What security do I need to satisfy caravan insurance?

Owning a caravan opens the door to countless adventures and memorable getaways. But it’s also a valuable asset that needs protecting and keeping safe and secure so you can continue caravanning long after your first adventure!

When obtaining specialist caravan insurance for your tourer, you’ll likely need to meet certain security requirements to keep your policy valid and even reduce the cost of your premium. In this article, we’ll go through the key security measures needed by caravan insurance to satisfy your policy terms and keep your caravan safe from theft.

Why is caravan security so important for insurance?

The safer your caravan, the lower the risk of theft or attempted theft. Therefore, most caravan insurance providers will have specific security and storage requirements that must be met to insure your caravan. Failing to meet these requirements could result in a claim being denied or even render your insurance policy invalid. So, understanding and implementing the right security measures is essential for both peace of mind and making sure you comply with the policy conditions.

Here at Caravan Guard, the minimum security that we need to be able to insure your caravan is a hitchlock and a wheel clamp which must be fitted whenever your caravan is unattended and detached from your tow vehicle. High value caravans will need to have extra security fitted, such as an alarm or even a tracking device.

We require the hitchlock and wheel clamp to be of a proprietary (not homemade!) make and for the wheel clamp to cover at least one of the wheel nuts (or used in conjunction with a locking wheel nut) to be valid for your policy.

Top tip: Always look for hitch locks and wheel clamps that have been tested to a high-security standard, such as Sold Secure Gold.

For single-axle touring caravans over £30,000 and twin-axle touring caravans over £25,000, we will ask for extra security to be fitted (alongside our minimum-security requirements) to be able to offer an insurance policy. Caravan Guard will accept many different devices as “extra security” on your caravan. Things like a second wheel clamp (alongside the minimum of a hitchlock and single wheel clamp), locking corner steadies and caravan alarms or tracking devices can qualify as extra security.

Caravan alarms

Many modern caravans are already fitted with an alarm and might include motion and tilt sensors to help detect when a thief might be trying to move your caravan. Caravan alarms must be fitted to the structure of the caravan itself (and not free-standing) to be accepted by Caravan Guard.

We will approve retrofitted alarms, or devices fitted by a caravan dealership or at the factory. Caravan Guard also provides a small discount on your caravan insurance policy for fitting an alarm.

Axle wheel locks

Axle wheel locks fit onto the caravan chassis locking onto a receiver behind positioned behind the spokes of the caravan’s wheels. When the wheel of the caravan is lined up with the chassis receiver, a locking plate or insert is threaded through the wheel and locked into place, preventing the rotation of the caravan axle.

Axle wheel locks can be used in lieu of a wheel clamp to meet our standard security requirement. If the storage location for your caravan has no barrier, you might be asked to fit an axle wheel lock to your caravan in place of a wheel clamp as a minimum-security requirement. Caravan Guard will advise you of this when they provide a quote you for your caravan insurance. We offer a sizeable discount for the fitment of an axle wheel lock.

Tracking devices

Caravan tracking devices are a great way of keeping an eye on your tourer when you are not there. Caravan Guard will ask you to fit a tracking device on a caravan valued over £35,000.

We accept a wide variety of Thatcham-approved trackers (providing that they are actively subscribed to). Caravan Guard also accept some self-fit tracking devices. These are only acceptable if they are Thatcham S7 approved; are well hidden in the caravan (not just put in a kitchen drawer) and you have the relevant phone app to receive alerts. A full list of accepted tracking devices are available here. We offer a large discount when a tracker is fitted and actively subscribed to on your caravan.

When buying any security devices for your caravan, look for products that meet Sold Secure standards or are Thatcham approved. These independent organisations rigorously test security devices to make sure they offer robust protection.

Secure caravan storage

Where you store your caravan when it’s not in use can impact on your insurance premium and an insurer’s security requirements . Look for CaSSOA Platinum or Gold rated storage sites, or if storing your caravan at home consider security posts, locked gates and CCTV, as well as parking your caravan nose-in (if possible) for added protection against thieves.

And if you do change your security location then always let your caravan insurance provider know for your policy to remain valid in the event of a claim.

How security affects caravan insurance premiums

While meeting basic security requirements will satisfy your caravan insurance provider, going above and beyond can lower your insurance premiums. Adding extra layers of protection, such as multiple locks, an alarm, tracking device and security posts, could result in a significant premium discount.

Here at Caravan Guard we appreciate that having the right security on your caravan immediately is not always possible. In some instances, we might allow up to 28 days from the start date of your policy for extra security devices to be fitted to your caravan.

To find out more about insuring your caravan and the discounts available visit our touring caravan insurance page or call us.