Caravan by the river - owning a caravan

What Are The Costs Of Owning A Caravan

If you’re lucky enough to have a little disposable income, then owning a caravan can be a great experience.

You get to travel all over the country (and even further, if you’re feeling adventurous), with a place to call home trailing along.

But the more you use it, then more expenses you will incur, maybe some you hadn’t even thought about.

So we’ve compiled a list of all the expenses that come with owning a caravan.

Buying the Caravan

You probably already have a caravan in the drive, ready to be taken on the next adventure.

But if you don’t, and are looking at buying your first ever caravan, then you might want to get an idea of price –as purchasing a caravan itself is obviously the biggest expense.

The good news is that caravans are available for pretty much all budgets.

You could pay as little as £2,000, but this will be an older (possibly 20 years) and more worn-out model.

Or, for a top-of-the-line, brand new unit, you could spend anywhere between £13,000 and £26,000.

And there are many, many options in between. So it’s completely up to you how much you want to spend.

Annual Servicing

It’s important to get your caravan serviced on a yearly basis – regardless of how new and shiny it might be.

Even if everything seems to be fine, it’s best to make sure, so that any small problems can be dealt with before they get worse.

It will cost around £200 – £400 for a full servicing, depending on the size of your caravan (a single axle is cheaper than a double axle).

Also, don’t think that just because you haven’t used your caravan much over the last year – or even at all – that means it doesn’t need a servicing.

Problems can occur even if the caravan isn’t been used, so make sure to get it checked out.

Caravan Insurance

Unlike car insurance, getting caravan insurance isn’t actually mandatory.

You can get without if you want and there will be no legal repercussions.

However, we recommend that you do get some sort of coverage.

Caravans are expensive, and spending all that money without protecting yourself is a big risk.

If anything happens – either accidentally or on purpose (i.e. someone breaks in, or steals the caravan) – then it’s good to know you’re covered.

How much it costs will, again, depend on the type of caravan you have. As well as the other, usual things – like where it’s stored when not in use.

But typically, you can expect to spend around £150 – £500 per year.

Tow Bar

If this is your first time owning a caravan, then you probably don’t have a tow bar for your vehicle.

But you need one. It’s kind of essential.

The good news is this is a one-off fee. Once you’ve got one, it should last you a while.

The bad news is they can be expensive, depending on the type and the quality of tow bar you need.

It also depends on who does the fitting – you probably want your main car dealer to do it for you, if your vehicle is still under warranty, which is a bit more expensive (possibly up to £1,500).

But it’s possible to be done for as little as £150. Ask around at different garages and compare prices.

Security

Insurance allows you to rest easy, knowing that if anything happens to your caravan, you’re not out of pocket.

But what is even more reassuring is making sure nothing bad can happen in the first place.

Obviously accidents happen, but you can prevent break-ins and theft with some good security equipment.

An extra door lock might be fine, but if you really want to secure your caravan, then consider investing in a wheel lock.

There’s no way your caravan is moving with one of those attached. And they should only set you back about £20 each.

Petrol

Obviously your caravan doesn’t need petrol itself. As it doesn’t even have an engine.

But towing a caravan with your car will put more pressure on your vehicle, which will end up using more fuel.

This is something caravan owners don’t always consider, and are shocked at how high their petrol bill is.

The actual costs will, again, vary. Depending on your vehicle and they type/size of caravan. But expect to spend anywhere between £100 – £200 extra in fuel money, per 500 miles.

Hopefully this guide will give you an idea as to how much you will be spending on a caravan.

With all this information, you’ll be better placed to make informed decisions about budgeting and planning trips away.

 

If you’re looking for the right caravan insurance for you, give our experts a call.

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Comfort Insurance

We’re a family run business with over 30 years' experience in the provision of specialist motorhome and campervan insurance. With a wealth of awards under our belt, we pride ourselves on providing a friendly and professional service, offering you the most comprehensive cover money can buy -  starting from just £220!

Comfort Insurance

We’re a family run business with over 30 years' experience in the provision of specialist motorhome and campervan insurance. With a wealth of awards under our belt, we pride ourselves on providing a friendly and professional service, offering you the most comprehensive cover money can buy -  starting from just £200!