Is Wild Camping By Car an Insurance Opportunity?

Just thinking out loud here, but does regular car insurance cover all the risks associated with wild camping, like being sued by landowners, damage to property, specialist off-road vehicle rescue, extra fire risks etc?

Not saying it’s ever gonna be more than a niche thing, but maybe a savvy broker can custom build a policy with all the right extras? Meanwhile, here’s some info on the best vehicle for that wild camping trip, as airports beingin rationing holiday flights abroad.

Research from Choose My Car has revealed a list of the best cars for a spontaneous wild camping road trip this summer, for travellers hoping to hop in their car and sleep on the road. The study scored 15 of the largest cars across the estate, SUV and MPV categories using three different metrics, to reveal which make and model is the best for  ‘wild camping’, and for completing some of the UK’s northernmost road trips. The Citroën Berlingo MPV topped the list, followed by the Land Rover Discovery, and Skoda Superb Estate.

The Citroen Berlingo MPV has been crowned the UK’s best car to wild camp in during summer road trips, after one of the UK’s most trusted car buying services scored 15 of the most popular estates, SUVs, and MPVs for ‘sleeping on the road’ suitabilities. Each car was ranked on; boot/bed space when the rear seats folded down, average fuel consumption, and the total payload (weight) each car is able to carry.

ONLY IN SCOTLAND

Despite the Scottish government enjoying any sort of micro-management of citizens lives, they DO allow you to camp out anywhere that’s midge-free. In fact Scotland, famous for its epic North Coast 500 & South Coast 300 driving routes, is the only country in the United Kingdom that allows wild camping, making it the perfect destination for holiday makers looking for a cheap but scenic escape. You really wonder what the problem is in remote parts of Wales, where tourist cash might be welcome.

The top ten cars for camping in, and their unique tour score, are:

1. Citroën Berlingo – 44

2. Land Rover Discovery – 30

3. Skoda Superb Estate – 29

4. Mercedes GLE – 28

5. BMW 5 Series Estate – 27

6. Skoda Kodiaq – 26

7. Peugeot 5008 – 26

8. Skoda Karoq – 23

9. Dacia Duster – 20

10. Mercedes E Class Estate – 19

A full list of the most suitable cars, and a map of the best routes in Scotland for wild camping, can be found here: https://choosemycar.com/resources/news/best-cars-for-wild-camping-revealed

CHEAPER THAN A B&B?

Across the top three vehicles, the brand also considered how much it would cost to complete some of Scotland’s most iconic road trips.

In a Citroën Berlingo, it would cost; £85.92 to complete the North Coast 500, £51.55 to complete the South West Coastal 300, and £42.96 to travel the North East 250. In the Land Rover Discovery, which has an average MPG of 21, it would cost; £204.57, £122.74, and £102.29 to drive these iconic routes, more than double the cost of taking a Berlingo. In the Skoda Superb Estate, it would cost; £107.40, £64.29, and £53.58 to finish these road trips, respectively.

Obviously you have all your food on top, which may involve extra miles visiting supermarkets. But this is way cheaper than the average £100 per night in bed and breakfast guest houses, or £150-£200 in small hotels during peak season.

BOOT SPACE

The Citroën Berlingo MPV topped the list for boot/bed space, boasting 3,000 litres of room when the rear seats are folded down, as well as coming in second place for fuel efficiency and maximum payload, with an average MPG of 50 and a total payload ranking of 896 kilograms.

Despite finishing second from last for fuel economy, the Land Rover Discovery was the second best car overall. It boasted an impressive total boot space of 2,406 litres, and came in third for payload, with a total carry weight of 808 kilograms.

Skoda is the most successful brand across these three metrics, with three of their models in the top ten.

Nicholas Zapolski, Founder of ChooseMyCar, said,

“We looked at the biggest types of cars to ensure people would have enough leg room to be comfortable. I’ve got to say I was surprised to see the Berlingo at the top, as I’d assumed the long wheelbase of an estate would lend itself to camping the most – but it’s clear to see why it makes the perfect wild camping vehicle .”