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quoteYou might not be using your caravan or motorhome much, or even at all, during the winter months, but is its security still your number one priority?
It could be out of sight, out of mind, if it’s locked up in storage away from home, but are your keys safe and out of harm’s way?
Whether the touring season is in full swing or not, the loss, theft or damage to your vehicle’s keys and control fob has the potential to leave you both stranded and significantly out of pocket. Follow our advice below to protect your caravan or motorhome keys.
How common is loss or theft of keys?
Thankfully, here at Caravan Guard, we don’t get too many claims for lost or stolen keys, although claims are slightly up this year. Half of those were for caravan and motorhome keys that were stolen. Caravan keys seem to be stolen from the car being used to tow it and motorhome keys are more often stolen when the owners’ house has been broken into. So, it’s really important to keep your keys out of sight and in a safe place.
What to do if your keys are stolen?
If your keys are stolen you should first report the crime to the police before telling your insurance provider. It’s important to secure your motorhome or caravan quickly, so contact a locksmith or your dealership to get the locks replaced as soon as possible.
In the meantime, it’s advisable to stay with your motorhome or caravan and secure your vehicle with alternate security such as steering wheel locks or wheelclamps, and perhaps block your ‘van in with another vehicle.
You might be able to make an insurance claim for the replacement locks and keys depending on who you have insurance with – Caravan Guard’s caravan insurance policy offers £500 of cover for replacement of stolen keys and its motorhome policy offers £1,000 of cover for replacement locks, keys and transmitters following the theft of motorhome keys (benefits subject to excess, terms, conditions and underwriting criteria – view our policy booklets online to find out more).
What if I lose my keys and don’t have a spare set handy?
As a precautionary measure for all motorhome and caravan owners, it’s worth writing down your key number with any paperwork that is not kept inside the ‘van so you can pass this on to a locksmith in the event of needing a new set of keys.
Also bear in mind when you buy a caravan or motorhome you should be given a spare set, so it’s always worth keeping them securely separate from your main set, in case you do lose a set. You could keep a note of your key number on the spare set so you can easily get a replacement made if necessary.
If you have lost your keys though and don’t have the key number, in the first instance, it’s best to inform the dealer where you bought your caravan or motorhome from to see what help it can give. It should be able to get in touch with the manufacturer to find out the relevant key number.
You’ll need to get a new set of keys made through a locksmith, but they’ll need the key number from the barrel of the lock. In the case of a motorhome where immobilisers are fitted, keys have an embedded electronic transponder chip to start the engine, therefore a specialist auto locksmith may be required.
How can I keep my keys safe?
- Always lock your caravan or motorhome and take your keys with you.
- Buy a cheap lanyard to keep your keys together and safe around your neck for the duration of your holiday – or even when pitching up.
- At home, always keep your caravan keys in a safe place which is out of sight and away from windows and doors. If you’re burgled, you don’t want to lose your caravan or motorhome as well. We have previously issued more extensive advice on keeping your motorhome keys safe from theft in this blog prevent your keys and motorhome being stolen.
- NEVER keep your keys in your car or motorhome glove box.
- When buying a motorhome or caravan, always ask the dealer or previous owner for two sets of keys or make a note of the key numbers in the event that they are stolen or lost so you won’t have to replace your locks.
- Don’t keep all your security device keys (main key and spares) on the same fob – make sure you have a spare set for all the different components, such as wheel locks, again kept somewhere safe.
- Don’t put your name, address or registration details on the key fob. When out and about, don’t leave them unattended in your bag or jacket pocket.
- Invest in a key tracking device or key recovery service (see below)
Key tracking devices…
There’s always a bit of tech out there as well for those who are prone to losing things. There are a number of Bluetooth and GPS tracking devices which you can attach to your keys. We took a look at a couple that have received good reviews.
Tile is a tiny Bluetooth tracker which attaches to your key fob and helps find your lost stuff in seconds via an App on your phone.
The Tile App on your Android or iOS device lets you sound the alarm on any object you’ve misplaced. Tap the Find button in the app, and the Tile will start playing a jaunty tune until you tap the Find button again. A map built into the app displays the last location your Tile was logged. To find out more visit www.thetileapp.com/key-finder-app
Another wireless key finder is Duet by Protag.
It’s wafer thin and has a compact proximity sensor that can keep you in contact with your valuables. This app has a couple of different alert options. The most effective is the Buzz feature, which causes the Duet to emit an audible, beep for 15 seconds when you activate it via your smartphone. A second feature, Radar, uses bars and buzzing to indicate how close a lost Duet is to your mobile device. To find out more visit theprotag.com/uk-en/
There are also whistle-activated key finders – whistle and an alarm sounds on the key fob. Some also have flashing lights too to help you in the dark.
Another alternative is a key tag recovery service, such as MyTAG Key Protector.
These devices enable you to securely tag and register treasured belongings, such as your keys, (or your pets!), so if they do get lost and someone finds them they can return them to you.
For instance with a MyTAG Key Protector you simply attach the tag with its unique code on it to your keys, register your contact details with MyTAG; and if your keys are lost or misplaced the person who finds them calls the number on the tag, or visits the website, quoting the reference number on the tag. MyTAG then contacts the registered key owners and organises for the keys to be reunited with the owner. The finder meanwhile receives a reward.
Over to you…
Please share any of your top tips on protecting your caravan or motorhome keys or share your key loss stories in the comments section below…!
Once, my house was broken into. They managed to get the keys to my car and motorhome. Kept in different places within the house. ( they are now kept in a safe). They were able to steal the car. But because we had a flat battery in the motorhome, they were unable to take it.
We keep the habitation key out so we can get in and empty the dehumidifier, the other keys in the safe – our problem like most people when on site, what to do with electronic keys when swimming – we have used a Moonlock a small portable safe that locks onto the outside of the motorhome with a four number code, this works well – it’s insurance approved for my car for I go sailing, now on my “to do list” to also check with the motorhome insurance
Great advice
At home they are kept in a zipped bag that has no external indication keys are present, and onsite my wife keeps a set and I hold the other set.
Hey! My comment has “been disappeared”. I put a lot of effort into crafting a query about stowing spare keys in an on board safe, to which I would dearly like to have an answer – relevant to other travellers too – and it has been removed. I expect that on the Guardian forums, but not here!
HI Andy – your comment and not disappeared – it had not been approved as we were looking into your query before responding. Hope this helps?
I keep my spare set of keys in the wet locker which has a separate key.I then tape the spare wet locker key behind a light fitting that can be removed with a screwdriver.Also a crook lock on the steering wheel with a seperate key hidden lnside the motorhome and not connected to the main keys.Hope these comments are useful.
Thanks for your comments Steve but we wouldn’t advise keeping your spare set of keys in your motorhome. In the event that somebody broke into your motorhome and stole your keys and then the motorhome it could invalidate a claim for theft or attempted theft.
Insurers will often ask for two sets of keys, primarily to prevent fraud, following a theft claim.
We keep our van keys in a safe at home, but my problem is when we are travelling. And this is something I had intended to query before – but never did.
We travel in “interesting places” (actually safer than the UK) – Turkey, Albania, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia and all stations in between. (Safeguard was the only insurer we cold get to cover Albania). Our fear is losing the van keys over there. For a while we kept spare van keys in a safe we have hidden in the van. (You’d be hard put to find it). The safe key is on the keyring with the main keys, so losing the van keys would mean losing the safe key. To cover that eventuality, we have a spare safe key hidden very deeply in the van – even I’m hard pushed to find it. Our thinking is, if push came to shove, we could break into the van and retrieve the spare keys.
However, after hearing stories about claims for stolen vans being dismissed because the owner couldn’t produce 2 sets of keys we abandoned that practice, and keep the spare keys in the safe at home.
I would welcome Safeguard’s advice on this subject, please. Do we risk being stranded in the middle of Albania, or do we risk not having a claim for theft honoured.
We wouldn’t advise leaving your keys in your motorhome and to always keep a spare somewhere safe away from the vehicle. In the event that somebody broke into your motorhome and stole your keys and then the motorhome it could invalidate a claim for theft or attempted theft.
Insurers will often ask for two sets of keys, primarily to prevent fraud, following a theft claim.
In the event that you lost your keys abroad, your European breakdown provider might provide some assistance in getting you mobile again. You would need to check which countries they cover. Caravan Guard’s European breakdown does not cover Albania, for instance.
keep steering wheel lock key separate from ignition key and let your family know your hiding places-you might not be able to get back to the van for a while-illness/injury etc
Great tip – thanks Phil.
We always keep vehicle keys out of sight when at home (not in view when front door is opened). All spare sets of keys are kept with relevant vehicle docs (log book) elsewhere in the property.
Great advice Hugh
Mislaid your motorhome keys use whistle key ring, whistle and key ring whistles back, obviously only works if keys lost in house etc, are misplaced somewhere at Campsite etc. Whistle key finders can be bought at most gadget shops or online
I always keep the locker keys separate from the door / ignition keys but the main worry is that I have had an alarm fitted and that is with the ignition key. Must remember to separate them but that means 3 lots of keys!
We had our caravan stolen from our driveway, a number of years ago now, but one thing I do remember was that as part of the insurance claim we had to submit both sets of keys to the insurer. We always keep our keys in a safe place.
Thanks Erwin. Insurers will often ask for two sets of keys, primarily to prevent fraud. But if there was only one set it wouldn’t necessarily stop the claim. Each claim is looked at on its own merit.
Already have Caravan guard Insurance, well worth it and peace of mind.
Thanks for your positive feedback Barry.
Oops! Spare caravan keys including the wheel , hitchlock AND alarm fob kept in the glovebox.
To make this even more stupid is that the caravan is on the drive….
A rethink is urgently required I reckon!
Will also look again at other household security habits to see if they need changing too.
Thanks very much for raising this topic.
Hope you find a safe place for your keys Dave! And thanks for the feedback.
Thought provoking.. We, too have a hook inside the caravan door for all of the keys and then only take the van key with us when going out from the site. Still thinking about what to do with both the spare car and van keys when we’re away!
Thanks Lawrie – some of our readers have made some good suggestions that you might like to follow.
It’s always a terrible experience when you mislay your keys so it’s a good thing to be as careful with them as you possibly can.
An excellent article. I’m very interested in the ‘Tile’ key tracking device. I have a habit of putting my keys in a ‘safe’ place and then not remembering where they are. Do you know if there is a retailer in the UK? The american website charges a lot for postage to UK making it a rather expensive item.
Thanks for the feedback Bobbie. You could try amazon or ebay.
Great article, food for thought.
Great information on tracking devices which I was unaware of, will research further. Motorhome keys are hidden inside the house in case of burglary, you can never be too careful.
Thanks Sara – you’re right. The Police also advise to keep motor keys out of sight of windows and doors.
I found this article to be both interesting and thought provoking, and I will be contacting my dealer for an extra set of keys as a precaution, and looking into purchasing the small electronic key tags you described for everday use. Thanks for a useful article!
Thanks Gordon.
I contacted my insurance company and they approved the use of a Moonlock to put keys in. It’s a locking box that can be locked on the outside of the motor home with four digit code to open – It’s great if you want to do things like go swimming where you can’t take electronic keys with you.
Always useful to keep your caravan key on an identifiable key fob making it easy to find
I always kept my keys in the glovebox but not any more, modern cars are harder to effect entry but not impossible. It can be scary how quick if you have the correct equipment
Good advice, thanks.
Very good article,common sense with practicalities, even a couple of
Ideas that I will put into practice. Keeping keys safe keeps the m/home,possessions and people safe.
You are usual provided with two sets of keys, we always keep each set separate. I use one set,which is attached file my car keys and kept on a retractable fob. The other set is kept separate by my partner. So far we have never used her set.
The tips you have provided are excellent .It is amazing how many motorhomes are only provided with one key, it should be a part of the contract to include two keys especially as the vehicles are expensive.
My way of hopefully getting by is to keep a set of spare caravan keys in the car under the spare wheel and one set of spare car keys in the caravan in the kitchen cabinet
It’s all very well advising people to keep a record of their car or motorhome keys numbers but it’s many years since numbers were engraved onto keys!! Plus that doesn’t solve the issue of the immobiliser, they have to copied, without a correctly coded key to copy you are REALLY going to struggle.
Thanks Andy. We were led to believe that the key number is on the lock and there should be a record of your key number in your paperwork. You’re right abut the immobiliser, so it’s worth keeping it safe. You would need to speak to your dealership and they would communicate with the manufacturer.
I use a strop sewn into a bag with a quick release carabiner to keep my keys on. Keys for locks and lockers can be easily detached whilst manoeuvring or setting up but always have a safe and secure stowage out of sight when not in use.
Great advice thanks Peter.
Do not keep your caravan keys with your all your other keys. Hide them some where else, like in an empty DVD box, cornflake box, or sugar tin.
Thanks for sharing your tip Adrian.
Excellent tips and ideas I will certainly be using them thank you
I have used the lanyard idea as it helps keep keys safe but at hand when setting up but I am always fishing in my handbag for the bunch during holidays!
Use a bright coloured key fob (yellow is best) so that if your keys do drop in the field where your are siting your caravan or motorhome, they are quickly visible. It is surprising how a key can disappear even in the most closely cut grass!
Good idea Don.
We keep the two sets of caravan keys in two totally separate and safe locations. One set is in a home safe and the other is held securely on the seasonal touring site by the manager – just in case either we, or they, need access in an emergency. Simples!
Thanks for sharing Walt.
I found the article first class, I was unaware that tracking devises were available so thank you I will now do some reserch
I only take the caravan door key with me when I go out, I put on the same clip as my van keys and when I’m not driving the van they clip on to my belt loop if I’m wearing jeans or to my bag if I’m not. This way I always know where those keys are. The other keys are locked in a strong box and that key is in my bag separately. When I am in the caravan with the dogs all keys hang on hooks inside the door and no one is coming in to our caravan with my dogs there!
Thanks Sue – there’s nothing like a dog to guard your prized possessions!