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If youāre planning to sell up or rent out your home and move into a motorhome or campervan full time, insurance is one of the most important and misunderstood parts of the process.
Weāve been living and travelling full time in motorhomes and now an overland truck for seven years, navigating the realities of UK insurance, European travel, and everything in between. When we first started, we spent days speaking to insurers, digging through policy wording, and trying to separate fact from forum myths.
This guide is based on that real-world experience, combined with what weāve learned from insurers and underwriters along the way. If youāre new to full-timing or trying to get your insurance sorted before making the leap, this will give you a clear, honest picture of what to expect.
What Does āFull-Timingā Actually Mean?
Youāll see the term used everywhere, but definitions vary depending on who you ask.
In simple terms, full-timing means living in your motorhome as your main residence.
From an insurance perspective, itās more specific. Most underwriters define full-timing as:
If you meet both conditions, you are considered a full-timer and must have a policy that reflects that.
This is where many people get caught out. Standard motorhome insurance is designed for leisure use, not full-time living.
Insurance Requirements for Full-Timers
Insurers have stricter requirements for full-time policies, and itās important to understand what they expect.
Typically, you will need:
If you do not meet these conditions, or cannot provide evidence when asked, your policy could be invalidated.
How Much Does Full-Time Motorhome Insurance Cost?
Letās talk numbers, because this is often where people get a bit of a shock.
Full-time motorhome insurance is significantly more expensive than standard leisure policies. As a rough guide, you can expect to pay double the regular premium, anywhere from Ā£800 to Ā£2,500+ per year, depending on your circumstances.
The price varies based on several factors:
One thing we discovered through experience and chatting with friendly brokers is that Ā£80,000 is a bit of a tipping point. Once your motorhome value goes beyond this, premiums tend to increase sharply. Insurers see higher-value vehicles as a greater risk, not just in terms of repair or replacement, but also theft.
The biggest cost driver, though, is the fact that youāre living in the vehicle. From an insurerās perspective, this increases both the likelihood and potential cost of a claim.
That said, itās important to look at this in context. Your motorhome is not just a vehicle, itās your home and everything you own is inside it. Cutting corners on insurance to save a few hundred pounds can be a very expensive mistake if something goes wrong.
There are a few ways to help manage the cost:
Even with these steps, full-time insurance will never be the cheapest option, but itās one area where proper cover really matters.
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Arranging Full-Time Motorhome Insurance
In the UK, true full-time motorhome insurance is very limited. There is essentially one main underwriter, Aviva, offering genuine full-timing cover, with the brokers Comfort Insurance and Adrian Flux providing access to the policy.
Youāll likely come across many insurers who say they can cover you, but you need to look closely at the details.
Key things to check:
Some policies appear suitable at first glance but include clauses that restrict long-term use. Always read the full policy wording, not just the summary.
Important Limitations to Be Aware Of
Full-time policies come with conditions that can catch people off guard.
One of the biggest is leaving your motorhome unattended. Many policies will only cover you if the vehicle is left for a short period, often no more than 48 hours, especially when abroad.
If you plan to fly home or leave the van for longer, you may need:
Another important point is what happens if you stop full-timing. If you cancel your policy or want to switch back to standard cover, you will usually need to prove you now have a fixed UK residence. This could mean providing tenancy agreements, property deeds, or electoral roll confirmation.
Why Insurers Are Cautious About Full-Timers
From an insurerās perspective, full-timing increases risk.
While it might feel like living in your van makes it safer, insurers see it differently. The increased usage and exposure outweigh the benefits in their eyes.
What Happens If You Donāt Declare It?
It can be tempting to avoid declaring full-time use, especially given the higher cost of insurance.
Some policies can make this even more confusing. For example, insurers like Safeguard offer 365 days of European cover as standard, which can give the impression that full-time travel is automatically included. But this is not the same as declaring that you live in your motorhome, which Safeguard will not cover you for.
If you havenāt clearly told your insurer that you are full-timing, then you havenāt disclosed your full circumstances. And thatās where the risk lies.
Insurers may not know immediately, but certain situations can trigger deeper checks:
If they discover youāve been living in your motorhome without declaring it, your policy could be invalidated. That means no payout, and potentially difficulty getting insured in the future.
For us, the decision came down to risk versus cost. The motorhome is a significant investment, and the peace of mind from being properly insured is worth it.
Final Thoughts
Full-time motorhome insurance in the UK is not straightforward, but it is manageable once you understand the rules.
The key points are simple:
Itās one of those areas where cutting corners can cost you dearly, so it pays to get it right from the start.
So glad to have helped š
Thank you, I needed this!!
I know – I do think the sector will catch up, but perhaps not for a few years yet š Hope you get sorted and good luck on the road Izzy
Donāt understand why itās so complicated in 2024, so many people are deciding to āopt outā of societyās norm of 9-5 and bricks and mortar.
Iām so glad I came across this article as I had rang several companies who refused to insure without a fixed abode š.
I will give the 2 companies mentioned a call and š¤š»get insurance for my new lifestyleā¦
Best information that I have found in relation to full timing motorhome insurance in the UK.