Motorhome insurance Australia, a combination of home and car insurance, includes varying levels of cover for contents.
Read our guide to know more about what it covers, what it doesn't, how much it can cost, how you can get discounts, how to make a claim and more.
Finder does not currently have access to any motorhome insurance brands.
Who else offers motorhome insurance?
Brand
Contents
Towing
New for old replacement
Accidental loss or damage
Hire car
Hire use
Apia
Optional
$3,000
New motorhome after a total loss when less than 2 years old
Yes
Yes
No
CIL
$1,000
$1,000
New motorhome after a total loss when less than 2 years old
Yes
$1,500
Optional
Suncorp
$1,000
$1,000
New motorhome after a total loss when less than 2 years old
Yes
Yes
No
KenTame
$2,000
$1,000
New motorhome after a total loss when less than 2 years old
Yes
$1,000
No
Vero
$1,000
$1,000
New motorhome after a total loss when less than 2 years old
Yes
$1,500
Optional
wfi
$500
$5,000
New motorhome after a total loss when less than 2 years old
Yes
$1,000
No
Do you have a motorhome or a caravan?
If your mobile home is self-powered you should look for motorhome, campervan or RV insurance. If your mobile home is pulled like a trailer you should look for caravan insurance.
Three things you should know about motorhome insurance
Motorhomes, RVs and campervans all have their own engines and do not need to be towed, while caravans and non-motorised horse floats do not have engines and must be towed like trailers. Some insurers cover both types of mobile homes with the same policies, while others have different policies for each. It is important to be aware of this before looking for insurance.
Motorhome insurance is essentially a cross between home insurance and car insurance. You should be able to find protection against almost any hazard you are likely to face both on the road and while living in your motorhome. Just like car insurance you may find different levels of motorhome insurance such as third party and comprehensive.
Motorhome insurance can cover you from most hazards and offer a variety of extras. Your core comprehensive campervan insurance policy will likely cover:
Fire, flood, storm and hail
Theft and attempted theft
Malicious damage and vandalism
Collision and impact
Third party liability for damage to other vehicles and property
The extras, automatically included in some policies and offered as an option in others, can include both home insurance and car insurance features such as:
Cover for annexes, awnings and furniture being used under there
Contents protection for belongings kept in the mobile home, particularly things like furniture, sporting equipment, cameras, electronics and other valuables taken on the road
Temporary accommodation if the vehicle is deemed uninhabitable
Hire cars
Contents cover for electric motor burnout, food spoilage, additional valuables, veterinary costs, lost or stolen credit cards and more
Cover for trailers and boats being towed by the vehicle
Re-keying and replacement of locks if keys are stolen
Additional cover of legal liability and medical costs
Towing and storage costs, if needed
Emergency medical treatment
Want something specific?
If there’s something in particular you want covered, try asking your insurer about it. Because it lies somewhere between home insurance and car insurance, motorhome cover can be quite flexible.
When won’t motorhome insurance pay out?
There are certain conditions under which you will typically not be able to make a claim on a motorhome insurance policy. These include:
If the driver at the time of the incident was not nominated as a driver on the policy
If whoever was in charge of, or driving, the vehicle at the time of the incident was under the influence of drugs or alcohol or refused to take a test for alcohol, drugs or medication
Damage caused by pets or other animals unless explicitly covered elsewhere, such as bird collisions being covered by impact damage
The actions of trees or their roots
Actions of the sea such as waves or storm surges
Mildew, mold, wear and tear, fading, rust, depreciation, inadequate maintenance and similar
Chemical, biological or other pollutants and contamination
Scratches, chips and other minor damage
If, at the time of the incident, your campervan was being used for business purposes such as being rented out to someone else, or carrying paying passengers or goods for trade purposes
Damage arising from inherent defects in the motorhome such as faulty wiring or poor quality unauthorised repairs
If you have failed to take reasonable precautions or are otherwise at fault. This can include leaving the vehicle unlocked and contents unsecured, using the wrong fuel, driving recklessly or driving without a license/vehicle registration.
If you are outside of Australia at the time of the incident
These exclusions vary between policies, and in some cases you may be able to find an insurer who will still cover these eventualities at the cost of higher premiums.
What should I look for in a policy?
When taking out a motorhome insurance policy, there are some factors in particular to consider:
What exactly does it cover?
You should know whether the policy covers certain features, and the limits or exclusions that may apply to these:
Annexes
Furniture
Valuables
Trailers
Belongings kept in a trailer rather than in the motorhome itself
Medical and legal liability
Temporary accommodation and/or a rental vehicle if your campervan is uninhabitable or unusable
What are the limits?
There will always be limits. For example, you will typically have a $20 million limit for personal legal liability cover, and may have something like a $500 limit per item and a $2,000 limit for certain valuables like antiques or jewellery.
Know the value of your items and ensure the limits are right for you. Some policies will let you nominate certain items for special cover or higher limits.
How much are you insured for?
The total amount you are covered for is called the sum insured, which is either the agreed value or the market value of the motorhome. The agreed value is a figure decided on by yourself and the insurer ahead of time, and it’s good for modified or particularly outstanding vehicles. The market value is the depreciating value of your motorhome, and is a more cost-effective and suitable option for standard vehicles.
In the event of a total loss, the sum insured is the most that will be paid. You might have separate sums insured for the vehicle itself and the contents inside it, or both might be covered under the same amount.
The sum insured generally affects your limits for individual items. For example, valuables might be insured up to a maximum of 10% of the sum insured.
What is the excess?
The excess is a fee you must pay when making a claim. Motorhome insurance may include separate excesses for the vehicle itself, the contents and any personal valuables. Inexperienced or otherwise high-risk drivers typically have an additional excess on top of these.
How much does motorhome insurance cost?
The cost of motorhome insurance depends on your sum insured, whether you have third party liability or comprehensive cover, any discounts, your driving record, excesses to pay, your location and more. You will typically be quoted prices based on a variety of factors.
You should expect to pay several hundred dollars per year for a sum insured of up to $60,000 or $70,000 (combined vehicle and contents) with most policies.
More valuable vehicles (with a sum insured of $70,000 to $80,000 or higher) with more comprehensive cover generally have premiums of over $1,000 per year.
Older motorhomes insured at market value with third party only cover can get insurance from less than a dollar a day.
Prices will be calculated based on your personal circumstances and may be affected by a variety of factors, so these are rough prices only.
To get the best value for money you should compare as many policies as you can in terms of benefits offered and price.
How do I get discounts on my insurance?
Depending on the insurer, you can get bonuses and discounts for:
A no claims history
Multi-policy discounts if you hold other policies with the same insurer
Family bonuses if a member of your immediate family has a policy with that insurer
Additional security or safety measures that reduce the odds of you making a claim
Loyalty bonuses for sticking with the same insurer for several years
Parking or storing your vehicle in a secure and covered area rather than on the street
Can you haggle with your insurer?
Yes! Motorhome insurance is fairly unique and everyone’s needs are different. Insurers, particularly smaller motorhome specialists, are usually happy to work with you to adjust cover and price.
Try asking your insurer to price match a quote you got elsewhere and you could be pleasantly surprised.
How do I make a claim?
Follow these steps to make a motorhome insurance claim:
Make sure everyone is safe. If there is an emergency call 000. If the incident was theft, vandalism or something similarly criminal then you should report it to the police and take down the time, date, report number and name of the officer you spoke with.
Do everything in your power and the bounds of safety to prevent further damage, such as turning on the hazard lights or moving the vehicle off the road.
Collect the details of all drivers, passengers and witnesses involved. Get full names, addresses and contact numbers. Take down the registration numbers and insurance details of other vehicles involved if applicable.
Record damage if it is safe to do so. Photographs and videos are useful.
Contact your insurer with all the details on hand. They can assist with the next steps, and, if your policy includes it, they can help arrange emergency repairs, towing and more.
To make a successful claim you will be required to prove ownership and value of the motorhome and/or contents, and evidence of any damage or losses.
What not to do if there is an incident
Do not admit to any fault or responsibility for an incident without the clear approval of your insurer to do so, even if it was your fault.
Do not negotiate with third parties or promise them payment of any kind.
Do not authorise any repairs without contacting your insurer, unless it is an emergency.
Do not wash, clean up, remove debris or dispose of damaged parts without the consent of your insurer, unless doing so prevents further damage.
Do not accept payment from a third party who admits fault for damage to your motorhome. Refer them to your insurer instead.
Are there specialised motorhome insurance companies?
Yes. These insurers are good for more particular needs such as:
If you are renting your campervan out to others or using it for business purposes
If you are living in your motorhome without a fixed address (most insurers require you to give a permanent home address, but specialists understand it’s not applicable to everyone)
If you have an outstanding, modified or unique motorhome. Specialists tend to offer more flexibility in their policies for covering these.
Specialists will not always be the right choice for you. Most insurers offer specific campervan, RV or motorhome insurance policies, which may be more cost-effective for you.
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FAQs
A. Generally not. This will be clearly listed as an exclusion on most policies. If it is covered it should be clearly listed as an inclusion.
A. Motorhome insurance will not cover these. You must find special insurance instead. Motorhome insurance is only for self-powered campervans, RVs and similar.
A. No. Caravans are trailer-type mobile homes, while campervans, motorhomes and RVs have their own engines. The only insurance policies that cover campervans are those that specifically say so.
A. Yes, unless your policy excludes this or the vehicle is meant for roads only. There may be additional excesses for claims resulting from taking your motorhome off-road. Check your insurance policy for clarification or ask your insurer.
A. Yes. You must have CTP insurance, or a Green Slip if you live in NSW.
A. You should compare the options they offer alongside others. Because premiums are calculated for individuals, different people will get better prices in some places than others. You might find that relocatable home insurance could help.
Andrew Munro was the global cryptocurrency editor at Finder. During his time he covered all aspects of cryptocurrency and the blockchain. Before he became cryptocurrency editor, he was a content writer for Finder covering various topics over his nearly 5 years in the role. Prior to joining Finder he was a web copywriter. Andrew has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales.
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