Camping Insurance

Camping is more popular than ever, with many people choosing to camp both here in the UK and abroad in Europe each year. Some people may forget about camping insurance when staying in the UK, but it can still provide protection for damaged equipment, trip cancellations, or disruption due to bad weather.

Do I need camping travel insurance?

While travel insurance is often seen as essential when going abroad, it's easy to forget that it can cover you for domestic trips too. This includes camping trips UK-wide.

Of course, you're unlikely to need medical cover in the UK, as the NHS has your back. But there are other unexpected events that travel insurance can cover you for when you're on a UK camping holiday. Not least loss and damage to your belongings, as setting up camp usually involves a lot of kit.

And if you're camping on the continent, it's definitely worth considering European travel insurance. While you can usually rely on your GHIC or EHIC for state-funded healthcare in most European countries, this usually just applies to emergency treatment. So if you needed ongoing treatment, for example, this would come out of your own pocket. These also won't cover you for repatriation, if you need to come home for medical treatment.

For this reason, a GHIC or EHIC shouldn't be seen as a replacement for a comprehensive travel insurance policy. And this can cover you for so much more, including lost, stolen or damaged equipment, or if your holiday is cut short or cancelled entirely.

Do I need specific tent insurance when camping?

Before going on your camping holiday, it's worth thinking about exactly what you need cover for. Some aspects of your trip should be covered by a standard travel insurance policy. Others may require a more bespoke policy from a specialist camping insurance provider.

It's worth noting that 'tent insurance' is sometimes used as shorthand for camping insurance policies. These won't cover just your tent, but also a range of camping equipment.

What could camping holiday insurance cover?

A standard travel insurance policy will usually cover the following:

• Cancellation cover. This covers you if you need to cancel your trip before you go, or cut it short while you're there (known as curtailment).
• Lost or stolen baggage. If you're getting transport to your camping holiday, particularly if you're travelling overseas, your policy will cover you for lost, damaged or stolen luggage.
• Medical expenses when camping abroad. As mentioned, you'll usually be covered for medical treatment up to a maximum stipulated by your policy. This is important, especially as healthcare abroad can be expensive.
• Repatriation back to the UK. Likewise, being flown back to the UK at short notice for medical reasons can be incredibly costly. Repatriation cover will protect you from this expense.
• Gadget cover. This is tailored protection for electronic devices you take with you, such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, gaming devices and so on.

Investing in a bespoke camping insurance policy could also cover things such as:

• Tent insurance. You can get financial protection for loss, damage or theft of your tent, awning, poles and pegs. This will differ from covering your possessions under a standard policy, as these usually exclude items which are left unattended. A bespoke policy can cover your tent while it's pitched and you're out and about.
• Camping equipment. You can also cover the kit you take with you, such as camping furniture, bedding, cooking equipment, gas bottles, generators and so on. Although it may also be worth seeing if these are covered on your home contents insurance - specifically the personal possessions add-on, which covers belongings when they're taken away from home.

Please note that you can compare standard travel insurance policies with Confused.com, with add-ons such as gadget cover. You'll have to visit a specialist camping insurance provider to get more tailored cover.

What isn’t covered by camping insurance?

Like all insurance, even bespoke camping insurance policies are likely to have exclusions. This is why it's important to always read the small print before buying, or before going on your trip. These are some common exclusions:

• General wear and tear of camping equipment, including tents
• Damage caused by pets, vermin, moths, mould and mildew
• Theft of items from an unattended tent. There may be an exception for tents which are completely enclosed. However, insurers tend to limit the value of stolen items you can claim for
• Some policies will exclude fires if they're caused by lighting or cooking equipment
• Some policies may exclude damage to camping gear while being transported on a roof rack.

Types of camping insurance

Tent insurance

Bespoke tent insurance policies tend to not only cover your poles, pegs and canvas, but also the rest of your camping equipment - and more broadly your camping holiday. These are usually tailored policies available from specialist insurers.

Caravan insurance

As you're not technically driving it, caravan insurance isn't a legal requirement. But it could be a worthwhile investment, and comes in two types:

• Touring caravan insurance. If you tow your caravan, it won't be protected by your car insurance policy in the event of a collision. For this reason, it's worth considering getting your caravan its own protection.
• Static caravan insurance. This works a little more like home insurance, as it protects your static from events such as fire, flooding, storm damage, theft and vandalism.

Campervan insurance

Whether you've converted a van or bought a factory-built camper, you'll need to protect it with campervan insurance. This offers the three levels of cover you expect from most motor insurance policies, but can include additional cover for things like your awning and generator.

Motorhome insurance

If you have a purpose-built motorhome, then it's a legal requirement to have it insured. Getting specific motorhome insurance will not only cover it for road use, but usually comes with additional benefits such as personal possessions cover. This protects whatever equipment you keep in your RV, such as camping equipment and gas barbecues. You can usually get awning cover included too.

Tips for when you’re camping

Choose a travel insurance policy that will cover camping

Whether you're camping domestically or overseas, invest in a policy which specifically covers what you want to do. You might want insurance which covers your tent and gear while it's pitched but you're elsewhere, for example.

Make a note of local hospitals

In case of a medical emergency, it's always good to know where the nearest hospital is. This is especially the case if you're overseas. Save them on your map app so that you can get directions quickly if needs be. And don't forget to pack your GHIC if you're camping around Europe.

Check the weather before you go

Camping 101: Always check how the weather's looking at your destination. Have a contingency plan in case of stormy weather - such as making a note of decent local hostels, for instance.

Make a note of all the belongings you take

It's always a good idea to make a list of things to take ahead of time, to make packing easier. But then keep this list as an inventory. This means you'll know that you've got everything when it's time to pack up. And you'll also have a complete list if you need to make a claim for loss or theft on your insurance.

Understand local risks

Managed campsites will usually be hazard free. But it's important to familiarise yourself with potential local risks, especially if you're camping off the beaten track. Don't camp too near a waterway, especially if it's liable to flood. See what wildlife is in that area and make an effort to to attract them. For example, take rubbish away with you, or keep it locked in your car. And if you're going wild camping, always tell someone exactly where you're going.

Practice setting up your tent

If you have a new tent, familiarise yourself with how to set it up before you go. This will pay dividends if you need to set it up quickly - such as if it's starting to rain, or getting dark when you arrive at your campsite. It may help to take photos, including of how the tent was initially packed in the bag.

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