Caravans and Motorhomes do belong at rock festivals
If you’re a grey insurance man like me, with a particular liking for early 70’s bands like Soft Machine & Caravan, you probably think you’ve seen the last of your summer music festivals and dripping tents in the middle of noisy fields in Somerset but it doesn’t have to be that way, because these days you can take your motorhome or caravan (or somebody else’s motorhome or caravan) along and enjoy the music without spending any nights under canvas. Listen to Caravan in your caravan!
Many people have found that the motorhome route is the one to take if you want the best of both worlds. You get all the atmosphere of the festival with the added bonus of a shower and a cup of tea in the mornings, there’s no queue for the loo and the bed is guaranteed to be dry and warm, or at least it will be as long as you don’t leave the sunroof open in a downpour!
Many motorhome owners rent out their motorhomes for just this type of event with most not realising that any such hiring of their motorhome for “hire & reward” purposes will not be covered under their standard motorhome insurance policy.
I remember seeing a couple at Glastonbury last year, blissfully leaving their motorhome in the sunny early hours of the morning having breakfasted under the awning, only to return late at night to find that one of Glastonbury’s famed monsoons had filled the awning with water causing it to twist, break and generally be ruined, That’s about £1000 worth of damage and all uninsured if the vehicle had been hired out without the authority of the insurance company.
It pays to think about insurance if you’re going to let your motorhome go to Glastonbury or any other festival this year.
Best start by letting your friends have it first if you’re not going yourself, especially if you have standard insurance cover. Your local insurance broker can advise you about cover if need be but adding friends or family to an existing insurance policy is definitely the best way to go. This way you can watch the festival from the true comfort of your front room safe in the knowledge that the motorhome that is your pride and joy is being properly looked after and if not, at least you know you have the right insurance. Now where is that old Caravan t-shirt?
Nick Hollands is a Director of Coversure Insurance Services Ltd
