Category: Other personal lines · Reviewed by Taylor Watts, Broker · New Business · Last reviewed 2026-06-05
Touring caravan insurance is a UK general insurance product that covers a wheeled trailer caravan towed by a motor vehicle against accidental damage, fire, theft, storm, flood and contents loss, with public liability cover applying while the caravan is sited, parked or at home — and road-risk third-party liability provided by the towing vehicle’s motor policy while in transit.
Category: Other retail Also known as: tourer insurance, trailer caravan insurance First codified: Regulated as general insurance under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 Related legislation: FSMA 2000; FCA Handbook ICOBS; Road Traffic Act 1988; Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 Apex Wiki link: /wiki/touring-caravan-insurance/
Touring caravan insurance is the personal lines insurance product specifically designed for a wheeled trailer caravan — a caravan that is towed by a separate motor vehicle and that has no independent motive power. It is the largest sub-type of caravan insurance by volume, reflecting the popularity of caravan holidaying in the UK.
The standard product covers the caravan structure (chassis, body, roof, windows, doors), the fitted contents (cushions, upholstery, white goods built in to the unit), and — under separate sums insured — the policyholder’s personal possessions taken to the caravan. Insured perils typically include accidental damage in transit and at site; fire, smoke and explosion; theft of the caravan and theft from the caravan (subject to forced-entry requirements); storm, flood, lightning and weight of snow; malicious damage; impact by vehicle, animal or falling object; and (with care) escape of water.
Public liability is included for the policyholder’s legal liability as occupier of the caravan or owner of the unit while parked or sited, typically with limits of £2m–£5m. Road-risk third-party liability while the caravan is being towed is provided by the towing vehicle’s motor insurance, because the trailer extends the towing vehicle’s third-party cover under section 145(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 [1].
The product is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under ICOBS [2].
Touring caravan insurance is general insurance within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001, falling within classes 8 (fire), 9 (damage to property), 13 (general liability) and 16 (miscellaneous financial loss) [3].
The product interacts with the compulsory motor insurance regime in Part VI of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Section 145(3)(a) of the 1988 Act requires motor insurance to cover liability for death, personal injury or damage to property caused by, or arising out of, the use of the vehicle on a road or other public place in Great Britain [1]. For a vehicle towing a trailer, the trailer is treated as part of the vehicle for these purposes — meaning the towing vehicle’s motor policy provides third-party liability cover for road risks while the caravan is being towed. The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 confirmed this position in the post-Brexit framework [4].
Conduct of sale is governed by ICOBS [2]. Disclosure obligations on consumers are set by the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 [5]. The Insurance Act 2015 applies to the contract once formed, particularly section 11 on the operation of risk-mitigating warranties [6].
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 set technical requirements for caravans being towed: maximum width 2.55 metres, maximum length excluding the towing vehicle 7 metres (for a vehicle under 3.5 tonnes gross weight). The caravan’s mass and the towing capacity of the towing vehicle determine whether the driver requires an additional licence category (the post-1997 B+E entitlement). Insurers commonly include warranties referring to compliance with the construction and use rules and with the licence requirements.
For caravan sites, the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 governs site licensing. Most established sites require visitors’ caravans to be insured to a defined minimum standard, often verified at check-in.
A consumer purchasing touring caravan insurance is asked to declare: the caravan make, model, year and value; security measures (hitch lock, wheel clamp, axle lock, alarm, tracking device); home storage arrangements (driveway, garage, locked storage compound — the CaSSOA Gold storage rating commands the best premium); and the policyholder’s claims history.
Premiums in 2026 typically range from about £180 for a basic policy on a low-value tourer with strong security and storage, to £600+ for a high-value tourer in poor home storage with no security devices. The single biggest discount drivers are CaSSOA Gold storage and a tracking device.
At the point of claim, the consumer notifies the insurer and provides: proof of ownership; for theft, a police crime reference number and evidence of compliance with security warranties; for road incidents while in transit, the towing vehicle’s motor insurance details (because the motor policy responds first to third-party road risks); for storm or flood damage, photographs and a description of the weather event.
The interaction with the towing vehicle’s motor policy is a recurring practical issue. Damage to the caravan itself while being towed is covered under the touring caravan policy, not the motor policy. Third-party liability for damage caused by the caravan while being towed (e.g. the caravan detaches and damages another vehicle) is covered by the motor policy — but the motor insurer may seek to recover from the touring caravan insurer where the cause was the caravan’s mechanical failure rather than the towing vehicle’s fault.
Contents within the caravan are insured under one of two routes. The first is a ‘contents in the caravan’ sub-limit under the touring caravan policy, typically £2,500–£10,000, on a new-for-old basis for caravan-specific items and an indemnity or new-for-old basis for personal possessions. The second is the away-from-home extension of the policyholder’s home contents insurance policy.
Storage warranties are strictly applied. A caravan kept overnight away from the declared home location must typically be at a recognised caravan site or within a CaSSOA-approved compound. Failure to comply may give the insurer grounds to refuse a theft claim — though section 11 of the Insurance Act 2015 limits the insurer’s ability to refuse where the breach is unrelated to the loss [6].
European touring extension extends cover to use in EEA countries and beyond, typically with a 90-day per-trip and 180-day per-year aggregate limit.
Continuous use cover for caravans used for extended periods at a single location (more than 60 days), typically requiring underwriter pre-approval and a higher premium.
Twin-axle caravan cover with adjusted security requirements reflecting the more significant theft profile of twin-axle units.
Pre-1990 vintage caravan cover on an agreed-value basis rather than market-value basis, reflecting the difficulty of valuing older units against published guides.
New-for-old replacement as a standard option for caravans less than five years old (or whatever threshold the insurer applies), with a switch to market value thereafter.
Awning and external equipment cover as an extension for the caravan’s awning and external equipment (gas bottles, mover units, hitch heads), often subject to its own sub-limit and exclusions for wind damage above a defined wind speed.
Touring caravan club membership cover offered by the Caravan and Motorhome Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club, which combines insurance with site bookings and club services.
An illustrative example. A consumer purchases a £22,000 touring caravan in March 2026 and takes out touring caravan insurance for £380 per year. The caravan is stored at home in a CaSSOA Gold-approved compound, and the policy requires a hitch lock, wheel clamp and active tracking device whenever the caravan is away from the compound. The policy covers contents to £6,000 sub-limit, public liability to £5m, and includes European cover (90 days per trip).
In August 2026 the family takes the caravan on holiday in France. While stationary on a site, a freak storm causes a fallen tree branch to damage the roof. The consumer notifies the insurer, provides photographs and an estimate of £3,800 for repairs at a UK caravan workshop after the family returns. The insurer accepts the claim and pays £3,700 after the £100 excess. The European cover responds because the loss occurred within the 90-day per-trip limit.
In a separate incident, the towing vehicle’s wing mirror collides with another vehicle while the caravan is being towed. The towing vehicle’s motor insurer handles the third-party claim under the Road Traffic Act 1988 [1].
This entry is part of the Apex Insurance Wiki. Last reviewed by Matt Bartlett on 2026-06-05. Next review: 2026-12-05.
Apex Insurance Brokers Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 724952. Registered in England and Wales, Companies House 07014570. This entry provides general information about UK insurance concepts and is not regulated advice. Consult your insurance broker on your specific position.
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