Campervan Insurance Explained: Excess, Bonds and Windscreens

Ready to hit the open road with a home on wheels? Whether you are renting a campervan for a long weekend or insuring your own motorhome for a year of adventures, understanding the fine print on insurance is just as important as packing your camping chairs. The right cover helps you travel with confidence, reduce stress during minor mishaps, and avoid surprise costs that can derail a dream trip.

This guide unpacks campervan insurance in plain language. You will learn what excess and bonds actually mean, how windscreen cover works, which extras are worth it, and how to choose a policy that suits your route, your vehicle, and your budget. By the end, you will be ready to compare options like a pro and get rolling with peace of mind.

Why Campervan Insurance Matters

Driving a campervan blends motoring and living. That means your risks combine vehicle issues and holiday home issues. Insurance gives you a safety net for both.

• Campervans are heavier and taller than cars. That increases exposure to roof damage, underbody scrapes, and windscreen chips.
• You carry more gear. Contents like laptops, cameras, or ebikes need specific protection.
• You cover varied terrain. Gravel roads, coastal tracks, alpine passes, and busy city streets each introduce different risks.
• You may cross borders. Your cover must match your route and the rules in each region.
• You might be renting. Rental insurance comes with special terms: bond requirements, excess reduction packages, and restrictions on where you can drive.

The right cover helps you handle the unexpected, from a chipped windscreen to a parking scrape, without ruining your itinerary or your wallet.

Key Insurance Terms Decoded

Insurance terms can feel technical, yet a few core concepts do most of the heavy lifting. Here is what they mean in practice.

Excess (also called deductible)

Excess is the amount you pay out of pocket if you make a claim. Think of it as your contribution to the cost of damage. The insurer covers the rest up to the policy limit.

• It applies per incident or per claim. If you suffer two separate incidents on the same trip, you may owe the excess twice.
• Excess can vary by type of damage. Many policies have a different excess for windscreen or glass, theft, or fire.
• Age and experience matter. Younger drivers or additional drivers may incur a higher excess.
• Location and road type can change the excess. Some policies apply a higher excess for off-pavement driving or remote areas.

Tip: Pay attention to whether an excess reduction package brings your excess to zero. Even zero excess often excludes roof, underbody, tires, or overhead damage.

Bond or security deposit

A bond is a refundable amount the rental company holds as security. It is typically pre-authorized on your credit card at pickup.

• It is not the same as excess. The bond can be higher than your excess and covers other charges too, such as cleaning fees, late return, fuel, unpaid tolls, and fines.
• It is held, not usually charged, unless there is a reason to use it. Some operators charge the bond upfront, then refund after inspection.
• Release times vary. Many releases are immediate for pre-authorizations, though some banks take 5 to 15 business days.
• Debit cards can be tricky. Holds on debit cards may tie up funds for longer, and some rental depots require a credit card.

Tip: Raise your card limit or free up funds before pickup. That avoids payment declines at the depot.

Windscreen and glass cover

Windscreen cover is a common addon because chips and cracks are frequent on long drives.

• Repair vs replacement: Many policies offer low or zero excess for minor repairs, with a higher excess for full replacement.
• Glass definitions: Windscreen is the front glass. Glass cover may include side windows and rear windows. Some policies also include headlights, mirrors, skylights, vents, and acrylic camper windows.
• Calibration: Modern vans have cameras and sensors behind the windscreen. After replacement, calibration is required, and costs should be covered if windscreen cover applies.

Tip: Report chips quickly. Repairs are cheaper and often excess-free if dealt with before the crack spreads.

Types of Campervan Insurance

Insurance options differ depending on whether you rent or own.

For rental campervans

Rental cover usually starts with a base package and offers optional upgrades.

• Collision Damage Waiver: Limits your liability for damage to the rental vehicle. Often leaves you with an excess.
• Loss Damage Waiver: Combines collision and theft protection. Also typically includes an excess.
• Supplemental Liability: Boosts third-party liability cover beyond local minimums. Highly recommended in the USA and some other regions.
• Personal Accident Insurance: Covers medical expenses and accidental death benefits for passengers.
• Excess Reduction Packages: Reduce your excess down to a lower figure or zero. Names vary, such as Stress Free, Inclusive, or Platinum.
• Roadside Assistance: Often included, but check the details for battery, lockout, tire changes, and towing limits.
• Tyre and Glass Addon: Specifically covers punctures and windscreen chips or cracks, which may be excluded from base packages.
• Personal Effects Cover: Protects your belongings inside the van subject to limits and security conditions.

One more thing: most rentals have prohibited use clauses. Driving on beaches, through rivers, off-road, or outside permitted areas can void cover. Read the policy and route rules.

For privately owned campervans

If you own the campervan, you will choose an annual policy for touring and storage.

• Comprehensive: Covers accidental damage, theft, fire, storm, and third-party liability. Best fit for most owners.
• Third Party Fire and Theft: Covers liability plus theft and fire damage. Does not cover accidental damage to your vehicle.
• Third Party Only: Covers damage you cause to others. Your vehicle is not covered.
• Agreed Value vs Market Value: Agreed value sets a fixed payout. Market value pays what the van is worth at the time of loss.
• Modifications and Accessories: Ensure solar panels, lithium batteries, awnings, roof racks, pop-tops, and interior conversions are specified so they are covered.
• Contents: Add cover for camping gear, electronics, and personal effects. Check limits and security conditions.
• Breakdown Cover: Towing and roadside help. Confirm weight limits and recovery from unsealed roads.
• European Cover or International Extensions: For cross-border trips, you may need a Green Card in parts of Europe or special endorsements elsewhere.

How Excess Works in Real Life

Excess is straightforward in principle yet nuanced in practice. Here are the realities you will encounter.

• Per incident: If you scrape a pole today and crack a tail light next week, those are two incidents. You may pay the excess twice.
• Multiple panels in one incident: One collision that damages two panels is one incident. One excess usually applies.
• Different excess levels: Many policies set a standard excess plus a reduced excess for windscreen repair. Some have a higher excess for theft or for drivers under 25.
• Additional excess triggers:
  • Young or inexperienced drivers
  • Remote or unsealed road incidents
  • Single-vehicle rollovers
  • Overhead or underbody damage
• Rental example: Your rental has a 3,000 excess and a 2,000 bond. You clip a post and cause 2,400 in damage. The rental company may charge 2,000 from the bond and request the remaining 400. If you bought an excess reduction to 500, your liability would be 500 instead, assuming no exclusions.
• Owner example: Your comprehensive policy has a 650 excess and a separate 150 windscreen repair excess. A stone chip is repaired for 120. The insurer waives the 150 and pays the repair. Later, you crack the windscreen and it needs replacement for 1,200. You pay 150 if the windscreen replacement excess applies, otherwise the standard 650 if not.

Always confirm:

• Is excess per claim or per event
• Are there separate excesses for glass, theft, young drivers, or specific territories
• Are roof, awnings, tires, and underbody subject to special excesses or exclusions

Bonds Explained for Rentals

The bond is your rental company’s short-term safety net. Knowing how it works helps you avoid surprises.

• What it covers: Damage up to your excess, cleaning fees, fuel top-ups, tolls, speeding or parking fines, late or early return fees, loss of keys, and sometimes administrative fees.
• How it is held: Typically a pre-authorization on a credit card. Funds are not taken immediately but are reserved.
• When it is used: If you return the van with new damage, outstanding charges, or a claim in progress, the company may charge the bond in part or full.
• Timing: If the van returns in good condition, the hold is released at once, though banks can take several business days to remove the hold. If there is a dispute, the bond may remain on hold while the claim is assessed.

Protect your bond:

1. Inspect at pickup. Photograph every panel, roof, windscreen, interior, and underbody if possible. Note all blemishes on the condition report.
2. Ask about glass, tires, roof, and underbody. Know what is excluded or has higher excess.
3. Keep distance on gravel. Avoid convoy driving where stones fly.
4. Park smart. Choose safe spots away from overhanging branches and backing hazards.
5. Return clean and fueled. Follow the depot’s return instructions to avoid extra charges.
6. Get a signed return inspection. If the depot is closed, keep timestamped photos and video of the drop-off.

Windscreen and Glass: Small Chips, Big Costs

Glass damage is the most common claim for campervans. Larger windscreens, upright angles, and long highway days make chips more likely. Here is what to expect.

• Repair vs replace: Tiny chips can be filled quickly and often do not attract an excess. Spreading cracks, damage in the driver’s line of sight, or edge cracks usually need full replacement.
• Calibration and sensors: Many modern vans have ADAS tech behind the windscreen. After replacement, camera and sensor calibration is required. Ask if your policy covers this and if approved repairers handle it.
• Side and rear windows: Some are tempered glass and can shatter. Others in the camper compartment may be acrylic. Check whether your policy covers acrylic or polycarbonate windows as part of glass cover.
• Skylights and vents: Hail, low branches, or roof racks can crack skylights. Some policies treat these as glass, others as accessories, which may change the excess.
• Headlights and mirrors: Not always included in glass cover. If your policy lists glass as windscreen only, headlights and mirrors may be under standard accidental damage.

Prevent glass damage:

• Increase following distance on highways and gravel.
• Slow down when overtaking trucks and on chip-sealed roads.
• Fit a front stone guard or bug screen if you own the van.
• Park facing away from the prevailing wind in dusty areas to reduce sandblasting.
• Deal with chips quickly. Heat and cold can expand a small chip into a long crack.

Exclusions and Grey Areas to Know

Every policy has exclusions. Knowing them helps you avoid uncovered costs.

• Off-road or unsealed roads: Many rental policies limit driving to sealed roads. Some allow well-maintained gravel roads. Off-road tracks, beaches, and water crossings are often excluded.
• Water damage: River fording, tidal areas, or saltwater immersion are usually excluded.
• Roof and underbody damage: Striking low branches, parking garage beams, or rocks underneath may be excluded or carry a higher excess.
• Single-vehicle rollovers: Often excluded or subject to a significant additional excess.
• Awnings, steps, and bike racks: Frequently excluded unless listed as insured accessories.
• Tires and wheels: Punctures and blowouts are sometimes excluded. Tyre and rim packages can fill the gap.
• Windscreens and glass: Covered differently by each provider. Replacement might have a higher excess than repair.
• Personal belongings: Usually excluded unless you have contents cover or personal effects insurance.
• Reckless use and DUI: Driving under the influence, using a mobile phone while driving in restricted jurisdictions, or negligent acts can void cover.
• Misfueling: Putting diesel in a petrol van or vice versa may be excluded.
• Hail and storms: Covered under comprehensive for owners, but rental exclusions may apply in high-risk weather events if warnings were ignored.
• Unattended keys: Theft claims may be denied if keys were left in or near the vehicle.
• Unauthorized drivers: Only named drivers are covered on many policies.
• Border crossings: You may need permission and proof of cover when crossing into another country or region.

Always read the policy wording or Product Disclosure Statement and ask questions before you set off.

Optional Add-ons and Packaged Waivers

Add-ons can transform a basic policy into a worry-free experience. Choose what fits your route and risk tolerance.

• Excess reduction or zero excess: Lowers your out-of-pocket costs. Zero excess is attractive but usually excludes roof, underbody, tires, and glass without a separate addon.
• Windscreen or glass waiver: Often reduces or eliminates the glass excess with a limit on the number of events.
• Tyre and windscreen package: Popular on gravel-heavy routes. Covers punctures and glass chips or cracks.
• Roadside premium: Expanded towing distances, recovery from remote areas, and coverage for lost keys or flat batteries.
• Personal effects cover: Insures your belongings against theft or damage in transit.
• Travel interruption: Pays for accommodation or a replacement vehicle if your trip is delayed due to a covered event.
• Campsite liability or extended third-party: Useful if you regularly set up awnings, annexes, or outdoor kitchens that could cause damage.

About credit card insurance:

• Some premium credit cards include rental car cover. Many exclude motorhomes, campervans, and vehicles over certain weight or value limits.
• If eligible, card cover usually reimburses your excess rather than replacing the rental insurance.
• You must pay with the card and meet strict conditions. Always read the policy certificate before relying on it.

How to Choose the Right Policy

Match your cover to your trip, your vehicle, and your appetite for risk. Use these checklists to compare apples with apples.

If you are renting a campervan

• Confirm standard excess, bond amount, and how the bond is held.
• Ask what is excluded: roof, underbody, tires, glass, windscreen calibration, awnings, and steps.
• Check road restrictions: sealed roads only or selected gravel roads allowed.
• Verify driver rules: age limits, additional driver fees, and international driving permit requirements.
• Review liability cover: minimum third-party limits can be low in some countries. Consider supplemental liability.
• Consider add-ons: windscreen and tire package, excess reduction, roadside premium.
• Inspect the van thoroughly at pickup and return.

If you own a campervan or motorhome

• Choose comprehensive if you want full protection for accidental damage, theft, storm, and liability.
• Decide between agreed value and market value. Agreed value suits bespoke builds and rare conversions.
• List modifications and accessories. Include solar, batteries, inverters, pop-tops, bull bars, awnings, and bike racks.
• Add contents cover if you carry expensive gear. Check single-item limits and security requirements.
• Add breakdown cover suitable for your vehicle size and weight.
• Confirm geographic area: domestic only or international extensions. For Europe, ask about a Green Card. For the USA, understand state liability minimums and consider higher limits.

Claim Process and What To Do After an Incident

If something goes wrong, act quickly and keep good records.

1. Ensure safety first. Move to a safe spot and use hazard lights and triangles.
2. Document everything. Take wide photos and close-ups of damage, the location, signage, and road conditions.
3. Exchange details. Collect names, phone numbers, license details, and insurance information from other parties and witnesses.
4. Call authorities if required. Police reports may be mandatory for certain damages, injuries, or theft.
5. Notify your insurer or rental company. Most policies require prompt notification, often within 24 hours.
6. Complete forms. Fill in accident or incident reports accurately. Keep copies.
7. For windscreens: arrange repair quickly to prevent further cracking. Use approved repairers to ensure coverage and calibration.
8. Pay the excess if asked. Your insurer will confirm final liability once the claim is assessed.
9. Keep receipts. For emergency accommodation, towing, or temporary repairs, receipts help with reimbursement.

For rentals, contact the depot immediately. They may authorize repairs, provide guidance on towing, or arrange a replacement vehicle where possible.

Pricing: What To Expect

Costs vary by region, vehicle value, and cover level, but these ballpark figures help set expectations.

• Rental insurance:

  • Base cover often included with a high excess.
  • Excess reduction or zero excess packages: roughly 25 to 60 per day depending on the van and region.
  • Windscreen and tire packages: often 8 to 20 per day.
  • Supplemental liability in the USA: often 10 to 15 per day for higher third-party limits.

• Owner insurance:

  • Comprehensive annual cover: commonly 600 to 1,800 per year for typical campervans, higher for luxury builds or high-value rigs.
  • Contents addons: 50 to 300 per year depending on limits.
  • Breakdown cover: 80 to 250 per year depending on towing distances and vehicle weight.

Factors that influence price:

• Vehicle value, age, and modifications
• Driver age and claims history
• Storage security and postcode
• Planned mileage and usage pattern
• International travel or long-term touring
• Excess level: higher excess usually lowers premium

Pro Tips to Keep Premiums and Excess Low

Small habits can make a big difference on the road.

• Choose the right excess. A moderate excess can keep premiums reasonable while avoiding painful out-of-pocket costs.
• Add named drivers only. Unnamed drivers can void cover or incur a higher excess.
• Protect the roof. Watch for low branches, car park beams, and overhanging balconies. Stick a big note on the dash with your vehicle height.
• Drive to conditions. Slow down on gravel, in high winds, and near roadworks.
• Keep your distance. It reduces windscreen chips and nose-to-tail collisions.
• Secure your gear. Use locks, keep valuables out of sight, and close vents before driving.
• Park smart. Choose spots with good lighting and no overhead hazards.
• Maintain tyres and pressures. Proper inflation reduces punctures and improves handling.
• Keep documents handy. License, rental agreement or insurance policy, roadside numbers, and a simple accident report form.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is excess different from the bond on a rental?

• Excess is what you owe toward damage if you make a claim. The bond is a security hold that the rental company can use to collect your excess or other charges like fuel or cleaning.

Is the excess per trip or per incident?

• It is usually per incident. Multiple separate incidents can mean multiple excess payments.

Can I reduce my excess to zero?

• Often yes with a paid package. Zero excess rarely covers everything, so roof, underbody, tires, and glass may still carry an excess unless you buy specific addons.

Does windscreen cover include recalibration of driver-assist systems?

• Many policies cover calibration when using approved repairers. Always confirm before booking a replacement.

Are acrylic camper windows and skylights treated the same as glass?

• Not always. Some policies include them under glass cover, others treat them as accessories. The wording matters.

Can I use my credit card’s rental insurance for a campervan?

• Often no. Many cards exclude motorhomes or vehicles over certain weight or value limits. If included, card insurance usually reimburses your excess rather than covering the vehicle directly.

Will my policy cover driving on gravel roads?

• It depends. Owner policies often do, with conditions. Rental policies vary by brand and route. Check the permitted roads list and any additional excess.

Can I pay the bond with a debit card?

• Some depots allow it, but funds may be held for longer and higher bonds may apply. A credit card is usually smoother.

How long does it take to release the bond?

• Pre-authorizations are typically released immediately by the rental company. Your bank may take 5 to 15 business days to show the funds as available.

Do I need an International Driving Permit?

• Many destinations accept your home license if it is in English. If not, or if required by the country you visit, an IDP is wise. Check local rules and your rental agreement.

Quick Pre-Trip Insurance Checklist

• Confirm your excess and bond amounts, plus how the bond is held.
• Know what is excluded: roof, underbody, tires, glass, awnings, and steps.
• Add windscreen and tire cover if your route includes gravel or rural highways.
• Verify roadside assistance details and towing limits.
• Check driver rules: named drivers, age limits, and IDP requirements.
• Review third-party liability limits and add supplemental liability if needed.
• Photograph the van at pickup and return with timestamps.
• Store insurance and roadside numbers on your phone and printed in the glovebox.
• Pack a simple accident kit: pen, paper, triangles, and phone charger.

Real-World Scenarios

• The gravel spray: You follow a truck on a chip-sealed road and hear a ping. A small chip appears. You stop at the next town and get a resin repair. Result: often zero or low excess and you avoid a full replacement.
• The low branch: You pull into a campsite and catch an overhanging branch on the awning. Your zero excess pack excludes awnings. Result: you pay for awning repair or replacement unless you added accessory cover.
• The late-night drop-off: You return the van after hours, leave it in the allocated space, and take timestamped photos. The depot inspects at opening and confirms no new damage. Result: bond is released without delays.

A Short Glossary of Common Policy Names

• Collision Damage Waiver: Limits your liability for collision damage to the rental vehicle.
• Loss Damage Waiver: Combines collision and theft limitations.
• Supplemental Liability: Boosts your liability cover to a higher limit.
• Personal Accident Insurance: Covers injury to you and passengers.
• Excess Reduction or Zero Excess Pack: Lowers your payable excess after a covered incident.
• Tyre and Windscreen Cover: Adds protection for common road hazards that base cover may exclude.
• Breakdown or Roadside Cover: Assistance for mechanical issues, towing, and lockouts.
• Agreed Value: A set payout for total loss on an owner policy.

Conclusion: Travel Further With the Right Cover

A well-chosen insurance setup turns worry into freedom. Understand your excess, know how your bond works, and add windscreen cover that suits your route. Clarify exclusions like roof and underbody damage, then choose addons that fit your trip. With the right policy, you can focus on sunrise drives, hidden beaches, and mountain views, knowing a small chip or scrape will not sabotage your adventure.

Ready to roll? Compare policies, ask the right questions, and secure the cover that matches your journey. Your dream road trip is waiting, and now you have the knowledge to protect it.