Is caravan insurance compulsory?

This is one of those frustrating questions where the answer is a little bit of both – yes and no. The answers are also likely to vary when they’re applied to touring caravans as opposed to static caravans.

So, let’s take a closer look at both cases:

Touring caravans

  • there is no legal requirement for your touring caravan to be separately insured;
  • typically, your car insurance may extend to third-party cover for any trailer – including a caravan – for the protection of other road users and property owners who may suffer injury, loss, or damage from the caravan you are towing. (Note, however, that it is your responsibility to check with your car insurance provider that third party cover includes your ‘van);
  • any third-party cover applies only while the caravan is being towed on the road or in some other public space – it offers you no compensation in the event of loss or damage to your actual caravan;
  • so, although it’s not compulsory, you might consider it prudent, at the very least, to arrange touring caravan insurance;

Static caravans

  • by their very definition, static caravans are stationary and will not be towed behind your car – they remain pitched on a berth at your chosen park or resort;
  • although it may be free from road traffic accidents, however, your static caravan and its contents remain at risk from some potentially severe risks, such as fire, flooding, impacts, theft, and vandalism – and caravan insurance remains your principal defence against such risks;
  • static caravan insurance is not compulsory, but it is clearly a prudent decision to arrange the protection it provides;
  • with respect to some static caravans, however, there may be an exception to the compulsory need for insurance;
  • the management of the park or resort on which your holiday home is pitched may insist that you also buy caravan insurance from them at the same time that you are paying the annual lease fees;
  • subject to the express terms of your lease agreement, however, it is almost always possible to decline the management company’s offer and arrange insurance yourself – from a reputable provider such as ourselves at Cover4Caravans, for example;
  • even so, it is by no means uncommon for lease agreements to include provisions that make some form of static caravan insurance compulsory – and if you have not bought it from the park’s management company, you may still need to show them proof that you have it;
  • site owners and their managers will be specifically interested in insurance provision within your caravan insurance for indemnity against public liability claims;
  • as the owner of the caravan, you already have a legal duty of care to take every reasonable precaution to prevent neighbours, visitors to the park and members of the public from injuring themselves or having their property damaged through any kind of contact with your static caravan;
  • park owners have an interest in ensuring that you have sufficient insurance cover against such claims so that anyone who is injured or has their property damaged is at least certain of the financial compensation provided for by your public liability insurance.

Although caravan insurance may not be compulsory, it remains your first line of defence in its protection against loss or damage. If yours is a static caravan, you are likely to find that the management of the park on which it is pitched insist on a sight of insurance cover that provides public liability indemnity as a minimum.

Further questions?

If you have any further questions relating to touring or static home insurance cover, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We will be delighted to help!