Caravan rental damage excess

tdonohue · Member

Caravan rental damage excess

Cadpete · Guru

G'day tdonohue and welcome to the forum. Don't forget to try the two ongoing games here - 'Who is This' in the 'I Digress' section and 'Pick this Place' in the 'General' Section - a great source to find new places to visit. Can't help re insurance as we own ours.

Pete & Marion

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Isnât the van covered by your car insurance ? Ask them .

tdonohue · Member

No, the vehicle insurer doesn't cover rental caravans, only if you own it.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Having the customer responsible for a reasonable excess is the best way for the owner to ensure that the van is taken care of.
If you can find an insurer to reduce the excess, you can be certain that the premium will be very high.

Cheers,
Peter

tdonohue · Member

Peter, I was going to ignore your implication that I was not a responsible hirer, but feel I must reply.
Yes, I am new to caravanning, but I have gone to great lengths to properly match my vehicle and caravan including fully understanding all the weight issues (and from what I have read better than most owners) including completing an accredited caravan towing course. I have limited my kms each day to ensure we have plenty of time to reach out destinations.
But, accidents do happen and I may not not be responsible at all.
Having excess cover insurance doesn't make me a cowboy on the road, but provides some financial respite should the worst happen.
I'm sure you wouldn't consider driving your very nice motorhome without insurance under the misbelief that it made you a more careful driver.
Tony

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Hi Tony, I think it's a wise move that you try and reduce your liability if the event of being involved in either an accident or damaging the vehicle. I find this to be no different from paying the extra money to reduce the excess given as an option by car rental companies or in our case a few years ago a motorhome. Sometimes I think for people only interested in a caravan type holiday maybe once a year or trying out the lifestyle it is a far less expensive option than owning a van with all the hassles that go with including storage, rego and maintenance. I would be asking the people you are hiring it from if they do it or if they are aware of anyone that does (if you haven't done so already).

A little off topic - I was in a CP on the north coast of NSW recently camped next to a van that had been hired in Brisbane. It had advertising on it's side - delivered to your location, fully set up, linen supplied, food stocked, etc. etc. This one was a bunk van being towed by a young family with small kids and a dog so obviously they hadn't gone with the full option but I have never really seen anything like that before.

Cheers

BB

-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Wednesday 4th of July 2018 12:02:42 PM

-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Wednesday 4th of July 2018 02:20:03 PM

tdonohue · Member

Thanks BB, yes I have spoken to the hiring company and they have tried to find a suitable insurance product but no luck. They too wish that this insurance was available because they advised that some people find the excess to great a financial risk and decide not to hire.
In the end the excess, if needed, can be considered as just another trip cost and for 32 days travelling throughout QLD to places we have never seen in a very nice caravan, not so expensive as to cancel the trip.

The Belmont Bear · Guru

No problem Tony i hope that you can find someone to cover the excess - enjoy your trip.

BB

the rocket · Guru

tdonohue wrote:
Hi, I'm renting a caravan in Brisbane shortly and wonder if you know of an insurance company which would cover the rental damage excess ($1,000). I have rung a number of companies and they all cover rental vehicles, camper vans and motorhomes but not caravans.

Thanks

Tony

Hello, surely if the caravanwas insured and u had an accident that was not your fault you would not be charged the excess. If it was your fault then i would expect u would pay.also, has the rental company got insurance for their caravans when hired out Or r u saying they cannot get comrehensive insurance

tdonohue · Member

The caravan is comprehensively insured, with an excess of $1000 for a claim. I think you are correct that if an accident is not my fault and the other party is in fact insured allowing monies to be recovered then the excess probably won't apply, or at least refunded in due course - this is some comfort. I was hoping to insure against the excess if an accident was my fault given that caravanning is a risky endeavour even with all the care in the world - at least thats what I'm thinking if all the caravan forums are correct.

the rocket · Guru

tdonohue wrote:
The caravan is comprehensively insured, with an excess of $1000 for a claim. I think you are correct that if an accident is not my fault and the other party is in fact insured allowing monies to be recovered then the excess probably won't apply, or at least refunded in due course - this is some comfort. I was hoping to insure against the excess if an accident was my fault given that caravanning is a risky endeavour even with all the care in the world - at least thats what I'm thinking if all the caravan forums are correct.

Never heard of any company doing that. Think if the van is an expensive one, and u smash it, then $1,000 excess is cheap. We hired a van in hervey bay a few years back and they brought the van to the park and picked it up. Good luck.

the rocket · Guru

Maybe think about hiring a small motorhome. Might b easier to drive.