How do you insure a car trailer?

Steel_2

I know that seems like a silly question, but neither hubby nor I have ever had to do this before and we don't know how to go about it. We have a large four wheel car trailer a friend gave to us when he was leaving the country, and now it sits on our drive.

Is it a motor insurer we have to approach and if so does it have to be the insurer we are with for our car?

Any advice on doing it the best way or anything we have to be careful of?

stevemarsh1976

For what are you trying to insurer it for ?

The actual trailor against theft or malicious damage then you can try yur home insurers one or two will entertain a trailor whilst at the home address. Other than that not sure to be honest as its something ive always struggled to place myself.

As for using it the majority of motor insurances cover the third party liability whilst attached to your car. For instance if you hit another car, person, property with the trailor it will be covered under your motor insurance (do check your own policy booklet for full clarification)

lisyloo

It will be insured under car insurance whilst being towed and also probably under breakdown cover as well (check definition of "the vehicle" is in doubt).

It might be covered on your home insurance but you'd need to check.
I know motor vehicles would be excluded but not sure about trailers.

In your posistion I could get a wheel clamp and if possible try to block it in e.g. park a car in front of it as clearly theft is an issue.
You can also get a ball lock that expands, locks and goes in the toe hitch.

Steel_2

stevemarsh1976 wrote: »

For what are you trying to insurer it for ?

The actual trailor against theft or malicious damage then you can try yur home insurers one or two will entertain a trailor whilst at the home address. Other than that not sure to be honest as its something ive always struggled to place myself.

As for using it the majority of motor insurances cover the third party liability whilst attached to your car. For instance if you hit another car, person, property with the trailor it will be covered under your motor insurance (do check your own policy booklet for full clarification)

Thanks SteveMarsh1976 - yes it is for theft or damage on the driveway. It would be way outside our finances to replace it if it disappeared, although considering how we've wedged it in and the special wheel clamp on it they'd be hard pressed to get it out quietly without damaging it, themselves or the house wall. We speak from bitter experience and one fingernail ripped off down to the quick.

Do you think it would be possible to use a UV pen to put our details on it as well?

Steel_2

lisyloo wrote: »

It will be insured under car insurance whilst being towed and also probably under breakdown cover as well (check definition of "the vehicle" is in doubt).

It might be covered on your home insurance but you'd need to check.
I know motor vehicles would be excluded but not sure about trailers.

In your posistion I could get a wheel clamp and if possible try to block it in e.g. park a car in front of it as clearly theft is an issue.
You can also get a ball lock that expands, locks and goes in the toe hitch.

Hi there. I'll suggest to hubby about the ball lock and have a look at our home contents policy. We do have another car on the drive we could put in front of it, although being a Fiat 126 you could actually just pick that up and put it one side

bouncydog1

You may have trouble finding cover for theft or damage on the driveway as we have ended up self-insuring our horse trailer because cover is not available unless it was locked away in a secure building with certain specified locks.

A ball lock and clamp will deter a casual thief but if it is a valuable trailer and somebody is determined, they will simply steal it with a breakdown truck and winch it up.

If you manage to find cover, please post back on here as I would be interested to explore further.

Thank you.

Kittian_the_Blue

NFU used to be pretty good for covering trailers etc, not sure what they are like now though

greyteam1959

I used these people for about 5 years for my trailer ........until it was stolen !!!
They paid out very promptly and quickly.
http://www.towergatehallandclarke.co.uk/
My box trailer was covered in logos/company name/address etc plus a hitch lock plus a wheel clap and they still nicked it in the middle of the day from a public car park....b**tards