When we bought our own policy for the van, I quickly worked out that the premium is the easy bit — it's what's underneath it that catches people out. Two policies that look about the same price on the surface can be wildly different once you get into excesses, exclusions and what actually counts as "cover" in the fine print.
Make sure your insurance covers what you'll be doing with the van. I've seen situations where people have been remote and the insurance didn't cover damage because they were on remote dirt roads.
Here's the process I use now whenever I'm comparing quotes.
Give every insurer the same brief
Before you ring around, write down the same info for every quote: exact van and year, any mods, where it's stored, who tows it, your claims history, and — importantly — how you actually use it. "Weekends away" and "six months on the road, unsealed roads included" are very different risks, and if you fudge this bit to get a cheaper number, you're the one who pays for it later when a claim gets knocked back.
I've always used a well-known company and always check it covers where I'll be and what I'll be doing.
Get the actual documents, not just the website summary
Ask for the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), any updates to it, and the actual schedule they're proposing to issue you. Insurers update these regularly — CIL changed how they treat phones and e-bikes as contents in an update in April 2025, and RAC WA added extra guidance docs in August 2024. A quote page never tells you this stuff. Get the PDF, not the pitch.
Work out what "insured value" actually means
Agreed value, market value, whatever they call it — read the definition, not just the number. Ask what gets deducted, whether your accessories are already included in that figure, and whether you need a separate amount for an annexe. Don't just add up receipts for everything you've bought and assume that's your cover — ask the insurer how they want it valued.
Excesses are never just the one number
The headline excess is only the start. Ask about age-related excesses, inexperienced-driver excesses, and anything extra for towing on dirt or gravel — CIL, for example, charges an additional excess for damage on a beach, dirt or unsealed road. Ask them to run through an actual scenario (like: "Karen's driving, we clip something reversing onto an unsealed site") and tell you the total excess, not just the base figure.
Karen and I have towed on plenty of dodgy roads and thankfully we've never had an issue.
Contents, awnings and annexes need their own line of questioning
List out what you'd actually need to replace — fridge, bedding, tools, outdoor furniture, the good stuff. Ask if there are item limits or category limits, and whether it matters if it's inside the van, in the annexe, or sitting out at the campsite unattended. "Awning" and "annexe" mean different things to different insurers, so don't assume — ask them straight out what's covered while it's up, while it's being packed away, and while nobody's watching it.
Ask what "water damage" really covers
Storm damage, a leaking roof seal, a plumbing leak, water off the shower base — these can all be treated differently. CIL, for instance, excludes damage connected to water escaping from the shower recess due to inadequate drainage. Don't accept "yes, water damage is covered" as an answer — ask them to point you to the actual clause for your scenario.
Tell them exactly how and where you store it, and how you actually travel
Give the real address and type of storage — driveway, open yard, undercover, locked shed. If you're using a "lay-up" discount for storage periods, find out exactly what stops being covered during that time (some policies won't cover you taking it out for a quick trip while it's laid up). And be upfront about the roads and tracks you actually plan to use — don't assume an "off-road" badge on the van means anything to your insurer.
Our vans have been stored everywhere from the carport to sitting on the verge. The insurance companies normally ask where it stays.
Think through what happens if it all goes wrong mid-trip
If the van can't be towed safely halfway through a trip, where does it go, who decides, and are there distance or dollar limits? Ask separately what happens if it's just the tow vehicle that breaks down. And check what — if anything — you get for accommodation if you're stuck, including whether that changes if the van is your only home at the time.
A worksheet to run side by side
When you're comparing two quotes, put them side by side and fill in: insurer and quote date, accepted use and storage, total annual cost (including any instalment fees), insured value and settlement basis, all excesses, contents limits, awning/annexe cover, water damage exclusions, road/remote recovery cover, accommodation triggers and limits, and any cancellation or waiting-period conditions. If you don't know the answer, write "unclear — ask insurer," not a tick.
The bottom line
A policy that doesn't actually cover how you use the van isn't made suitable by being $200 cheaper. Sort out the coverage gaps first, then compare price on a like-for-like basis — same excess structure, same declared use, same everything.
General info only — not personal insurance advice. Always confirm current policy wording and pricing directly with the insurer before you buy.