Caravan Insurance Western Australia

Western Australia is the largest state in the country. If you're storing your caravan or looking to explore this part of the country, it's important to consider the possibility of a breakdown, natural disaster or even theft. These unexpected things can be terrible to deal with out on the road, which is why it's so important to get the right caravan insurance in WA.

Read on to find out more and where you can get insured.

Is caravan insurance compulsory in WA?

You're not required to have insurance for a caravan but you need to have CTP insurance for the car that tows it. Your car's CTP can cover injuries that occur on the road, but only while it's attached to your car. It won't cover you for anything else. For instance, if your caravan is damaged or damages someone's property, you'll be out of pocket.

If you want cover for motor breakdowns, theft (including what's in the caravan), natural disasters and more, you should think about caravan insurance. CTP might be convenient, but it only provides bare minimum coverage, less than ideal for caravanning in Australia's largest state.

What to look for in a WA caravan insurance policy

The first thing worth knowing is that you can get caravan insurance for on-site, camper and touring caravans, as well as trailers and horse floats. Here are some of the features worth looking out for when you purchase a policy in WA.

• Towing costs. Western Australia is a big place. If you break down on the road, there's a good chance you'll have to be towed a long way to reach the nearest repairer, which could cost a lot. Comprehensive caravan insurance and third party fire and theft generally cover towing costs.
• Natural disasters. Western Australia is no stranger to natural disasters and extreme weather. Protecting your caravan from floods, storms, bushfires and more could help ensure you don't lose your vehicle to the state's infamous weather.
• Solar panels/TV antennas. If your caravan is equipped with solar panels or a TV antenna, caravan insurance can pay to replace these expensive items if they're damaged or broken.
• Emergency accommodation or repairs. The beauty of WA is matched by its isolation - if you breakdown will your policy provide ground assistance or emergency accommodation?
• Accidental and intentional damage. Only comprehensive caravan insurance can cover you for accidental and intentional damage, ensuring no mishaps cost you an arm and a leg.

What kind of caravan insurance is offered in WA?

The most general insurance policies offer a unique mode of coverage and flexibility in policy additions. Below is a table outlining each type and what's offered:

How much does caravan insurance cost in WA?

The cost of caravan insurance in Western Australia varies according to a number of different factors:

• The level of cover you choose. TPP is generally the cheapest, third party fire and theft is slightly more and comprehensive is the most expensive. Additional add-ons like annex cover are likely to increase your premiums as well.
• Your sum insured. If your caravan was destroyed, the sum insured is the maximum amount that your insurer will pay you. You can generally choose your sum insured. So the higher it is, the higher the premiums will be.
• How often you use the caravan. The more you use your caravan, the higher the premiums are likely to be. Many insurers will ask you how regularly you plan to use your caravan, which will work in your favour if you don't plan to use it much.
• Your excess. Most caravan insurance policies come with an excess. The higher the excess, the lower your premiums will be, but keep in mind that you'll need to pay this everytime you make a claim.
• Contents insurance. If you choose to insure the caravan's contents, the value of your belongings will also impact the total cost of your insurance premiums.

What add-ons can you get?

People use their caravan for different purposes, so there are usually additional extras available with most policies. Some of these include:

• Annex cover. An annex is not automatically covered with most caravan insurance policies, but you can add it for a little extra. It will protect against weather events, theft, vandalism and more.
• Lay-up cover. If your caravan spends a large portion of the year indoors and unused, you can get lay-up cover to lower your premiums.
• Locks and keys. If you lose or have your keys stolen, this can let you get a locksmith out to you and pay for the costs.
• On-site coverage. If your caravan is kept on-site in a caravan park most insurers offer a policy tailored to this.

Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Editor, Insurance

Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio

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