Caravan Insurance

Savvy football fans have hired thousands of camper vans to get them to Germany for this summer's World Cup, avoiding hefty hotel prices as well as travel costs.

In fact, so many vans have been shifted that the UK has completely sold out. The German National Tourist Office estimates that around a fifth of the fans heading to Germany this summer will travel by van.

Hiring a van usually costs around £1,000 a week, but with competition driving up the prices, many of England's footie fans have decided to take the plunge and buy one for themselves.

Gary Stevens, owner of the Lazee Dayz van rental firm in London said he had leased out his entire fleet, "all of them…to fans travelling to the world cup.

"I took the first booking in January, but as soon as England's draw was made, the phones went mad."

Chingford-based Hymers Direct simply said: "Sales have gone mad."

Camper vans such as the classic VW camper can cater for a number of friends, including a fitted kitchen with a fridge for storing the beer and a TV.

A number of new van owners are even customising their purchases, spraying slogans such as 'bis bald in Berlin' (translating as 'see you in Berlin').

However, whether hiring or purchasing their van, fans will all want to ensure they have adequate cheap van insurance prior to setting off.

Cheap van insurance policies should cover for travel within the EU, but it is always worth checking whether any restrictions apply and shopping around for the best deal.