Caravan insurance: Why it pays to spend big on security gadgets

by Chris Jefferies
With Christmas looming ever closer on the horizon, and the January sales not far behind, now is a great time to start looking at how you can kit out your caravan for 2012.
And while it’s tempting to cut corners and save money, the insurance experts at Towergate have been explaining why it makes sense to go for top-end products if you can afford to.
It’s worth remembering that several caravan insurers offer tempting discounts for fitting certain industry-approved gadgets. With so many to choose from, it’s often hard to know where to spend your well-earned pounds.
With this in mind Edward Cross, Towergate’s resident caravan insurance expert, told Caravan Times: “It really is worth paying that little bit extra for a premium security product. Look for the Thatcham or Sold Secure label, as this will tell you that you’ve got an industry-approved device.”
He also explained that insurers generally split caravan gadgets into two main categories, with chassis wheel locks (such as the Al-Ko Secure) receiving the biggest insurance discount of 25 per cent.
Other products to get this bonus include the Phantom pro-active tracking device and the Thiefbeater thief deterrent system.
However, these items can cost upwards of £100 each, so if your budget is more in the region of £20 to £30, then it’s worth looking at a basic wheel clamp, a hitch lock, a factory-fitted alarm system, a Mule anchoring device or a Microtag, as these can all get you a significant insurance discount as well.
To read the full list of gizmos that cut the cost of your premium, read Towergate’s article: Premium caravan gadgets get the biggest insurance discounts