Over a quarter of caravans uninsured

The summer holidays are here and millions of Brits will be off on their holidays over the next five weeks.

This year around two million will be taking to the road with a caravan in tow, accounting for nearly 20% of holidays taken in the UK. But figures from insurer Towergate show that over a quarter (28%) of caravan owners won’t bother to insure their caravans.

Unlike motor insurance, caravan insurance is not compulsory. However, neglecting to insure may prove to be false economy. One in ten caravanners have made a claim in the last three years and of those three quarters have claimed for accidental damage and 13% have claimed for either theft of, or from, the caravan.

Towergate’s research showed that the main reason given for not taking out insurance was the (low) value of the caravan (45%) followed by the fact that the caravan is not used very often (27%). And while caravanners may believe they can cover the cost of a theft or a bit of damage to their own caravan, an accident may leave them liable for a great deal more if they cause damage to a third party vehicle or property.

Dave Sheath, managing director of caravan insurance specialist, Towergate Bakers says: “We were alarmed to see from our research how many people were not taking out insurance. Not only can some of the top of the range caravans set you back well over £20,000 if they are stolen, the damage you can cause to third parties can be enormous.

Caravan insurance starts from around £100 and with a good insurance policy you will be covered for the value of replacing stolen goods, cost of repairs and for substantial third party liability – up to £2 million with Towergate.

“We would urge caravanners everywhere to be responsible and take out insurance.”

Towergate’s research also showed that caravanners were most likely to live in the Midlands and least likely to live in Scotland. It showed that well over half of those caravanners questioned take their caravans out several times a year, with a third of them often going away for weekends as well as longer breaks and 37% using them abroad as well as in the UK.

Dave Sheath added: “Love them or hate them, it is clear that caravans are becoming increasingly popular. Since the first car-drawn caravan hit our roads in 1919, caravanning has attracted growing numbers of devotees with famous members of the Caravan Club including Margaret Beckett, Lorraine Kelly, Mark Blundell and Nell McAndrew.

“We hope all those who are looking forward to a caravan holiday this summer keep safe and accident free.”