What does a motorhome really cost to insure? Your comprehensive 2025 guide
31.05.25
11
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
Freedom on four wheels comes at a price – including when it comes to insurance. Find out which factors determine the cost of your motorhome insurance and how you can find the right cover for under a thousand euros a year. Read on to benefit from practical examples and expert tips.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The annual cost of motorhome insurance is usually between €200 and €1,000, influenced by the vehicle type, value, no-claims bonus class and level of cover.
Potential savings can be achieved through seasonal licence plates, choosing the excess, a secure parking space and comparing providers.
In addition to the mandatory liability insurance, partial or comprehensive cover, as well as add-on options such as roadside assistance cover and contents insurance, are important options for protection.
Quick overview: cost factors of motorhome insurance
Premiums for motorhome insurance typically range from around four hundred to eight hundred euros per year. Several factors are decisive for the exact amount. These include the type of vehicle, its current value and the insurance cover selected. Your personal no-claims class also plays an important role in the calculation. These factors largely determine how much your motorhome insurance will cost.
Explained in practical terms: How are insurance costs made up?
The cost of your motorhome insurance is not random, but the result of a complex calculation. A key factor is the vehicle type: a compact panel van is often cheaper to insure than a fully integrated luxury model weighing over three and a half tonnes. The new value or current value of the camper also has a strong influence on the premium; a new vehicle valued at eighty thousand euros incurs higher insurance costs than a ten-year-old model. Special equipment such as a solar system or an expensive awning can also increase the costs by a few percentage points, as these are often insured for up to a value of twenty thousand euros. Annual mileage is another factor; someone who drives only five thousand kilometres tends to pay less than frequent drivers with fifteen thousand kilometres. Last but not least, the storage location has an effect: a secure garage can reduce the premium by up to ten per cent compared with a parking space on the public street. These aspects illustrate how individual the answer to the question „What does car insurance cost for a motorhome?“ is.
Choosing the right type of insurance: third-party liability, partial cover or fully comprehensive?
For every motorhome registered in Germany, motor third-party liability insurance is required by law. It covers damage you cause to other road users, with cover amounts of up to one hundred million euros for property damage and up to fifteen million euros per injured person. The costs for this start at around one hundred and nine euros per year, depending on provider and vehicle. Comprehensive cover extends this protection and covers damage to your own vehicle, for example caused by theft, fire, broken glass or natural events such as storms and hail. For this you can expect to pay from around two hundred and seventy-five euros per year. The most comprehensive protection is offered by the comprehensive insurance, which also covers accident damage you cause yourself and vandalism. This is particularly recommended for newer or very high-value motorhomes and costs from around three hundred and thirty-six euros upwards. The difference between partial and comprehensive cover therefore lies in the scope of damage covered to your own vehicle.
To choose the right cover, you should consider the following points:
Value of the motorhome: For older models with low value, third-party liability is often sufficient, possibly supplemented by partial cover.
Frequency of use: Those who only drive occasionally have a lower risk than year-round campers.
Personal need for security: How much risk do you want to bear yourself?
Financial means: Comprehensive cover offers the best protection, but is also the most expensive option.
The decision on the right level of cover has a direct impact on how much your motorhome insurance costs.
Unlock savings potential: How to reduce your insurance premium
There are various ways to reduce the cost of your motorhome insurance. An excess in comprehensive cover can significantly reduce the premium; amounts between one hundred and fifty and five hundred euros are common in partial comprehensive cover and between three hundred and one thousand euros in fully comprehensive cover. A seasonal registration plate is ideal if you only use your motorhome for a few months of the year, for example from April to October. This means you only pay tax and insurance premiums for the registered period, often six to eight months. Make sure that your insurance includes laid-up cover for the months outside the season. Choosing a secure parking space, such as a garage, can also lead to discounts of up to ten per cent. You should also compare offers from different insurers, as prices can vary significantly for the same level of cover. A look at the type class table can help with cars, but is less decisive for motorhomes, as some insurers such as Allianz do not use it to calculate premiums.
Understanding and Optimising the No-Claims Bonus Class (SF Class)
Your no-claims bonus class (SF class) is a decisive factor in how much your motorhome costs to insure. For every claim-free year, you move up to a higher SF class, which leads to a lower premium rate. For motorhomes, some insurers offer SF classes up to SF 20 or even SF 35, which means that after twenty or more claim-free years you can receive significant discounts. For example, the premium rate in SF 20 can be around twenty-five per cent for third-party liability and thirty-two per cent for comprehensive cover. If you already have a high SF class for your car, check whether it can be transferred to your motorhome insurance; many insurers offer options here. A no-claims protection policy can be useful to avoid being downgraded to a more expensive SF class immediately after a claim; this usually costs an extra premium of around fifteen to twenty-five per cent. The exact SF class table varies depending on the insurer.
Expert knowledge: Legal basics and additional modules
The motor vehicle liability insurance is mandatory in Germany for every motorhome under the Compulsory Insurance Act (PflVG). The statutory minimum cover amounts are seven and a half million euros for personal injury, around 1.22 million euros for property damage and fifty thousand euros for pure financial losses. However, many insurers offer significantly higher cover amounts of up to one hundred million euros. In addition to standard insurance, there are useful optional extras. A breakdown cover policy, often available for less than thirty euros a year, provides Europe-wide roadside assistance and covers towing costs, for example. Contents insurance (CamperInhaltsSchutz) protects your movable belongings such as clothing or electronics up to a value of, for example, ten thousand euros and often costs only around fifty euros per year. For trips abroad, foreign claims protection can be useful, ensuring claims are settled under German law, even if the other party in the accident has lower insurance cover abroad. Our expert tip: Always clarify the scope of your insurance before travelling abroad, especially for countries outside the EU.
Important aspects when choosing optional extras:
Breakdown cover: Costs usually between twenty and forty euros per year.
Contents insurance: Cover for contents often up to ten thousand euros, premium approx. fifty euros.
Foreign claims protection: Important for trips outside the EU, costs vary.
Driver protection: Provides benefits in the event of the driver's injuries, even in at-fault accidents.
GAP cover: For leased or financed vehicles, closes the gap between replacement value and outstanding balance.
These components can increase the cost of your motorhome insurance, but offer important additional protection.
Not every motorhome is the same, and there are therefore some special features to bear in mind when it comes to insurance. Motorhomes with a gross vehicle weight of over three and a half tonnes may be classified differently, which affects the premium. For vehicles over seven and a half tonnes, HGV tax rates and insurance tariffs often apply, which can increase the costs further. Private rental of your camper usually requires specialist insurance or an extension to your existing policy, as not all standard policies cover this case; the costs for this can be 20 to 30 per cent higher. For permanently sited motorhomes on campsites, known as long-stay campers, some insurers offer special tariffs that differ from the classic campervan insurance for vehicles on the move. Our expert tip: Always clarify the exact terms for including permanently installed optional extras in the cover; often limits of up to twenty thousand euros are included free of charge. Knowing these details helps answer the question „How much does a motorhome cost to insure?“ more precisely.
Conclusion: Finding the right motorhome insurance
The cost of motorhome insurance depends on many individual factors and can vary between two hundred and over one thousand euros per year. A careful analysis of your own needs and a comparison of different offers are essential. Take into account the vehicle type, value, desired level of cover (from third-party liability to comprehensive cover), your no-claims discount class and possible savings potential such as seasonal registration or an excess. With the right knowledge, you can find an insurance solution that offers comprehensive protection while also protecting your budget. That way, nothing stands in the way of your next adventure. Request an individual risk analysis now: have your insurance situation reviewed free of charge and receive specific recommendations for optimisation.
More useful links
Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) provides official statistics on the number of motor caravans.
Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) publishes a press release with up-to-date information on motor caravans.
Caravaning Industry Association (CIVD) provides information on the number of motor caravans.
Federal Ministry of Finance provides information on vehicle tax.
FAQ
How much does it cost to insure a motorhome per year?
The annual costs for motorhome insurance are usually between €200 for basic third-party liability and up to over €1,000 for comprehensive fully comprehensive cover. On average, you can expect to pay between €400 and €800.
Which factors have the biggest impact on the price of motorhome insurance?
Key factors are the vehicle type and value, the chosen type of insurance (third-party liability, partial comprehensive, fully comprehensive), the policyholder's no-claims bonus class, annual mileage, parking location and the amount of the excess.
How can I save on motorhome insurance?
Savings can be achieved by choosing a seasonal registration plate, a higher excess, a secure parking space (e.g. garage), a limited annual mileage and carefully comparing offers from different insurers.
Is fully comprehensive insurance always necessary for my motorhome?
Comprehensive insurance is particularly recommended for new or very valuable motorhomes, as it also covers damage caused by the policyholder and vandalism. For older vehicles with a lower value, partial cover or even just the mandatory third-party liability insurance may be sufficient.
What does partial comprehensive insurance for motorhomes cover?
Partial comprehensive insurance covers damage to your own motorhome caused by external influences such as theft, fire, explosion, storm, hail, lightning strike, flooding, collisions with animals and broken glass.
What role does the no-claims bonus class play in the cost of motorhome insurance?
The no-claims bonus class (SF class) has a significant influence. The longer you drive without an accident, the higher your SF class rises and the lower your insurance premium becomes. For motorhomes, SF classes often go up to SF 20 or higher.
