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Growing interest in campers every year.
A representative of the camper club points out that during the ten years of operation, the number of people who want to travel in motorhomes or caravans grows every year.
“This trend was especially evident during the pandemic, when people started looking for a safer environment for their holidays. We know that even European manufacturers sold out all caravan stores last year. So, not only in Lithuania, but also abroad. in our country, this vehicle is rapidly gaining popularity ”, says Greta Lauciuvienė, director of the“ European Campers Club ”association.
Artūras Juodeikis, Director of the Claims Department of Lietuvos Draudimas, says that there is a real interest in motorhome insurance, people are more and more interested in how to protect the vehicle and ensure a safer trip.
“We do not register many losses when driving motorhomes, but it is expensive to cover them: the average amount of loss in 2020 was 2,300 euros. The caravan has a lot of equipment that breaks down, can be stolen, or damaged. The most important for motorhome owners is Kasko insurance, which can cover a wide range of risks and protect non-standard motorhome equipment.
There are more and more cases in which travelers install motorhomes according to their needs, with special household appliances or even with solar panels. Therefore, Lietuvos Draudimas usually offers individual offers to motorhome owners, in which certain non-standard risks may be involved, ”says Artūras Juodeikis, representative of Lietuvos Draudimas.
According to the Regitra company data, currently a total of 2,129 motorhomes and 3305 caravans are registered in Lithuania. There are already more than 120 newly registered motorhomes and caravans in the first four months of this year. In 2020, there were more than 260 new and imported motorhomes and caravans from abroad.
The profile of travelers is changing
The profile of travelers has also been changing in recent years. In the past, it was about people looking for cheaper trips, as well as families with children, and now the trends of travelers are changing and more diverse.
“We see more and more people looking for experiences different from those of standard hotels or travel organized by agencies. Travelers increasingly want to plan their trips by themselves, leaving time for themselves, without rushing, discoveries”, says Greta Lauciuvienė.
Likewise, the head of the camper club association points out that the demand is increasing among couples, people who want to be in nature without compromise and stop where they are beautiful and whenever they feel comfortable.
“I would highlight another trend: young travelers are looking for more interesting cabins, the interest in caravans and older motorhomes is increasing. I do not go very far with them, but I can experience the authenticity, go back to a certain time”, says the director of the association “European Campers’ Club”.
According to her, there are several dates in which you travel with larger companies, several families: it is the Day of San Juan and the Day of the State. Other times, members of the same family usually travel.
Lithuania and the coast of Portugal
A camper club points to two directions during a pandemic that are almost evenly distributed.
“About 40 percent. With caravans tend to stay in one place: by the sea or by the lake. There you can relax, explore the surroundings. The rest of the people go abroad. The main destinations are not only the countries Baltics, but also other trips, for example campsites in Croatia and Italy, even the coast of Portugal ”, says Greta Lauciuvienė.
Artūras Juodeikis states that when traveling abroad, damages are also compensated, making it possible to travel on bold and safe trips, but also emphasizes that repairs abroad are even more expensive for drivers.
Weight penalties and flying windows
Greta Lauciuvienė notes that it is important for novice camper drivers to know a few things.
“The main thing is the weight of the house. With a category B driving license, it is possible to tow a cabin with a combined weight not exceeding 3500 kg. It is also important not to overload the cabin with travel items – a decrease in Traction can cause the car to shoot out if the center of gravity is incorrectly distributed or the maximum possible trailer weight is exceeded.
This rule also applies to campers: we know that they weigh themselves on European motorways and many travelers have been fined for being overweight, ”says the director of the European Campers Club, which is important to know.
It also reveals that there are a variety of events that happen that are not always pleasant, so responsibility and attention are very important factors.
“Beginners should build up a set of skills before getting used to riding in this vehicle. Occasionally a hatch or window will fly due to wind resistance while driving if they are not closed properly. Therefore, we recommend that you carefully inspect the entire cabin before traveling.
There are also fragile interior details: in order not to cause additional weight, they are often made of lightweight materials, so extra care is needed, as they break down quite easily. Of course, the climatic elements also contribute – in case of stronger winds, we do not recommend the use of awnings or tents in the open air, because cases of damage also occur ”, says Greta Lauciuvienė.
The Lietuvos Draudimas data also attest to material damage. Artūras Juodeikis says that there are indeed cases where property is damaged, therefore care and responsibility for oneself and others are important.
“The company’s statistics show that material damage can reach more than 3,000. euros. Anything can happen: theft, breakdowns and storms that destroy campers or equipment. It is also very important to take into account that many times we embark on a camper trip without driving a large vehicle or without having experience in camping, which sometimes becomes a challenge, so it is very important to analyze the roads where we go, to pay attention to the sections where there is a lot of wildlife, to choose safe parking areas ”, says Artūras Juodeikis.
The representative of the insurers points out that the main types of damage caused by campers are of two types: those caused by inexperience when driving a large vehicle and those caused by the vehicle due to the fault of other drivers.
“Due to inexperience, accidents often occur when parking in parking lots, driving through narrow and winding roads or mountains, tunnels. Due to the fault of other road users, campers and caravans also suffer: people move more slowly with the campers, so others tend to maneuver more often and thus get in the way, ”he says. Artūras Juodeikis.
Both Artūras Juodeikis and Greta Lauciuvienė affirm that the security provided by specialists, the ever-emerging special routes provide more and more opportunities for motorhome and caravan owners to travel safely within their country or go abroad, minimizing the number of contacts With strangers. Therefore, it is not surprising that the number of interested people is growing and campers are more and more in demand in the market.
Lietuvos Draudimas is the largest insurer in the country, providing its services to more than 588 thousand private and commercial clients. The company has the largest share of the country’s non-life insurance market and has a team of more than 1,000 employees in Lithuania. Lietuvos Draudimas has been repeatedly recognized as the Best Employer in the Baltic States.
