Vehicle Insurance, Club Membership Insurance and Travel Insurance

Most insurers will cover your registered vehicle and registered RV for travel on gazetted roads. If you are in any doubt you will be covered driving on the beach or in remote areas always check your insurance policy or with your insurer before departure. For example, one insurer doubles the basic excess if your vehicle is driven on a beach.

For motorhome owners you may want to ensure your insurance policy covers you for electrical motor burnout.

Some familiar insurance company names are – CIL (Caravan Insurance Leaders), NRMA Insurance, RACQ Insurance, AAMI, RAA Insurance Limited and CGU.

Motorhome, Fifth-Wheeler and Campervan Insurance - the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) have an insurance scheme for financial members of the club. The club has a contact, Ken Tame & Associates of Kew, Victoria, who will arrange cover and will only insure caravans if they also have the insurance cover for your tow vehicle as well (as a combined unit). The insurance covers the tow vehicle and caravan whether they are used together or separately from each other. Insurance is underwritten by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited.

Automobile Club Membership

For 24 hour roadside assistance in the event of a vehicle break down, join a motor vehicle association such as RACQ, NRMA, RACV, RAC WA etc. These automobile clubs also provide legal assistance, member discounts and free maps. Consider upgrading to one of their top membership packages such as Ultra Care or Premium Care, as quite often these memberships have benefits more suitable to trailer or caravan travellers.

More Articles

What Insurance to Look For
Caravan Rollover (a traveller's experience with insurance)
Preventing theft of RV's
Security Devices
Security Alarms
Starting Out - first timers
Hire before you buy
Best Tow Vehicle
Towing Tips - Towing Courses
Caravan Reversing made Easy
Hitches & Weight Distribution Bars
Camper Trailers - An Introduction
Camper Trailers - Types
Campervans
Slide-On Campers
Types of caravans
5th Wheelers
Motorhomes
Site Map

For those of you who have an iPhone, automobile clubs now have an application you can download for free from iTunes to allow users to contact the automobile club for immediate roadside help without having to make a ‘phone call. The app uses your iPhone built-in GPS to determine your location and will remember your membership number and vehicle details. For example, Queensland’s ‘RACQ Mobile Roadside Assistance’ iPhone App provides confirmation of your request for roadside assistance and an approximate time frame for when the roadside assistance vehicle will arrive. The app is available to RACQ members as well as non-members.

Most automobile clubs offer Aussie Assist free with either their membership fee or comprehensive motor vehicle policy. Aussie Assist 24 hour emergency assistance can help you (or immediate family member living with you) if you are in trouble more than 100 klms from home. They assist in arranging medical support, air transport, accommodation and contacting friends.

You may also wish to investigate travel insurance in the event you need to cover the cost of flying home and/or the transport of your RV back home. There are transport companies who specialise in the transport of boats, cars and caravans.

Travel Insurance

If you have a serious accident or health issue that prevents you from driving back home the next best way to get home may be by air. Insurance cover may also be required for your spouse/partner to assist or accompany you home.

Cover can be obtained for other things such as additional accommodation and the cost of storing and/or getting your RV transported back to your residence especially if your spouse or partner is unable to capably do so. You should check if this may already be covered under your existing RV insurance or if it may need to be ‘topped up’.

Some insurers will provide this type of travel insurance to cover the term of your holiday say 3 – 12 month trip around Australia.

Ambulance Cover

When traveling interstate you may wish to ensure you are covered for ‘emergency’ and ‘non-emergency’ ambulance transport. See Lets-Getaway.com Article - Ambulance Cover