Caravan Insurance: Protecting Your Touring or Static Caravan

What Is Caravan Insurance?

Caravan insurance provides specialist cover for touring caravans and static caravans against damage, theft, and liability. While there is no legal requirement to insure a caravan (unlike a motor vehicle), the financial risk of not having cover can be substantial — a modern touring caravan can cost £20,000 to £50,000 or more, and static caravans can represent a significant investment.

Many caravan site operators require proof of insurance as a condition of their pitch agreement, and finance companies will typically require comprehensive cover if the caravan is purchased on credit.

Touring vs Static Caravan Insurance

Touring caravans and static caravans face different risks and require different types of cover:

Touring caravan insurance covers a caravan that is designed to be towed behind a vehicle. The main risks include road traffic accidents while being towed, storm damage on site, theft from storage, and accidental damage. Touring caravan insurance is separate from your car insurance — your motor policy may cover third-party liability while towing, but it does not cover damage to the caravan itself.

Static caravan insurance covers a caravan that remains on a fixed site — typically a holiday park or residential site. The risks are different: storm and flood damage, vandalism during the off-season, accidental damage, and theft of contents. Static caravans are also vulnerable to subsidence and ground movement, particularly on coastal or riverside sites.

What Does It Cover?

A comprehensive caravan insurance policy typically covers:

• Accidental damage — including damage while being towed (touring) or on site (static)
• Storm, flood, and weather damage
• Fire and explosion
• Theft of the caravan and attempted theft
• Malicious damage and vandalism
• <Link href="/liability/public-liability-insurance" className="text-secondary hover:text-secondary/80 underline underline-offset-2">Public liability</Link> — if someone is injured in or around your caravan
• Third-party cover while being towed (touring caravans)
• Emergency accommodation — if the caravan becomes uninhabitable during a trip

Policies may also offer optional extras such as European cover (for touring caravans taken abroad), new-for-old replacement, and awning cover.

Contents and Personal Effects

Caravan contents cover protects the items inside your caravan — furniture, appliances, bedding, crockery, and personal belongings. The level of contents cover varies between policies, and it is important to check whether the sum insured is adequate for the items you keep in the caravan.

• Fixed contents — items permanently installed in the caravan (fitted kitchen, bathroom, heating)
• Removable contents — items that can be taken in and out (TV, bedding, cooking equipment)
• Personal effects — clothing, electronics, and other personal items brought into the caravan
• Valuables — items such as jewellery, cameras, and laptops may have sub-limits

Some policies include contents cover as standard, while others offer it as an optional add-on. Check whether your home contents insurance provides any cover for personal effects away from home — some policies do, but the cover may be limited.

Storage and Security

For touring caravans, security during storage is a key concern for insurers. Caravans are attractive targets for thieves, particularly during the winter months when they may be stored for extended periods.

• Use a CaSSOA (Caravan Storage Site Owners' Association) approved storage site
• Fit a hitch lock and wheel clamp when the caravan is not in use
• Consider a tracking device — some insurers offer premium discounts
• Ensure the storage site has adequate security (fencing, CCTV, restricted access)
• Remove valuables from the caravan during storage
• Check your policy for specific storage requirements — failure to comply can void the cover

Site Fees and Loss of Use

For static caravans, site fees can represent a significant ongoing cost. If your caravan is damaged and you cannot use it, you may still be liable for site fees during the repair period. Some policies include loss of use cover, which reimburses site fees while the caravan is being repaired or replaced.

Similarly, if you use your touring caravan for holidays and it is damaged or stolen, loss of use cover can pay for alternative accommodation while you are without your caravan.

What Affects the Cost?

• The value and age of the caravan
• Whether it is a touring or static caravan
• The level of cover (third party, fire and theft, or comprehensive)
• The location of the site or storage facility
• Security measures in place (hitch lock, wheel clamp, tracking device)
• Claims history
• Whether you want contents cover and the sum insured
• Whether you need European cover (touring caravans)
• The excess you are willing to accept

Next Steps

Whether you own a touring caravan for weekend getaways or a static caravan on a holiday park, the right insurance protects your investment and gives you peace of mind. The specific cover you need will depend on the type of caravan, how you use it, and where it is kept.

Focus Insurance Services can help caravan owners find appropriate cover for their specific needs. Learn more about why using a broker matters, or read our claims guide so you're prepared if the worst happens. Contact our team for a no-obligation discussion.