Camper van insurance: How to optimise your cover and save up to 30 per cent
20.09.2025
3
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
Your camper van is a symbol of freedom, but an unexpected loss can quickly lead to costs of several thousand euros. The right camper van insurance protects your vehicle and your finances. Find out how the right policy lets you travel worry-free while saving cleverly.
The topic in brief and concise terms
Comprehensive insurance is essential for new or high-value panel vans, as it also covers damage you cause yourself and vandalism.
Additional insurance for the inventory is essential, as standard comprehensive cover often does not sufficiently protect loose items and expensive custom fittings.
By using the second-car rule and transferring a high no-claims bonus, insurance costs can be reduced by more than 40 per cent.
Fundamental protection: The three pillars of panel van insurance
Every insurance policy for a panel van is based on the motor vehicle liability insurance required by law. This covers personal injury, property damage and financial loss caused by you to third parties, with experts recommending a coverage limit of 100 million euros. The optional partial comprehensive insurance extends this protection and covers damage to your own vehicle caused by external influences such as theft, fire, broken glass or storms with hail. For seamless protection, especially for newer vehicles, comprehensive insurance provides the solution. It includes all the benefits of partial comprehensive cover and also covers damage caused by vandalism as well as accidents caused by you. A good comprehensive insurance policy is therefore the basis for worry-free travel. Choosing the right comprehensive cover depends largely on the value and age of your camper.
Cost analysis: reduce premiums by up to 30 percent through smart tariff design
The cost of camper van insurance can vary significantly and may range from €150 to over €580 per year. A key factor is the chosen excess; €150 for comprehensive cover and €500 for fully comprehensive cover are common. By choosing a higher excess, you can often reduce your annual premium by ten to 15 per cent. Further savings of up to 25 per cent are possible with a seasonal registration plate if you only use your camper during the warmer months. Limiting the number of drivers to a few people also noticeably reduces the cost. Paying annually is, on average, five per cent cheaper than monthly direct debit. Combining these factors makes it possible to significantly reduce insurance costs without compromising cover.
Expert tip: Insure special fit-outs and inventory properly
A standard comprehensive insurance policy covers permanently installed parts, but often not loose contents or expensive retrofitted additions such as solar panels and high-quality electronics. A burglary can quickly cause damage of more than €5,000, only part of which is covered. For this there are special contents insurance policies that protect your travel luggage and equipment. Our expert tip: keep a detailed inventory list with purchase receipts and photos. This makes dealing with the insurer much easier in the event of a claim. When choosing a motorhome insurance policy, look for an add-on such as the „Camper Contents Protection“, which covers movable contents up to a total of €10,000. This also ensures your personal valuables are optimally protected, making the next section on protection while travelling all the more relevant.
Safety when travelling: breakdown assistance and cover abroad are essential
A breakdown abroad can, without the right cover, quickly become a financial burden of over €1,000 for towing and repair costs. An auto assistance policy is therefore an important addition to your camper van insurance. It covers not only on-site breakdown assistance, but often also costs for a hire car, overnight stays or vehicle repatriation. For trips within Europe, the so-called „Mallorca policy“ is often included in third-party liability insurance. It increases the cover limit for accidents involving a hire car abroad to German levels. The following services are typically included in an assistance policy:
Breakdown assistance and towing to the nearest garage, often up to €300.
Spare parts shipment abroad, if not available locally.
Overnight accommodation costs in the event of vehicle breakdown, usually up to three nights.
Hire car costs for the duration of the repair, often up to seven days.
Vehicle repatriation, if the repair takes longer than three days.
A comprehensive assistance cover for abroad ensures that your journey can continue even in the event of unforeseen incidents.
Optimising no-claims bonus classes: Make clever use of the second-car rule
The no-claims bonus class (SF class) is one of the biggest levers for reducing your insurance premium. While many insurers cap the SF classes for motorhomes at 20 years, you can save considerably through a clever classification. Many vehicle owners do not know that they can insure their motorhome as a second vehicle and benefit from a more favourable SF class. Some insurers even offer to transfer the SF class of the first vehicle to the panel van. This can reduce the premium by more than 40 per cent. The following options for special classification are common:
Classification in SF class ½, if the driver has held a driving licence for at least three years.
Transfer of the SF class from another vehicle (car or motorcycle).
Recognition of the partner’s claims history when used jointly.
Better classification if all drivers are over 25 years old.
Check carefully which arrangements your insurer offers in order to obtain the most favourable classification for you.
Your personalised cover: The next step
Choosing the right motorhome panel van insurance is a very personal decision that depends on your vehicle, your travel habits and your need for security. A careful analysis of your situation not only protects you from financial risks, but also gives you the confidence to enjoy every kilometre of your journey without worry. With the right knowledge of liability cover, comprehensive insurance options and sensible additional modules, you can put together tailor-made protection. Professional advice helps you understand the details and find the optimal policy for your needs. Request an individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation checked free of charge and receive concrete suggestions for optimisation.
More useful links
German Insurance Association (GDV) provides facts and figures on motor insurance.
FAQ
Which insurance is right for my panel van: third-party, fire and theft or comprehensive?
The decision depends on the value and age of your vehicle. For new or nearly new panel vans (up to around six years old), comprehensive cover is advisable, as it also covers accidents you cause yourself and vandalism. For older vehicles with a lower value, partial comprehensive cover may be sufficient to protect against risks such as theft, fire or hail.
Are my bicycles and my laptop covered by insurance in the panel van?
As a rule, not through the standard comprehensive motor insurance. This only covers permanently installed vehicle parts. For loose items such as bicycles, laptops, camping furniture or clothing, you need separate contents insurance (also known as camper contents cover).
What happens if I have a breakdown abroad?
Without an additional breakdown cover policy, you must cover the costs of towing, repairs and, if necessary, a hire car yourself. A vehicle breakdown cover policy, which you can take out as an optional add-on to your insurance, covers these costs and arranges the necessary assistance.
How can I save on camper van insurance?
You can save money by using a seasonal licence plate, choosing a higher excess, restricting the list of drivers and paying the premium annually. However, the greatest savings potential lies in a favourable no-claims bonus classification, for example through the second-car rule.
Does my insurance cover also apply in cases of gross negligence?
That depends on your plan. Many modern insurance policies include the “waiver of the defence of gross negligence”. This means that the insurer will still provide full cover even if damage was caused by carelessness (e.g. driving through a red light). Look out for this clause in the policy.
Do I need to have my self-converted camper re-registered?
Yes, if a panel van is permanently converted into a motorhome, it must be re-registered as “Other motor vehicle – motorhome”. This is crucial for the correct insurance and motor vehicle tax. The insurer must be informed about the conversion and the new value in order to avoid underinsurance.
