Caravan Insurance and Tyres

It is that time of year again when all the campers start planning their caravan holiday and excitement and holiday fever is the order of the day. Unfortunately amidst all the excitement many forget one of the most important parts on their caravan - its tyres.

Damaged caravan tyres are expected to result in an increase in 2008 summer holiday insurance claims.

Caravan tyres very rarely wear out but as they are laden with the weight of the caravan throughout the year it is not uncommon for caravan tyres to become distorted. If these tyres are under inflated and have been for an extended period then there is a substantial risk that the sidewalls of the tyres can suffer cracking.

Each year hundreds of caravans are written off and in the majority of cases blowouts resulting from damaged tyres are the prime cause of the accidents.

It is advisable to check your caravan tyres for signs of damage such as cuts or sidewall cracking at both sides of each tyre. Regardless of tread depth caravan tyres should be replaced after 5 years. Tyre pressure of both your caravan and towing vehicle tyres should be checked before embarking on any journey.

Ensure that both your car and caravan are roadworthy before taking to the road. Bear in mind that an insurance company has the right to repudiate any claim on the grounds of unroadworthy vehicles. This is not limited to the condition of the tyres but includes any aspect of roadworthiness as required by the authorities.

Caravan Insurance is usually fully comprehensive and the liability of the Insurer is in most cases limited to the market value of the caravan or the amount for which the insurance was purchased, whichever is the lesser. In other words you are throwing away good money if you insure your caravan for more than its market value and as these values reduce over time, it is advisable to review the insured value of your caravan on an annual basis.

If since last reviewing your insurance, you have purchased any items that will serve to enhance the value of the contents of your caravan remember to update your list of caravan contents with the Insurer and adjust your cover accordingly.