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What does motorhome insurance cover when camping abroad?

In short

What German motorhome insurance does cover when camping abroad: liability and comprehensive cover across Europe, but not in Morocco or Tunisia. The vehicle and fixed parts such as awning or solar panels are insured, your luggage and loose equipment are not, and household contents insurance does not pay inside a motorhome either. Contents cover costs about EUR 60 to 200 a year.

What does motorhome insurance cover when camping abroad?

What it costs

Guide values from published figures for a motorhome up to 3.5 tonnes.

ExampleTypical range
Liability and partial coverabout EUR 300 to 800 a year
Liability and comprehensive coverabout EUR 500 to 1,500 a year
Contents cover for equipmentabout EUR 60 to 200 a year
Foreign claims cover as an add-onabout EUR 10 to 50 a year
Green CardEUR 0

As of November 2026, from publicly stated ranges.

The figures in the worked example are a guide value from our quoting practice.

We obtain the exact quote for you.

Worked example

Three weeks in Portugal, break in at the pitch

A couple travels in a motorhome up to 3.5 tonnes. At night the door is forced open, a laptop, a camera and two e-bikes from the rear garage are gone.

Repair of the forced doorEUR 1,200, depending on the policy via comprehensive cover
Laptop and cameraEUR 2,000, neither motor cover nor household contents insurance pays
Two e-bikes in the rear garageEUR 6,000, neither motor cover nor household contents insurance pays
Contents cover with EUR 10,000 sum insuredabout EUR 100 to 200 a year

Without contents cover you carry EUR 8,000 yourself. With a suitable policy without a night clause, it pays the loss up to its limits for electronics and bicycles.

Where liability, comprehensive and breakdown cover apply

Under the model conditions of the German insurers association, your motor insurance applies within the geographical borders of Europe and in EU territories outside Europe, for example the Canary Islands. For liability, the cover required in the country you visit applies, but at least your own sum insured.

Comprehensive and breakdown cover end at the same border. If you drive your motorhome to Morocco, Tunisia or the Asian part of Turkey, the Green Card gives you liability cover there, but no comprehensive cover. Ask before you travel whether your insurer offers an extension.

CoverWhat is coveredWhat is missing
Motor liabilitydamage you cause to othersdamage to your own motorhome
Partial cover (Teilkasko)theft of the vehicle, fire, storm, hail, glass, collisions with animalsaccidents you cause
Comprehensive cover (Vollkasko)also your own accidents and vandalismluggage, clothing, electronics
Breakdown coverroadside help, towing, bringing the vehicle homeoften vehicles over 3.5 tonnes
Contents coverloose equipment after theft, break in, fire, stormcash, jewellery, items in the awning tent

Why luggage and camping gear are missing

Comprehensive cover protects the motorhome and fixed parts, including awning, solar panels and kitchen unit. Travel luggage, phones, laptops and personal belongings are expressly excluded under the model conditions.

Household contents insurance (Hausratversicherung) does not help either. On 25.09.2018 the Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe ruled (12 U 51/18) that a motorhome is not a building, so the outside cover of household contents insurance does not apply to items inside it.

What contents cover pays for

Contents cover for travel vehicles replaces loose equipment after theft, robbery and break in, depending on the policy also after fire, storm, hail or flooding. Electronics and bicycles often have their own limits.

Read the terms closely: items in the awning tent are usually not covered, cash and jewellery are often excluded. Some policies do not pay between 10 pm and 6 am or only on official campsites. If you often park up away from campsites, you need a policy without these limits.

The gap on the ferry

On board, the shipping company is only liable for damage to your motorhome if it is at fault, and only up to a cap. Many comprehensive policies exclude damage during sea transport fully or partly, partial cover for example often excludes the vehicle sliding or tipping over.

Ferry insurance is available per crossing or for several weeks. It usually costs a two digit to low three digit amount.

If someone else damages your motorhome

If the other driver is at fault, their insurer pays under the law of the country where the accident happened. In some countries the minimum sums are low, and expert reports, a hire vehicle or loss in value are not always paid.

Foreign claims cover (Auslandsschadenschutz) then pays you as if the accident had happened in Germany. It costs about EUR 10 to 50 a year and is often already included in better policies.

When you do not need to buy anything extra

If you stay in the EU, have comprehensive and breakdown cover for your weight and travel without expensive electronics or e-bikes, your existing policy is usually enough. Clothing and camping chairs do not justify separate contents cover.

It makes sense when a laptop, cameras, e-bikes or a drone travel with you and you could not carry the loss yourself.

Step by step

  1. Check your destinations against the area covered by your policy.
  2. For countries outside the EU, request the Green Card and check its expiry date.
  3. Compare the weight limit of your breakdown cover with the permitted total weight of your motorhome.
  4. Add up the value of electronics, bicycles and equipment.
  5. If the value is high, choose contents cover without a night clause.
  6. Before every ferry, clarify whether comprehensive cover applies on board.

Checklist

  • Comprehensive cover applies in all destinations
  • Green Card on board if a country outside the EU is on the route
  • Breakdown cover matches your weight
  • Equipment covered by contents insurance
  • Foreign claims cover in the policy
  • Ferry crossings clarified

Common mistakes

  • Relying on household contents insurance for items in the motorhome
  • Driving to Morocco with comprehensive cover and assuming it applies there
  • Thinking e-bikes on the rear rack are covered
  • Having breakdown cover only up to 3.5 tonnes for a heavier vehicle

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Does my motorhome insurance apply in Turkey?

Liability applies with the Green Card, which is required there.

Comprehensive and breakdown cover only apply in the European part, not in Anatolia.

Does household contents insurance pay for theft from a motorhome?

No.

According to a ruling by the Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe, a motorhome is not a building,

so the outside cover of household contents insurance does not apply.

Are the awning and solar panels covered?

Yes, fixed parts belong to comprehensive cover.

Some policies set a value limit for conversions and accessories, which you should check.

Do I need a Green Card for Croatia or Spain?

No, the number plate is enough there.

Taking it does no harm, the card costs nothing.

How much does contents cover for a motorhome cost?

About EUR 60 to 200 a year, depending on the sum and scope.

With the same insurer as your comprehensive cover, there is often a discount.

Is my motorhome insured on the ferry?

Only partly.

The shipping company has limited liability and only if it is at fault,

many comprehensive policies exclude sea transport.

Ferry insurance closes the gap.

Sources

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