Campervan Insurance
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Arranging specialist insurance for over 90 years, helping to arrange campervan policies designed to suit your needs and requirements
Campervan insurance is specialist cover for a van fitted out for living and travelling, protecting the vehicle, the conversion and the belongings inside. Advance Insurance arranges it for every kind of camper, from a factory-built model to a full self-build, through a panel of specialist insurers. We build the cover around your van and how you use it, rather than forcing it into a standard motor policy.
We have arranged specialist motor cover for more than 90 years, with a dedicated customer team, knowledge of campervans and a claims service behind every policy. Whatever you drive, we can help you find the right protection. Get a quote to get started, or read on to see what campervan cover can include.
What Is Campervan Insurance?
Campervan insurance is specialist cover for a van that has been fitted out for living and travelling. It helps protect the vehicle against accident, fire, theft and vandalism. It also covers the parts that make it a campervan, such as the fit-out, fixtures and fittings.
A campervan carries risks a normal car policy does not price for. It holds valuable equipment. It often travels abroad. It may sit unused for long spells between trips. Standard insurers rarely account for all of this, so a specialist policy usually fits better.
It helps to know how a campervan differs from a motorhome. A campervan is built on a van base and keeps the van shape, like a VW Transporter conversion. Motorhomes are usually larger, with a purpose-built body. If your vehicle is closer to the larger type, our motorhome insurance may suit you better.
Why Do You Need Cover for a Campervan?
At the very least, you need insurance to drive a campervan legally on UK roads. Third-party cover is the legal minimum, unless the vehicle is declared off the road with a SORN. But the legal minimum rarely protects what a campervan is worth.
A campervan is a large investment, and often a labour of love. The base vehicle, the build and the contents can add up to a serious sum. The right one can help protect all three, so a fire, a theft or an accident does not leave you out of pocket. It also covers your liability if you injure someone or damage property, which can run to far more than the van itself.
How Is Campervan Cover Different from Car or Van Insurance?
A campervan sits between a car and a commercial van, and neither standard policy fits it well. Car insurance does not account for the build, the fixtures, or the way a campervan is stored and used. Van insurance is built for work and business use, not for touring and living.
Campervan cover is written for the vehicle as it really is. It recognises the value of the build, the belongings inside, and the seasonal, leisure pattern of use. That is why a specialist policy often is most cost effective than forcing the van onto a standard motor or van policy, while covering far more.
What Types of Campervan Can Be Insured?
Campervans come in many forms, and each one is rated a little differently. The base vehicle, the quality of the build, and the value all affect the cover. Advance can arrange policies across the full range of van types.
- Factory-built campervans – Some campervans are built and sold as complete vehicles by a manufacturer or an approved converter. These are the most straightforward to insure, since the build quality and value are known. You still need specialist cover, because the vehicle is used and equipped as a campervan rather than a plain van.
- Professional conversions – A professional conversion is a van converted by a specialist firm. The work is documented, which makes the vehicle easier to value and insure. Keep the invoices and photographs from the converter. They help set the right value and support any future claim.
- Self-build and converted campervans – Many owners convert a van themselves, fitting a bed, kitchen, storage and power. A self-build needs cover that reflects the time, money and materials that went into it. Keep a record of the work, receipts and photos, so the van can be valued properly rather than as an empty shell. Our dedicated converted campervan insurance page covers these builds in more detail.
- Classic campervans – Older campervans, such as an early VW split-screen or bay window, are a category of their own. A classic is often worth more than its age suggests, and parts can be hard to find. Agreed value cover suits these vehicles, since it fixes the payout in advance rather than leaving it to a standard market assessment. Limited mileage terms can also lower the premium on a van kept mainly for weekends and shows.
- Imported campervans – Imported models, especially Japanese conversions like the Mazda Bongo or Toyota, are popular in the UK. An import can be harder to place with a standard insurer, because parts and specifications differ from UK models. Specialist cover accounts for this. If your vehicle came from overseas, our imported vehicle insurance may also be relevant.
What Does Campervan Insurance Cover?
A campervan policy can be built up from a base level of cover, with extra protection added for the parts that matter to you. The core choices are the same as any motor policy, but the add-ons are where campervan cover earns its place. Campervan insurance policies vary between insurers, so it pays to compare what each one includes.
Levels of cover
You can usually choose from three levels of cover:
- Comprehensive: covers accident damage to your own van, plus fire, theft and third-party claims.
- Third-party, fire and theft: covers claims from others, plus loss by fire or theft, but not accident damage to your own van.
- Third-party only: covers injury or damage you cause to others, and nothing else. This is the minimum required by law.
Comprehensive cover is the most common choice, since a campervan can be expensive to repair and replace. The gap in price between levels is often small once the vehicle value is considered.
Personal belongings and contents
A campervan is full of belongings, from cooking gear to clothing and electronics. Many policies include personal effects cover up to a set limit, with a cap on any single item. Check the limits against what you carry. If you travel with expensive bikes, cameras or laptops, you may need to raise the limit or list them separately.
Awnings, equipment and fixtures
The build itself and its equipment can be covered too. This can include awnings, fitted furniture, gas systems, solar panels, and the leisure battery. Make sure the sum insured reflects the full build, not just the base van. An under-insured conversion can leave you short after a fire or theft.
What is not usually covered?
Every policy has exclusions, and it helps to know them before you buy. Wear and tear is not covered, since insurance is for sudden loss, not maintenance. Theft is usually excluded if the keys are left in the van. Damage from driving while unfit, or by an unnamed driver, is also typically excluded.
Business use may need to be added, and full-time living needs its own terms. Read the policy wording or ask your broker to explain the limits. Knowing what is excluded is as useful as knowing what is covered, because it tells you where to add protection.
Ready to protect your camper? Get a quote and our team will tailor the cover to your van.
Does a Campervan Policy Include European Cover?
Most campervan owners want to travel abroad, so European cover matters. Insurance policies often include a set number of days of cover in Europe each year, sometimes up to several months. Check the exact limit before a long trip, as it varies between insurers.
Since Brexit, you no longer need a physical Green Card for most European countries, but rules can change. Carry your certificate of insurance and check the current requirements before you travel. It is worth confirming that your breakdown cover also extends abroad, since recovery from another country can be expensive to arrange alone.
If you plan an extended tour, tell your broker how long you will be away. A policy with a longer European limit can be arranged, and it is better to sort out before you leave than to fix on the road.
What About Breakdown and Recovery?
Breakdown cover is worth having on any campervan, and recommended if you tour. A campervan is heavier and larger than a car, so a standard recovery service may not be able to move it. Specialist breakdown cover uses the right equipment and knows how to handle a converted vehicle.
Look for cover that includes roadside assistance, recovery to a garage, and onward travel or overnight costs if the van cannot be fixed quickly. European breakdown cover is a sensible add-on if you travel abroad. It brings you and the van home if the worst happens far from base.
How Much Does Campervan Insurance Cost?
There is no single price for campervan cover, because so much depends on the vehicle and the driver. A tailored quote is the only reliable way to know your price.
What affects the price
Several factors shape a campervan premium:
- The value of the base vehicle and the build
- The age and type of the van, including classic or imported status
- Your age, licence and claims history
- Where the van is kept overnight
- Your estimated annual mileage
- Any modifications to the vehicle
- How you use the van, from occasional trips to full-time living
How to reduce your premium
A few steps can bring the cost down:
- Fit an alarm, immobiliser or tracker for extra security
- Store the van in a locked garage, on a drive, or on a secure site
- Agree a realistic mileage limit if you only tour now and then
- Build and protect a No Claims Discount
- Increase your voluntary excess, if you can afford the higher first payment
- Ask about limited mileage or laid-up cover for the off-season
Get a quote to see what your campervan would cost to insure with Advance Insurance.
Can I Use a No Claims Discount on a Campervan?
Yes, a No Claims Discount can make a real difference to a campervan premium. Every claim-free year builds the discount, which lowers what you pay. Many insurers let you transfer a discount earned on a car policy to a campervan, though the rules vary, so it is worth asking.
If you own a car as well as a campervan, ask whether you can mirror your car No Claims Discount rather than starting again. You can also protect the discount, so a single claim does not wipe it out. This is often worth the small extra cost on a vehicle you rely on.
Do I Need to Declare Modifications?
Yes. Any change from the standard specification should be declared, whether it is part of the conversion or added later. This includes engine work, suspension changes, wheels, roof conversions, solar panels and interior fit-outs. On a campervan, much of what makes the vehicle useful is technically a modification.
Declaring everything helps protect you. An insurer prices the risk on what is actually fitted, and an undeclared change can affect whether a claim is paid. It is always better to list every modification up front than to discover a gap after a loss. If you upgrade the van later, tell your insurer at the time.
Can I Live in My Campervan Full Time?
More people now live in a campervan full time, or spend long stretches touring. This changes the risk, so it needs its own cover. A policy written for occasional weekends may not respond if the van is your main home. Full-time cover, sometimes called full-timing, is arranged for exactly this.
If the campervan is your permanent residence, tell your broker clearly. Cover may need to reflect the belongings you keep on board, the lack of a fixed address, and the higher mileage. Being upfront means the policy helps protect your home on wheels rather than leaving a gap.
How Can You Use a Campervan?
Campervans are used in very different ways, and the policy should match. How you use the van affects both the price and the cover you need. Be honest about your plans so the insurer can rate it correctly.
Common uses include:
- Occasional leisure trips and weekends away
- Regular touring around the UK and Europe
- Daily driving as your main vehicle
- Festivals, shows and club events
- Full-time or long-term living
Some owners use a campervan every day, while others take it out only in summer. Each pattern carries a different level of risk. A specialist broker can find terms that suit your real use, rather than a one-size policy that fits none of them well.
What Do You Need to Get a Campervan Quote?
A few details make a quote quicker and more accurate. Having them ready helps the insurer price the van correctly, first time.
It helps to have:
- The vehicle registration, make, model and year
- Details of the conversion and who carried it out
- A list of modifications and added equipment
- The estimated value of the van and its contents
- Where the van is kept overnight
- Your estimated annual mileage and how you use the van
- The driving history of everyone who will drive it
For a self-build or a classic, photographs and receipts are worth gathering too. They support the value you place on the vehicle and speed up any future claim.
Can Extra Drivers Be Added to the Policy?
Yes. Most campervan policies let you add named drivers, such as a partner or family member. Each driver’s age and claims history affects the price, so add only those who will actually drive. Some policies also offer cover for occasional drivers, which suits a van shared on a long trip.
If a younger or less experienced driver is added, the premium may rise. Always check that everyone who drives the van is named on the policy before they set off.
Can I Store My Campervan Off the Road?
Many campervans are used only part of the year and sit stored over winter. You can arrange laid-up cover for this period, which can help protect the van against fire and theft while it is off the road. This can lower the cost during months when the van is not driven.
If you take the van off the road entirely, you can declare it with a SORN and stop the road tax. Keep it insured against fire and theft even then, especially if it is valuable or classic. A stored van is still at risk, and a laid-up policy keeps it protected.
How Do You Make a Claim?
If you need to claim, contact the Advance Insurance team as soon as you can. Have your policy details, the vehicle registration and an account of what happened ready. For theft or an accident involving others, report it to the police and note the crime or incident reference.
A dedicated claims team then guides you through the process and keeps you updated. For a conversion or classic, having your build records and photographs to hand speeds up the valuation. The more detail you can provide early, the smoother the claim tends to be.
Why Choose Advance Insurance for Campervan Insurance?
Advance Insurance arranges specialist campervan cover through a panel of insurers, so the policy reflects your van rather than a standard template. Our service includes:
- 90+ years’ experience in specialist insurance
- Allocated customer service team
- Knowledge of campervans and conversions
- Access to a panel of specialist insurers
- Dedicated claims team
Get a quote, or request a call back and our team will be in touch.
Campervan Cover: Frequently Asked Questions
That depends on the weight, not the fit-out. Most campervans up to 3,500kg can be driven on a standard car licence, while a heavier model may need category C1. Check the vehicle’s plated weight, as a loaded camper can be heavier than you expect.
Often, yes. Many insurers let you spread the cost over monthly instalments, though this usually adds interest, so the annual total works out higher than paying in one go. Ask what the monthly and yearly figures come to before you decide.
Sometimes, depending on the insurer and the vehicle. Short-term cover can suit a one-off trip or a van you have just bought, while an annual policy is usually better value for regular use. Tell your broker how long you need it, so they can suggest the right option.
Usually, yes. If you sell or change your van, most insurers can move the policy across to the new vehicle and adjust the premium to match. Contact your broker before you drive the new camper, so the cover is in place from the start.
Contact Us
Talk to the Advance Insurance team about cover for your campervan, whether it is a factory model, a professional conversion, a self-build, a classic or an import. Get a quote to get started, or request a call back and we will be in touch.
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