This handy guide walks you through the ins and outs of van life insurance, including must-have cover and helpful tips that’ll keep you properly protected while you’re living in your van.
We’ve been insuring campervans since 1998, so we have plenty of experience and practical advice to help you find the right policy for you, at a great price.
Thousands of people in the UK have decided to embrace full-time living in their campervans. Whether you’re seeking freedom, adventure, or a simpler lifestyle, the appeal of vanlife is undeniable. But living in your van full-time isn’t quite the same as using it for the occasional road trip – so here’s everything you need to know from an insurance perspective.
Jump to:
Do I Need Specialist Insurance for Full-Time Vanlife?
What Options Do I Have for Campervan Insurance?
How Do I Get a Van Life Insurance Quote for my Campervan?
Summary: Final Thoughts
Do I Need Specialist Insurance for Full-Time Van Life?
The short answer is yes. Living in your campervan full-time means it’s not just a vehicle anymore – it’s your home. That means you’ll need a personalised policy to protect your home, your vehicle, and everything inside it, while keeping you fully compliant with the law.
Standard car or van insurance typically only covers things like accidents or damage to the vehicle. It assumes you have a permanent home somewhere else, so it doesn’t take into account your belongings or day-to-day life in your van.
Here’s why you need a specialist vanlife insurance policy:
- Your camper is your primary residence: If something happens to your van, you could lose not only your transport, but also your home and possessions. Standard insurance usually won’t cover things like furniture, appliances, or personal items kept inside. At Just Kampers Insurance, we’ll tailor your van life policy to cover everything that makes your van your home – and the unique lifestyle that comes with it.
- You need more than just road cover: Full-time van lifers face extra risks, like theft of belongings, breakdowns that leave you without anywhere to sleep, or even someone injuring themselves near your van while it’s parked. That’s why our specialist van life insurance can include extras like contents cover, personal effects cover, and breakdown cover.
A dedicated van life insurance policy is designed with these realities in mind, so you’re covered for all the unexpected situations that could arise while you’re living in your camper.
What Options Do I Have for Van Life Insurance?
There are several types of cover you should consider if you’re living in your van full-time. Let’s go through them.
Specialist Van Life Insurance
A dedicated van life insurance policy is essential for anyone living in their campervan full-time. It covers all the essentials, plus a few extras designed specifically for life on the road.
Here at Just Kampers Insurance, we can cover a wide range of campervans and motorhomes including those that have been modified, self-built, or professionally converted.
Each policy is tailored to you, your van, and your lifestyle, giving you complete peace of mind wherever the road takes you.
No fixed abode or permanent address? We’ll still cover you!
Living full-time in your camper often means you don’t have a permanent address – and that’s okay. While this may be a barrier for some insurers, it’s not a problem for us. With a dedicated vanlife policy from Just Kampers Insurance, you can still insure your home on wheels even without a fixed abode.
Our friendly team will guide you through the process, and help you secure the right cover at an affordable price. Contact us today!
Contents Cover
Using your campervan as your home can be great, but it does mean that your belongings and valuables are stored inside, and are therefore more vulnerable to theft or damage.
Whether it’s personal documents, electronic devices, or campervan appliances, you’ll want to make sure you have proper contents insurance, to keep your possessions protected against loss, fire, and theft.
Tip: Keep a list of your belongings, including serial numbers and receipts. If you ever need to make a claim, this will save you a lot of time.
Breakdown Cover
Breaking down on the road is stressful for anyone, but if your campervan is also your home, it can quickly become a major problem. Without breakdown cover, you could be left stranded with no way to reach a safe place or continue your journey.
Breakdown cover gives you practical support when you need it most, whether it’s roadside assistance or recovery to a garage. It’s an essential for van lifers, keeping you on track if the unexpected happens.
If you’re planning to travel outside the UK, it’s worth opting for EU breakdown cover too, so you’re protected wherever you are.
EU Driving Cover for Vanlifers
If you’re taking your home on wheels across borders and into Europe, you’ll need to make sure your insurance covers you while driving abroad.
EU driving cover ensures your policy remains valid in the specified European countries, so you’re protected against accidents, theft, or damage (depending on the level of cover you selected), just as you would be in the UK.
Agreed Value Cover
Many campervans are modified with custom interiors, fitted appliances, solar panels, or other unique upgrades that increase their value.
Standard insurance usually works on a market value basis, which means if your camper is stolen or written off, the insurer pays the amount that it would sell for at the time of the loss, in its current condition.
But the market value doesn’t always reflect the true value of your campervan, with all the time and money you have invested in it.
That’s where agreed value cover comes in. With this option, we agree upfront on the value of your campervan, including upgrades or conversions. So, if you ever need to make a claim, you’ll be covered for the amount it’s actually worth, rather than just the standard market price.
Getting an agreed valuation with us here at Just Kampers Insurance is simple – just speak to a member of our friendly team today.
Looking for parts and accessories for your campervan?
If you’re planning to live in your campervan full-time, chances are you’ll want to make a few upgrades to turn it into your ideal home on wheels.
At Just Kampers, you’ll find thousands of parts and accessories for all kinds of campervans – from replacement parts to windows, appliances, heating, plumbing, curtains, and more!
Simply visit justkampers.com and explore the full range.
How Do I Get a Van Life Insurance Quote for my Campervan?
The best way to get the right cover is to speak with a trusted and reliable insurer who specialises in van life insurance, like us, here at Just Kampers Insurance.
We’ve been insuring campervans since 1998, and many of us own one ourselves, so we completely understand the unique challenges of living on the road full-time.
When you speak with a member our team, we’ll run through a few questions about your camper, and find out what kind of cover matters most to you. That way, we can offer you a tailored policy to suit your lifestyle, so you’re properly insured.
Give us a call on 01256 444 546 and get started today.
Summary – Final Thoughts
When you’re living in your campervan full-time, it’s important to get the right insurance, to keep your camper, belongings, and livelihood safe.
Standard vehicle insurance isn’t sufficient for van life. Living on the road full-time comes with some unique risks, so you will need a dedicated van life policy to keep you covered for every eventuality.
At Just Kampers Insurance, we make it easy to shape your policy around your lifestyle. With a huge selection of standard benefits and optional extras to choose from, you can hit the road with complete peace of mind.
Just give our friendly team a call on 01256 444 546 or request a call back for a time that suits you, and get your campervan covered for your vanlife adventure.
