, provided the weight of the motorhome isn't over 7500kg. However, a weight limit of 3500kg applies to drivers aged over 70, or a driver licensed since 1 January 1997, unless a medical test or additional test, respectively, is passed.

The vast majority of motorhomes do not exceed 3500kg in weight, but it is worth double-checking if you are looking at larger models such as 'American Style RVs'.

For full details, check out our technical advice page on licences for caravans and motorhome.

As with most insurance policies, the cost of motorhome insurance is based on a combination of factors that the insurer uses in order to calculate the premium. For motorhomes and campervans, this might encompass a variety of vehicle and/or customer-specific factors, including:

- value
- size
- complexity and age of the vehicle
- the profile of the driver(s)
- their claims history
- how much (and where) the vehicle will be used
- what security the vehicle has
- where the vehicle will normally be stored.

There are also running costs or expenses that have to be factored into the premium, such as the cost of systems and documentation, running a contact centre and claims administration.

There are a number of ways to ensure you get the best value for your money on a motorhome and campervan insurance policy. The most obvious is to shop around, but other things to think about include being realistic about your usage - many policies include low-mileage discounts.

Think about whether you will be taking your van overseas and see if there are policies which specialise in this cover or allow you to remove this cover for a premium reduction if you know you won't need it. Think about the drivers you have named on the policy - some insurers base their premiums on the youngest or least-experienced driver listed on the policy (in other words, the person considered most likely to make a claim). What extra security have you got on the motorhome - and how secure is it when it is parked/stored? Where your vehicle is stored and how secure are both elements that will often impact on your premium. And think about becoming a member of a Club, and/or taking a motorhome driving course, both of which will often qualify for discounts. Finally, once you have narrowed down your search, take the time to call one or two providers, as they may well be able to help you minimise your premium. For instance, specialist insurance brokers are often able to apply flexibility that it's not possible for them to include within online quote and buy journeys.

The other obvious piece of advice is to be careful! Everybody knows that if you have to make a claim, or a claim is made against you, it is likely your premium will go up at the next renewal. Sometimes there is nothing you can do, but careful driving and manoeuvring, being sensible with your security and keeping the vehicle in a good condition are all ways in which you can decrease the likelihood of a claim, and a subsequent premium increase at renewal time.

A word of warning though. Don't be tempted to make false economies, such as under-reporting the value of your vehicle, or giving false information, just to save a few pounds. At best, this will result in getting back a lower payout if the worst should happen or you could find a claim is denied or your policy is cancelled.

There are various types of motorhome available, but the difference between a motorhome and a campervan is a bit of a grey area - and is often in the eye of the beholder. Purpose-built (often called 'coachbuilt') motorhomes are easily identfiable, as are campervans that are built on standard manufacturer chassis - but how do you classify a conversion? At what point might a campervan become a motorhome?

One of the standard 'body types' that can be listed on the vehicle's V5 logbook is 'Motor Caravan'. The Dept for Transport defines a Motor Caravan by four criteria - seats and tables; sleeping accommodation; cooking facilities; and storage facilities. If certain criteria are satisfied, the vehicle will be classified as a Motor Caravan. Otherwise it would still be classified as a 'Car' - this would apply to new builds and also anyone wishing to convert a van. For full criteria, see the Department for Travel page on internal features for motor caravans.

In terms of insurance, some insurance companies may have slightly different rules depending on whether the vehicle is classified as a ‘Motor Caravan’ or not, but normally this is simply to offer an easy differentiation between a motorhome and a campervan. In general, there is almost no difference between motorhome and campervan insurance, as both can be driven on a standard car driving licence (with the exception of some extremely outsized motorhomes).