South Africans are fond of towing, whether it be a caravan to the campsite or a trailer to the coast.
A caravan or trailer is insured separately from a car as they must be towed by another vehicle to travel on the road and therefore aren’t covered under your typical auto insurance.
While it’s not a legal requirement to insure these vehicles, it’s highly recommended as hundreds of them are stolen each year and caravan towing, in particular, presents a high risk for incurring accidental damage on our roads.
South African insurer Dialdirect has cleared up the confusion on what you are covered for when insuring a caravan or trailer separately from your daily driver.
What am I covered for?
Comprehensive caravan insurance includes protection against theft, hijacking, fires, floods, accidents and collisions, as well as third-party damage and liability.
Depending on your insurer, you will also be able to add cover for hail, the caravan’s accessories, any repair work done, as well as the items inside, “from the cutlery to the bedding, and all the loose contents in between,” said Dialdirect.
Trailer insurance, similar to caravan insurance, covers owners against theft, hijacking, fire, damage caused by acts of nature, accident damage, and third-party damage and liability.
What am I not covered for?
With comprehensive caravan and trailer insurance, drivers will not be covered if they incur loss or damage to property while under the influence of alcohol or banned substances, said Dialdirect.
You must also have a valid driver’s licence that allows you to tow these large vehicles on public roads, and they can only be used for leisure purposes, too.
“That means you can’t take tourists on a cross-country road trip in the caravan. However, it does mean you can help your sister move house with your trailer,” said the insurer.
You also won’t be covered if you use the caravan or trailer in an area or country outside of those deemed acceptable in the contract, which for Dialdirect includes South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.
Furthermore, owners are not covered for wear and tear on these vehicles as “a guaranteed amount of wear and tear can be expected on your trailer or caravan” throughout its years on the road, said the company.
As such, maintaining the vehicles and ensuring they remain in good working condition is part of the cost of ownership.
The loose contents inside a caravan aren’t automatically protected, either, though these can be added to your cover for an additional cost with most insurers.
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